ANA Business Class & The Room: The Complete UK Guide (2026)

The Room is the largest business class seat in the world — wider than some airlines' first class, with a closing door and a bed you can genuinely turn over in. ANA's business class is Japan's answer to Qsuite, and for UK travellers heading to Tokyo it is the standout option.

About ANA

All Nippon Airways was founded in 1952 and is Japan's largest airline, based at Tokyo Haneda and Narita. It holds a five-star rating from the major industry rating agencies and has done so consistently for over a decade — a distinction shared by very few carriers worldwide.

ANA was the launch customer for the Boeing 787 Dreamliner and operates one of the largest 787 fleets in the world. Its reputation rests less on spectacle than on precision: punctuality, cleanliness, and a service culture rooted in Japanese hospitality standards.

It is a Star Alliance member alongside Singapore Airlines, Lufthansa, Swiss and United.

ANA's principal competitor on UK–Japan routes is Japan Airlines, which is a oneworld member — meaning JAL takes Avios and ANA does not. For Avios holders this single fact often decides the booking.

ANA Business Class at a Glance

The Room: The Biggest Business Seat in the World

ANA introduced The Room in 2019 on refitted 777-300ERs and it remains, by a clear margin, the largest business class seat any airline flies.

The dimensions are the story. At up to 38 inches wide, The Room is over half again as wide as Singapore's 25-inch seat, which was previously the widest in business. It is wider than most airlines' first class.

What that width actually gets you

It means you can turn over in bed. On most business class flat beds you sleep in a channel and rolling onto your side is awkward. In The Room there is genuine lateral space, which for side sleepers is transformative on a twelve-hour flight.

It also means the ottoman opposite is usable as a second seat, so a companion can sit with you and eat facing you.

The door and privacy

A full sliding door closes the suite from the aisle. Combined with high walls, The Room is one of the most genuinely private business class products flying — comparable to Qsuite and arguably better given the extra space.

Screen and storage

The screen is up to 24 inches in 4K, among the largest in business class. Storage is generous — multiple enclosed compartments, a large side surface and ample power including USB-C.

The trade-off

Seat width comes at the cost of cabin density, so The Room is fitted to a limited number of aircraft. Availability on any given date is the constraint — this is the thing to plan around.

The Staggered Seat: What Else You Might Get

ANA's other business product, on 787s and unrefitted aircraft, is a staggered 1-2-1 layout. Every passenger has direct aisle access, the bed is fully flat, and the seat is comfortable — but there is no door, the width is conventional, and the screen is smaller.

It is a perfectly good business class, roughly comparable to United Polaris or Cathay's reverse herringbone. It simply is not The Room, and the gap between the two is the largest of any airline in this guide.

This is the key booking decision with ANA. Unlike Cathay or Delta, where the two products are close, the difference between The Room and the staggered seat is enormous. If you are paying business class money to Japan, confirming The Room on your dates is worth real effort — we check this on every ANA booking.

Which Aircraft Has The Room

London Heathrow to Tokyo is typically operated by the 777-300ER, which gives a reasonable chance of The Room — but not a guarantee. Check the specific service and re-confirm 48 hours before departure, as ANA does substitute aircraft.

Best Seats by Traveller Type

Food and Drink

ANA offers a choice of Japanese and Western menus and the Japanese option is the reason to fly the airline. The washoku multi-course meal is served in proper sequence with individual dishes — sashimi, simmered items, rice and miso — and it is prepared to a standard most restaurants outside Japan do not reach.

ANA's Connoisseurs programme brings in acclaimed Japanese chefs to design menus that rotate seasonally, reflecting the Japanese emphasis on seasonal ingredients.

The advice from frequent flyers is unambiguous: order Japanese, particularly on the outbound from Tokyo where the catering is freshest.

Sake is a genuine feature rather than an afterthought — a curated selection with tasting notes, and crew who can advise. There is also a full wine list and champagne. ANA's soup and noodle offerings between meals are well regarded, and the Japanese curry is something of a cult item among regular passengers.

Amenities, Sleep and Service

Bedding is a mattress topper, duvet and pillow, all well made. In The Room the extra width means the bedding actually has space to work with, which matters more than the thread count.

Amenity kits are thoughtfully assembled and ANA provides slippers as standard — a small Japanese touch that passengers consistently appreciate.

Service is ANA's defining quality. Japanese hospitality standards produce a level of attentiveness, politeness and precision that is difficult to match. Crew are unfailingly courteous without being intrusive, and consistency across flights is exceptionally high.

The style is formal and understated — closer to Singapore than to Emirates or Virgin. If you prefer warmth and chat, this may read as distant; if you prefer to be looked after impeccably and left alone, it is close to ideal.

Wi-Fi is free on most long-haul aircraft, which places ANA alongside Qatar, Singapore and Delta, and ahead of BA, Virgin and United.

Tokyo Lounges: Haneda and Narita

ANA operates its own lounges at both Tokyo airports and they are very good — clean, calm, well staffed, with a strong Japanese food offering including noodle counters and proper sushi.

The ANA Lounge at Haneda is the more convenient for most travellers, Haneda being closer to central Tokyo than Narita. Above it sits the ANA Suite Lounge for first class and top-tier members.

ANA lounges are not as visually spectacular as Cathay's Pier or as indulgent as Qatar's Al Mourjan, but the food quality and the calm are excellent. The noodle counter is the thing to seek out.

At London Heathrow, ANA uses Terminal 2 and passengers access a Star Alliance partner lounge rather than an ANA facility — the same position as United. It is a step below BA's Galleries or Virgin's Clubhouse.

A note on Tokyo airports: Haneda is much closer to the city than Narita, roughly 30 to 45 minutes versus 60 to 90. If ANA offers you a choice, Haneda is almost always the better arrival point.

Baggage Allowance

ANA Mileage Club and Star Alliance

ANA Mileage Club runs on ANA miles with status tiers Bronze, Platinum and Diamond. Platinum and above deliver Star Alliance Gold.

For UK travellers:

• Avios do not work. ANA is Star Alliance. If you hold Avios and want to fly to Japan, Japan Airlines is the oneworld alternative that accepts them.
• Amex transfers work into ANA Mileage Club, which is the practical UK earning route.
• ANA's round-the-world award is widely considered one of the best value premium redemptions in existence, if you have the miles and the flexibility.
• Star Alliance miles from United MileagePlus, Lufthansa Miles & More or Singapore KrisFlyer can all book ANA.
• ANA miles expire after three years regardless of activity — the same hard cutoff as KrisFlyer.

Award availability in business is reasonable outside Japanese holiday periods. Avoid Golden Week in late April to early May, Obon in August, and New Year, when domestic demand is intense.

Routes from the UK

ANA serves London Heathrow Terminal 2 with daily flights to Tokyo, serving both Haneda and Narita. Flight time is around thirteen to fourteen hours.

From Tokyo, ANA's network covers Japan comprehensively — Osaka, Sapporo, Fukuoka, Okinawa and dozens of regional cities — plus onward connections across Asia to Singapore, Bangkok, Hong Kong and Shanghai.

If Japan is your destination, ANA's domestic connections on a single ticket are a genuine advantage — the regional network is dense and the through-fare protects your connection.

ANA vs Qatar vs Singapore

Short version: if you get The Room, it is arguably the best business class seat in the world and no competitor is close on space. The catch is that you might not get it. Qatar and Singapore deliver a more predictable outcome. For Japan specifically, ANA's nonstop routing, domestic network and Japanese catering make it the natural choice — just confirm the aircraft.

How to Book ANA Business Class

UK–Japan fares are cheapest in the winter months outside the New Year period, and again in the shoulder seasons of late spring and autumn. Note that autumn is peak season for visitors chasing the leaf colours, so book early if that is your plan.

Avoid Golden Week in late April to early May, Obon in mid-August and the New Year period — Japanese domestic demand makes these the most expensive and most crowded weeks of the year.

Book 4 to 7 months ahead. Cherry blossom season in late March and early April books out particularly far in advance.

The single most valuable thing to plan around is The Room. As a consolidator we hold negotiated ANA fares, identify which services are scheduled with refitted 777-300ERs on your dates, and confirm the aircraft in writing before you pay.

Related Reading

• Singapore Airlines Business Class: The Complete UK Guide
• Cathay Pacific Business Class: The Complete UK Guide
• Qatar Airways Business Class & Qsuite: The Complete UK Guide
• Business Class Flights to Tokyo

Written by the Travel Business First team. ATOL 10713. Fares and product details verified July 2026 and subject to change — aircraft substitutions can occur, so re-check your equipment type 48 hours before departure. Official airline information: ana.co.jp. Consumer protection: CAA ATOL.