ANA, also known as All Nippon Airways, is Japan’s largest airline. It’s known for its exquisite Japanese dishes and spotless cabins. The airline started rolling out its newest business class product, The Room, in 2019—rivaling Qatar Airways’ top-of-the-line Q-suites.
ANA has won many SKYTRAX awards, including World’s Cleanest Airline, Best Airport Services, Best Airline Staff, and Best First Class Lounge in Asia. They also placed 3rd for Global Airline of the Year and are among the few international airlines with a 5-star rating from Skytrax.
In the air, business class passengers can expect courteous and attentive service. Meals are a highlight with beautifully plated Japanese kaiseki (traditional multi-course Japanese meal) style fare served on Japanese china. Alongside top-shelf alcohol options are a variety of Japanese beers, sake, shochu, and more.
What to know about ANA business class
Business class is available on most ANA flights, but there are different configurations depending on the plane.
The newest business class product, The Room, is only available on about 60% of their newer Boeing 777-300ERs. Currently, these can be found routing from Tokyo Haneda (HND) to Los Angeles (LAX), Chicago (ORD), New York (JFK), and London (LHR) or from Tokyo Narita (NRT) to Chicago (ORD) and Los Angeles (LAX). If you’re looking for complete privacy, The Room is one of the few business-class products that feature a closed space with a door. (We’ll fill you in on how to tell if you’re flying a plane with this new product)
Whether you’re flying The Room or the carrier’s older business class product, prepare to be pampered by the flight attendants on any of ANA’s business class flights.
Real deals found by Going in ANA business class
- New York to Jakarta in The Room for $2,668 roundtrip
- Portland to Seoul in The Room for $2,830 roundtrip
- LA to Tokyo for $3,059 roundtrip
The ANA business class experience at the airport
ANA business class lounge access
ANA operates four branded lounges in Japan: Narita, Haneda, Kansai, and Honolulu, Hawaii. Visitors can expect a selection of hot buffet menu items and beverage options, including alcoholic choices, sodas, and self-service coffee. Generally, there are also private work areas, massage chair-lined relaxation rooms, and showers.
At Tokyo-Haneda, three lounges premiered in 2020, the Ana Suite Lounge for first class and business class passengers can access the 900-seat Ana Lounge, and ANA Arrival Lounge. The ANA Arrival Lounge targets passengers who must head directly from the airport to the office; featuring 18 showers, a footbath overlooking the runway, and light meals and snacks.
Outside the four branded lounges, business-class travelers in the United States and beyond will access an ANA-affiliated lounge. For instance, I enjoyed pre-flight drinks at the Star Alliance Lounge at LAX.
Check-in for ANA business class
ANA provides a separate check-in line for business-class passengers, and Star Alliance gold members can also check in here. Make sure to check in with one of these dedicated agents for your flight for specific business class details such as lounge directions or to make sure you get your priority luggage tags.
Baggage allowance for ANA business class
Business class fares include a priority baggage tag for all checked luggage, preceded by first-class bags upon arrival at the baggage claim. Included are two checked bags up to 32 kilos / 70 pounds (total length cannot exceed 158cm / 62 inches, including wheels and handle.) Carryon luggage can be up to 10 kilos / 22 pounds and includes one personal item.
The ANA business class experience in the air
Hopefully, you'll snag a flight with All Nippon Airways' newest business class product, The Room. These seats come with doors, and ample personal space—one of the world's most sizeable business-class airplane seats, and all long-haul flights have lie-flat seats.
Seats in ANA business class
- A380: The A380 features 56 cozy business-class seats on the upper deck behind the first-class section and in front of the premium economy section. The seat pitch is 62 inches, and the length is 21 inches for these lie-flat seats. Seating is 1-2-1, and movable partitions are available for the paired seats. ANA has just three of these planes that fly between Tokyo and Honolulu.
- 777-300ERs: Currently, nine of the 15 Boeing 777-300ER in ANA's fleet feature the upgraded first and business class, The Suite and The Room. These upgraded seats are not available on any other aircraft in the fleet. These new business class seats follow first class in a 1-2-1 configuration. If you're lucky enough to score The Room for your business class seat, seats are configured in an alternating rear and forward-facing configuration for extra privacy. To determine if you’re flying The Room, look up your flight on the ANA website; the business class will be labeled The Room.
- 787-10: Business class is at the front with no first-class seating. The first two seats are set up 1-1, and the rest are in a 1-2-1 configuration. These are comfortable lie-flat seats with direct aisle access and 62-inch bed length and 21-inch width.
- 787-8: There is no first-class section on these planes, and there are several different business class seat layouts, including both reclining and lie-flat seats, including an alternating 1-2-1 and 1-1-1 set up are 2-2-2 style seats. These planes are often used en route to the U.S. Although comfortable; these business class seats are smaller on average than other ANA planes.
- 787-9: There are two layouts available on ANA’s 787-9, which flies to the U.S., either 1-2-1 or 2-2-2, for these lie-flat or reclining seats.
Benefits of flying ANA business class
ANA business guests receive priority boarding, check-in, baggage, and lounge access. Toilets in some of the business-class lavatories also include bidets. Before take-off, flight attendants offer a welcome drink, hot towels, and bottled water. They’ll also explain seat features and take your meal order.
The business class amenity gift includes face mist and lip balm from the Japanese brand SHIRO, a toothbrush, toothpaste, an eye mask, and earplugs. Pajamas are not included, but a comfortable cardigan is available for rent (free of charge). Scented wet towels handed out feature ANA’s original aroma blends designed for relaxation.
Overall the cabin has an understated elegance, and seats come with comfortable bedding, a cloud-like Nishikawa Air Cyclone® bed pad, a down comforter, and a two-layer pillow filled with feathers and springy polyurethane foam.
Meals in ANA business class
Business class passengers can order their meals before the flight, and ANA features one of the best meals in the sky. There is a choice between a Japanese and Western option, and like traditional Japanese kaiseki cuisine, the meals change with the seasons. The Western course features a three-course plated menu, including bread service. The Japanese option features a wide array of small bites and appetizers, in addition to the entree, served in three courses. Vegetarian and other special dietary meals are available to be ordered in advance.
A sample menu from Narita to Honolulu includes the Japanese option of a zensai: a selection of Japanese hors d’oeuvres, a simmered eel appetizer, beef sukiyaki main, and a chocolate mousse cake. The Western choice features a pumpkin and smoked duck appetizer, grilled halibut for the main, bread service, and the same dessert option. Light dishes are available anytime, including a sandwich set, cheese plate, Häagen-Dazs ice cream, udon noodles, and more.
ANA business class alcohol
Business class fare includes complimentary alcohol. There is a curated wine selection and top-shelf alcohol choices like Johnnie Walker Blue Label and Bombay Sapphire, and Japanese options like beer and sake. The standard selection of non-alcoholic beverages is also available, including non-alcoholic beer.
ANA business class vs. first class
First Class guests flying with ANA suite lounge access a separate lounge when flying out of Narita, Haneda, Kansai, and Honolulu. They also have first-class priority baggage and first-class boarding and are the first to disembark. Additional perks include free wi-fi, upgraded bedding, pajama loungewear to take home, and the amenity kit contains products from high-end Japanese brand Ginza. The meal consists of a caviar course, and even more personalized service, and seating is quite a bit roomier—in length, width, and reclined or lie flat space.
How to book ANA business class
How much does it cost for a business class ticket on ANA?
The price of tickets varies depending on the season, holidays, route, and more. A basic search of roundtrip fares from New York to Japan starts around $5,000 to $6,000. Going has found our members cheap flights in the $3,000s, even for The Room.
How to upgrade to business class of ANA for free
It's unlikely that you'll get upgraded to ANA business class for free. However, if you have Star Alliance partner miles and are traveling in economy or premium economy, it's possible to upgrade to business class. Occasionally business class travelers can get upgraded to first class if the flight is overbooked, but it's unlikely.
How much does it cost to upgrade to business class on ANA?
Check your inbox the weeks before your flight; ANA sometimes sends discounted upgrade offers. The price ranges of the upgrade offers run the entire gamut.
How many miles to upgrade to ANA business class?
ANA Mileage Club members can upgrade from premium economy to business class for 28,000 miles from New York (JFK) and Tokyo (NRT). View their fixed award chart to determine the number of points needed to upgrade your segment.
Summary
ANA has always been one of the best business-class products in the sky, even more so now that they have The Room—some say it is better than Qatar Airways Qsuite. Here’s hoping they retire all of their older business-class seats and replace them with The Room. Regardless of which business-class product you experience on ANA, expect kind and attentive Japanese hospitality, tasty food, and spotless cabins; if you get The Room, it'll just be icing on the cake.
