I flew in business class on Japan's biggest airline for 14 hours and the seat felt more like a hotel room

Taylor RainsApr 2, 2023, 16:08 IST

Taylor Rains/Insider

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."

All Nippon Airways is the largest airline in Japan, beating out the country's flag carrier Japan Airlines.

All Nippon AirwaysHit1912/Shutterstock

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

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

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 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

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.

"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.

Taylor Rains/Insider

"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.

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."Taylor Rains/Insider

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.

Taylor Rains/Insider

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.

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.Taylor Rains/Insider

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.

Taylor Rains/Insider

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.Taylor Rains/Insider

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.

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.Taylor Rains/Insider

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.

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.

Taylor Rains/Insider

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.

Taylor Rains/Insider

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.

After boarding, the flight attendants came around with sparkling wine and orange juice as I settled into my seat.

Taylor Rains/Insider

ANA's business cabin is in a 1x2x1 layout, meaning all 64 seats have direct-aisle access…

Taylor Rains/Insider

…and the middle section does have a privacy divider.

Taylor Rains/Insider

Exploring "The Room," I was immediately impressed by the size of the seat.

The seat behind me — 14A — which is forward facing.Taylor Rains/Insider

It was so wide it felt more like a couch, so I had plenty of space to spread out.

Taylor Rains/Insider

But that was just the start. The product also came with a giant 24-inch 4K touchscreen TV…

Taylor Rains/Insider

…a large tray table, which pulled out from under the TV and was out of the way of the bed…

Taylor Rains/Insider

…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.Taylor Rains/Insider

…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.Taylor Rains/Insider

…a cubby next to the TV with pockets and a mirror...

Taylor Rains/Insider

…and a small shelf under the screen.

Taylor Rains/Insider

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.Taylor Rains/Insider

…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.Taylor Rains/Insider

…soft, long-sleeve pajamas…

Taylor Rains/Insider

…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.Taylor Rains/Insider

…and lighting throughout the space, including one on either side of the seat and a dining light by the TV.

Taylor Rains/Insider

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.Taylor Rains/Insider

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.

Taylor Rains/Insider

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.Taylor Rains/Insider

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.Taylor Rains/Insider

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.

I opted for the Japanese cuisine, which came with edamame and a mushroom salad to start…

Taylor Rains/Insider

…followed by a second course of seafood, ahi tuna, and green pea tofu.

Taylor Rains/Insider

I ordered red wine, which came with a selection of cheese, as well as hot green tea to go with my meal.

Taylor Rains/Insider

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.

Taylor Rains/Insider

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.

Taylor Rains/Insider

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.Taylor Rains/Insider

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.Taylor Rains/Inside

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.

Taylor Rains/Insider

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.Taylor Rains/Insider

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.

Taylor Rains/Insider

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.Taylor Rains/Insider

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.Taylor Rains/Insider

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.

Taylor Rains/Insider

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.

Taylor Rains/Insider

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.Taylor Rains/Insider

…and it even had a bidet. This makes sense considering ANA is a Japanese carrier, but I was still shocked to see it.

Taylor Rains/Insider

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.

Taylor Rains/Insider

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.Taylor Rains/Inside

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.Taylor Rains/Insider

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.

Taylor Rains/Insider

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.

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.Taylor Rains/Insider

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.

Moreover, the service was impeccable — my tea cup was always filled and the flight attendants made sure I was never hungry.

Taylor Rains/Insider

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.

Taylor Rains/Insider

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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I flew in business class on Japan's biggest airline for 14 hours and the seat felt more like a hotel room

All Nippon Airways is the largest airline in Japan, beating out the country's flag carrier Japan Airlines.

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.

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 cabins were created by British design company Acumen in collaboration with famous Japanese architect Kengo Kuma — who also designed the Tokyo Olympics National Stadium.

"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.

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.

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.

Thanks to my business class ticket, I was able to bypass the long line of economy passengers and check my bag within minutes.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

After boarding, the flight attendants came around with sparkling wine and orange juice as I settled into my seat.

ANA's business cabin is in a 1x2x1 layout, meaning all 64 seats have direct-aisle access…

…and the middle section does have a privacy divider.

Exploring "The Room," I was immediately impressed by the size of the seat.

It was so wide it felt more like a couch, so I had plenty of space to spread out.

But that was just the start. The product also came with a giant 24-inch 4K touchscreen TV…

…a large tray table, which pulled out from under the TV and was out of the way of the bed…

…two USB ports and a universal outlet…

…and plenty of storage. This includes under the footrest…

…a cubby next to the TV with pockets and a mirror...

…and a small shelf under the screen.

There was also a handheld remote…

…plush linens, slippers, an amenity kit, and headphones…

…soft, long-sleeve pajamas…

…an adjustable window shade…

…and lighting throughout the space, including one on either side of the seat and a dining light by the TV.

But, "The Room" wouldn't live up to its name without the coveted privacy door — which was my favorite part of the entire seat.

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.

The cocooned space honestly felt more like a mini hotel room complete with food and entertainment on the 14-hour flight to Japan.

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.

I opted for the Japanese cuisine, which came with edamame and a mushroom salad to start…

…followed by a second course of seafood, ahi tuna, and green pea tofu.

I ordered red wine, which came with a selection of cheese, as well as hot green tea to go with my meal.

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.

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.

For dessert, we were served vanilla ice cream and fruit. It was simple, but satisfied my sweet tooth.

But, I definitely preferred Singapore's floating island, which is probably the best dessert I've ever had on a plane.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Halfway into the 14-hour trek, I headed to the lavatory, which featured a full-body mirror and toiletries…

…and it even had a bidet. This makes sense considering ANA is a Japanese carrier, but I was still shocked to see it.

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.

But, ANA does have another set of Japanese and international dishes available, like beef and spinach lasagna and simmered mackerel.

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.

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.

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.

Moreover, the service was impeccable — my tea cup was always filled and the flight attendants made sure I was never hungry.

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.