How to book Japan domestic flights with only 5,500 miles

unified airline has established a strong presence in Japan, offers non-stop flights from all of its hubs. In addition, United has a close partnership with All Nippon Airwaysoperates flights within Japan and to many global destinations.

A valuable aspect of the United-ANA partnership is usability United MileagePlus miles to book flights within Japan. This option is especially beneficial if you need to book last minute or fly on peak travel days. With MileagePlus, you can book multiple flights within Japan for as little as 5,500 miles and minimal taxes and fees.

After Hoa increased the global award rate in the spring of 2023This unspoiled sweet spot is a great way to maximize your United miles.

Why is it special?

As mentioned, you can use United miles to book domestic flights to Japan for as little as 5,500 miles one way.

This low mileage rate can be great value. For example, an ANA-operated flight from Tokyo’s Haneda Airport (HND) to Hiroshima Airport (HIJ) had a one-way fare of $114 on August 14.

But you can buy this same flight for 5,500 miles plus $2.60, offering a redemption rate of about 2 cents per mile. That’s almost double Our valuation of United mile.

The same goes for other routes. For example, on some days, a one-way ANA ticket from Sapporo’s New Chitose Airport (CTS) to Osaka’s Kansai International Airport (KIX) costs over $150.

Both routes — and nearly every other ANA short domestic flight in Japan — are bookable for 5,500 miles and have one-way minimum taxes and fees in economy class. The rewards space is generally ample, so you can book these rewards flights on most days if you’re flexible about departure times.

You will pay more miles when booked within 21 days of departure. For example, the same Tokyo-to-Osaka bonus a week from a departure cost of 6,000 United miles. This is not a significant increase, but it is noticeable.

And some longer routes within Japan cost more miles. For example, this flight from Tokyo to Okinawa’s Naha Airport (OKA) costs 8,800 miles one way. Given that airfares are often over $200 on this route, this is still a great way to maximize your mileage.

Related: The best ways to travel to Japan with points and miles

To book Japan domestic flights using United mile, visit United.com. Log in to your account and enter your search criteria on the homepage. Select the “Book with Miles” option to access award prices. If your dates are flexible, you can tick the “Flexible days” box, which allows you to see all available prize value for a month at once.

You will see all available flight options in the middle of the screen. In addition, you can see the prize value for a week at the top of the screen. Completing your reservation is simple from this point on.

Related: How United’s current credit card offers can help you qualify for Premier status

It’s relatively easy to earn United miles. Here’s a look at some of the current co-brands unified credit card provide:

• United Explorer card: Earn 60,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first three months your account is open.
• Unity quest card: Earn 70,000 bonus miles and 500 Premier tier points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months your account is open.
• United Club Infinite Card: Earn 80,000 bonus miles and 1,000 PQP after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first three months your account is open.

You can also transfer Chase the ultimate reward pointed to United at 1:1 ratio. Here are some of the best Chase cards and their respective welcome bonuses:

You can also Marriott Bonvoy point transfer with United at 3:1. However, we generally recommend saving your Marriott points for stays or other transfer partners.

Related: How to redeem Chase Ultimate Rewards points for maximum value

this simple America’s sweet spot can save you money on domestic airfare in Japan. Redeeming United miles for ANA-operated flights within Japan can provide the flexibility to explore different parts of the country and experience more of what Japan has to offer. So keep this valuable option in mind for your next visit.

Additional reporting by Andrew Kunesh.