Most people redeem Amex points through the portal at 1 cent each.
That's leaving money on the table.
Here's what I do instead: transfer to ANA Mileage Club and book business class to Japan for 75,000 to 88,000 points roundtrip.
The cash value of that same ticket? $4,000 to $6,000. That's 5 to 7 cents per point. Compared to the 1 cent you'd get through the portal, you're getting 5x to 7x more value.
The step-by-step:
1. Have at least 75,000 Amex Membership Rewards points 2. Create an ANA Mileage Club account (free, takes 5 minutes at ana.co.jp) 3. Transfer Amex points to ANA at a 1:1 ratio (takes 2 to 3 days) 4. Search for availability on ANA's website under "Award Booking" 5. Book a roundtrip business class ticket on ANA metal from any US gateway to Tokyo
The key details:
ANA's award chart is distance-based and charges differently for roundtrip versus one-way. The roundtrip sweet spot is the critical part: a roundtrip business class ticket from anywhere in the US to Japan is 75,000 to 88,000 miles depending on season.
Low season (January through March, excluding holidays): 75,000 miles roundtrip Regular season: 85,000 miles roundtrip High season (peak summer, holidays): 88,000 miles roundtrip
Compare this to booking through the Amex portal: 400,000 to 600,000 points for the same ticket at 1 cent per point.
Finding availability:
This is where most people get stuck. ANA releases business class award seats to its own members first, and availability is limited.
Best strategy: search 330 days out (when the schedule first opens), look for midweek departures (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday), and be flexible on exact dates. January and February have the most availability.
From our covered airports: Houston IAH has ANA nonstop service to Tokyo Narita. DFW connects through LAX or SFO. The trick is booking the transpacific segment on ANA metal (their own planes) rather than a partner carrier.
Quick math:
The Amex Gold card earns 4x points on dining and groceries. If you spend $1,500/month on those categories, that's 6,000 points per month. In 12.5 months, you have enough for a $5,000 business class flight.
That's the game. Earn points on everyday spending, transfer to the right partner, book a ticket worth 5x what you'd get through the portal.
The bottom line:
If you have Amex points and want to fly to Japan, do not redeem through the portal. Transfer to ANA, book roundtrip business class, and get 5 to 7 cents per point instead of 1.
This is the single best Amex transfer sweet spot available right now.
Want to know when award availability opens on routes from your airport? Join free for deal alerts. For more points strategies, check out our complete guide to flying from Orlando on points and why Chase points are stupidly versatile.