I didn’t think I was going to be able to review ANA’s new first class, at least not anytime soon. (It’s mid-2025 when I’m first writing this post, so by “soon” I mean before about 2027).
There were two main reasons for this. First, award seat availability for this product (known as “The Suite”) is low, and pricing from the US to Tokyo tends to be high. Secondly, ANA’s current “new” first class dates back to 2019, when it was released as a stopgap for a truly new product onboard the 777-9, which has yet to fly.
The bad news? It still remains to be seen when ANA will take delivery of its next-generation 777 aircraft, which were originally slated for 2020. The good news? Even if these planes have been delivered by the time you’re reading my works, my ANA new 777 first class review is still instructive.
How I Booked My Flight in ANA’s New First Class
A few months before my trip, I missed the opportunity to book ANA suite first class for my preferred travel date. And since there are only 8 seat per plane (and, typically, one of those are released as awards), I assumed I wouldn’t get another chance. Luckily for me, about three weeks before my trip, I received a notification via the amazing seats.aero service that a seat had been released. My heart started fluttering.
The bad news? I didn’t have enough United miles for that carrier’s exorbitant awards; I didn’t want to call Virgin Atlantic Flying Club, which offers the lowest price, but only via phone. The good news? Avianca was having a sale on LifeMiles, and since I was continuing onward to Bangkok (in Thai Airways business class), I was able to book the entire journey for 131,730 LifeMiles, which I purchased for just $1,683 (compared to a ~$10,000 cash fare).
What to Expect in ANA’s “The Suite” First Class
Boarding and welcome
Originating at Chicago (ORD) for flight NH111 to Tokyo (HND), I was impressed that staff had cordoned off a portion of the chaotic gate area exclusively for first class passengers. Upon boarding, I was delighted to receive a glass of Krug champagne (which would flow freely throughout the flight), a hot towel and a warm introduction by Shibuya-san, the flight attendant who would be taking care of me during the flight.
“The Suite” itself
While the new ANA first class isn’t all that new—it was released in 2019, and developed at least a year before that—the seat (or, rather, “Suite”) is still pretty awesome. There are just 8 of them onboard, in a 1-2-1 configuration, and I particularly enjoyed the fact that mine (I was in window suite 1K) had a whopping four windows, allowing me amazing views throughout the entire fight. I also liked the privacy door, at least once service was complete.
Food and drink
As I usually do onboard Japanese airlines, I ordered washoku, a multi-course Japanese meal, which in first class features not only a delectable seafood main, but lots of delicious zensai (appetizers), and a beef sukiyaki course. Finishing up my main meal, Shibuya-san offered me caviar and blini; she kept my Krug refilled and also recommended both sake, wine (and in the case of the caviar, vodka) to pair with everything I was eating.
Service
Although other flight attendants (including the purser) served me onboard ANA 777 first class, I cannot emphasize strongly enough just how personalized Shibuya’s service was. It truly felt like I was her only passenger—and, frankly, I might have been. From dine-on-demand service after the main meal, to anecdotes about travel in Japan and questions about my life and career, to making my bed when I was ready to sleep, it was just heavenly.
Sleep, entertainment, et cetera
Speaking of sleep, ANA’s “The Suite” offers one of the widest and most comfortable beds in the sky, which of course includes the turndown service I described above. Entertainment-wise, the library was fairly limited (as is the case on most East Asian carriers), though the TV (which, at 43″, is almost as big as my one at home) made viewing an absolute pleasure. I also enjoyed free Wi-Fi onboard ths flight, which allowed me to stay on top of work.
What About ANA’s Suite First Class Lounge?
I arrived at Tokyo Haneda with almost four hours to spare, in part because passengers coming from the US no longer have to clear transit security—we can simply go directly into the terminal. Unfortunately for me, I turned up at the ANA Suite Lounge to the sound of bad news. “You can’t enter,” the woman said plainly (and, worse, in English). “You aren’t continuing your journey on an ANA-operated flight.”
Personally, I find it ridiculous that I wasn’t able to sample the ANA first class lounge, given that I had just flown 13 hours in ANA’s first class, regardless of how or whether I continue onward. I did spend some time in the normal ANA Lounge, which was…fine, but definitely not up to the standards both the ANA 777 and the service onboard had set 35,000 feet in the air.
Other FAQ About ANA’s “The Suite” First Class
Is first class on ANA worth it?
ANA’s first class is definitely worth redeeming miles, particularly if you’re able to book a flight on one of its refurbished 777-300ER aircraft, which feature the new-ish “The Suite” product. However, given that cash fares can regularly exceed $10,000 one-way between the US and Tokyo, I’m not sure that is a sensible purchase (unless, of course, money is no object to you).
What is ANA’s first class cabin like?
ANA’s international first class cabin is exclusive, featuring two rows of seats in a 1-2-1 configuration. Each seat converts into a fully flat bed—and, on refurbished 777-300 ER aircraft, is equipped with a door that closes fully. If you sit in one of the four window seats, you’ll also enjoy an amazing view, with between 3-4 windows per seat in the cabin.
How much does ANA first class cost?
The cash price of ANA first class can easily exceed $10,000 one-way on flights between the US and Japan. That’s the bad news. The good news? You can book ANA first class much cheaper using miles, with Virgin Atlantic Flying Club, Air Canada Aeroplan and Avianca LifeMiles offering the best rates. Do note that if you book via Virgin Atlantic, you’ll need to do so by phone, which can be cumbersome and risk the availability (which is rare, and gets booked up fast) slipping away.
The Bottom Line
The reality is that my ANA new 777 first class review might not be relevant for long—frankly, I hope it isn’t. The current “The Suite” product will be updated, upgraded or replaced entirely in the near future, when ANA’s long-await 777-9 aircraft finally take to the skies. In spite of this, I think you’ll still find value in reading about ANA’s current-best first class, even if what’s available by the time you fly is significantly better. My fingers are crossed that award redemption costs (whether on United or otherwise) don’t increase before then! If they do, of course, you can always hire me to plan your Japan trip for you, and to give you the most bang for your buck regardless.
