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All Nippon Airways is the largest airline in Japan, earning a 5-star rating from aviation ranking website Skytrax.
ANA unveiled new business and first class cabins in 2019, including “The Room” and “The Suite.”
I flew in “The Room” business class from New York to Tokyo and loved the privacy.
All Nippon Airways is the largest airline in Japan, beating out the country’s flag carrier Japan Airlines.
All Nippon Airways
Hit1912/Shutterstock
Source: ANA
ANA has been consistently named a 5-star airline by aviation ranking company Skytrax. In fact, it has earned the title every year since 2013.
An All Nippon Airways Airbus A380.
Airbus
Source: ANA
The carrier is known for its two premium products — “The Suite” in first class and “The Room” in business class, which were introduced in 2019 and are fitted onto Boeing 777-300ER aircraft.
“The Room” business class. ANA Holdings CEO Koji Shibata told Insider the new cabins are on nine of the carrier’s 13 Boeing 777-300ER international aircraft, but there are no concrete plans to add the products to the company’s Boeing 787s.
All Nippon Airways
Source: ANA
The cabins were created by British design company Acumen in collaboration with famous Japanese architect Kengo Kuma — who also designed the Tokyo Olympics National Stadium.
Japan National Stadium, the main venue for the 2020 Olympic Games.
CHARLY TRIBALLEAU / Getty Images
Source: ANA
“Our work focused on transforming the cabin experience by fusing the rich history and culture of Japan with modern design principles and technologies,” Acumen CEO Ian Dryburgh said.
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Source: ANA
I have been eager to try out the two products and was lucky to be given the opportunity to fly in “The Room” on a recent trip to Tokyo. Here’s what it was like.
Shibata explained the demand for business class is returning post-COVID and is “in line with our expectations.”
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My trip started at Terminal 7 in New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport. The departures lobby is small and I easily found ANA’s check-in counter located on the far right of the building.
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Thanks to my business class ticket, I was able to bypass the long line of economy passengers and check my bag within minutes.
This was the first time I’ve checked luggage on an international flight in years, and it fortunately didn’t go missing.
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The agent was extremely personable, giving a great first impression of ANA. She checked my passport and travel documents and I was on my way.
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Once I cleared security, I headed to the Club Lounge to kill time before my 2:05 p.m. flight. I thought the lounge, which is used by a handful of carriers, had great food and drink options, though the showers weren’t open.
My business class ticket on ANA got me access to the lounge.
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After some curry chicken and a Brooklyn Lager, I headed to Gate 6. I was in the second group to board the Boeing 777-300ER behind first class travelers and diamond loyalty members.
Not all of ANA’s Boeing 777-300ERs are configured with the new seats.
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I made my way to seat 13A — a rear-facing window seat. I’ve flown in a lot of business classes, but this was the first time I’ve flown facing backward.
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I’ll admit I was a little nervous at first, but it ended up being perfectly fine and I didn’t experience any nausea. I did have to wear a cross-chest seatbelt for takeoff and landing though.
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After boarding, the flight attendants came around with sparkling wine and orange juice as I settled into my seat.
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ANA’s business cabin is in a 1x2x1 layout, meaning all 64 seats have direct-aisle access…
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…and the middle section does have a privacy divider.
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Exploring “The Room,” I was immediately impressed by the size of the seat.
The seat behind me — 14A — which is forward facing.
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It was so wide it felt more like a couch, so I had plenty of space to spread out.
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But that was just the start. The product also came with a giant 24-inch 4K touchscreen TV…
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…a large tray table, which pulled out from under the TV and was out of the way of the bed…
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…two USB ports and a universal outlet…
One USB port and the power outlet could be accessed by flipping the bottom of the cubby door up. The second USB was on the armrest next to the window.
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…and plenty of storage. This includes under the footrest…
This area has to be clear during takeoff and landing, including the space under the footrest.
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…a cubby next to the TV with pockets and a mirror…
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…and a small shelf under the screen.
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There was also a handheld remote…
The remote could be stored when not in use. I could pair my phone to the TV to use as a remote as well.
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…plush linens, slippers, an amenity kit, and headphones…
The headphones had good sound quality, but I wish the ears were bigger. I’ve seen better headphones on other carriers.
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…soft, long-sleeve pajamas…
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…an adjustable window shade…
The window shade had three settings: fully open, one shade down to let in some light, and two shades down (pictured) to black out the sun.
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…and lighting throughout the space, including one on either side of the seat and a dining light by the TV.
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But, “The Room” wouldn’t live up to its name without the coveted privacy door — which was my favorite part of the entire seat.
The door fully enclosed.
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I could open and close the door at the push of a button, and there was also an option to close off just half of the entry.
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The cocooned space honestly felt more like a mini hotel room complete with food and entertainment on the 14-hour flight to Japan.
The closed doors created a cocoon for travelers.
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Shortly after takeoff, the cabin crew started the first meal service. ANA has a diverse menu with both Japanese and international food, like sashimi, miso soup, beef fillet, and roasted halibut.
Travelers could choose either Japanese or international cuisine.
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I opted for the Japanese cuisine, which came with edamame and a mushroom salad to start…
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…followed by a second course of seafood, ahi tuna, and green pea tofu.
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I ordered red wine, which came with a selection of cheese, as well as hot green tea to go with my meal.
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The main course came next, which was grilled fish, rice, and miso soup. As expected, the food was amazing and easily on par with competitors like Singapore Airlines.
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Granted, I love Japanese food, but the tofu and seafood may not be for everyone — I’d opt for the international option if you don’t like fish.
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For dessert, we were served vanilla ice cream and fruit. It was simple, but satisfied my sweet tooth.
The fruit was watermelon, pineapple, and kiwi.
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But, I definitely preferred Singapore’s floating island, which is probably the best dessert I’ve ever had on a plane.
Singapore’s “floating island” egg white dome with almonds and vanilla custard.
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After the first meal, I closed the privacy door, turned on Ready Player One — one of the dozens of good movie titles available — and got ready for a nap.
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As I adjusted the seat into lay-flat position, I noticed all of the different modes it can be set to thanks to a little dial and buttons.
The seat can be lowered or raised, moved forward or backward, reclined, or lay flat.
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I got the bed set up and was happy to see it was much larger than the typical single bed seen on many western carriers.
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I had an insane amount of room to spread out, meaning I could lay on my back, side, or stomach. And it was so private, I honestly forgot I was on a plane.
The bed was so big I could fit me, two pillows, my purse, and my water bottle on it.
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My only complaint is I wish the foot space was deeper. At only 5’3″, I had enough room to extend my legs fully out, but taller travelers made need to sleep at an angle.
Sitting at an angle with my legs extended out.
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After sleeping, I worked for a few hours, though I was disappointed that business class didn’t come with free WiFi — I had to pay $22 for the full flight.
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I also ordered some bread and butter off the a-la-carte menu — an appreciated perk. Food could be ordered anytime after the first meal service.
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Halfway into the 14-hour trek, I headed to the lavatory, which featured a full-body mirror and toiletries…
Toiletries included a toothbrush and toothpaste set and mouthwash.
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…and it even had a bidet. This makes sense considering ANA is a Japanese carrier, but I was still shocked to see it.
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The second meal service started two hours before landing. I wasn’t too hungry, so I opted for a small bowl of ramen noodles off the a-la-carte menu.
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But, ANA does have another set of Japanese and international dishes available, like beef and spinach lasagna and simmered mackerel.
The menu for the second meal service.
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We were on the ground in Tokyo about an hour and a half later, landing at 5:30 p.m. local time the following day. Customs took about an hour and 15 minutes to clear.
Immigration was insane with hundreds of people, so budget time if you have something planned once you arrive in Japan.
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Despite flipping my body clock, I felt good getting off the plane. I only napped for about five hours, so I was able to sleep through my first night in Japan and get over the jet lag quickly.
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Overall, I loved “The Room” and think in many ways it beats Singapore’s Airbus A350 business class product — particularly for privacy. Singapore’s cabin doesn’t have a sliding door.
Other competitors like Delta Air Lines and United Airlines have nice business class products, but the beds are more narrow.
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Moreover, the service was impeccable — my tea cup was always filled and the flight attendants made sure I was never hungry.
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While Insider paid a media rate, I think the upgrade to “The Room” is worth the money for those that can afford it — especially when trekking halfway across the world.
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