Tokyo — May 13, 2026, 00:13 JST
- ANA is set to divide its Super Flyers Card program in April 2028, creating SFC PLUS and SFC LITE tiers. The higher-end perks? Those will hinge on yearly spending via ANA Card and ANA Pay.
- Under the updated policy, members dropping below ¥3 million in annual spending are set to forfeit ANA Lounge access, slipping from Star Alliance Gold down to Silver-level perks.
- Japanese media outlets and flight-review forums have picked up on the change, with some ANA flyers now calling it a departure from the traditional SFC bargain.
ANA’s move to revamp its Super Flyers Card is sparking frustration among Japanese frequent flyers. Now, the airline is shifting focus: annual spending, rather than previous flight history, will soon determine who can unlock critical elite privileges.
Nothing fresh about the problem, yet frustration lingers. On May 12, ITmedia Business Online reported that “mileage runners” — those who rack up flights just to chase status — are venting over ANA’s move to revoke lounge access for SFC cardholders spending less than ¥3 million annually, starting in 2028. Hatena Bookmark
ANA plans to split services into two categories tied to annual payment volume, aiming to provide offerings “more appropriately.” The first assessment period is set for Dec. 16, 2026, through Dec. 15, 2027. Those new categories will roll out starting April 2028. ANA
SFC PLUS members—who hit at least ¥3 million a year on ANA Card and ANA Pay—keep their ANA Lounge perks, pocket 5,000 miles, and stay at Star Alliance Gold. Anyone falling short of that spending lands in the new SFC LITE tier. They lose ANA Lounge entry and drop to Star Alliance Silver, though other ANA Group flight benefits (minus lounge access) are still on the table.
Star Alliance Gold status isn’t just about an ANA logo. The perks stretch across Star Alliance airlines, covering lounge entry, front-of-line check-in, speedier boarding, more bags, and priority baggage delivery. So, losing Gold can hit the value of an overseas journey just as hard as a domestic flight.
The rule covers current SFC cardholders as well. ANA says those falling short of ¥3 million won’t lose SFC status outright, but their tier will be reviewed annually. Family card spending can help meet the main member’s requirement. Anyone logging 1 million ANA Lifetime Miles on ANA Group-operated flights gets SFC PLUS no matter their card usage, but the 5,000-mile bonus remains tied to the ¥3 million benchmark.
Nikkei described the move this month as ANA requiring a ¥3 million annual spend for “upper-member” privileges, putting lounge access at the heart of the revamp. The summary isn’t gentle, yet it gets to the point: ANA is shifting what used to be a long-term perk into a yearly shot at holding on to status. Hatena Bookmark
The dispute is cropping up in unexpected places: FlyTeam, the Japanese aviation site, had a review just a day ago titled “Farewell SFC.” The post, focused on ANA Flight 572 from Wakkanai to Tokyo Haneda in May 2026, hints that ANA’s program shakeup isn’t just a hot topic on loyalty forums anymore—it’s seeping into broader flyer chatter. Flyteam
From a business standpoint, the logic stacks up, even if the customer-relations piece still looks murky. Back in January, ANA Holdings outlined plans to grow its fan base, bump up profitability in domestic passenger operations, and squeeze more value out of digital and related services. President and CEO Koji Shibata, for his part, labeled international passenger and cargo as “dual drivers” powering the group’s growth. Anahd
On May 13, Atsushi Ishikawa, who covers the mobile industry for K-tai Watch, pointed out that ANA has broadened its “economic zone” to take in ANA Pay, credit cards, and ANA Mobile. He also called attention to the ¥3 million card-spending requirement, describing it as a clear downgrade for lounge access. ケータイ Watch
Japan Airlines stands out as the main counterpart here. JAL’s Global Club relies on Life Status Points—collected across a traveler’s entire history—with JGC eligibility starting at 1,500 points. Lounge access comes with JGC membership. It’s not a perfect analogue, but ANA’s latest move throws the differences between the two airlines’ loyalty approaches into sharper relief.
For ANA, there’s a tradeoff: cleaner, less crowded lounges could chip away at trust among members who counted on SFC perks sticking around after they qualified. Some might start charging more to ANA cards just to hang on to SFC PLUS. Others could settle for SFC LITE, pay for third-party lounge access, or even try out JAL—though making the jump isn’t easy, since JAL’s elite status comes with its own hurdles.
ANA Holdings finished May 12 lower, slipping 1.38% to ¥2,789.50 in Tokyo. The market had closed before publication. No direct link to the SFC debate was apparent, though the loyalty program shift comes as investors eye airlines’ ability to translate revived travel demand into stickier, higher-margin business.
