Thursday, Nov 14, 2024

The 6 coolest things about The Room, ANA's luxurious business class seat with a wide bed and fully closing doors

The long business class seat.
  • All Nippon Airways is Japan's largest airline and is known for its luxury first and business class cabins.
  • Equipped with huge beds and full privacy doors, "The Room" and "The Suite" were unveiled in 2019.
  • Here are the 6 coolest things I found in "The Room" business class during a recent flight to Tokyo.
All Nippon Airways is Japan's largest airline and one of the few carriers in the world rated as a 5-star airline by aviation ranking website Skytrax.

All Nippon Airways-branded Boeing 777-300ER inflight.
All Nippon Airways Boeing 777-300ER.

Source: Skytrax

But, the carrier recently made headlines for a currency conversion glitch that allowed $10,000 first and business class tickets to sell for just $300.

Two ANA business class signs at check-in.

A Japanese airline accidentally sold some $10,000 business class tickets for $300 after a mistake with currency conversions

While ANA had to cancel the ultra-cheap bookings, the deal understandably excited customers — especially those who snagged the carrier's new premium cabin seats.

ANA's The Room business class.
"The Room" business class.

Japan's largest airline is canceling the $10,000 first and business class tickets it mistakenly sold for $300

In 2019, ANA unveiled "The Suite" first class seat and "The Room" business class seat on its Boeing 777-300ER planes.

The seat of "The Room" business class on ANA.
"The Room" business class.

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

These are a major upgrade from the carrier's current business class on its Boeing 787, which lacks a full privacy door.

ANA's Boeing 787 business class.
ANA's Boeing 787 business class has the staggered seats as well, but a different fabric pattern.

Source: ANA

After years of waiting for the opportunity to fly in one of the luxurious loungers, I was finally able to enjoy "The Room" on a recent trip to Tokyo.

A view of the author's legs on the footrest of "The Room" business class on ANA.
"The Room" business class.
I flew from New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport and loved the experience. Here are the six coolest things about "The Room" on ANA's Boeing 777-300ER.

A selfie of the author sitting in "The Room" business class wearing a green sweatshirt.
The author in "The Room" business class.
1. The rear-facing seat was a new experience for me.

A view of my rear-facing seat with the TV screen on and the window dimmed.
My rear-facing window seat.
The one thing I was nervous about when booking ANA's new business class was that some of the seats were rear-facing. While I could have opted for a forward-facing seat, I decided to try something new.

The view of the cabin from seat 13A.
The view of the cabin from seat 13A.
So, I ended up in 13A, which had a chest-strap seatbelt that I was required to wear for takeoff and landing. Insider paid a media rate for the flight.

The chest-strap seatbelt in "The Room" on ANA.
The chest-strap seatbelt.
I was a little worried at first, but everything went smoothly. Granted, the movement of the plane definitely felt different, but I didn't get nauseous or dizzy, and looking out the window helped.

The view out of the ANA Boeing 777-300ER window.
For those that are prone to motion sickness, I'd suggest Dramamine before flying.
2. The bed is the biggest I've seen in a business class cabin.

The pillows on "The Room" business class lie-flat bed.
"The Room" business class seat in lie-flat mode.
The first thing I noticed when I got to my luxury seat was how big the lounger actually was.
The long business class seat.
It looked more like a couch than a seat, and there was easily enough room to fit another person next to me.

The space next to the author, who is sitting and wearing jeans and a green sweater.
The space next to me.
Realizing how huge the sitting area was, I was excited to see the seat in lie-flat mode — and I wasn't disappointed.

The author's feet on the seat in lie-flat mode.
"The Room" business class.
The bed was ginormous. I could easily lay on my stomach, side, or back, and, I could even kick a knee out, which is how I sleep at home.

"The Room" business class seat in lie-flat mode.
"The Room" business class seat in lie-flat mode.
At just 5'3" tall, I also had plenty of room to stretch my legs all the way out, and there was enough space on the bed for myself, my water bottle, and my phone.

"The Room" business class seat in lie-flat mode with linens and items on it.
I had so much stuff on the bed with me, but they didn't get in the way of sleeping.
Granted, taller passengers might feel a little snug when laying perfectly vertical, so I suggest sleeping at a diagonal.

The author laying at a diagonal on the lie-flat bed.
Laying at a diagonal on the lie-flat bed.
The only other comparable business class bed is Singapore Airlines' product on its Airbus A350, which also has plenty of space to sprawl out when sleeping.

The front half of the bed with the mattress pad.
Singapore Airlines' business class seat.

I flew on the world's longest flight in business class and thought the 18-hour trip from Singapore to New York was nearly flawless

Both products are superior to other mainline carriers like United Airlines or Air New Zealand, which have narrower business class seats.

The lie-flat beds in Air New Zealand's business class cabin.
Air New Zealand's business class seat.

I flew on the world's new 4th longest flight from New York to Auckland and Air New Zealand's business class made the over 17-hour journey easily bearable

Though, I still prefer ANA's over Singapore because of its automatic lie-flat system, which can be controlled using a set of buttons.

The buttons that control "The Room" business class on ANA.
"The Room" control buttons.
Singapore's, on the other hand, has to be manually converted using a handle on the back, similar to flipping down a car seat.

The handle to put Singapore's A350 business class seat in lie-flat mode.
The handle to put Singapore's A350 business class seat in lie-flat mode.
3. The windows made it easy to sleep during the daytime.

"The Room" business class seat.
"The Room" business class seat.
Flying from New York to Japan can take a major toll on the body clock, and I could definitely feel the jet lag during my first day in Tokyo.

A selfie of the author with cherry blossoms in Tokyo.
I went during cherry blossom season in Tokyo.
Fortunately, ANA's Boeing 777-300ER's have window shades in business class, meaning I could choose to let in more or less light to help me sleep.

A view out of the window after takeoff.
Our flight departed at 2:05 p.m. EST, so there were several hours of light during the journey.
This was helpful after the dinner service when it was still sunny outside. To watch a movie, I wanted a dimmed space to relax, but not full darkness.

The window shade half down.
The window shade had three settings: fully open, one shade down to let in some light, and two shades down to black out the sun.
Once I was ready to sleep, I closed the second window shade that darkened the cocooned space.

The window shade fully closed.
The window with both shades down.
In general, I thought this was a cool feature to include in "The Room," especially since I'm only used to seeing a dimmable window on the Boeing 787 or the Airbus A350.

The button below the window to dim the shades.
The dimmable window shades on ANA's Boeing 787 Dreamliner.

I flew from Tokyo to LA on Japan's largest airline. The spacious and comfortable cabin made the 10-hour ride easy.

4. The sliding door was a game changer.

A view of the cabin from seat 13A.
"The Room" business class seat.
ANA's upgraded business class seat was the first time I've ever flown in a fully cocooned space with a sliding door — but it made the 14-hour trek the easiest flight I've ever taken.

The fully closed door in "The Room" business class on ANA.
The door fully closed.
The hotel-like privacy helped me sleep much more comfortably, and I regularly forgot I was on an airplane full of passengers.

A view of the corner of "The Room" when the doors are closed.
"The Room" fully cocooned.
I particularly liked how tall the doors were, and that they could be just half-closed if desired. And, everything could be conveniently controlled at the touch of a button.

The author using the button to close half of the sliding privacy door.
Using a button to close half of the sliding privacy door.
5. There was enough storage to keep everything organized.

The author's legs on the footrest under the TV.
"The Room" business class.
On ultra-long-haul flights, I like to do a little of everything en route, including sleeping, working, and watching movies.

The Japanese cuisine on the flight.
My favorite thing is enjoying the food and watching a movie.
To do this without having to get up and ruffle through an overhead bin, I try to have everything with me before takeoff.

Charging chords plugged into "The Room" business class seat.
I had chargers and headphones.
This isn't always easy in economy, but in business class I expect to have enough storage to hold everything I need, like chargers and pajamas…

The pajamas provided by ANA.
"The Room" business class pajamas.
…as well as a water bottle, snacks, and my purse, which has things like extra headphones, lotion, and medicine.

An amenity kit, a blue pouch, and slippers on the side table in "The Room."
I had several items, like my medicine pouch, slippers, and the amenity kit provided.
There are also the provided pillows and blankets to think about, as well as any cups and plates acquired during cruise.

The pillow, my electronics pouch, my water bottle, and the headphones provided.
I also had a pillow, blankets, my electronics pouch, my water bottle, and the over-ear headphones provided.
While some carriers like French boutique airline La Compagnie made it difficult to find a place for everything…

The nook to the left of the author's lounger, containing a pair of headphones, a water bottle, and an amenity kit.
The nook to the left of my lounger on La Compagnie was small, but enough space for a water bottle and the amenity kit. There was also a small shelf and mesh pocket.

I flew on the world's only all-business class airline and it felt more like flying on a private jet across the Atlantic

…ANA's "The Room" had more than enough storage. There was a cubby and a side table…

The cubby open with a mirror and the author's passport.
The cubby could fit a passport, a book, a phone, and small toiletries bottles.
...as well as a shelf below the TV and space under the footrest big enough to fit my small duffle bag.

The small shelf on "The Room" business class.
The shelf was a perfect storage place for my phone.
6. The clean lavatories came fully stocked with toiletries and a bidet.

The lavatory on ANA's Boeing 777-300ER.
ANA business class lavatory.
A few hours into the long-haul flight, I headed to the bathroom and loved to see toothbrushes, toothpaste, and mouthwash available.

The toiletries in the ANA business class lavatory.
The toiletries in the ANA business class lavatory.
Even though I always carry my own, it's good to have backups just in case I accidentally leave mine behind one day.

The amenity kit and linens on "The Room" on ANA.
The amenity kit (pictured) also had a toothbrush and toothpaste.
Besides the toiletries, the business class lavatory also had other nice features, including a full-body mirror…

The author holding up a peace sign in the full-body mirror.
The full-body mirror.
…the ability to adjust the sink water temperature…

The author changing the sink temperature.
Changing the sink temperature.
…a hands-free trashcan…

Stepping on the pedal to open the trash can.
Stepping on the pedal to open the trash can.
…and a bidet, which was the coolest part of the entire plane and a staple in Japan.

The bidet settings on the ANA Boeing 777-300ER.
The bidet settings.

Source: Reuters

Given the space and privacy provided by the seat, ANA's "The Room" is easily the best business class product I've ever flown.

A view down the aisle of the ANA "The Room" business class.
"The Room" business class.
Singapore's is a close second, but the sliding doors are simply game-changing, and something that is missed on many competing carriers.

The business class seat.
Singapore's A350 business class seat.

I have flown in 4 airline business classes in the past year. Here's how they stack up.

However, it is important to note that not all of ANA's Boeing 777-300ERs have the two products. Company CEO Koji Shibata told Insider they are on only nine of the 13 -300ERs in the fleet.

ANA 777-300ER NRT

The CEO of Japan's biggest airline says he has no plans to get rid of the world's largest airliner. See inside ANA's A380, which is painted to look like a sea turtle.

Moreover, he explained there are currently no plans to add them to the company's Boeing 787 fleet.

ANA Boeing 787 at the gate at Tokyo Narita Airport.
So, if you want to fly in "The Room" or "The Suite," be sure to double-check the aircraft type, and if that plane has the old or new business class seat.

"The Room" business class with the sliding doors closed.
"The Room" business class with the privacy doors fully cocooning the seat.
Read the original article on Business Insider
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By: [email protected] (Taylor Rains)
Title: The 6 coolest things about The Room, ANA's luxurious business class seat with a wide bed and fully closing doors
Sourced From: www.businessinsider.com/6-coolest-things-about-the-room-business-class-ana-japan-2023-4
Published Date: Sun, 30 Apr 2023 11:50:00 +0000