ANA's Boeing 777-300ER features THE ROOM business class with direct aisle access and premium privacy doors. This guide helps you find the best seats across business, premium economy, and economy cabins.
The 777-300ER features a 1-2-1 business layout with privacy doors, 3-4-3 economy, and premium economy. Best business seats are rows 7-15 in THE ROOM (or rows 7-12 in older staggered configuration). Avoid row 5 in business and the final rows in economy due to lavatory proximity and reduced amenities.
ANA's Boeing 777-300ER business class offers two configurations. THE ROOM (rows 5-20) features a modern 1-2-1 direct aisle access layout with privacy doors on all seats, providing exceptional privacy and comfort. The older staggered configuration (rows 5-21) also seats 1-2-1 but with a traditional herringbone layout. Both offer lie-flat beds and premium amenities, though THE ROOM is the newer, preferred product.
Premium economy sits between business and economy, offering enhanced comfort with wider seats and better pitch than standard economy. Row 25 is the prime premium economy row, avoiding galley and lavatory noise.
The spacious 3-4-3 configuration provides good access to aisles. Standard economy spans rows 22-42 with varying quality depending on position relative to galleys and lavatories. Mid-cabin rows (around row 30) offer the best balance of comfort and convenience.
Seat | Cabin | Why |
|---|---|---|
Rows 7-15 A/K | Business (THE ROOM) | Prime location away from galley, direct aisle access, optimal privacy |
Rows 7-12 A/K | Business (Staggered) | Best positioning in older configuration away from forward galley |
Row 25 | Premium Economy | Central location avoiding galley and lavatory noise |
Row 30 | Economy | Mid-cabin sweet spot balancing proximity to amenities and noise |
Seat | Cabin | Why |
|---|---|---|
Row 5 | Business | Galley proximity, bulkhead restrictions |
Rows 20-21 | Business | Rear galley noise, reduced privacy benefits |
Row 27 | Premium Economy | Lavatory and galley proximity |
Rows 41-42 | Economy | Rear galley, lavatory proximity, reduced recline space |
ANA operates two distinct 777-300ER business class configurations on this aircraft type, and the difference materially affects your experience. THE ROOM (newer generation, rows 5-20) features direct aisle access with closing privacy doors, while older aircraft still in rotation use a traditional herringbone 1-2-1 layout without door privacy. You can identify your version by checking seat maps 6-8 weeks before departure - THE ROOM shows individual seat boxes with door indicators, whereas the older config shows angled seating pairs. If you're flying premium routes like Tokyo-London or Tokyo-New York and value privacy equally to lie-flat comfort, it's worth switching flights to secure THE ROOM; for regional Asia-Japan routes, the older version remains competitive enough not to justify rebooking.
Against Cathay Pacific's 777-300ER business class on overlapping routes, ANA's newer THE ROOM configuration wins on privacy and aisle access, but Cathay edges ahead on meal quality and cabin lighting customization. For solo travelers seeking maximum seclusion, THE ROOM's door closure is decisive; for couples on long-hauls, Cathay's larger shared suite layout and superior champagne list become relevant trade-offs. Tall passengers (6'3"+) find both comparable in bed length at 6'7", though ANA's direct-access seats eliminate the shuffle required in Cathay's window seats. Honesty: if you're routing for the product alone, THE ROOM justifies ANA; if you're comparing older ANA 777s to Cathay's entire fleet, Cathay wins on consistency and amenity execution across aircraft generations.
ANA's business class passengers access The Suite Lounge (or ANA Lounge premium tier) at Tokyo Haneda, featuring a dedicated shower spa, à la carte restaurant with sushi and ramen stations, and a quiet rest area with recliners - substantially better than regional hub lounges. Passengers in THE ROOM business class (not older config) also receive priority grooming and spa services, including 20-minute chair massages during connection windows. Routing via Haneda for onward connections to Europe or North America justifies the hub strategy only if your layover exceeds 3 hours; shorter connections reduce lounge utility, and the Haneda facility gets congested during peak morning departure banks (6-10am). If you're originating from Haneda or connecting through it with a 4+ hour window, the spa access and meal quality genuinely improve overall journey satisfaction on overnight flights.
Book window seats in rows 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, or 18 (left side, seats A or L depending on configuration notation) for the smoothest sleep trajectory on westbound red-eyes - these rows avoid lavatory foot traffic and engine vibration zones at the aircraft's aerodynamic pressure point. Skip the multi-course dinner service on flights departing after 8pm; instead, order light snacks and use the 2-hour pre-sleep window to work, watch media, or adjust your cabin environment (seat angle to 6 inches from flat, white noise in headphones). Bring a quality neck pillow rated for side-sleeping, compression socks for circulation, and melatonin (5mg) timed 90 minutes before your intended sleep start. On 14+ hour flights, plan arrival within 2 hours of dawn at your destination to leverage the sleep banking effect; set your watch forward immediately after takeoff and time your wake-up request for 90 minutes before landing to avoid grogginess from interrupted REM cycles.
THE ROOM is ANA's newer business class product featuring direct aisle access for all seats in a 1-2-1 configuration, with privacy doors and modern lie-flat beds. It's significantly more private than the older staggered herringbone layout.
ANA is gradually retrofitting their 777-300ER fleet with THE ROOM. Check your flight details or contact ANA directly. THE ROOM aircraft have business class in rows 5-20, while older staggered versions extend to row 21.
Yes, if THE ROOM is available, prioritize seats in rows 7-15 for optimal positioning. The outer seats (A and K) offer full direct aisle access and maximum privacy compared to center seats.
Premium economy offers a good middle ground with enhanced comfort, wider seats, and better service than economy. Row 25 is ideal if you can secure it.
These final rows are closest to rear lavatories and galleys, resulting in increased foot traffic, noise, and limited recline options. They also lack the benefits of earlier rows.
