How many points do you need to fly from Chicago to Tokyo?

Economy awards start around 35,000 points one-way on the best programs. Business class starts around 75,000 points. The best programs for this route are United MileagePlus, ANA Mileage Club.

Is it worth using points to fly Chicago to Tokyo?

Economy cash fares run around $850 and business runs around $5,500. At 35,000 points for economy you are getting roughly 2.4 cents per point, and at 75,000 for business you get roughly 7.3 cents per point. Business class is typically where points deliver the best return on this route.

Which credit cards earn points for Chicago to Tokyo flights?

The top programs for this route accept transfers from several major flexible-points currencies. United MileagePlus accepts transfers from Chase UR, Marriott Bonvoy. ANA Mileage Club accepts transfers from Amex MR, Marriott Bonvoy. Earning a single sign-up bonus on a premium travel card can cover one-way business class.

All award routes

Award Flight Guide 2026

Chicago to Tokyo Award Flights

Fly ORD to NRT starting from 35,000k points economy or 75,000k points business class. Here is how to book the best award on this route.

Economy from

35k pts

~2.4cpp

Business from

75k pts

~7.3cpp

Best program

United

top pick

Points cost by program

One-way saver award estimates. Actual availability varies.

Program	Economy	Business	Value	Search
United MileagePlusBest	35,000	75,000	~7.3cpp	Search
ANA Mileage Club	estimated	estimated	—	Search

Points shown are approximate published saver rates. Prices vary by date, availability, and program devaluations. Always confirm in your loyalty account before transferring.

Cash ticket comparison

Cash tickets on Chicago to Tokyo run roughly $850 economy and $5,500 business class (median round-trip). At those prices, a business-class award redemption delivers around 7.3 cents per point, beating the 1 cent baseline you would get from cash-back cards.

Best programs for Chicago to Tokyo

United MileagePlus

MileagePlus charges no carrier surcharges on Star Alliance partner awards and offers wide partner coverage. Dynamic pricing can be painful, but off-peak dates still surface excellent rates.

Chase URMarriott Bonvoy

ANA Mileage Club

ANA Mileage Club prices international business and first class at some of the lowest rates in the industry. The 55,000-mile one-way first-class rate (via Virgin Atlantic) is the best deal in the points world.

Amex MRMarriott Bonvoy

Tips for this route

United and ANA both operate nonstop ORD-NRT, giving two solid partner-booking options. a transfer partner prices the route without fuel surcharges on both carriers. Connecting through LAX or SFO opens up more award inventory.

+Search award space before transferring points. Transfers are non-reversible.
+Book at the 330-day mark for premium-cabin awards on this corridor; inventory is tightest within 30 days.
+Watch for transfer bonuses from Amex, Chase, or Capital One that can give you 20-30% more miles per dollar.
+Budget $50-$400 in cash taxes and fees on top of the points cost. Confirm before you transfer.

How to book this award

1
Confirm award space first. Search for availability on United MileagePlus or use our Trip Finder below before you move a single point.
2
Earn or transfer points. United MileagePlus accepts transfers from Chase UR, Marriott Bonvoy. Transfers usually land in minutes.
3
Book the moment the transfer lands. Award seats can disappear in minutes. Have your search results open when you initiate the transfer.
4
Pay taxes and fees. Most international awards carry $50-$400 in cash co-pays. Confirm the amount at checkout before committing to the transfer.

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Find the best program for this route

Our Trip Finder compares published award pricing across supported programs for ORD to NRT, so you can pick the likely best program and transfer path. Confirm seats with the airline before transferring points.

Search ORD to NRT awards

Common questions

How many points do you need to fly from Chicago to Tokyo?: Economy awards start around 35,000 points one-way on the best programs. Business class starts around 75,000 points. The best programs for this route are United MileagePlus, ANA Mileage Club.
Is it worth using points to fly Chicago to Tokyo?: Economy cash fares run around $850 and business runs around $5,500. At 35,000 points for economy you are getting roughly 2.4 cents per point, and at 75,000 for business you get roughly 7.3 cents per point. Business class is typically where points deliver the best return on this route.
What is the best loyalty program for Chicago to Tokyo award flights?: United MileagePlus is the top pick for this route. MileagePlus charges no carrier surcharges on Star Alliance partner awards and offers wide partner coverage. Dynamic pricing can be painful, but off-peak dates still surface excellent rates. Other strong options include ANA Mileage Club.
Which credit cards earn points for Chicago to Tokyo flights?: The top programs for this route accept transfers from several major flexible-points currencies. United MileagePlus accepts transfers from Chase UR, Marriott Bonvoy. ANA Mileage Club accepts transfers from Amex MR, Marriott Bonvoy. Earning a single sign-up bonus on a premium travel card can cover one-way business class.

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Award pricing and availability are set by each loyalty program and change without notice. Points figures on this page reflect published saver-level rates as of 2026. Always confirm pricing inside your loyalty account before transferring points. Transfers are non-reversible.