Japan’s largest airline, All Nippon Airways (ANA), has recently begun to implement a new model for its fares and rules surrounding reservations and boarding. These changes aim to ensure seamless travel for ANA passengers.
Flying Cheaper and Simpler with ANA
The airline announced on May 19 that it would streamline the passenger experience by integrating domestic and international flight systems, revising its fares, and standardising booking and boarding rules across all flights.
The simplified fare structure will apply to Japanese domestic flights from 19 May 2026 and will be formed of three tiers: Simple, Standard, and Flex. These fares, aimed to benefit not only domestic customers but also international customers making connections, are detailed on the airline’s website:
- Simple: includes refunds and a 23kg baggage allowance, for customers with fixed travel plans who want to keep costs low;
- Standard: includes changes (for a fee), refunds, a free 2 x 23kg baggage allowance, advanced seat reservation, and upgrade eligibility, for customers who are unsure of which fare to pick and want peace of mind;
- Flex: includes all services from the Standard fare, but includes free changes on the day of departure and purchases one day before the departure date, for customers who want as much flexibility as possible.
In addition to these, ANA will also begin offering round-trip fares to customers in order to provide a cheaper option for customers than two single flights. This will also apply to customers who depart for their return journey from a different airport than the one they arrived at on their outbound trip. For example, a customer flying from Tokyo to Fukuoka and then travelling to Nagasaki where they will fly back to Tokyo will still benefit from cheaper fares. For passengers on connecting flights, ANA will also allow passengers to select any valid connecting flight to their final destination, allowing a layover of up to 24 hours. Additionally, ANA will offer a 25% discount on eligible fares for children aged between 2 and 12 years old.
New Reservation and Boarding Rules
ANA announced in February 2023 that between 2025 and 2026, it would integrate its domestic passenger service system with its international passenger service system provided by Spanish travel technology firm Amadeus. As with its new fare model, these changes are aimed at simplifying the travel experience for as many passengers as possible.
Regarding the new fare options and standardisation of its rules, ANA’s Executive Vice President of Customer Experience, Keiji Omae, said the following:
“At ANA we are dedicated to providing our customers with the best possible travel experience, and these changes reflect that commitment. “By integrating our systems, introducing new fare options and standardizing key rules, we are creating a more enjoyable and seamless journey for both our domestic and international passengers. These enhancements will make travel with ANA even more convenient and attractive.”
One of the major changes is the application of the airline’s Conditions of Carriage for Passenger Baggage to both its domestic and international flights. Applying the same conditions to all flights will result in the following changes:
- Passenger names will now be written in Romanised letters (instead of Japanese katakana);
- The age limit for infants will now be one year old and younger;
- Children above two years old will be required to have a reserved seat;
- The ANA Junior Pilot Service (which assists children travelling alone from the departure airport to the arrival airport) will now be available for children aged five and older.
This standardisation comes at a crucial time for ANA as the airline has recently ordered more than 75 aircraft for delivery between 2028 and 2030, as part of its plans to further expand its international flights.
Have you flown with All Nippon Airways recently? Will you be taking advantage of the cheaper fares and simpler booking process? Let us know in the comments!
