ANA Premium Economy Review (2026)
All Nippon Airways
TL;DR
ANA Premium Economy is a 2-4-2 configuration with 38-inch pitch deployed across the 777-300ER, 787-9, and 787-10. Fly it on the 787-9 from Tokyo to London, Los Angeles, or Frankfurt for the smoothest cabin. The single dealbreaker: this product has not materially evolved since launch in 2010 while JAL, Singapore Airlines, and Cathay Pacific have all introduced superior hardware and cabin design. ANA's soft product (service, meal quality, IFE refresh) remains excellent, but the seat itself feels dated against current segment standards. Book this if you have no alternative on a preferred route and time; otherwise specify JAL Sky Premium at the same fare. Solo travellers on routes without JAL competition and premium-cabin loyalists to ANA's domestic network may find value in the frequent-flyer miles redemption, but transatlantic and transpacific couples should upgrade to Business or switch carriers.
What ANA Premium Economy actually is
ANA launched Premium Economy in 2010 as a dedicated mid-cabin bridge between Economy and Business on long-haul widebody aircraft. It was a response to demand from Japanese corporate travellers seeking better sleep without Business Class cost; the product successfully filled a gap that JAL abandoned until recently. Today, ANA operates Premium Economy across its international fleet with consistent soft product (excellent crew, Panasonic IFE, full meal service) but hardware that has not substantively changed in 16 years. The cabin occupies rows 20–28 (approximate) depending on aircraft, with a dedicated galley and lavatory, and priority boarding.
Seat Hardware
The seat is a direct-aisle 2-4-2 layout with 38-inch pitch (measured standard) and 19.3-inch seat width. Each seat reclines to 6–7 inches of bed extension but does not convert fully flat; a cushion and blanket assembly creates a makeshift flat surface. There is no privacy door, centre-pair double-bed mode, or side console storage beyond a standard seatback pocket and underseat locker. Seat construction is dated (fabric upholstery, basic armrest mechanics); the seat manufacturer is not officially disclosed but appears to be legacy widebody equipment. The window seats have standard 9-inch windows; middle seats in the 2-4-2 have no direct aisle access on the outboard side, requiring middle-seat passengers to climb over the window passenger or ask for aisle-side egress. This is ANA's stated compromise for cabin density.
Cabin & IFE
The cabin uses warm neutral tones with standard overhead bins and mood lighting controlled by flight attendants rather than individual dimming. IFE is Panasonic eX2 with a 10–12 inch touchscreen (not 4K), offering a reasonable content library (450+ films, Japanese content overweighted) and Bluetooth audio pairing to wireless headsets. WiFi is complimentary 1 GB for all passengers (unlimited for Elite members). The galley is located at row 20 (forward cabin bulkhead), which generates minor service noise during meal prep and beverage service cycles. There is no shower spa, premium bedding kit, or amenity kit upgrade relative to Economy; pyjamas and pillows are provided on all long-haul routes.
Where to find it
Aircraft | Status | Sample Routes |
|---|---|---|
777-300ER | Fleet-wide deployment | Tokyo (HND/NRT) to London (LHR), Frankfurt (FRA), Paris (CDG), Los Angeles (LAX) |
787-9 | Fleet-wide deployment | Tokyo to New York (JFK), Boston (BOS), Seattle (SEA), San Francisco (SFO) |
787-10 | Selective deployment (recent aircraft) | Tokyo to Los Angeles, San Francisco, select Asian hubs |
Who it suits / who it doesn't
Profile | Verdict | Why |
|---|---|---|
Solo overnight (8+ hours) | Acceptable, not best-in-class | 6–7 inch recline does not yield true sleep; compare to JAL Sky Premium (8+ inch recline, fuller bed) and Singapore Premium Economy (full flat bed on 787-10). Suitable for daytime or shorter routes only. |
Couples | Pass (2-4-2 prevents easy seating) | The 2-4-2 layout means couples must book aisle + window or double middle seats (23A/23B, 24A/24B etc). Middle seats have no direct aisle access; requesting egress requires climbing over the window passenger. Consider Business Class upgrade or Cathay Pacific A350 Premium Economy (1-2-1 layout). |
Tall (over 6 ft) | Not suitable | 38-inch pitch is marginal for extended sleep; the recline does not extend leg cubby. Upgrade to Business Class. |
Work-focused | Pass | No in-seat power (USB-A charging only); tray table is narrow and recessed when reclined. Economy-class IFE (Panasonic eX2, not Business-class 4K displays). |
Which aircraft has ANA Premium Economy?
ANA Premium Economy is deployed on the 777-300ER (approximately 54 seats, rows 20–28), 787-9 (approximately 48 seats), and 787-10 (approximately 48 seats). Not all routes operate these aircraft; check the seat map after booking. The 787-8 (both 184-seat and 240-seat versions) does not have Premium Economy.
Does ANA Premium Economy have a sliding privacy door?
No. There is no privacy door or privacy partition. Each seat is open to the aisle and cabin. Window seats offer only the standard 9-inch window for visual privacy.
Is ANA Premium Economy better than JAL Sky Premium?
No. JAL Sky Premium (deployed on 787-9 and 777-300ER) offers a superior product at equivalent or lower fares: seats recline to 8+ inches with a fuller flat-bed conversion, higher-grade cabin finishes, and newer IFE (some aircraft feature 4K displays). JAL also operates a true 1-2-1 layout on select aircraft, eliminating middle-seat dead zones. For transpacific and transatlantic routes where both carriers operate, JAL Sky Premium is the stronger choice. ANA Premium Economy is worth booking only if JAL does not serve your route, you hold high ANA frequent-flyer status with miles redemption advantage, or the fare difference exceeds 15 USD/EUR per hour of flight.
How do I book ANA Premium Economy with miles?
ANA Mileage Club (ANA's frequent-flyer programme) offers Premium Economy redemptions at approximately 80,000–100,000 miles for round-trip domestic + North America, and 120,000–150,000 miles for round-trip Europe/Middle East. This represents a strong value if fares exceed USD 1,500 round-trip; below that, cash is often better. Partner airline bookings (United, Lufthansa, Cathay) can offer better premium-economy sweet spots depending on availability. Check ANA Mileage Club availability 330 days in advance for premium-economy inventory.