For the first leg of our journey to Singapore, we flew ANA Business Class from San Francisco to Tokyo Narita. We managed to book seats in ANA's "The Room" configuration. I was secretly hoping for the Pokémon-liveried plane. We got the standard one. The experience was still unforgettable.
ANA, or All Nippon Airways, is one of Japan's two major carriers and consistently ranks among the best airlines in the world for business class. "The Room" is their flagship business class product, introduced on select 777-300ER aircraft. The name is literal: each seat is designed to feel like a private room, with closing doors, generous width, and a layout that gives you genuine privacy in a way that most business class cabins do not.
We booked this through United miles as a Star Alliance partner redemption, which is one of the best uses of United miles currently available. The cash price for ANA Business Class on this route can be significant, so booking through miles is the move if you can do it.
Pre-Flight: United Polaris Lounge at SFO
Traveling Business Class on a Star Alliance partner gave us access to the United Polaris Lounge at SFO.
The lounge is massive, with both a buffet and a sit-down dining room. The dining room is first-come, first-served: go put your name on the list the moment you check in. We waited about 45 minutes for a table, but the food and drinks were significantly better than the buffet. (We have a full dedicated review on the channel.)
The Polaris Lounge at SFO is one of the better business class lounges at a US airport. The sit-down dining room serves proper plated meals with wine pairings, and the quality is several steps above typical airport food. The 45-minute wait sounds long, but the food justified it and we were seated well before boarding began.
The buffet is also good if the dining room wait does not work with your timing. The soup and salad options were fresh when we visited and the dessert section was well-stocked. The lounge bar had a solid cocktail list and poured generously.
Boarding and First Impressions of The Room
When we boarded, my jaw dropped. "The Room" is genuinely spacious. To put it in perspective: two people can sit comfortably side by side in a single seat. The width felt comparable to Singapore Airlines First Class.
ANA has configured The Room in a 1-2-1 layout, meaning every seat has direct aisle access. No climbing over anyone. The seats alternate between window-facing and middle configurations. We chose middle seats positioned close together, with a privacy divider you can raise or lower depending on whether you want to talk to the person next to you.
The moment you sit down, the quality of the product is obvious. The seat surface is firm without being hard. The controls are intuitive. The storage around you is thoughtful: there are places to put things that actually make sense, not just a single pocket and a tray table.
Storage and tech: A mirrored cabinet, coat hook, reading lights, large tray table, standard power outlets, HDMI port, and USB ports. No USB-C ports. This is the only tech shortcoming: if your devices are primarily USB-C, bring a dongle.
The doors: There are actual sliding doors. Pull the latch, slide them shut, and you have complete privacy. This is the feature that separates The Room from most business class products. It is not a privacy screen or a shell. It is a door. When it is closed, you genuinely cannot see the person next to you and they cannot see you. For a 10-hour flight, this matters enormously.
Wi-Fi: Scratch-off card with a passcode. The connection runs around 3 Mbps. Do not expect to stream anything. Emails, barely. This is the weakest element of the product and it is not close. A flagship business class seat in 2024 with 3 Mbps Wi-Fi is a genuine miss. We watched downloaded content on our phones and did not bother with the in-flight entertainment after the first hour.
What It Is Like Flying Backwards
This was our first time facing backwards on a flight.
During takeoff, instead of being pressed into your seat, your body moves forward against the seatbelt. It genuinely felt like the first drop of a roller coaster viewed from the front car. Once airborne and cruising, you stop noticing it entirely. I found it fun rather than unsettling, but if you are prone to motion sickness, a backwards-facing seat might not be for you.
The backwards orientation actually has a safety advantage: rear-facing seats absorb forward impact better in the event of a crash. This is why some airlines, particularly in the UK, use rear-facing seats in their first and business class cabins. ANA uses it on The Room configuration, and after flying it once, the takeoff novelty is something I genuinely looked forward to on subsequent flights.
If you want the forward-facing version of The Room, check the seat map when booking. The configuration has both orientations.
Amenities and Pajamas
Globe-Trotter amenity kit: A hard-shell Globe-Trotter branded case containing an ANA eco-tote bag (useful internationally where plastic bags are often charged for), Aveda lip balm, and body lotion. The Globe-Trotter case itself is a collector's item: Globe-Trotter is a British luggage brand with a century of history, and the branded amenity kit is something you actually keep and use after the flight.
Pajamas: You have to ask for these explicitly. The flight attendants do not hand them out automatically. Comfortable long-sleeve shirt and pants. Worth asking for as soon as you board so you have time to change before the meal service starts. Sleeping in your own clothes on a 10-hour flight is noticeably less comfortable than sleeping in dedicated pajamas.
Slippers: Gray slippers with their own drawstring bag included. The bag is for your shoes, so airport dirt stays out of your suite. A thoughtful Japanese touch that exemplifies the kind of quiet consideration that runs through the entire product.
The lavatory: Compact but has a bidet. One warning: the provided face wipes are very strong and irritating. Skip them. This was the one amenity that fell short of expectations. The lavatory itself was clean and functional throughout the flight.
Making the Bed
Business Class means you set up your own bed. Mattress pad, pillow, and blanket provided. The mattress pad adds meaningful comfort: without it the seat surface is fine but with it the flat bed genuinely feels close to sleeping in a real bed.
The bed is very wide. Vincent is 5'9" and mentioned anyone over 6 feet might need to bend their legs slightly at the foot of the bed, but for most people the length is sufficient.
Skincare tip: we always wear a collagen sheet mask on long-haul flights. It keeps skin hydrated, does not drip, and you can sleep in it comfortably. The dry air on long-haul flights is genuinely brutal on your skin, and arriving in Japan looking like you have been on a red-eye for ten hours is less fun than arriving looking at least somewhat rested. The sheet mask is something we started doing two years ago and have never stopped.
The Food
We have a dedicated dining review covering everything in detail: ANA The Room Business Class Dining: Japanese vs. Western.
Short version: order the Japanese meal. The Western meal is fine, but the Japanese main (grilled rockfish with miso soup and rice) was exceptional. The mid-flight ramen broth was great; the noodles were a bit doughy. The second meal service before landing was better than the first round of appetizers.
The Japanese meal choice is the right call and should be your default on any ANA flight with a Japanese option. ANA's Japanese meal service reflects the level of care that goes into Japanese food culture: the presentation is careful, the portions are thoughtful, and the flavors are properly executed rather than simplified for mass service. This is not the same as getting ANA's food right on a domestic Japan flight, but on an international route it is still significantly better than the Western alternative.
The Crew
ANA's cabin crew on international routes is a genuine highlight of the product. The service is attentive without being intrusive, which is a balance that not every carrier gets right. We were checked on regularly without feeling watched. Requests were handled quickly and without any visible irritation.
The language competency of the international crew is also strong. English service was fluid and confident throughout the flight. The combination of natural warmth and genuine professionalism that characterizes Japanese hospitality in general shows up clearly in the cabin.
Practical Tips for Booking ANA The Room
- Book with United miles: One of the best Star Alliance redemptions available. Check availability on the ANA website and book through United.
- Request middle seats if traveling with a partner: The divider lowers and you can be side by side for meals and during the day, then raise it for privacy when sleeping.
- Ask for pajamas immediately at boarding: They are not automatically distributed.
- Download content before you fly: The Wi-Fi is not usable for streaming. Assume it does not exist.
- Bring a USB-C adapter: The seat has standard USB ports only.
- Skip the face wipes: They are harsh. Bring your own skincare.
- Order the Japanese meal: Do it when you book if possible. If you miss the pre-order, ask the crew when you board.
- Get the Globe-Trotter kit: It is handed out on request or automatically depending on the crew. If you do not receive one, ask. It is worth keeping.
Verdict
Ten hours from San Francisco to Japan went by quickly. "The Room" is spacious, private, and genuinely comfortable. The Wi-Fi is slow and the Western appetizers are mediocre, but the service was excellent throughout. We would book it again.
For anyone who has flown standard business class with angled-flat seats or the older herringbone configurations, stepping into The Room is a meaningful step up. The closing doors alone change the psychological experience of the flight. The Globe-Trotter kit, the Japanese meal, and the backwards takeoff are all memorable in the best way.
If you are planning a trip to Japan and considering whether ANA Business Class is worth the miles or the price: it is. Particularly on The Room configuration, it is one of the best ways to fly across the Pacific that does not require a first class fare.
