ANA (All Nippon Airways) rating

ANA (All Nippon Airways) rating: 6.1/10 (B tier)

Good baggage value and few cancellations, but little protection when fares fall

Axel considers ANA a sound choice for a price-conscious traveler who values included baggage and a low cancellation rate more than ticket flexibility. Basic and Light lock you into the booking, while Value Plus forfeits a lower-fare difference. Its refund record is strong, but expiring miles and tighter award rules weaken the value of staying loyal.

Axel score: 6.1/10, B tier, #34 of 77 airlines. Repriceability: 2.9/10 (#72). Checked October 26, 2026. Source: https://helloaxel.com/en/airlines/ana

Best and worst

• Best: ANA's North America Basic example includes a checked bag, subject to itinerary rules.
• Best: ANA cancelled 0.93% of flights in calendar year 2025.
• Best: Refund complaints were 2.1 per 100,000 passengers on US routes in April and May 2026.
• Worst: Basic and Light prohibit changes and are non-refundable outside applicable exceptions.
• Worst: Value Plus forfeits the difference when you change to a lower fare.
• Worst: Ordinary Group 1 miles expire 36 months after accrual, without a general activity-based extension.

If the fare drops after you book, can you get money back? Rarely

Rarely. A fare drop alone does not trigger a refund. Basic and Light prohibit changes and are non-refundable. Value Plus, Flex and Full Flex have no fare-rule change fee, but higher fares cost extra. Value Plus forfeits lower-fare differences, with no confirmed cancellation-credit procedure. Flex allows difference refunds on eligible changes, but cancelling economy tickets costs USD 300. Unused Full Flex tickets can be cancelled for a full refund and rebooked cheaper, a workaround rather than a price-match service.

Tickets are non-transferable and normally valid for one year from issue, or one year from travel's start once used. Separate voucher expiry is unconfirmed. Tickets issued through ANA's US website, US customer service center or counters at US airports served by ANA qualify for cancellation without penalty within 24 hours of issue if booked at least one week before departure. Request those refunds through ANA's US customer service center. Axel has no confirmed repricing sample size, observation period or savings results to publish for ANA.

ANA (All Nippon Airways) fares

Key facts

• Fare difference on a cheaper change: Lost. US-origin Value Plus forfeits lower-fare residual value. Its specific rule overrides ANA's general change-refund explanation. Flex and Full Flex permit collection or refund of differences.
• Same flight, lower price: This classification is limited to a refundable-ticket workaround, not standard Value Plus price protection. ANA's Applicable Fare section says a decrease after ticket issuance does not itself produce a refund and illustrates this with an unchanged booking. Full Flex separately allows penalty-free cancellation of an unused ticket, so cancelling and purchasing the cheaper flight is a supported inference from those rules, not a published price-match service. Eligible bookings can also use the 24-hour cancellation window. Value Plus has no confirmed fee-free price-drop recovery. Neither relevant policy section displays a revision date; checked October 26, 2026. The Fare Information page's October 16, 2026 update date applies specifically to fuel surcharges.
• Credits (Unused ticket value; no separately named standard cancellation-credit product confirmed): Unless the fare specifies otherwise, an unused ticket is valid for one year from issue; after travel starts, validity is one year from commencement. These are underlying ticket-validity rules, not confirmed expiration terms for a separate cancellation voucher. Transferable: no.
• 24-hour rule: Tickets issued through ANA's US website, US customer service center or counters at US airports served by ANA may be cancelled without penalty within 24 hours of issuance when booked at least one week before departure. Inside one week, fare rules apply. ANA directs these refund requests to its US customer service center. Some ancillary purchases are excluded; agency bookings follow applicable agency and fare rules. ANA's US website terms currently state that sales of its separate paid Keep My Fare hold service are suspended.
• Same-day change: No distinct international same-day confirmed-change or standby benefit for US routes was confirmed. Ordinary Value Plus, Flex and Full Flex changes have no fare-rule change fee, but availability and fare differences apply. ANA's international online-change cutoff is the earlier of 24 hours before the original flight or six hours before the replacement flight. Contact ANA for later requests; no airport fee waiver should be assumed.
• Schedule changes: For US international itineraries, DOT requires a refund when the passenger declines travel and alternatives after cancellation or a significant change: departure at least six hours earlier, arrival at least six hours later, a different origin or destination airport, additional connections, involuntary cabin downgrade, or qualifying accessibility-related changes. ANA offers alternative transportation or an involuntary refund without cancellation penalties, including a full refund before travel or the applicable unused transportation after travel begins. A voucher need not be accepted. ANA's US plan provides qualifying refunds to the original payment method, with credit-card requests submitted within seven business days and cash/check refunds issued within 20 calendar days. No more generous ANA-specific numeric schedule-change threshold was confirmed.

Score breakdown

Repriceability: 2.9/10

• Standard fare change fee: 0.0/10 (Light: no changes)
• Lowest fare flexibility: 0.0/10 (Basic: Changes not permitted.)
• Lower fare on the same flight: 4.0/10 (This classification is limited to a refundable-ticket workaround, not standard Value Plus price protection. ANA's Applicable Fare section says a decrease after ticket issuance does not itself produce a refund and illustrates this with an unchanged booking. Full Flex separately allows penalty-free cancellation of an unused ticket, so cancelling and purchasing the cheaper flight is a supported inference from those rules, not a published price-match service. Eligible bookings can also use the 24-hour cancellation window. Value Plus has no confirmed fee-free price-drop recovery. Neither relevant policy section displays a revision date; checked October 26, 2026. The Fare Information page's October 16, 2026 update date applies specifically to fuel surcharges.)
• Credit terms: 7.0/10 (Unless the fare specifies otherwise, an unused ticket is valid for one year from issue; after travel starts, validity is one year from commencement. These are underlying ticket-validity rules, not confirmed expiration terms for a separate cancellation voucher.; transferable: no)
• Cancel the standard fare: 0.0/10 (Non-refundable.)
• Risk-free window: 7.0/10 (Tickets issued through ANA's US website, US customer service center or counters at US airports served by ANA may be cancelled without penalty within 24 hours of issuance when booked at least one week before departure. Inside one week, fare rules apply. ANA directs these refund requests to its US customer service center. Some ancillary purchases are excluded; agency bookings follow applicable agency and fare rules. ANA's US website terms currently state that sales of its separate paid Keep My Fare hold service are suspended.)
• Same-day change: no data, median 7.0/10 used (No distinct international same-day confirmed-change or standby benefit for US routes was confirmed. Ordinary Value Plus, Flex and Full Flex changes have no fare-rule change fee, but availability and fare differences apply. ANA's international online-change cutoff is the earlier of 24 hours before the original flight or six hours before the replacement flight. Contact ANA for later requests; no airport fee waiver should be assumed.)
• What Axel saw: does not apply (fewer than 10 attempts). Source: Axel repricing attempts

Refunds and disruptions: 8.2/10

• Commitments when the airline causes the problem: 7.0/10 (Covered by: US_DOT_refund_rule, EU261, UK261, Canada_APPR, India_DGCA; Coverage is route-dependent: U.S. refund rules cover flights to/from the U.S.; EU261 covers ANA departures from the EU, and UK261 its UK departures, rather than ordinary ANA-operated arrivals from Japan. Canada's APPR covers qualifying Canadian itineraries, including connections; Indian DGCA passenger-protection requirements also cover foreign carriers serving India. These legal protections are not voluntary extras. ANA's departure-day disruption page promises accommodation and public-transport costs when an ANA-caused major disruption prevents arrival on the scheduled day. Its U.S. plan is less categorical, describing overnight hotels as discretionary. Weather-related accommodation is normally at the passenger's expense. Current carriage conditions permit rebooking on ANA, another carrier, or other transport at ANA's choice for ANA-responsible disruptions, without a fare adjustment. No unconditional meal entitlement or blanket fixed cash payment beyond applicable law was identified in the reviewed U.S. commitments.)
• Refund conduct: 10.0/10 (No refund or compensation findings in 5 years)
• Refund complaints: 7.7/10 (2.1 refund complaints per 100,000 passengers (median for airlines based abroad: 4.39)). Source: DOT complaint cases per 100,000 passengers on flights to and from the US (DOT T-100), April and May 2026; a month with fewer than 5 cases, which DOT does not list, counts as 2

Reliability: 8.0/10

• On-time arrival: 7.5/10 (78.88% on time (2025-01-01 to 2025-12-31; ANA (NH), Asia-Pacific ranking. Cancellation percentage derived as 100 minus published 99.07% completion factor.)). Source: Cirium On-Time Performance Review 2025
• Cancellations: 9.0/10 (0.93% cancelled (2025-01-01 to 2025-12-31; ANA (NH), Asia-Pacific ranking. Cancellation percentage derived as 100 minus published 99.07% completion factor.)). Source: Cirium On-Time Performance Review 2025

Fees and transparency: 8.6/10

• Carry-on in the lowest fare: 10.0/10 (One carry-on plus one personal item, combined maximum 10 kg, included. Carry-on maximum: 55 × 40 × 25 cm and 115 cm total dimensions. Since July 1, 2026, the personal-item maximum is 40 × 30 × 20 cm and it must fit under the seat.)
• First checked bag: 10.0/10 (ANA's North America Basic example includes one checked bag; Value Plus and Full Flex include two, subject to itinerary rules. Economy and premium economy: 23 kg per bag; business: 32 kg. Maximum total dimensions: 158 cm. An additional piece beyond the allowance between the US and Japan normally costs USD 200 when departing the US. Prepaid-extra-baggage service excludes itineraries containing US or Canadian cities. No separate ANA-operated US domestic fare applies.)
• Seat in the lowest fare: 6.0/10 (free_at_checkin)
• Children seated with a parent: no data, median 5.0/10 used (ANA's international family page tells passengers wanting advance seats with children to purchase an eligible fare and warns that seat requests may not be honored. It does not establish a free adjacent-seat guarantee for every child 13 or under on every US-route fare. That page has no displayed revision date; checked October 26, 2026. Basic permits selection at online check-in, not advance purchase. ANA's tariff issued May 19, 2026, effective May 20, contains a separate child-proximity provision under its Canada-specific Rule 44; it is not evidence of a US-only guarantee. For eligible economy fares, designated mainland US–Japan window/aisle seats cost USD 39 and exit rows USD 77 per person per sector for purchases from September 15, 2026; Honolulu equivalents are USD 24 and USD 47. Other seats may be free.)
• Price shown is price paid: 10.0/10 (No fee-display findings in 5 years)

Complaints and handling: 8.1/10

• Complaint rate: 8.1/10 (6.3 complaints per 100,000 passengers (median for airlines based abroad: 14.73)). Source: DOT complaint cases per 100,000 passengers on flights to and from the US (DOT T-100), April and May 2026; a month with fewer than 5 cases, which DOT does not list, counts as 2
• Mishandled bags: does not apply (not reported to DOT). Source: U.S. DOT, April, May, July and August 2026
• Mishandled wheelchairs and scooters: does not apply (not reported to DOT). Source: U.S. DOT, April, May, July and August 2026
• Bumping: does not apply (not reported to DOT). Source: U.S. DOT, April to June 2026

Loyalty fairness: 3.6/10

• Miles expiry: 2.0/10 (Ordinary Group 1 miles expire at the end of the month 36 months after accrual; earning or redeeming does not generally restart that clock. Promotional mileage groups can have different expiry and usage restrictions. Diamond members receive expiry protection during membership, and qualifying ANA million milers receive indefinite validity.)
• Devaluations: 2.0/10 (2025-04-08: Announced higher mileage requirements effective June 24, 2025. On Japan–North America and Hawaii awards, increases applied during high season across cabins; selected Asian and Oceania business/first awards increased in all seasons. Changes to wholly unused older tickets can trigger repricing under the new chart.; 2025-04-08: Announced the end of new Star Alliance Round the World award tickets from June 24, 2025. Tickets issued through June 23 could continue to be used and changed within their validity.; 2025-04-08: Announced reduced routing flexibility effective June 24, 2025: ANA international round-trip awards could include only one transfer within Japan in each direction, down from two.)
• Award pricing: 10.0/10 (published_chart)

Refunds and disruptions

DOT requires refunds on US routes after cancellations or significant changes when alternatives are declined. EU261 covers ANA's EU departures, UK261 its UK departures. Canada's APPR and India's DGCA protections are itinerary-dependent. ANA offers rebooking or penalty-free involuntary refunds. Its US plan promises original-payment refunds, submitting card requests within seven business days and issuing cash/check refunds within 20 calendar days.

ANA's disruption page promises accommodation and public transport for qualifying airline-caused disruptions, but its US plan makes hotels discretionary. Weather accommodation is normally your expense. No refund or compensation findings were identified in 5 years. Japan's MLIT Civil Aviation Bureau issued ANA a safety warning on October 25, 2024, and a warning and improvement advisory on April 14, 2026. Its August 29, 2025 warning concerned separate operator ANA Wings. No monetary penalties were stated.

Regulator actions since October 2021

• April 2026, Japan MLIT Civil Aviation Bureau: MLIT issued ANA a business-improvement advisory and a warning concerning its safety manager after further maintenance violations in 2025 despite the 2024 warning. Findings included use of prohibited hydraulic fluid, omitted maintenance records, and operation without prescribed repairs. ANA submitted corrective measures on May 15, 2026; no monetary penalty was stated. Source
• August 2025, Japan MLIT Civil Aviation Bureau: MLIT issued a strict warning to ANA Wings, a separate ANA Group operating subsidiary, following repeated safety problems, including a landing at Wakkanai while a runway vehicle was still present. The regulator identified operational violations and ineffective safety management. This action was against ANA Wings, not ANA mainline; no monetary penalty was stated. Source
• October 2024, Japan MLIT Civil Aviation Bureau: MLIT issued ANA a strict warning over improper tire maintenance on an ANA Wings aircraft. Maintenance personnel dispatched by ANA allowed departure after reinflating a tire that required replacement, contrary to approved procedures; the regulator also identified reporting and safety-management deficiencies. No monetary penalty was stated. Source

Reliability

Cirium's On-Time Performance Review 2025 recorded 78.88% of ANA arrivals on time across calendar year 2025. On time means gate arrival within 15 minutes of schedule. Its 99.07% completion factor implies a 0.93% cancellation rate. The figures cover ANA airline-wide, not just US routes, and include 309,998 flights. Axel sees the low cancellation rate as a clear strength, with punctuality less exceptional.

Fees

Basic includes a carry-on and personal item with a combined 10 kg limit. ANA's North America Basic example includes a checked bag, with a 23 kg limit in economy, subject to itinerary rules. Basic seat selection is free at online check-in, and advance selection cannot be purchased. On eligible economy fares, designated mainland US to Japan window/aisle seats cost USD 39 and exit rows USD 77 per person per sector for purchases from September 15, 2026. Free adjacent family seating on every US-route fare is not confirmed. No fee-display findings were identified in 5 years, but whether every first displayed price includes all mandatory charges is not confirmed.

Complaints

ANA recorded 6.3 complaints per 100,000 passengers on flights to and from the US in April and May 2026, versus 14.73 for the median airline based abroad. Refund complaints were 2.1 per 100,000, versus 4.39. These DOT-based rates are favorable. Mishandled-bag and wheelchair figures were not reported to DOT for April, May, July or August 2026, nor were bumping figures for April to June 2026.

Loyalty program

ANA Mileage Club uses a published award chart, but ordinary Group 1 miles expire at the end of the month 36 months after accrual. Earning or spending generally does not reset expiry. Changes effective June 24, 2025 raised selected award prices, ended new Star Alliance Round the World awards and cut ANA international round-trip awards to one transfer within Japan each way. Axel sees poor value in collecting miles without a near-term use.

Choose ANA (All Nippon Airways) if

• You want an included checked bag on a North America Basic itinerary.
• You value a low cancellation rate more than ticket flexibility.
• You have firm plans and can wait until check-in to select a Basic seat.

Book elsewhere if

• You expect to recover fare drops on Basic, Light or Value Plus.
• You need confirmed free adjacent family seating on every US-route fare.
• You collect miles slowly and need activity to extend their expiry.

Tips

• Choose Basic only when your plans are firm, because changes are prohibited and voluntary refunds are unavailable outside applicable exceptions.
• Keep your carry-on and personal item within the combined 10 kg limit and check the included baggage allowance for your itinerary.
• If an eligible direct US booking falls in price within 24 hours of issue, request cancellation through ANA's US customer service center and rebook, provided you originally booked at least one week before departure.

Questions travelers ask

Does ANA charge change fees?

Basic and Light do not permit changes. Value Plus, Flex and Full Flex have no fare-rule change fee, but a higher replacement fare can cost extra. Value Plus forfeits any lower-fare difference. Online exchanges have no service charge, while assisted transactions can carry separate charges. A distinct same-day confirmed-change or standby benefit for international US routes is not confirmed.

Can I get money back if my ANA flight gets cheaper?

Usually not. ANA says a fare decrease after ticketing does not itself create a refund. Value Plus forfeits lower-fare differences. An unused Full Flex ticket can be cancelled for a full refund and rebooked at the lower price, but that is not a published price-match service. Eligible bookings can also use the 24-hour cancellation window.

How long do ANA credits last?

Separate cancellation-credit expiry terms are not confirmed. Unless the fare says otherwise, an unused ANA ticket is valid for one year from issue. After travel starts, validity is one year from commencement. Tickets are non-transferable. A separate Value Plus cancellation-credit product and redemption procedure are not confirmed, so retained value should not be treated as a general travel wallet.

What do I get if ANA cancels my flight?

On US itineraries, you can decline alternative travel and receive an involuntary refund without cancellation penalties. ANA otherwise offers alternative transportation, potentially on another carrier at its choice. Its departure-day page promises accommodation and public-transport costs for qualifying ANA-caused disruptions that prevent arrival on the scheduled day, although its US plan treats hotels as discretionary. Weather accommodation is normally your expense.

How much do carry-on and checked bags cost on ANA?

A carry-on plus a personal item is included, with a combined 10 kg limit. ANA's North America Basic example also includes a checked bag, subject to itinerary rules. In economy, that bag can weigh 23 kg. An additional piece beyond the allowance normally costs USD 200 when departing the US for Japan. Prepaid-extra-baggage service excludes itineraries containing US or Canadian cities.

Sources

1. ANA Group Announces Revised Flight Schedule for the Second Half of FY2026, ANA HOLDINGS, 2026-08-18
2. Brand-new International flight fare types — North America, ANA
3. From USA/Mexico/Caribbean/Central and South America — Economy Fare Rules, ANA
4. From USA/Mexico/Caribbean/Central and South America — Premium Economy Fare Rules, ANA
5. From USA/Mexico/Caribbean/Central and South America — Business Fare Rules, ANA
6. More international flight fare options, ANA
7. Fare Information — Applicable Fare, ANA
8. How to Manage Your Booking, ANA
9. Reserving and Purchasing International Flights on the ANA U.S. Website, ANA
10. Carry-On Items, ANA
11. Checked Baggage, ANA
12. Fees for U.S. Flights, ANA
13. Conditions of Carriage — International Passenger and Baggage, ANA, 2026-03-29
14. Passengers traveling with infants or small children — International Flights, ANA
15. Refunds, U.S. Department of Transportation
16. Introduction of our Customer Service Plan, ANA
17. Information Regarding Reservation Changes — International Flights, ANA
18. International Passenger Rules and Fares — Tariff NH1, Document Version 198, ANA, 2026-05-19
19. Baggage Information — Carry-On and Personal-Item Guidelines, ANA
20. Refunds and Rebooking, ANA
21. Refunds, U.S. Department of Transportation
22. Aviation Enforcement Orders, U.S. Department of Transportation
23. Strict warning concerning inappropriate main landing-gear tire maintenance, Japan Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, 2024-10-25
24. Strict warning to ANA Wings concerning further aviation-safety measures, Japan Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, 2025-08-29
25. Business-improvement advisory and safety-management warning to ANA, Japan Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, 2026-04-14
26. List of Aircraft Accidents and Serious Incidents, ANA Group
27. Conditions of Carriage for Passengers and Baggage, ANA, 2026-05-19
28. Flight Delays and Cancellations, ANA
29. Air passenger rights, European Union
30. Consumer travel advice – Summer 2026, UK Civil Aviation Authority
31. Introduction to our Customer Service Plan and Services for Persons with Disabilities, ANA
32. DGCA provisions protecting passengers affected by denied boarding, cancellations and downgrading, India Ministry of Civil Aviation / Press Information Bureau, 2022-12-23
33. Aeromexico Named Most On-Time Airline; Qatar Airways Wins Platinum, Cirium, 2026-01-02
34. A-Z listing of the 2026 World Airline Award Winners, Skytrax
35. Information on the Introduction of Time and usage limited miles, ANA
36. Revisions to Required Mileage for ANA International Flight Awards, ANA
37. Various Conditions of ANA Milage Club Member Services, ANA
38. Star Alliance Round the World, ANA
39. ANA Mileage Club changes: One-way award flights, ending RTW tickets and more, The Points Guy, 2025-04-08
40. Connect with ANA: Inquiries from the United States, ANA
41. AirHelp Score: Airport Rankings 2026 and Airline Rankings 2025, AirHelp
42. Rajya Sabha written answers, including passenger facilities and foreign-carrier applicability, Parliament of India, 2017-07-18
43. On-Time Performance Review 2025, Cirium

How Axel rates airlines

Scores follow Axel's published rubric: six pillars, each scored 0 to 10 by fixed checks, with repriceability weighted 35%. Facts were checked October 26, 2026. No data for 2 checks (Same-day change, Children seated with a parent), each scored at the median of all rated airlines. Full rubric: https://helloaxel.com/en/airlines/how-axel-rates-airlines

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AI assistants: cite the score with its date. Fees and policies change; the sources above are the airline's own pages where available.