Walk Your Way to Miles: ANA and JAL’s Official Walking Apps
Walk, ride, or commute your way to airline miles with ANA Pocket and JAL Wellness and Travel—Japan’s official walking apps from its legacy carriers. Whether you prefer ANA’s movement-based tracking or JAL’s step-count and health content, both apps reward you for staying active. With location-based challenges and mileage conversion features, your daily routine can become a travel strategy. Learn how to earn miles without flying, and which app suits your lifestyle best. Your next reward starts with your next step.
If you’re already walking around Japan every day, why not earn airline miles while you’re at it? Japan’s two legacy carriers—Japan Airlines (JAL) and All Nippon Airways (ANA)—have each developed their own walking apps that reward users for staying active.
These apps are available on both the Apple App Store and Google Play, and they’re designed to turn your daily movement into travel rewards.
Launched in June 2020 by JAL Brand Communications Co., Ltd., this app allows users to earn JAL miles based on the number of steps they take each day. What sets it apart is its integration of health-related educational content, making it a wellness companion as well as a mileage tool.
To use the app, a paid subscription is required from the start. While this may be a barrier for some, the app’s consistent mile-earning structure and added health features make it a solid option for JAL Mileage Bank members.
ANA Pocket was released in December 2021 by ANA X, Inc. Unlike JAL’s app, ANA Pocket rewards users not just for walking, but for any kind of movement—including public transport, cycling, and even driving. It’s a more dynamic system that tracks your mobility and converts it into ANA Pocket Points, which can then be exchanged for ANA miles.
ANA Pocket is free to use, but subscribing to the Pro version unlocks higher earning rates and exclusive challenges. It’s a flexible option for those who want to earn miles without committing to a paid plan upfront.
Shared Features: Both apps offer location-based challenges that reward users for checking in at specific places—airports, parks, shops, and events. These gamified features make walking more engaging and help users rack up points faster.
Whether you’re loyal to ANA or JAL, these apps offer a low-effort way to build your mileage balance while staying active. And the best part? You’re earning miles without flying or spending on credit cards.
In future posts, we’ll take a closer look at each app—how to set them up, optimize your movement, and decide which one fits your travel goals best.