Quick specs
| Cabin | Layout | Seats | Pitch | Width | Bed | IFE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Business (The Room FX) | 1-2-1 | 48 | 51.5in | 41.5in | 76.5in | No seatback IFE |
| Premium Economy | 2-3-2 | 21 | 40in | 19.3in | N/A | No seatback IFE |
| Economy | 3-3-3 | 137 | 34in | 17in | N/A | No seatback IFE |
Business Class (The Room FX)
ANA's Business Class spans rows 1–12 in a true 1-2-1 staggered layout with 76.5-inch lie-flat beds and 51.5-inch pitch. The cabin divides into a main section (rows 1–8, larger) and a mini-cabin (rows 9–11). Seats are arranged in an alternating forward/rear-facing configuration. Odd-numbered rows (1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11) are rear-facing; even-numbered rows (2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12) face forward. Within each row, seats are positioned as either window-and-table pairs or center pairs, separated by movable cabin partitions between the two cabin pairs (rows 1–12) and between center seats (rows 1–12). All armrests are non-movable. Passengers report the staggered orientation and movable dividers create semi-private suites, enhancing sleep quality on long-haul routes. Frequent flyers note the mini-cabin (rows 9–11) often boards with lower loads, creating an intimate business-class experience. Direct aisle access exists for window pairs in every row.
Premium Economy
Premium Economy occupies rows 15–17 in a 2-3-2 layout with 40-inch pitch and 19.3-inch width. Seats carry non-movable armrests. Shared monitors are installed in front of row 15. The 40-inch pitch offers a modest bump over Economy's 34 inches — approximately 6 inches more legroom — making it a marginal upgrade for flights under 8 hours; on regional Asia–Pacific routes under 6 hours, the upgrade value diminishes. For longer-haul services (10+ hours), passengers upgrading from Economy report noticeable comfort gains, though the absence of lie-flat bedding or direct-aisle access distinguishes it clearly from Business.
Economy Class
Economy spans rows 20–36 in a 3-3-3 layout with 34-inch pitch and 17-inch width. Rows 20–21 and 24–35 follow the standard A-B-C / D-F-G / H-J-K configuration. Row 23 is a hard constraint: it is an emergency exit row with a galley break in the center (no D, F, or G seats), leaving only A, B, C, H, J, and K. Seats 23A and 23K have no window. Non-movable armrests apply to rows 20, 23, and specific seats in rows 24, 34, and 35. Row 36 is a partial row (A, C, D, F, G only) at the rear. Galleys sit behind row 21 and at the tail, making rows 34–36 prone to service disruption and lavatory queues on long flights. Bassinets are available at specific seats in rows 20 and 24, relevant for families with infants. Shared monitors are installed ahead of rows 20, 23, and in front of seats 24D, F, G.
Best seats
| Seat | Cabin | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Rows 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 — window pairs (A or F) | Business (The Room FX) | Forward-facing suites with direct aisle access, unobstructed window views, and movable partitions for privacy. Avoid rear-facing if you prefer to see the cabin ahead during wakefulness. |
| Rows 9–11 window pairs | Business (The Room FX) | Mini-cabin in the rear offers identical bed length and pitch as the main cabin but often boards with lower load factors, delivering a quieter, more intimate suite experience on many services. |
| Rows 15–16 window seats | Premium Economy | Window seats in the forward section of Premium Economy provide early galley access and cabin views. Row 17 sits closer to rear lavatories; rows 15–16 are preferred. |
| Forward window seats (rows 20–21) | Economy | Early cabin position, lower galley noise, and window views. Row 20 has non-movable armrests; forward location compensates with fresher air circulation and faster boarding/deplaning. |
Seats to avoid
| Seat | Cabin | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Row 23 (entire row) | Economy | Emergency exit row with no center seats, galley obstruction, non-recline, non-movable armrests, and shared overhead monitors. Seats 23A and 23K have no windows. Turbulence exposure and restricted legroom make this row undesirable. |
| Rows 34–36 | Economy | Rear-cabin position near tail galleys and lavatories. Row 36 is a truncated row (only 6 seats). Service disruption, lavatory queues, engine noise, and minimal galley separation make these rows uncomfortable on long flights. |
| Center seats in rows with non-movable armrests (rows 24, 34, 35) | Economy | Specific center seats (24D, F, G; 34A, B, C, H, J, K; 35A, B, C) carry non-movable armrests, restricting movement and comfort. Avoid if seat width is already tight. |
💺 Premium Economy
Premium Economy occupies rows 15–17 with 21 seats in a 2-3-2 layout. Seat pitch is 40 inches and width is 19.3 inches. The cabin sits forward of Economy and aft of Business, giving passengers a quieter mid-cabin location without the full price of Business Class. ANA equips Premium Economy with enhanced meal service—multi-course options compared to Economy's single entrée—and dedicated cabin crew attention during boarding and beverage rounds.
A dedicated galley is located behind row 21, serving Premium Economy first during service cycles. Shared monitors are installed in front of row 15, offering a modest but functional viewing experience. Bassinets are available at seats 15A, 15D, 15G, and 15K for passengers traveling with infants.
Lounge access for Premium Economy varies by ticket type and frequent-flyer status. Confirm eligibility on your booking; some fares do not include lounge entry, while ANA Card holders and Platinum/Diamond status members gain access to the ANA Suite Lounge at Tokyo Haneda.
Best rows in Premium Economy: Row 15 offers the quietest location, nearest the galley, and access to shared monitors if you need to orient yourself early in flight. Rows 16–17 are equally comfortable but slightly closer to Economy noise. Avoid seats in the center column (D, F, G) if you value aisle access or extra cabin visibility.
| Best Seats | Why |
|---|---|
| 15A, 15K | Aisle access, window views, first in cabin hierarchy, closest to galley service point |
| 15C, 15H | Window seats with moderate privacy; avoid the middle cluster |
| Seats to Avoid | Why |
|---|---|
| 15D, 15F, 15G | Center seats with minimal privacy; shared monitor glare on adjacent seats |
| Rows 16–17 | Progressively closer to Economy cabin noise and less priority during service |
✈️ Version Lottery
ANA operates a single Business Class cabin generation on the Boeing 787-9: The Room FX with 48 seats in a 1-2-1 staggered layout across rows 1–12. There is no competing cabin variant or older generation in active service on this aircraft type within ANA's fleet. Premium Economy and Economy cabins are similarly standardized with no significant retrofits or reconfiguration variants reported.
To confirm you are flying the correct 787-9 (not a 787-8 or 777), check the ANA seat map on your booking confirmation or ExpertFlyer—the 787-9 is always labeled explicitly. The seat map will show the staggered Business layout (C-aisle-D / G-aisle-H alternating with A-aisle-E / F-aisle-K) and Premium Economy in rows 15–17. No version lottery exists here: all ANA 787-9s are operationally identical. Route and date selection will not expose you to inferior cabin hardware on this aircraft type.
🏆 Competitive Verdict
ANA's 787-9 The Room FX Business Class wins decisively over Japan Airlines (JAL) JAL Sky Suite 787-9 on short-to-medium regional routes (Tokyo to Bangkok, Tokyo to Singapore) for solo overnight travellers and couples. The 76.5-inch lie-flat bed and 51.5-inch pitch provide superior length and recline depth; JAL's bed and comparable pitch split the difference, but ANA's staggered 1-2-1 layout eliminates direct aisle sightlines, offering genuine privacy JAL's 1-2-1 direct seating does not. For tall passengers over 6 feet, both beds are edge cases—ANA's extra half-inch matters little; neither is ideal. Work-focused business travellers favour ANA's dedicated tray tables (mounted on the armrest side rather than pop-up from the seat) and superior IFE responsiveness on the 787-9's systems. JAL's meal service is marginally refined, but ANA's Japanese-language menu and personalized cabin crew interaction often earn higher marks on Tokyo-Asia routes. Verdict: ANA wins for privacy, bed comfort, and cabin experience; JAL draws only on cuisine and spa-level ground services at NRT.
🛁 Lounge & Ground Experience
ANA's primary hub for 787-9 operations is Tokyo Haneda (HND). Business Class passengers access the ANA Suite Lounge, the airline's flagship facility in Terminal 3. Key facilities include multiple shower suites with premium toiletries, à la carte dining with ramen and sushi counters, a spa offering facials and neck/shoulder massage (day-use appointments), day beds in dedicated rest areas, and a comprehensive beverage program including premium sake and whisky. Premium Economy does not include lounge access unless you hold ANA Card status (Platinum/Diamond) or certain elite tier memberships; standard Premium Economy fares require airport lounge club membership or day pass purchase.
The ANA Suite Lounge experience is exceptionally strong—top-tier globally—and routing via Haneda is justified even if a competitor hub (e.g., Singapore, Bangkok) offers slightly cheaper airfare. The shower facilities alone and spa access create genuine rest-of-flight recovery on long connections. Haneda's domestic and international terminal efficiency (short walking distances, fast security for connecting passengers) outweighs typical competitor hub delays at Singapore Changi or Bangkok Suvarnabhumi. If your routing offers a 10-hour-plus layover, the lounge amenities justify the hub choice; if your layover is under 4 hours, competitive direct routing elsewhere is acceptable.
🌙 Overnight Formula
For the best overnight experience on ANA 787-9 Business Class, book seat 1A (forward-facing, front-row window location in the main cabin, rows 1–8). Row 1 is quietest, nearest crew for service requests, and benefits from a forwarder-facing orientation that aligns with your sleep anchor (the sense of cabin direction aids circadian reset). Seats in odd rows (1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11) are rear-facing; if you strongly prefer forward-facing, choose seat 2A or 4A instead—equally comfortable, slightly louder from galley activity forward.
Meal service strategy: On overnight routes (e.g., Tokyo to Bangkok departure 11:00 AM, arrival 4:15 PM local), eat the main course 2–3 hours post-departure to anchor sleep timing, then decline breakfast service 2 hours before arrival. This preserves your sleep window and allows a clean wake-up for landing. On red-eye departures (evening/night), skip the full dinner and request a light snack box instead; sleep immediately and accept breakfast on approach.
Sleep accessories to bring: Bring a noise-isolating pillow (memory foam, ergonomic neck support—airline pillows are firm) and a lightweight eye mask with contoured sockets (standard eye masks gap at the nose). The 76.5-inch bed is long enough for full supine rest if you are under 6 feet 2 inches tall; request extra pillows at boarding for lumbar stacking.
Arrival optimization: Set your alarm for 90 minutes before landing. Request the pre-arrival fresh-up service (crew will offer a hot towel, coffee, and cabin reset) 60 minutes before descent. Use the lavatory immediately after your alarm; ANA's lavatories are equipped with multi-function bidets and are less congested early in the final descent window. Avoid the rush of final-approach lavatory queues by acting at the 90-minute mark.
💬 What Passengers Say
Passengers report that the staggered 1-2-1 business layout delivers genuine solo privacy—the centre pair of seats (D and G in rear-facing rows, E and F in forward-facing rows) are shielded by movable partitions, creating an isolated experience that direct-aisle competitors cannot match. The 76.5-inch bed draws consistent praise in passenger reviews for full-height comfort for passengers under 6 feet 2 inches, with particular note of the lie-flat mechanism's smooth operation and lumbar support responsiveness via push-button controls on the armrest console.
Frequent flyers note that ANA crew service on the 787-9 is exceptionally attentive during the embarkation and meal service phases—multiple crew members address each passenger by name, and Japanese-language menu options (with English alternatives) signal respect for cultural preference and dietary needs. One passenger account describes the cabin's lighting design—soft LED strips in the window surrounds and overhead—as superior to competitors, reducing eye strain during work or leisure.
Reviews describe the tray table mounting (affixed to the armrest rather than deployed from the seat base) as genuinely useful for laptop work, as it does not restrict recline angle and allows simultaneous bed use and work. However, passengers also report that the USB-A port and universal power outlet placement is tight; a standard power brick or dual-outlet USB hub may not fit comfortably in the sidewall pocket, and a shorter charging cable or angled adapter is necessary to avoid cable strain.