ANA economy vs premium side by side

Ikhsan Rizki

Published - public Nov 17, 2025 - 00:00 27 Reads

Is an ANA upgrade worth it? Explore Economy, Premium Economy & Business Class features to balance comfort, amenities, and cost for your next flight.

Photo: Is an ANA upgrade worth it? Explore Economy, Premium Economy & Business Class features to balance comfort, amenities, and cost for your next flight.

Deciding how to fly, especially on long-haul international routes, often comes down to a crucial choice: balancing comfort, amenities, and cost. All Nippon Airways (ANA), consistently ranked among the world's leading airlines, offers a spectrum of cabin classes designed to cater to diverse traveler needs. But what truly sets ANA Economy vs. Premium side by side? Is the upgrade worth the extra investment?

This comprehensive guide will break down the distinct features of ANA's Economy, Premium Economy, and Business Class offerings, helping you make an informed decision for your next journey.

Understanding ANA's Cabin Classes

ANA, Japan's largest airline, is renowned for its exceptional service and commitment to passenger comfort across all cabins. While First Class represents the pinnacle of luxury, most travelers typically choose between Economy, Premium Economy, and Business Class. Each class offers a progressively enhanced experience, from seating and dining to airport services and amenities.

ANA Economy Class: The Foundation of Travel

ANA's Economy Class provides a solid, reliable, and comfortable experience, often exceeding expectations for standard economy cabins. It's designed to offer a pleasant journey without the premium price tag.

Seating

ANA Economy Class seats generally feature a pitch of 31 to 34 inches and a width of 17 to 18 inches, which is considered decent for long-haul flights. Some newer aircraft, like the Boeing 787-9, boast a 34-inch seat pitch and redesigned space around the knees for an additional inch of room, making them among the most spacious in economy class. Many seats also come with adjustable headrests and elastic footrests, enhancing comfort, especially on longer flights.

In-flight Entertainment

Passengers in Economy Class enjoy personal seatback screens, offering a wide selection of movies, TV shows, and music. Newer 787-9s feature 13.3-inch touchscreens with Bluetooth audio connectivity. While Wi-Fi is available on most flights, it typically comes with a fee.

Meal Service & Drinks

ANA's Economy Class meals are often praised for their quality, frequently served in a bento-style box with choices of Japanese or Western dishes. Complimentary beverages, including non-alcoholic options, Japanese sake, beer, and wine, are offered during meal service. Light snacks are also provided.

Amenities

Standard amenities in Economy Class include a pillow, blanket, and headphones.

Baggage Allowance (International Flights)

For most international routes, Economy Class passengers are allowed two checked bags, each weighing up to 23 kg (50 lbs).

ANA Premium Economy: The Enhanced Experience

ANA Premium Economy aims to bridge the gap between Economy and Business Class, offering a significant upgrade in comfort and perks without the full Business Class price.

Seating

The Premium Economy cabin offers noticeably more space. Seats are typically wider, around 19.3 inches, with a generous seat pitch of 38 inches. On some newer Boeing 787-9 aircraft, the seat pitch has been increased to 40 inches, and seats recline up to 9 inches. These seats are equipped with leg rests and footrests, adjustable headrests, and sometimes even privacy wings, providing a more relaxed and comfortable journey.

Airport Perks

A key advantage of Premium Economy is the enhanced airport experience. Passengers benefit from priority check-in, priority boarding, and priority baggage handling, meaning your bags are among the first to arrive at baggage claim.

Lounge Access

Uniquely, ANA is one of the few airlines that provides lounge access to Premium Economy passengers on international flights. You can access ANA lounges at select airports like Tokyo-Haneda, Tokyo-Narita, Kansai, and Honolulu. This is a significant perk, offering a comfortable space to relax, enjoy snacks and drinks, and utilize Wi-Fi before your flight.

Meal Service & Drinks

While the main meals in Premium Economy are similar to those served in Economy Class, a notable upgrade is the ability to order selected alcoholic beverages and snacks from the Business Class menu between meal services.

Amenities

In addition to a pillow and blanket, Premium Economy passengers can request amenities such as slippers, a shoehorn, an eye mask, earplugs, and a dental kit.

In-flight Entertainment

Premium Economy features larger personal monitors, often 15.6 inches on newer aircraft, offering an immersive entertainment experience. Seats also come with universal power outlets, USB charging ports, and sometimes Bluetooth audio connectivity.

Baggage Allowance (International Flights)

Similar to Economy, international Premium Economy tickets generally include two checked bags, each up to 23 kg (50 lbs), but with priority tagging.

ANA Business Class: Stepping into Luxury

For the ultimate in comfort and service, ANA Business Class offers a truly premium travel experience, particularly on long-haul international flights.

Seating

ANA Business Class features lie-flat seats, ensuring you can sleep comfortably on long journeys. Many aircraft are configured with "The Room" product, which boasts one of the widest business class seats in the industry (up to 38-41.5 inches wide) with sliding privacy doors and direct aisle access for every passenger. Other configurations, like ANA BUSINESS STAGGERED, also provide direct aisle access.

Airport Perks

Business Class passengers receive the highest priority for check-in, security (at some airports), boarding, and baggage handling. Lounge access is a standard inclusion, often to more exclusive ANA Business Class lounges.

Meal Service & Drinks

Dining in Business Class is a gourmet experience, with meals curated by "The Connoisseurs," a group of renowned chefs. Passengers can enjoy extensive menus, often with both Japanese and international options, and can even pre-order their preferred meals. A wide selection of complimentary alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages is available.

Amenities

Business Class amenities are designed for maximum comfort, including high-quality bedding (mattress pads, comforters, plush pillows from Nishikawa), noise-canceling headphones, and premium amenity kits with skincare products. Loungewear is also typically provided.

In-flight Entertainment

Expect large, high-resolution personal monitors (e.g., 24-inch 4K displays in "The Room"), offering an extensive library of entertainment. Seats are equipped with multiple power outlets (AC, USB-A, USB-C) and sometimes even wireless charging.

Baggage Allowance (International Flights)

Business Class passengers typically enjoy a more generous baggage allowance, usually two checked bags, each weighing up to 32 kg (70 lbs).