All Nippon Airways (ANA) offers three different First Class products, found onboard either the Airbus A380 or the Boeing 777-300ER. In this article, we take a look at which routes feature ANA First Class and “The Suite”.

ANA’s orange A380 named “Ka La” (Source: airliners.net)

About ANA First Class

ANA’s long-haul fleet consists of Boeing 767, Boeing 777, and Boeing 787 aircraft, alongside three Airbus A380s that are exclusively used on flights between Tokyo and Hawaii. Both the Airbus A380 and Boeing 777-300ER are equipped with a First Class cabin featuring eight seats each. The remaining aircraft types offer Business Class as the highest cabin.

For a long time, ANA operated only one type of First Class product, available on the Boeing 777. When the Airbus A380 joined the fleet, a new First Class product debuted, shortly followed by the launch of “The Suite” for the Boeing 777. “The Suite” is now installed on 10 out of 13 Boeing 777-300ER aircraft, with no plans to retrofit the remaining three.

Here are the aircraft registrations featuring “The Suite”:

JA784A
JA785A
JA787A
JA788A
JA793A
JA794A
JA795A
JA796A
JA797A
JA798A

The “Old” ANA First Class on the Boeing 777-300ER

Compared to First Class products from other airlines, ANA’s older First Class cabin feels somewhat dated, mainly due to its color scheme. While the overall design and spaciousness are comparable to the suite-style seating found elsewhere, the ANA seats do not feature fully enclosed doors. Thus, ANA’s older First Class is most comparable to Japan Airlines’ First Class (Review: Japan Airlines First Class Boeing 777 Tokyo Haneda to San Francisco).

Nonetheless, ANA’s outstanding onboard service has long cemented its reputation in the top tier of First Class products. You can find a full review here: Review: ANA First Class Boeing 777 Chicago to Tokyo Narita.

“THE Suite” – ANA’s New First Class on the Boeing 777-300ER

ANA’s latest First Class product, known as “THE Suite”, is featured on the Boeing 777-300ER. Each of the eight seats offers direct aisle access and maximum privacy through a sliding door. ANA also introduced a personal 43-inch 4K monitor for each suite — the first of its kind in commercial aviation.

With “THE Suite,” ANA addressed a key criticism of the older product: limited window visibility from window seats and lack of interaction between middle seats. In the new design, passengers at window seats enjoy an unobstructed view, while middle seats feature a larger privacy divider that can be lowered on request.

ANA First Class on the Airbus A380

The First Class product installed on the Airbus A380 is similar to “THE Suite” on the Boeing 777-300ER and is exclusively used on flights between Tokyo and Honolulu (Review: Flying the ANA A380 “Flying Honu” to Hawaii).

How to Tell the Difference Between the Old and New ANA First Class

Visually, it’s easy to distinguish between the old and new First Class cabins. But how do we ensure we’re booking the newer product?

When booking a flight operated by the Airbus A380, you’re guaranteed the newer seat. However, flights operated by the Boeing 777-300ER could feature either the old or new First Class. Using a tool like ExpertFlyer to check seat maps is advisable. If Business Class ends in Row 17 or 21, the aircraft features the old First Class; if it ends in Row 20, you’re flying in “THE Suite.”

You can spot ANA’s “THE SUITE” product on ANA’s website by this indication below the flight details (Source: ANA)

Alternatively, when booking through ANA’s website, look for flights labeled with “The Suite” or “The Room.”

All All Nippon Airways First Class Routes

ANA First Class is mainly available on flights between Japan and the United States. In Europe, only London is currently served with First Class service. Fortunately, ANA operates out of Tokyo Haneda Airport, which is more centrally located than Narita and offers a much faster transfer into the city.

Currently, ANA First Class is offered on the following routes:

From Tokyo Haneda:

London Heathrow (Boeing 777-300ER)
New York JFK (Boeing 777-300ER)
San Francisco (Boeing 777-300ER)
Chicago (Boeing 777-300ER)

From Tokyo Narita:

Chicago (Boeing 777-300ER)
San Francisco (Boeing 777-300ER)
Honolulu (Airbus A380)

Current First Class routes of ANA (Source: GCMap.com)

Please note that routes and aircraft assignments are subject to change, so it’s a good idea to keep an eye on your flight’s equipment.

Booking ANA First Class with Miles

As a member of Star Alliance, ANA awards can be booked not only through ANA’s own Mileage Club program but also through other Star Alliance frequent flyer programs. Options include Lufthansa Miles & More, Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer, Avianca LifeMiles, United MileagePlus, and Air Canada Aeroplan. ANA also partners with Virgin Atlantic Flying Club. The best program to use depends on your specific route and situation.

How to Find ANA First Class Award Availability

Flexibility is key when searching for ANA First Class award seats, as availability can be extremely limited — sometimes to just a few flights per year. The best chances come either very close to departure or many months in advance.

If you want to search availability over multiple weeks or months easily, the KrisFlyer website is a good option. It offers a weekly view and a simple navigation system — just make sure to select “Star Alliance” during your search. Awards visible through KrisFlyer are usually also available via other Star Alliance programs, since they share the same inventory. A paid alternative for award availability searches is Seats.aero.

Conclusion

ANA First Class ranks among the best First Class experiences worldwide and remains highly coveted by frequent flyers and mileage collectors. However, the limited number of routes and the tight award seat availability can make securing a seat a real challenge.

Here are all ANA First Class routes