ANA Airbus A380 Seat Guide (2026)

First Class

Eight seats in rows 1 and 2 in a 1-2-1 stagger with 31-inch width and 81-inch lie-flat bed. The cabin is split A-aisle-D-G-aisle-K, providing direct aisle access to all seats. Movable partitions separate the center pair (seats 1D and 1G, seats 2D and 2G) for privacy or open cabin feel; armrests are non-movable. All seats include tables. Wheelchair-accessible lavatories with multi-function bidet and diaper changing table sit forward of seats 1A and 1D; additional wheelchair-accessible lavatories with bidet are in front of seats 1G and 1K. A bar is located in front of row 1, and the galley behind row 2 serves this cabin.

Business Class

Fifty-six seats in rows 5–18 in a 1-2-1 layout with 62-inch pitch, 20-inch width, and 74.5-inch lie-flat bed. Rows alternate seat positions: rows 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, and 17 are arranged A-aisle-E-F-aisle-K, while rows 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, and 18 are arranged C-aisle-D-G-aisle-H. Every seat has direct aisle access. Movable partitions separate center pairs (E and F) in odd-numbered rows for flexible privacy. All seats come with tables, and armrests are non-movable. Emergency exits flank row 5; a bar is positioned in front of row 5. Wheelchair-accessible lavatories with bidet are behind row 18; additional lavatories with bidet and diaper changing table are behind 18C and behind 18G. Passengers report that cabin crew personally bid farewell to Business Class passengers boarding via the second-floor lounge door, creating a distinctive departure ritual.

Premium Economy

Seventy-three seats in rows 20–30 in a 2-3-2 layout with 38-inch pitch and 18.7-inch width. Row 20 (the entry row) has a unique configuration: aisle-D-F-G-aisle, with a shared monitor installed in front. Rows 21–30 follow the standard arrangement A-C-aisle-D-F-G-aisle-H-K. Emergency exits sit forward of row 20 and in front of row 28; seats 21A, 21C, 21H, 21K, 28A, 28C, 28H, and 28K are exit seats with reduced recline and extra legroom. Seats 28A and 28K lack windows. Armrests are non-movable throughout. The 4-inch pitch gain over Economy (38in vs. 34in) and direct aisle access for window and aisle passengers make this cabin worthwhile for flights over 7 hours. Row 20 offers excellent forward positioning near the galley and lavatories (wheelchair-accessible facilities with bidet, standard lavatories with bidet and diaper changing table behind 18H and behind 30H and 30K).

Economy Class

Three hundred eighty-three seats fill the main deck in a 3-4-3 layout with 34-inch pitch and 17.3-inch width. Emergency exits in front of rows 5, 20, and 28 (mapped to upper-deck structure) create restrictions; verify exit-row seating, non-recline zones, and galley-proximity rows on the airline's official seat map before booking. Rear galleys are positioned at the back of the cabin. For a 7+ hour flight, the 4-inch pitch deficit versus Premium Economy (34in vs. 38in) is noticeable; Premium Economy is a compelling upgrade if budget allows.

Best seats

Seats to avoid

💺 Premium Economy

Premium Economy occupies rows 20–30 on the upper deck, seating 73 passengers in a 2-3-2 configuration. The cabin is divided into two sections by emergency exits but has no physical wall between them, creating an open-plan feel. Pitch is 38 inches, and seat width is 18.7 inches.

Premium Economy passengers enjoy a dedicated galley and lavatory facilities. Meal service is elevated versus Economy—passengers report full hot meals with choice of entrée, along with premium beverages and amenities. All Premium Economy passengers receive lounge access at ANA's hub.

Best rows in Premium Economy are 21–27. Row 20 has a shared monitor installed in front, which may obstruct legroom slightly. Rows 28–30 are near the rear galley and lavatories, increasing foot traffic and noise. Seats 28A and 28K have no window. Rows 21 and 28 contain emergency exit seats (28A, 28K, and row 21 seats A and C), which may have restricted recline or limited underseat storage—verify at booking.

✈️ Version Lottery

ANA operates a single A380-800 configuration in its fleet. All aircraft feature the same cabin layout: 8 First Class, 56 Business Class, 73 Premium Economy, and 383 Economy seats across two decks. There are no regional variants, older cabin generations, or retrofit differences in service.

Passengers can confirm their aircraft on the ANA website's seat map tool by entering their flight number. ExpertFlyer also displays aircraft type. Since ANA's A380 fleet is uniform, there is no version lottery—every A380 flight operates identical cabins. Route availability (Tokyo Narita to London, Frankfurt, or other long-haul destinations) is the only variable; the product on each flight is the same.

🏆 Competitive Verdict

ANA's A380 Business Class (1-2-1 layout, 74.5-inch bed, 62-inch pitch, direct aisle access) competes directly with British Airways Club Suite and Lufthansa First Class on UK and European routes. ANA wins for solo overnight travellers—every Business seat has a window and direct aisle access with no middle seats; there is nowhere on the BA A380 with equivalent privacy. For couples, BA's Club Suite offers a genuine side-by-side double bed (Club Suite is 1-1-2 in many rows), which ANA's staggered 1-2-1 cannot match. For tall passengers over 6 feet, ANA's 74.5-inch bed is shorter than BA's beds and Lufthansa's First Class suites—disadvantage. For work-focused business travellers, ANA's direct aisle access and individual suites with movable partitions beat BA's more open cabin, and the upper-deck positioning away from main-deck noise wins on both counts.

🛁 Lounge & Ground Experience

ANA's A380 routes primarily depart from Tokyo Narita International Airport, where First and Business Class passengers access the ANA Lounge (terminal-specific locations in Terminal 1). The lounge offers shower suites, a quiet rest area with day beds, à la carte dining with Japanese and Western selections, premium beverages including sake and whisky, and spa services (massage by appointment).

First Class, Business Class, and Premium Economy passengers with lounge access can board directly from the lounge via the aircraft door on the second floor. Passenger accounts describe lounge staff coming to each departing passenger to say "thank you" and wish them safe journey—a personal touch absent at most competitor hubs.

Premium Economy and above receive full lounge access; Economy is excluded. The ground experience at Narita is strong enough to justify routing via Tokyo even if a European hub (Frankfurt, London, or Amsterdam) offers a faster connection—the shower facilities, meal quality, and personalized boarding are genuine advantages. Versus routing via a competitor hub (e.g., British Airways via London), the ANA lounge is smaller but quieter, and Narita's boarding process is more orderly. The decision depends on whether you value pre-flight rest (Narita wins) or onward connection speed (European hubs may win).

🌙 Overnight Formula

For the best overnight experience on ANA A380: book a Business Class window seat in the single-seat column (seat A in odd rows 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, or seat K in even rows 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18). These seats have direct aisle access, a private partition or armrest barrier, a 74.5-inch bed, and a window for darkness control—ideal for uninterrupted sleep on 11+ hour flights. Avoid rows 5 and 6 (bar in front); avoid rows 17 and 18 (lavatories behind, foot traffic at night).

On overnight flights, skip the dinner service or request it early, eat lightly, then ask cabin crew to hold breakfast until 2 hours before arrival. This aligns your sleep with the aircraft's night and allows you to wake naturally as dawn breaks and services resume. Bring a neck pillow rated for side sleepers (ANA provides pillows, but a personal one improves shoulder support on the 74.5-inch bed) and noise-cancelling earplugs or earbuds for lavatory and galley noise.

Set your alarm for 90 minutes before landing. Request the pre-arrival breakfast service 75 minutes out—this gives you time to shower in the lavatory, freshen up, and eat a light meal before descent. Avoid sleeping flat on the final hour; recline to 45 degrees so you're alert for landing and ready to disembark promptly.

Economy Best & Worst Rows

Premium Economy Best & Worst Rows

Business Class Best & Worst Rows