ANA vs. Japan Airlines Business Class: My Recent Experience Flying Both

Updated: March 11, 2026, 8:30am CDT

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Table of Contents

How I Booked Business Class Flights to Japan With Points
Both Airlines Offer World-Class Business Class Experiences
What I Love About ANA’s “The Room”
How Japan Airlines’ New A350-1000 Business Class Compares
Final Thoughts

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On my most recent trip to Japan, I had the chance to experience Japan Airlines’ newest business class on the Airbus A350-1000 — a product I’d been eager to try for quite some time.

Over the past 3 years, I’ve flown between the U.S. and Japan 5 times, all in business class. However, for one reason or another, I consistently chose rival All Nippon Airways (ANA). While both airlines have stellar reputations, many travelers (myself included) have long favored ANA for its more private business class cabin — particularly “The Room” — and its elevated dining experience.

That perspective completely shifted after my most recent experience with Japan Airlines. Here’s a quick look at my latest long-haul business class flights between the U.S. and Japan — 1 with ANA and 1 with Japan Airlines — and how the experiences stack up.

How I Booked Business Class Flights to Japan With Points

It’s no secret that Japan is a popular travel destination. From stunning natural landscapes to exceptional cuisine and warm hospitality, the country offers something for everyone. Even after visiting more than 100 countries, Japan remains my favorite, which is why I keep going back.

Flying to Japan in business class makes the journey that much sweeter. Fortunately, there are several ways to fly to Japan with points and miles. Here are some popular options for booking business class on both ANA and Japan Airlines.

Booking ANA Business Class

ANA is a member of Star Alliance, which includes airlines such as United Airlines, Lufthansa, Singapore Airlines, and Turkish Airlines.

Star Alliance airlines ANA, Singapore, United — Some of the Star Alliance crew.

ANA also has several non-alliance partnerships, including Virgin Atlantic. With this special partnership, you can redeem Virgin Atlantic Flying Club points for travel on ANA — and it consistently ranks among the best ways to redeem Flying Club points.

Virgin Atlantic Flying Club has a separate zone-based award chart for flights on ANA. Here is the one-way award pricing for ANA-operated flights between the U.S. and Japan:

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Route	Economy Class	Business Class	First Class
Japan to/from Hawaii	22,500	37,500	57,500
Japan to/from Western U.S.	30,000	52,500	72,500
Japan to/from Eastern U.S.	32,500	60,000	85,000

Virgin Atlantic does levy carrier-imposed surcharges for ANA award tickets, and you can find those amounts on ANA’s website.

Of course, you can also book ANA business class using other programs, including Air Canada Aeroplan, United Airlines MileagePlus, or ANA’s own Mileage Club. However, award rates tend to be significantly higher than what Virgin Atlantic charges.

It’s also relatively easy to build up a balance of Virgin Atlantic Flying Club points. The program partners with nearly every major transferable rewards currency, including Chase Ultimate Rewards, Capital One miles, American Express Membership Rewards, Bilt Rewards, Wells Fargo Rewards, Marriott Bonvoy, and Citi ThankYou Points.

For many people in the U.S., earning these points can be as simple as using a transferable-points credit card for everyday spending.

Cards like the Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card and the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card make it easy to rack up points and miles on dining, travel purchases, and daily expenses, all of which can later be transferred to Flying Club to book ANA award flights.

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Capital One Miles

Because these points and miles transfer directly to Virgin Atlantic, they can quickly become one of the easiest ways to unlock ANA’s excellent business class at some of the best award rates available.

Booking Japan Airlines Business Class

Japan Airlines is a member of the Oneworld Alliance, alongside airlines such as Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, and Qantas. As a result, there are several ways to book Japan Airlines in business class.

Japan Airlines Oneworld — Japan Airlines is a member of the Oneworld alliance.

However, my preferred way to book is through American Airlines AAdvantage or Alaska Airlines Atmos Rewards.

Although American AAdvantage uses dynamic pricing for its own flights, the program has an award chart for travel on most partner airlines. Despite the numerous sweet spots on the award chart, award availability can sometimes be limited.

SEA NRT AAdvantage Japan business class 60k — Japan Airlines business class for 60,000 AAdvantage miles.

According to American AAdvantage’s partner award chart, a one-way business class flight from the U.S. to its Asia 1 region (which includes Japan) costs just 60,000 miles plus taxes and fees.

Both Airlines Offer World-Class Business Class Experiences

Both ANA and Japan Airlines routinely make our list of the best business class products. Choosing between them feels like deciding between sushi and ramen — they’re both great in their own way.

Both airlines offer consistently delicious inflight dining and attentive cabin crew service. Passengers can also expect excellent amenities, including solid inflight entertainment options and free Wi-Fi for business class passengers.

What I Love About ANA’s “The Room”

ANA’s The Room is one of the most sought-after business class products — and it’s easy to see why.

The experience begins with an ultra-wide, spacious seat — larger than most airlines’ first-class seats. At times, it feels more like a spacious loveseat made for multiple people.

ANA The Room business class seat 777 300er — ANA’s The Room business class seats are wide.

Privacy is another major advantage of The Room. With its sliding door, the seat feels more like a private suite than a traditional business class pod.

ANA The Room 777 300er business divider — The Room business class seats offer ample privacy.

Once the door is closed, you’re almost completely shielded from the aisle and other passengers. The design also minimizes movement and visual distractions in the aisle, so you’re not constantly aware of people walking by.

Bottom Line:

ANA’s The Room is among the most spacious in the sky. The seat itself converts into a long, comfortable, lie-flat bed. Combined with the high walls and a sliding door, the experience feels truly private and premium.

How Japan Airlines’ New A350-1000 Business Class Compares

Although I have flown Japan Airlines (JAL) business class several times, it was always on the older Sky Suite product. This time, I had the chance to experience its new business class on the Airbus A350-1000 — and I was thoroughly impressed.

The A350-1000 features Safran Unity seats designed with both comfort and privacy in mind. And, all business class seats offer direct aisle access. While the seats aren’t quite as wide as ANA’s The Room, they still provide plenty of space. In some ways, JAL’s business class seat feels cozier, offering a more personal cabin feel than a large open suite.

Japan Airlines a350 1000 business class seat with windows open — JAL’s newest business class seats are quite comfortable.

Another standout feature of JAL’s newest cabins is the seat technology, which is significantly more advanced than what many airlines currently offer.

Beyond a standard AC power outlet, each seat includes a wireless charging pad, USB-C ports for fast charging, Bluetooth audio connectivity, and built-in headrest speakers. Together, these features create a seamless and modern inflight experience.

Japan Airlines a350 1000 business class charging pad — The seat features plenty of technology, including a wireless charging pad and multiple USB ports.

The seat also converts into a fully lie-flat bed. While it isn’t as wide as ANA’s, I ultimately found that JAL delivered a better overall sleeping experience.

With the excellent Airweave mattress pad and pillow, the bed feels exceptionally supportive and comfortable. The thicker cushioning struck a good balance between softness and firmness, making it easier to get a restful night’s sleep.

Japan Airlines a350 1000 business class bed — The JAL business class bed is quite comfortable.

It’s also worth noting that this experience benefits from the aircraft itself. Personally, I enjoy flying on the A350 far more than the older Boeing 777. The A350 offers a quieter cabin, better air quality, larger windows, and a more modern overall feel — all of which make long-haul flights more pleasant.

Final Thoughts

For quite a while, I preferred ANA’s The Room to anything Japan Airlines offered in business class. However, Japan Airlines’ newest business class product on the Airbus A350-1000 has now taken the lead and may be my new favorite business class experience. That said, you’re in for an excellent flight no matter which airline you choose.

While some of the impressions may reflect a bit of recency bias, JAL’s new product still set a new standard for me — and I’m very interested to see how ANA responds with its next-generation cabins.