ANA The – A firsthand look at ANA’s The Room business class on the Tokyo–London route, including booking costs, seat setup and service strengths and gaps.
A sudden award opportunity turned into a deep dive into ANA’s much-hyped business-class product, The Room, with one passenger testing the experience on the Tokyo–London route just days before departure.
The Room was first introduced on ANA’s 777-300ER fleet back in August 2019.. However, for much of 2020 through 2022, Japan largely kept international tourism shuttered, delaying many travelers’ chances to try it.. The reviewer’s journey came later. after earlier tests of other ANA cabin concepts in the broader timeframe. including a 2022 evaluation of The Room on a Los Angeles–Tokyo flight and a look at ANA’s The Suite first class on Tokyo–New York.
For this trip, the timing changed quickly. Two award seats for The Room opened for Tokyo to London about nine days before departure, prompting the traveler and their husband to take the opportunity while already in Japan for a Niseko ski trip and needing a way to reach Europe.
Availability and booking strategy were central to the experience.. The Room business-class inventory is described as scarce. and when seats do appear. the report points travelers to book through ANA’s Mileage Club or through partner programs including Air Canada Aeroplan and Virgin Atlantic Flying Club.. The costs quoted for a one-way Tokyo–London booking varied by program. with Aeroplan listed at 80. 000 points plus about $54 in taxes and fees. ANA Mileage Club at 55. 000 miles plus about $237 in taxes and fees. and Virgin Atlantic at 60. 000 points. typically with hundreds of dollars in taxes and fees.
In this case, the decision leaned on a points purchase promotion.. The traveler bought Aeroplan points during a 100% bonus sale. paying $1. 107 to secure 80. 000 points. then factoring in the roughly $54 taxes and fees per person.. That worked out to about $1,161 each for a long-haul one-way on The Room from Tokyo to London.. The report contrasts that with typical cash fares referenced as ranging roughly from $4,900 to $6,700.
Even before boarding, the trip set a different tone than expected.. Compared with prior experiences with Japan Airlines. the ground handling at Tokyo Haneda for ANA’s business class was found underwhelming. starting with check-in guidance that the staffed business-class queue could not be used.. Instead, the agent directed the travelers to use self-service kiosks to scan passports, print boarding passes, and collect luggage tags.
The check-in process continued with additional friction.. The agent also directed them to another self-service machine for bag drop. but the device did not work on the first attempt for two of the three checked bags.. From there. a perk tied to business and first-class travel—an expedited security line at Haneda—became a bottleneck. taking 14 minutes to clear because only one baggage scanner was operating.
Access to the ANA Lounge helped rebalance the day, at least on paper.. While Star Alliance Gold status does not include first-class lounge access. the combination of the business-class ticket and Star Alliance Gold membership enabled entry to the ANA Lounge. described as large enough to feel more mass-market than premium.. The lounge has a buffet with hot items and a station where select noodle dishes can be ordered. and the report says a noodle order took about five minutes to prepare. with the result characterized as relatively bland versus typical noodle shops in Tokyo.
Time pressure also played a role in the lounge experience. The travelers did not spend much time inside after receiving an email that boarding had started early. They hurried to the gate only to find boarding had not actually begun and would start about 10 minutes later.
Once on board, the hard product remained one of The Room’s biggest draws.. Even more than six years after its debut. the seats are described as visually sharp. with the business-class cabin spanning rows 5–20 on the 777-300ER across three distinct cabin sections.. The configuration is laid out as 1-2-1 seating. with rows oriented in alternating directions. and the report highlights which positions offer the most privacy.
For seat selection, rear-facing options were singled out.. Seats A and K are described as offering the most privacy because they sit closer to the side of the plane.. Meanwhile. seats E and F are recommended for couples since they sit in the middle section closest to each other and furthest from the aisle. and the report notes the ability to keep the center divider raised if the middle-seat neighbor is unknown.
Comfort details extended beyond the seat itself.. At boarding, an amenity kit is provided at the seat, supplied by British luxury leather goods brand Ettinger.. The contents listed include a toothbrush with toothpaste. an eye mask. Aveda lip gloss and body lotion. earplugs. and a reusable shopping bag.
The seat’s underlying design is built for a true lie-flat experience. with mention of Kengo Kuma and Acumen’s Safran Fusio seats that can fully recline into a 72-inch bed.. The recline system is described as operating on a set track. allowing stops between dining mode. takeoff mode. and bed mode. but without the ability to freely customize recline or position beyond those stops.
For sleeping, the report notes passengers receive a soft seat liner, blanket, a soft pillow and a firmer pillow.. The bed, while comfortable for rest overall, is described as feeling somewhat hard.. The reviewer also recounts being woken mid-flight by conversation in the cabin that was loud enough to come through earplugs.
The suite-like privacy features rely on distinctive door construction.. The report describes doors that work in two parts: one section rises from near the armrest. while the other extends from the wall near the table or television screen.. Inflight entertainment appears to be a key part of the experience as well. with a large 24-inch touchscreen that includes live exterior camera feeds. maps. and video and movie options.
Sound and power were also assessed.. Seats include over-the-head headphones branded for ANA. with the report saying they deliver adequate sound but do not match the comfort and quality of the reviewer’s own Bose noise-canceling headphones.. Power access includes two USB outlets and one universal power outlet at each The Room business-class seat.
Not everything, though, was considered ideal.. The tray table is described as large and able to lock anywhere along its track. but the report says adjusting the tray closer requires releasing a latch.. Storage space was singled out as a major downside. with the overhead locker available but relatively limited room at the seat itself.. The report points out a small shoe area under the footrest and a small compartment near the table. but most other items would have to go on the seat. counter. or footrest—options that are not technically allowed during taxi. takeoff. or landing.
Connectivity was delivered via satellite Wi‑Fi, described as free for first and business-class passengers using a voucher code.. The voucher had to be requested from a flight attendant. with the report noting the staff member also marked off the code.. Speed testing was included in the evaluation, with download and upload results recorded as 38.9 Mbps and 3.42 Mbps respectively.
For some travelers. the feel of the sleep setup may matter as much as the bed length. and the review mentions a couple of material and fit issues.. The reviewer said the seat liner shifted during the night. even with seat belt holes. and noted the seat cushion did not stay in place while trying to sleep.. Customization preferences also came through clearly. with a wish expressed for adjustable recline and legrest controls beyond the existing track stops. plus non-slip cushions.
Meal service turned out to be the largest gap between expectation and outcome.. The reviewer says a predeparture sparkling wine was offered, but served in plastic cups and with barely any fizz.. A printed menu was provided shortly after takeoff. followed by a request for premeal drink orders. then an amuse of marinated shrimp and a packaged cinnamon stick.
After that initial course, the timing of the meal was criticized.. The reviewer selected the Japanese meal option, with the report saying the Zensai and Kobachi cold courses arrived 35 minutes later.. The cold items were described as varied. including simmered black soybeans. bamboo shoots with bonito. vinegared sea bream. and pickled vegetables. and the flavor profile is characterized as briny. lightly sweet. and umami-rich.
The hot main course was delayed further, arriving 33 minutes later.. It featured simmered wagyu beef and grilled sablefish. with the reviewer highlighting the contrast between the savory beef and the delicate fish. plus the supporting sides of steamed rice. miso soup. and Japanese pickles.. Dessert arrived another 49 minutes after the main. with choices including a mandarin orange and black tea cheesecake. a cheese plate. or fruit.. The reviewer chose the cheesecake. describing it as a citrusy mousse bowl with a gentle tea hint rather than a traditional slice.
Schedule mattered for how the slow cadence landed.. The flight departed around 10 a.m.. which the reviewer says helped. since the timing meant it might not have been as disruptive as it would have been on a night departure.. Still. final food orders were collected about two and a half hours before landing. and a Japanese meal was then delivered on a single tray roughly 10 minutes later.. The report notes the foil top on the main dish was still present when it arrived. an unusual detail compared with typical business-class service habits. but the grilled halibut was described as tender and well seasoned alongside deep-fried tofu and steamed rice.
Overall, the value calculation came out strongly—at least on paper.. The report frames the decision as an excellent snag. with the cost of 80. 000 Aeroplan points plus around $54 in taxes and fees for a one-way Tokyo to London business-class flight.. The reviewer also says the long-haul flight delivered enough value to justify the purchase given the pricing.
Yet the softness of the experience did not fully match the reputation.. The report points to weaknesses beyond service speed. including an impersonal check-in flow and a meal that took more than two hours.. Even small comfort details. such as the mattress pad shifting. reinforced the sense that expectations may have been built too high.. Still. if another award ticket could be found at a similar price. the reviewer says they would be open to flying ANA The Room again.
ANA The Room business class Tokyo Haneda lounge Air Canada Aeroplan points 777-300ER suite seats Tokyo to London flights in-flight Wi-Fi