ANA First Class has been on my bucket list for years. The challenge has always been availability when booking ANA First Class with Aeroplan. There were extended stretches where not a single First Class seat appeared on Aeroplan, and when something did show up it was gone almost immediately.
That situation has improved significantly. As of late 2025, ANA has been releasing First Class seats to Aeroplan with reasonable consistency, and some routes are showing two seats available at schedule open. I recently booked an upcoming trip and want to share exactly how I did it, along with everything you need to know to secure a seat yourself. Make sure to read the Tips to Actually Secure a Seat section at the end of this post for some helpful advice on making your booking successful.
One important note: this availability information is current as of April 2026. ANA availability on Aeroplan has disappeared without warning before, so if a Japan First Class trip is something you have been considering, now is the time to act on it. We have also updated this post to reflect the recent increases in cost from the June 1st, 2026 Aeroplan devaluation.
Why ANA First Class Is Worth the Effort
ANA consistently ranks among the top First Class products flying today, and the reputation is well earned. The airline has been upgrading its 777 fleet with a new cabin called The Suite, which is a genuinely impressive product. Each seat is a fully enclosed suite with a sliding door, a 43 inch monitor, a personal closet, generous storage, and a lie flat bed that competes with the best in the industry.
The soft product matches the hardware. ANA offers an extensive champagne and drinks selection, including Hibiki 17 and 21 for whisky enthusiasts, alongside a meal program developed in partnership with leading Japanese and North American restaurants. A full in-flight review will follow once we return from the trip.
How Aeroplan Works for ANA First Class Bookings
ANA is a Star Alliance member, which means Aeroplan points can be used to access their award inventory. The key consideration is understanding which seats ANA releases to partner programs like Aeroplan and when those seats become available.
Award space opens at schedule open, which is 355 days in advance. ANA has been consistently releasing two First Class seats per flight at that point. Seats do occasionally appear closer to departure, but in practice that release is almost always economy class. Last minute availability in First Class is not something worth relying on.
Pricing is governed by the Aeroplan partner award chart, Pacific Zone, for routes in the 5,001 to 7,500 mile range:
First Class from North America to Tokyo: 120,000 Aeroplan points one way – this increased from 110,000 on June 1st, 2026.
Business Class from North America to Tokyo: 75,000 Aeroplan points one way
Taxes and fees are minimal compared to most programs, as Aeroplan does not pass on fuel surcharges for partner airline bookings.
For Canadians departing from a city without direct ANA First Class service, it is generally possible to add a positioning flight to a gateway city without increasing the overall points cost. We are based in Toronto and added the YYZ to ORD segment to our itinerary, and the redemption still priced at 110,000 points. If you cook this today the price would now be 120,000 points each.
Which Routes Offer ANA First Class
First Class is not available across the entire ANA network. It is limited to routes operated by the Boeing 777-300ER and the Airbus A380, so it is worth confirming your route is covered before you start searching.
North America (all routes connect through Tokyo Haneda or Narita):
| Route | Airports |
|---|---|
| Tokyo and New York | HND and JFK |
| Tokyo and Chicago | HND and ORD |
| Tokyo and Chicago | NRT and ORD |
| Tokyo and San Francisco | HND and SFO |
| Tokyo and San Francisco | NRT and SFO |
Europe:
| Route | Airports |
|---|---|
| Tokyo and London | HND and LHR |
A380 routes:
ANA also operates its A380 Flying Honu between Tokyo Narita and Honolulu, with eight First Class seats configured on this aircraft.
The Suite vs. The Older Product: Does Aircraft Matter?
It matters more than most people realize. On 777 routes, ANA operates two distinct First Class configurations. The newer Suite product with the sliding door and 43 inch screen is scheduled consistently on the JFK and LHR routes. The ORD and SFO routes tend to alternate between old and new aircraft depending on the day of the week.
When booking a year out, ANA has not officially confirmed which aircraft will operate a given flight. The practical approach is to review the current schedule on the ANA website and identify which days The Suite tends to operate. The rotation is usually consistent enough to make an informed decision, with the understanding that aircraft assignments can always change closer to departure.
How to Book ANA First Class with Aeroplan
Searching and booking ANA through Aeroplan works exactly the same as any other partner airline, including Air Canada itself. Log into your Aeroplan account, search your route and date, select the ANA First Class fare, and complete the booking as normal.
There are two things specific to ANA worth knowing before you start. First, you will need to book each direction as a separate one way ticket. A round trip cannot be completed at schedule open because the return date has not yet released. If you are looking to fly First Class in both directions, you will need to book the return leg separately when that date opens 355 days out, which also means paying the partner booking fee twice.
Tips to Actually Secure a Seat
This is where booking ANA First Class differs meaningfully from a standard Aeroplan redemption. I have been tracking availability daily for several months and these are the things that make the difference between a confirmed booking and an error message.
Know the exact release time. Seats open at 8:00 PM Eastern Time, shifting to 7:00 PM ET after daylight saving time ends in the fall. Be at your computer and ready to book before the clock hits.
Start your search five seconds early. The Aeroplan site takes a moment to refresh. Initiating the search just before 8:00 PM ET puts you ahead of anyone who waits for the clock to turn. 5 seconds early seems to be the sweet spot.
Rehearse the booking flow in advance. Run through the full search process on a different date a few days before your target. I have made it as far as seat selection only to have the booking error out because another traveller completed their transaction first. Knowing exactly what to click removes any hesitation. Make sure your passenger and payment information are already saved in your account before booking day.
Move without stopping once you are in the flow. These seats are claimed within seconds on most nights. Any pause mid-process is enough to lose them.
Book the outbound as a refundable fare. It costs a few additional points but gives you the flexibility to cancel if you run into difficulty securing the return when that date opens 355 days later. If you have or are working toward Aeroplan Super Elite status, you can book the First Lowest fare instead, as Super Elite members receive complimentary changes on Aeroplan bookings. If earning Super Elite status is something you are working toward, our Aeroplan SQC guide covers all the ways to collect SQC and earn elite status.
If you miss it, try again the next night. Each night at 8:00 PM ET a new set of seats becomes available. The more flexibility you have with travel dates, the better your chances. I had to adjust my own trip by one day after being unsuccessful on my target return date. Rather than settle for one First Class and one Business Class seat, I waited until the following night and secured two First Class seats on the next available flight.
Book now, not later. The current level of ANA First Class availability on Aeroplan gives you a reasonable chance of securing two seats on your preferred date if you are ready to book at schedule open. ANA availability has disappeared before without warning. Do not sit on this.
Final Thoughts
ANA First Class on Aeroplan is one of the strongest and most consistent premium redemptions available right now. Despite the recent increase, 120,000 points one way it is still excellent value for this flight.
The main challenge is securing a seat. Availability is competitive and the booking window is narrow. Having your account prepared, knowing the release time, and being ready to move quickly will make a significant difference in whether you walk away with a confirmed booking or an error message.
ANA availability on Aeroplan has come and gone before. The current window has been more consistent than anything we have seen in a while, but there is no guarantee of how long that continues. If a Japan trip is something you have been considering, now is the time to act.
Our flights are in 2027 and a full First Class review will follow once we are back.
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