After flying ANA's "The Room" from San Francisco and a 3-hour layover at the Narita ANA Lounge, it was time for the final leg to Singapore. A 6-hour hop in ANA Business Class. This was my first time going to Southeast Asia and I was genuinely excited, and a little nervous about the heat.
Here is the honest review of this older ANA Business Class product on the Narita to Singapore route, including how the Japanese and Western meals compare. If you have only ever seen reviews of ANA The Room, this is a useful companion: a look at what ANA's standard business class cabin looks and feels like on a medium-haul Asian route.
We booked this flight as part of a multi-leg ANA award redemption, connecting from the SFO to Narita long-haul segment onto this Narita to Singapore leg. ANA's network through Narita is excellent for reaching Southeast Asia, and the business class experience across both segments was consistent in some ways and very different in others.
The Seat and Amenities
Going from "The Room" (ANA's newest Business Class) to this older cabin is a noticeable step down, but I had read reviews before boarding and was prepared. It was actually more comfortable than I expected.
Space: Plenty of legroom for me at 5'1". The seat itself is wider than economy in a way that actually registers, which sounds obvious but is not always true on shorter haul business products. There is a convenient spot to tuck shoes and bags under the footrest, which kept the floor area clean and open. I appreciated not having to shove my bag into the overhead at boarding and then dig it back out mid-flight.
Amenities: No pre-packaged kit bag here. The flight attendants come through with a basket so you can pick what you need: toothbrush sets, slippers with a shoehorn, bottled water, and ANA-branded Panasonic headsets. I actually liked this approach better than receiving a fixed kit full of products I would not use. You take what you want and leave the rest.
Entertainment: This is where the age shows. The remote is old school and the screen was slow and not very responsive. I jabbed at it a few times before it registered. Plenty of movie options, but a lot of scrolling to find them. On a 6-hour flight there is enough time to watch a full movie and a half, so having choices matters. We found what we wanted eventually. Standard reading lights, a USB port, and a power outlet covered the basics.
The lavatory: Standard size but well-stocked: mouthwash, face sheets, toothbrushes, and a bidet toilet. The face sheets were a nice touch on a night flight. I used one about halfway through and felt like a new person.
One note on the seat configuration: this older product does not have the privacy door that The Room offers. The seats are angled flat with a partial divider between you and the aisle, which works fine but is a different feeling from the enclosed suite experience. For a 6-hour flight, it is plenty.
Inflight Dining: Japanese vs. Western
We started with DIY mimosas by mixing the welcome champagne with orange juice. This is one of our standard moves on any business class flight that serves champagne. It makes the drink lighter, a little sweeter, and it means you can have two without committing to two full glasses of champagne at the start of a flight. We tried a Campari cocktail later, which was not a favorite. The bitterness was too strong without enough sweetness to balance it. We went back to mimosas.
Vincent and I ordered different meals so we could compare both options. We do this intentionally on every flight where the menu gives us something to work with.
The amuse-bouche (both): Same for both of us, included gizzard. The texture was too unusual for either of us to enjoy. We both tried it and moved on without finishing it. Not a dealbreaker, just not for us.
Japanese meal (Vincent's choice): This was the clear winner. The sashimi was incredibly fresh. I was not expecting sashimi of that quality on a medium-haul route, and it genuinely surprised me. The miso fish was well-seasoned without being salty. The flavors were layered and clean. The beef was excellent: tender, with a savory glaze that worked well alongside the rice. Every component of the Japanese meal felt intentional and well-executed. Vincent cleaned his plate and then looked at mine.
Western meal (my choice): Good presentation and the appetizers were refreshing. A nice salad, cleanly dressed. But the bread came with rock-hard butter that never softened. I let it sit for the entire meal and it stayed cold and unyielding. The main fish dish was tough and dry. I ate about half and gave up. This was not a bad meal in an absolute sense, but next to the Japanese option, it did not stand a chance.
Recommendation: Order the Japanese menu without hesitation. On this older product, just as on The Room, the Japanese kitchen is where ANA's culinary effort is concentrated.
Making the Bed
Business Class on this flight means no turndown service: you set up your own bed. There is a mattress pad you lay down yourself before reclining fully flat, plus a pillow and a light comforter. The process takes about 90 seconds and is straightforward. For a 6-hour flight, we just took a quick nap rather than a full sleep cycle. The flat bed was comfortable enough that I actually fell asleep faster than I expected, even with the cabin noise and the older seat.
If you are doing this flight as a connection (as we were), my advice is to use the first hour for eating, the middle 4 hours for sleeping, and the last hour for landing prep. Six hours moves quickly in business class.
ANA Crew: Consistently Excellent
One thing that carries across both the long-haul and medium-haul ANA products is the crew. The flight attendants on this Narita to Singapore leg were attentive, warm, and detail-oriented in the same way we had experienced on the SFO to Narita flight. They checked in without hovering, offered refills before we had to ask, and handled the meal service efficiently without rushing.
This consistency matters. The seat product on this older cabin may not match The Room, but the service level does. ANA's cabin crew reputation is well-earned and holds up across cabin classes and routes.
Tips for Booking ANA Business Class: Narita to Singapore
How to book with points: The Narita to Singapore route is bookable as part of an ANA award ticket through multiple partner programs. If you are flying in from North America, the easiest move is to book the entire itinerary as a single ANA award: US West Coast to Japan to Southeast Asia. This often prices better than booking legs separately, and it protects your connection time in case of delays.
Which cabin to expect: ANA operates multiple aircraft types on the Narita to Singapore route. If you want The Room, check the equipment carefully. The 787-9 and 777-300ER long-haul configurations differ from the shorter regional aircraft. Seat maps on ANA's booking site will show you what to expect.
Pre-order meals: Yes, even on this 6-hour segment. Japanese meal options on popular routes still go fast. Log in to your booking after ticketing and lock in your choice.
Is It Worth It?
For a 6-hour connection flight at the end of a long-haul transpacific journey, this older ANA business class product is genuinely comfortable. It is not The Room. The seat is older, the entertainment is clunkier, and there is no privacy door. But the flat bed is real, the Japanese food is legitimately good, the crew is excellent, and arriving in Singapore rested and well-fed makes a real difference after 20+ hours of travel.
If you are already flying ANA for the long-haul SFO to Narita leg, connecting onto this product is a smooth continuation. You adjust your expectations slightly for the smaller cabin, enjoy the sashimi, take the nap, and land in Singapore ready to go.
Verdict
The in-flight entertainment is clunky and the Western food is not worth ordering, but the flight itself was smooth and the flight attendants were friendly and attentive throughout. For a 6-hour connection to Singapore, it is a comfortable way to fly. Just order the Japanese meal, make yourself a mimosa, and take the nap. You will land at Changi in good shape.
