Amex MR vs ANA
Both Amex Membership Rewards and ANA Mileage Club are loyalty programs. They share enough overlap that travelers regularly compare them, but the right answer depends on your typical trips.
Quick spec comparison
| Spec | Amex MR | ANA |
|---|---|---|
| Kind | Credit card points | Airline miles |
| Alliance / network | — | Star Alliance |
| Fixed award chart? | No (dynamic) | Yes |
| Fuel surcharges on awards | Some partners | Some partners |
| Expiration | Never expire as long as account is open | Expire after 36 months |
| Transfers out to | ANA, Virgin Atlantic, Air France/KLM, British Airways, Iberia, Singapore, Cathay, Delta, Aeromexico, Avianca LifeMiles, Etihad, Qantas, Hilton, Marriott, Choice | — |
| Signature sweet spots | ANA round-trip US-Japan business for 88K, Virgin Atlantic for Delta One transatlantic (50K), ANA First Class round-trip US-Japan for 110K | Round-trip US-Japan business for 85-95K, Round-trip US-Europe via Asia in business for 85K (during off-peak), Round-trip required (no one-way awards on partners) |
| Flagship benefit | ANA transfer partnership (only big bank with it) | Round-trip business pricing is the cheapest Star Alliance partner award available |
Where Amex MR wins
- Best for premium-cabin redemptions, especially ANA First Class.
Where ANA wins
- ANA publishes a fixed award chart — easier to plan ahead.
- Cheapest round-trip Star Alliance business class anywhere — but US originating only.
Pick Amex MR if…
You want flexible points that can wait until you find the right redemption. Amex MR's top use is its transfer partner network — particularly strong because of: ANA transfer partnership (only big bank with it).
Pick ANA if…
You're targeting one of these specific redemptions: Round-trip US-Japan business for 85-95K or Round-trip US-Europe via Asia in business for 85K (during off-peak). ANA is the program built for them.
Can you have both?
Yes — and you probably should. The bank program feeds the airline program. Earning bank points first preserves flexibility — you only commit to the airline program when a specific redemption opens up.
Find availability before you transfer
AwardLocker shows live saver award space across every program. Confirm space first, then transfer points only when you're ready to book.
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