All Nippon Airways The Room business class on the Boeing 787 is regularly ranked among the best business class products in the world, featuring fully enclosed suites with closing doors, enormous entertainment screens, and some of the widest seats in the sky. The Room FX variant, found on newer 787 deliveries, adds subtle enhancements to the cabin lighting, materials, and inflight entertainment interface. Booking this product with points is a top aspiration for award travelers, but beginners make several predictable mistakes that can derail the experience before they ever step onboard. From navigating ANAs unique award booking rules to selecting the right transfer partner, here is a close-up look at The Room FX and the beginner mistakes to avoid in 2026.
The Room FX business class suite on ANAs 787 offers a fully enclosed space with a sliding privacy door, a 24-inch 4K entertainment screen, a wide seat that converts to a fully flat bed, and adjustable ambient lighting that mimics natural circadian rhythms. The cabin is arranged in a 1-2-1 configuration with all seats having direct aisle access. Compared to other top-tier business class products like Qatar Airways Qsuite and Delta One Suites, The Room FX stands out for its sheer width and the quality of the entertainment system. For travelers who value personal space and privacy, this product represents the pinnacle of the 787 business class experience.
ANA releases very limited award space to partner programs, and the availability picture changes depending on which frequent flyer program you use. Virgin Atlantic Flying Club has historically been the best-value partner for booking ANA business class, with round-trip awards pricing around 90,000 to 95,000 miles plus reasonable taxes. ANA Mileage Club itself prices round-trip business class awards attractively but requires booking round-trip only with strict date change rules. Beginners who search through United MileagePlus or Air Canada Aeroplan may see zero availability and assume the route is not bookable, when in fact Virgin Atlantic has access to different inventory. Always check Virgin Atlantic Flying Club first when hunting for ANA business class award space.
ANA Mileage Club requires round-trip award bookings for international itineraries, with no one-way awards allowed. Beginners accustomed to the flexibility of one-way bookings through other programs get caught by this restriction. Additionally, ANA Mileage Club does not allow date changes after ticketing, and canceling and rebooking can trigger mileage redeposit fees. If you need flexibility, book through Virgin Atlantic instead, which allows one-way awards and more lenient change policies, even if the mileage cost is slightly higher.
ANA flies The Room FX-equipped 787s from multiple North American gateways, including Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, Chicago, and New York. Award availability varies significantly by departure city and date. Beginners who lock onto a single airport miss the opportunity to position to another gateway where award space is available. Searching all ANA North American departure points and being willing to book a separate positioning flight opens significantly more award possibilities.
ANA releases additional award space in the weeks and days leading up to departure, particularly in business class. Beginners who book months in advance and see no availability often stop searching. Consistent close-in searching, especially one to three weeks before departure, frequently turns up business class seats on The Room FX that were not available earlier. If your travel dates are flexible, waiting and booking close-in can be the winning strategy.
This article draws on ANA aircraft configuration data, partner award booking rules, Virgin Atlantic Flying Club award charts, and community award booking experience reports.
Q: Which ANA 787 routes feature The Room FX? A: The Room FX is deployed on select 787 routes from North America to Tokyo, primarily from major West Coast hubs and New York. Check ANA seat maps before booking to confirm the specific aircraft configuration.
Q: What is the best program to book ANA The Room FX with points? A: Virgin Atlantic Flying Club offers the best combination of award pricing, one-way booking flexibility, and reasonable change policies for ANA business class redemptions.
Q: Can I book ANA The Room FX with Amex Membership Rewards points? A: Yes, by transferring Amex points to Virgin Atlantic Flying Club or ANA Mileage Club and then booking the award through those programs.
Q: Does ANA release last-minute business class award space? A: Yes. ANA often releases additional business class award inventory one to three weeks before departure, making close-in booking a viable strategy for flexible travelers.