Flying ANA’s ‘the Room’ Business Class From New York to Japan; Review

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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…

…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.

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

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.