JAL A350 Business Vs ANA The Room on Points and Miles. Which is best?

On my recent trip to Japan with my teenage daughter, I flew JAL A350 J Class JFK-HND on the outbound and ANA The Room HND-ORD on the return. I thought I'd share my thoughts and compare the two products since I got to experience them in a relatively short timeframe and they are some of the most popular award redemptions on the planet.

We were on a 1:30am flight out of JFK and started in the Greenwich lounge after a smooth check-in process. The lounge itself is huge with several rooms and it was fairly empty at this hour. There was a limited selection of food which was all mediocre but we were waiting for the on-board meal anyway. Nevertheless, it was a comfortable place to stay but not worth getting there too early for.

The boarding process was quite seamless as it usually is with Japanese Airlines. It was our first time on JAL's new business class so we explored every nook and cranny of the seats and all of the functions before takeoff. What immediately stood out was the intentional design of the space. There is a well placed coat rack, shoe storage, a cabinet for water and reading materials, another cubby for valuables. There was a spot for everything, super well thought out. The seat itself was spacious but not overtly and the footwell was also quite large and comfortable. For me the best part was the private enclosure. Not only do you have a privacy door but the walls come up quite high creating an even more private feel. The only downside is that there are no overhead bins in the middle section but it was no big deal considering the amount of storage space that was available within the seat parameters. Everything in the cabin had a new feel with no signs of wear. With the mattress pad, the bed was quite comfortable and I was able to sleep for several hours without any issues. My Daughter slept for 10 of the 14 hours so I think she also approves.

The food in JAL is always excellent. I did the Japanese meal which always comes with a selection of miniature dishes including meat, seafood and vegetables and my daughter did the International meal and chose the steak option. As far as airplane food goes it's tough to beat. The sake, wine and champagne are also nice. The ramen is always a must. The service felt a little slow during meal period but the flight attendants were professional, polished and kind. The cabin at times was a bit warm but not unbearable which is a common complaint I see with JAL. One bonus with the A350 is that the engine noise is notably more quiet than most aircraft.

Paid with: 105k JAL miles plus $242 taxes and fees per person. JAL miles obtained through Bilt 100% transfer bonus

Overall, a great flight 9.0/10.

On the return we had a morning flight leaving Haneda at 10:40am. It gave us enough time to peep the lounge for 45 min or so before boarding. It's a sizable lounge but it was super crowded at this time. We ordered items from the noodle bar and we got some curry rice from the buffet along with a few snacks. Everything was quite delicious for lounge food although the space itself was not comfortable at all and wasn't a relaxing atmosphere.

ANA's boarding process was also quick and painless. I have flown THE Room twice before but this was the first time I found myself thinking that it is starting to show some age. The cloth materials used are not as premium a feel as in the new JAL cabin and there were some signs of wear and tear. The immediate impression The Room always makes is the size of the seat. It's so wide you could comfortably fit 2 people. For someone with a wider stature or someone that tosses and turns in their sleep, this seat should suit them well. This is the biggest advantage of The Room but it comes at a sacrifice. The design is not nearly as thought out as JALs new product and storage space is quite minimal. Shoes and slippers become a problem as there is not a great place to store them. The tray table interferes with the space where you would hang your coat. I found myself struggling to adjust to some of the nuances of the seat but once settled in you feel quite comfortable. The walls are not as high as JALs and there is a slight gap in the door so the privacy aspect while still good is not elite. Sleeping in this seat is fine but a little less cozy and comfortable than JAL.

The food on this flight I found to be quite good. We both did the Japanese meal and each of the dishes were quite tasty compared with my last two visits on The Room. Their sake list really shines and their ramen might be even better than JALs. The service was also notably slow during the main meal period but still acceptable. Flight attendants are kind and work to please but lacked the polish of that of JALs crew. The good news is that the cabin temperature was comfortable throughout the flight.

Paid with 52.5k ANA miles transferred from Amex plus $422 per person.

Overall a very good flight. 8.0/10

In summary, you can't go wrong on either flight so if you see award space available, snatch it up. If you have a choice then the new JAL product is just a step ahead in just about all aspects of their product.

Would love to hear other people's experience with these airlines!