All Nippon Business Class: How to Get Free In-Class Upgrades

The secret option that separates average from above-average travel

Two travelers. Both are flying ANA Business Class to Japan.

One ends up in an old seat made in the early 2000s.

The other slides behind floor-to-ceiling doors in what the airline dubs “THE Room” – with personal wardrobe storage and 27-inch-wide seats.

THE Room

Depending on the aircraft you choose, you could enjoy one of Japan's most exclusive Business Class suites or end up in an outdated seat with less space, limited privacy, and none of the modern comforts.

Not THE Room

In a moment, we'll show you exactly how to identify which flights guarantee private suites.

Japan's Strategic Star Alliance Airline

All Nippon Airways (ANA) serves as Japan's largest Star Alliance carrier. Unlike Japan Airlines (JAL), which partners with American Airlines through oneworld, ANA works with United Airlines and other Star Alliance partners, making it the primary Japanese option for United MileagePlus members and Star Alliance elites.

ANA operates from two Tokyo airports: Tokyo Haneda (HND) – the newer, more convenient airport closer to downtown – and Tokyo Narita (NRT) – the original international gateway located outside the city.

Most major US airlines split between these airports: United typically uses Narita, while ANA uses both, depending on route and aircraft type.

Why This Matters for U.S. Travelers

If you're planning to travel to Japan or beyond throughout Asia, and value seat comfort – especially if you're tall or prefer privacy – designing your flight schedule around routes where ANA operates THE Room can transform a 13-hour flight from a mediocre to a luxury experience.

ANA operates THE Room on very specific routes with limited aircraft, while maintaining legacy Business Class seats on dozens of other flights.

Most travelers are unaware that they're entering a seat lottery.

Who Benefits Most from This Intel

Trip Planners: Think about schedule options. Same destination, dramatically different aircraft deployment patterns.

Trip Bookers: Look for "Individual suite" designations and Boeing 777-300ER aircraft specifically in Google search results. We'll show you exactly how to identify these during booking in a moment.

Trip Optimizers: Already booked? Let’s say you live in Phoenix and you’re flying to Japan or elsewhere in Asia. Check your routing and if it's via LAX – which doesn’t have THE Room – try to change your ticket to a routing via SFO, which does have the seat.

Use This Knowledge With FCF Strategies

You know how much Mr. Upgrade loves the Iterative Upgrade Strategy. Well it can work sometimes with ANA from Chicago and San Francisco – two routes where you can find a seat.

You can also leverage this seat knowledge with FCF’s Maple Leaf Loophole.

ANA’s Legacy Seats vs THE Room

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THE Room

Where’s THE Room?

It’s not on all ANA flights. Here’s the executive summary on where it is.

Always Available:

> New York JFK to/from Tokyo Haneda 

• Flight Numbers: NH109 / 110, NH159 / 160

Sometimes Available:
(Check Aircraft Before Booking)

> Chicago to/from Tokyo Haneda 

• Flight Numbers: NH111 / 112

> San Francisco to/from Tokyo Narita 

• Flight Numbers: NH7 / NH8

Never Available:
(Legacy Aircraft Only)

> San Francisco to/from Tokyo Haneda  

• Flight Numbers: NH107 / NH108

> Houston to/from Tokyo Haneda  

• Flight Numbers: NH113 / NH114

> Los Angeles to/from Tokyo Haneda

• Flight Numbers: NH105 / NH126

> Seattle to/from Haneda

• Flight Numbers: NH117 / NH118

> Washington D.C. (Dulles) to/from Haneda

• Flight Numbers: NH101 / NH102

How to Be Sure Where THE Room Is

ANA makes it easy to identify when you're getting THE Room Business Class product. The key indicator is in the flight details section where THE Room is explicitly listed under the "service" field, accompanied by a WiFi symbol.

This flight NH110 on the Boeing 777-300ER (77W), below, clearly shows THE Room in the service specifications, confirming you'll get the private suites with sliding doors.

On ANA Website:

Google Flights

This is exactly what you want to see. Both flights NH160 and NH159 on the Tokyo Haneda to/from JFK route show "Individual suite" on Google Flights, confirming you'll get THE Room" with private suites and sliding doors instead of the legacy Business Class configuration.

New York (JFK) - Haneda (HND)

Haneda (HND) - New York (JFK)

How to Spot When You're NOT Getting THE Room

As you can see in this screenshot, Tokyo Haneda to San Francisco shows several red flags that indicate you won't get THE Room Business Class product.

The key missing element is that there's only a WiFi symbol with no text specifying THE Room. While this is still a Boeing 777-300ER (77W), the absence of THE Room designation in the service field means you'll get ANA's legacy Business Class configuration instead of the private suites.

Always look for that explicit “THE Room” text in the equipment specifications. If it's missing, you're booking the standard Business Class seats regardless of aircraft type.

Google Flights

As shown in the screenshot below, both the Tokyo-Seattle flights (NH118 and NH117) show "Lie-flat seat," indicating you'll get the legacy Business Class seat, not THE Room. If these were "Room" flights, you'd see "Individual suite" instead.

Haneda (HND) - Seattle (SEA)

Another Way to Know You Have the Right Flight

Look for the aircraft with 16 rows in the Business Class cabin. In contrast, planes with the older, legacy configuration typically show 17 rows.

This quick check can save you from landing in a dated cabin when you were expecting one of the most spacious and private Business Class seats in the sky.

The Bottom Line & Japan's Suite Reality

ANA's THE Room represents the most private Business Class experience to Japan. But the trick is knowing exactly which flights feature the configuration. The same Business Class fare buys dramatically different experiences depending on your aircraft knowledge.

Your strategic advantage: While others book blindly and hope for comfortable seats, you can guarantee private suites with floor-to-ceiling doors for identical fares through strategic route selection.

Until then, see you up front.