ANA (All Nippon Airways)

All Nippon Airways is Japan's largest carrier and the beating heart of the Tokyo aviation market -- it operates from both Narita and Haneda, though Haneda's more convenient location has become the primary hub. ANA's business model centers on connecting traffic through Tokyo to North America and Europe, plus extensive domestic feeder routes. The international reputation is well-deserved: the service culture is genuinely different from Western carriers, with visible attention to detail that comes from how Japanese companies train staff.

ANA was the launch customer for the 787 Dreamliner and has deployed 75+ aircraft into the fleet, making it the world's largest 787 operator. The Room business class on the 777-300ER is one of the standout products globally -- every single seat is a direct-aisle-access suite with a sliding door. The Star Alliance membership means connections to dozens of carriers worldwide, and the ANA Lounge at Haneda is legitimately one of the best lounges for premium cabins. The domestic network serves 47 destinations in Japan with modern aircraft, and the international network reaches 85 destinations across the Americas, Europe, Asia, and Australia.

The 777-300ER with "The Room" first-class (and business-class variant) is ANA's flagship. The Room first class seats are arranged in a 1-1-1 configuration with direct aisle access for all 8 seats (arranged as 2-2-2-2 facing each other across aisles in the cabin). The seat itself is a fully enclosed suite with a sliding door and full privacy. Below that is ANA's business class in the same aircraft, using the same suite concept but in a larger configuration (74 seats in a 1-2-1 layout). The pitch is 40 inches on these seats, with lie-flat beds that extend to 6'7".

The 787 Dreamliner fleet (80+ aircraft) dominates the mid-haul and long-haul routes. ANA was the first airline to order the 787, and they've taken them in large numbers. The business class is in a 1-2-1 configuration with lie-flat seats manufactured by Apex (the same supplier as Qatar Airways and other premium carriers). The economy pitch is 31-32 inches depending on configuration, but ANA's economy cabins on the 787 feel more spacious because of the aircraft's lower cabin pressure equivalent (6,000 feet vs. the standard 8,000 feet). Domestic routes within Japan use the 787-9 (140+ aircraft), 777-200, 737-800, and the newer 787-10, all with standard short-haul economy. The A350 doesn't appear in the ANA fleet yet, though future orders are possible.

The Room first class on the 777-300ER is Japan's answer to Middle Eastern luxury carriers. The suite is genuinely a private space -- it has a sliding door that closes entirely, a seat that converts to a full lie-flat bed, a desk, a mirror, and storage compartments. The bedding is by Simmons (a luxury mattress brand), with real duvets and high-thread-count linens. The meal service is kaiseki-style (multiple courses, plated, with sake pairings). The amenity kit is LOEWE-branded. Every passenger gets a ground transportation voucher worth up to 12,000 yen in Tokyo or wherever the flight originates.

Business class on the 787 uses the Apex Direct Aisle Access (DAA) seat, which is a lie-flat with high privacy via panels that rise and partially enclose the space. The pitch is 40 inches with a 6'6" sleeping length. The meal service is excellent -- they don't simplify for business, you get plated options with quality ingredients. Economy on the 787 is where ANA shows its domestic culture: there's visible crew attention to passenger comfort, hot towels appear on long flights, and the service speed is faster than international carriers. The aircraft's lower cabin pressure makes a real difference on overnight flights -- passengers consistently report less jet lag and better sleep.

On The Room first class, all 8 seats are essentially equivalent because they all have direct aisle access and full privacy. The forward seats (rows 1-2) might have slightly less galley noise. The middle seats (rows 3-4) are quietest. The aft seats are farthest from the flight deck. Personal preference varies, but none are bad seats. On business class 777-300ER using the suite configuration, middle seats (the 2 in the center row) actually board last and deplane in the middle, but they're in the quietest part of the cabin.

On the 787, window seats are worth picking because the electrochromic dimming windows are genuinely excellent. Exit rows typically offer 35-38 inches and are worth the upgrade fee on 7+ hour flights. On domestic flights within Japan, the 787 cabin is less crowded than comparable competitors, and the crew's service culture makes even economy feel premium. Front cabin seats (rows 1-5) get boarded first by ANA, which means you have time to settle, and you deplane before the aisle becomes congested. On red-eye flights from U.S. to Tokyo on the 787, the rear quiet cabin (if available) is worth paying extra for.