ANA Boeing 787 Business Class (Perth – Tokyo Narita)

Japan is one of the hottest destinations for Aussie tourists, so it’s no surprise ANA is back for another season in Perth. The airline is still hedging its bets by sticking with a thrice-weekly schedule from October to April. But with a convenient overnight flight to Tokyo, it’s certainly worth considering if the days match up for you.

Check-in, lounge and boarding

As expected, check-in is well managed at Perth Airport. Usually, when I fly internationally out of Perth, there tends to be only contracted ground staff interacting with guests.

With ANA, I also see a few Japanese-speaking airline representatives actively welcoming passengers as they approach the desks. It’s a small but powerful gesture that speaks to their tight service standards.

ANA uses the Aspire Lounge in Perth. The food and beverages here are fine. It’s nothing too flashy, but still a decent way to relax before a flight. If you’re flying in Business Class or have Star Alliance Gold status, you could also visit the Air New Zealand lounge, which opens later in the evening, ahead of the Qatar Airways flight to Doha.

Once again, boarding is meticulously managed with a bow from the staff before the priority lane opens up for Business Class passengers.

Seat and layout

This version of ANA’s Boeing 787-9 has 40 seats in Business Class, arranged in a typical 1-2-1 fashion. There are eight rows in the forward cabin and only three in the rear mini-cabin. My pick for the best location is in the middle of the main cabin, away from the galleys and lavatories.

When boarding, an amenity kit, mattress topper, pillow, and blanket are already on the seat. There’s space to stash them (or a small bag) in the cubby underneath the main footwell.

But if I had to put my critic hat on, I’d say the seat is too open, lacks storage space for tech and other handheld items, and has an uninspiring colour palette. Of course, they recline into a comfortable, lie-flat bed, which is essential for this overnight journey. I’m still happy to be here for this 10-hour flight.

Speaking of sleeping, the bed is around 190 cm long – a bit on the shorter side, but still sufficient for most passengers. On the side panel, there are basic seat controls and a ‘do not disturb’ button. The main console houses an old-school remote, a slow-charging USB port and an AC charging port.

Food and beverage

My favourite part of flying ANA is unequivocally the Japanese cuisine onboard. For overnight flights, the menu is cut down, but I’m happy to report it’s still as delicious – just condensed onto a single tray.

Supper

Before departure, the crew offer a pre-departure plastic cup of Champagne or orange juice. Once we’re in the air, the full bar opens, and I enjoy a shot of sweet potato shochu (Kawagoe Shuzojo, Miyazaki) to get things started.

With a 9:55pm take-off, it’s closer to 11pm when dinner is served. In my previous ANA review, I promised to review the Western options, but I just can’t help it. I pre-order the Japanese cuisine again, and it’s still exquisite, from the tuna in mustard vinegar miso to simmered abalone and salt-grilled salmon.

I don’t mind the change from multi-course dining to one tray when sleep is a priority, but dessert is a bit of an afterthought. If you’re still peckish, consider ordering ice cream or fruits from the snack menu. A warm matcha green tea with a chocolate piece is the perfect way to unwind before bed.

Breakfast

Fast-forward seven or so hours, and the sun starts to filter through the dimmed windows as we approach Tokyo. For breakfast, there’s the choice of chicken penne pasta or scallop and daikon radish with yuzu sauce, alongside simmered pork and cabbage in white miso and steamed rice.

No points for guessing what I choose. To bolster my Japanese breakfast, I also tried the rice bowl with deep-fried curry-flavoured chicken from the anytime snack menu. It’s been reheated, so the chicken is soggy, but it’s another delicious dish on the menu.

Any time is the perfect time for a fragrant glass of sake (Nanbu Bijin Daiginjo) before we land in Japan – whether it’s nearing 7:30 am local time in Tokyo or not.

Service and amenities

When I flew ANA from Tokyo to Sydney back in 2023, I paid US$21.95 to stay connected while working above the clouds. Happily, the airline now offers free, unlimited Wi-Fi in Business Class via a voucher at each seat. This is still limited to one device, so activate it on the one you’ll use the most.

On this overnight journey, Wi-Fi speeds are excellent: 16.9 Mbps down and 5.12 Mbps up, without much congestion.

ANA’s onboard service is unwaveringly efficient and polite. Although it’s not advertised, the airline offers loaner pyjamas and cardigans on request if you’d like to fly in comfort and preserve your day clothes. These are very soft and comfortable – just leave enough time to change out of them, as the crew will collect them before landing.

Slippers and an Ettinger amenity kit are provided at every seat. As essentials such as dental kits and mouthwash are stored in the lavatory, the amenity kit only features body lotion, lip balm, and a folded ANA-branded shopping bag. Of course, it wouldn’t be an ANA flight without advanced Japanese-style bidets on every toilet.

The weakest link on this flight is the entertainment system, which still uses a clunky interface. The Hollywood movie library isn’t too bad, with over 190 titles, but many TV shows only have a few episodes loaded.

Overall, there’s plenty to watch over the provided noise-cancelling headphones if you’re not sleeping, but don’t expect the mammoth libraries of other airlines such as Emirates ICE and Singapore Airlines KrisWorld.

How to book this flight with points

The easiest way for Australian-based frequent flyers to book ANA is with Velocity Points. Unfortunately, ANA reward seats are relatively scarce in advance. Typically, each flight only offers one Business and two Economy reward seats. ANA will sometimes release more Business reward seats starting two weeks before departure.

(I’ve booked this exact flight with Velocity Points to come home from a holiday just before Christmas and could only snag a single Business reward for my partner and an Economy reward for myself).

You can also book ANA with partner airlines such as Air Canada Aeroplan (a Pay.com.au transfer partner) and Virgin Atlantic (an Amex Membership Rewards transfer partner). I don’t recommend booking through KrisFlyer as it’s considerably more expensive in miles and fees.

• Virgin Australia Velocity: 78,000 pts + ~A$87
• Air Canada Aeroplan: 45,000 pts + ~CA$132*
• Virgin Atlantic Flying Club: 52,500 pts + fees and taxes*
• Singapore Airlines Krisflyer: 105,000 miles + ~JPY42,810 (~A$427)

* On some dates, Aeroplan did not show seats that other programs could see. Be sure to confirm availability before transferring/buying points and booking. Virgin Atlantic requires a phone call to book ANA awards.

Due to the limited frequency of three flights a week from Perth, you’ll have more luck booking ANA on the Sydney-Tokyo (Haneda) leg, which runs twice daily. Business rewards cost the same with Velocity Points.

Our verdict: ANA Boeing 787 Business Class

This isn’t ANA’s strongest product (its Boeing 777 ‘The Room’ Business Class takes that honour). But with an incredibly convenient overnight journey to Tokyo, coupled with excellent service and dining, I hope this route is here to stay and eventually evolve into a daily, year-round service.

Booking the Perth-Tokyo route with points is challenging because of limited availability. If the seasonal calendar continues for 2025-26, your best bet is booking as soon as ANA releases the whole schedule, as that’s how I secured my Business and Economy rewards on the date I wanted.

Otherwise, you could book an alternative flight first with points. If last-minute availability pops up on ANA, you can call to cancel or change your booking to the newly-released Business reward seat.

If you’re looking to pay cash for a ticket, Business Class has gone on sale for A$2,691 return previously. Keep an eye out for future sales. Also, take advantage of ANA’s free domestic flight promotion! Explore more of Japan, such as the beautiful Ehime prefecture (fly into Matsuyama) or the Hiroshima area, with free connections.

Photography by Brandon Loo, who travelled as a guest of ANA and JNTO. All opinions are his own.

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