The Room vs. The Square
Oct 13, 2022, 4:10 pm
#16
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Tokyo
Programs: JAL Metal Card (OWE), SAS Eurobonus Gold (*G), Marriott Titanium (LTP), Tokyu Hotels Platinum
Posts: 21,112
It is clearly a seat in the better end of the scale when it comes to business class seats, but personally I don't see it as the world's best business class seat.
Oct 14, 2022, 2:00 am
#17
formerly rt23456p
Join Date: May 2017
Posts: 1,210
The main reason bloggers need to rave about it, is that a few hyperbolic headlines about new amazing world's best business class seat drives more traffic. It is new, it makes for good pictures, and the overall experience just goes well to report on to drive clicks.
It is clearly a seat in the better end of the scale when it comes to business class seats, but personally I don't see it as the world's best business class seat.
It is clearly a seat in the better end of the scale when it comes to business class seats, but personally I don't see it as the world's best business class seat.
Oct 14, 2022, 5:19 am
#18
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Tokyo, Japan
Programs: JAL Global Club & oneworld Sapphire, ANA SFC & Star Alliance Gold
Posts: 3,740
THIS! I've learned not to trust the biz class reviews of bloggers and YouTubers. I was actually surprised that Sam Chui's review of the Room included a very short comment (buried toward the end of the review) that the seat was a little firm (or something to that effect). You know that if he mentioned it in his review, then it must be a significant problem. He gets lots of attention and fawning from airlines, because they know he will write glowing reviews of their product, so if even he mentions that the seat is hard (even in passing, in a tiny comment buried in a paragraph near the bottom in a review that is otherwise full of praise), then you know it's a problem.
Oct 14, 2022, 6:43 am
#19
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Tokyo, Japan
Programs: JAL Global Club & oneworld Sapphire, ANA SFC & Star Alliance Gold
Posts: 3,740
Oct 15, 2022, 8:19 pm
#20
Join Date: Aug 2021
Posts: 94
The mattress firmness is about the same.
I just did a back to back in the room and the old hard product. LAX-Haneda was the room, Haneda-BKK in the old product. I find the comments about mattress firmness inane; they are basically the same if you use the provided topper for both flights. In my opinion the room is significantly better in just about every single way. There is MUCH more space, more ability to adjust your position, much greater privacy, and a far superior entertainment system in the new product.
Does all of that override the experience in taking a red eye vs a full service flight? That depends I guess; do many of you actually find the food to be that special? It’s airline food, even in J or F, it’s still not high quality restaurant level. I prefer the greater comfort of the new product, and would choose it over full service in the old every single time.
Does all of that override the experience in taking a red eye vs a full service flight? That depends I guess; do many of you actually find the food to be that special? It’s airline food, even in J or F, it’s still not high quality restaurant level. I prefer the greater comfort of the new product, and would choose it over full service in the old every single time.
Oct 16, 2022, 8:06 am
#21
Join Date: Aug 2007
Posts: 338
I just did a back to back in the room and the old hard product. LAX-Haneda was the room, Haneda-BKK in the old product. I find the comments about mattress firmness inane; they are basically the same if you use the provided topper for both flights. In my opinion the room is significantly better in just about every single way. There is MUCH more space, more ability to adjust your position, much greater privacy, and a far superior entertainment system in the new product.
Does all of that override the experience in taking a red eye vs a full service flight? That depends I guess; do many of you actually find the food to be that special? It’s airline food, even in J or F, it’s still not high quality restaurant level. I prefer the greater comfort of the new product, and would choose it over full service in the old every single time.
Does all of that override the experience in taking a red eye vs a full service flight? That depends I guess; do many of you actually find the food to be that special? It’s airline food, even in J or F, it’s still not high quality restaurant level. I prefer the greater comfort of the new product, and would choose it over full service in the old every single time.
Oct 17, 2022, 3:28 am
#22
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Tokyo, Japan
Programs: JAL Global Club & oneworld Sapphire, ANA SFC & Star Alliance Gold
Posts: 3,740
Oct 21, 2022, 2:49 pm
#24
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: SF/OC
Programs: UA GS, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 474
I'm currently booked in 787 UA Polaris, but have been itching to try The Room. I have the option to an ANA "The Room" flight or book a Jal Sky Suite. Anyone try all three can compare? I'm not a huge fan of UA's slightly narrower 787 Polaris seat, but I have 1A so I do have the larger footwell. I also just flew SQ A350 in J and EVA's new 787 J Product, both of which were amazing.
Nov 3, 2022, 6:13 pm
#26
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Socal
Programs: UA Plat, Bonvoy Gold, Amex Plat, CSR
Posts: 207
OP here. Just wanted to report back that the Mrs. and I stuck with our F flights back from Tokyo in The Square and absolutely loved it. Flight was NH6 leaving NRT at 5 PM. We were the only passengers booked in F, so we had the entire section to ourselves and the amazing flight attendants (one attending to each of us) offered to make the bed for the night at one of the other seats. By design, we also had a private bathroom/lavatory since no one was allowed up front (they actually escorted someone out who tried).
Food was amazing, drink selection too (although we’re beer drinkers, they put the Asahi on ice upon our request as it was very warm), but the service was above and beyond. They even tucked my wife in as she was laying down in her bed.
For anyone seeing themselves confronted with the same scenario, forget about the hard product and choose ANA’s first class. Especially if it’s a matter of 10,000 points.
Food was amazing, drink selection too (although we’re beer drinkers, they put the Asahi on ice upon our request as it was very warm), but the service was above and beyond. They even tucked my wife in as she was laying down in her bed.
For anyone seeing themselves confronted with the same scenario, forget about the hard product and choose ANA’s first class. Especially if it’s a matter of 10,000 points.
Nov 4, 2022, 3:38 am
#28
Join Date: Aug 2022
Posts: 33
OP here. Just wanted to report back that the Mrs. and I stuck with our F flights back from Tokyo in The Square and absolutely loved it. Flight was NH6 leaving NRT at 5 PM. We were the only passengers booked in F, so we had the entire section to ourselves and the amazing flight attendants (one attending to each of us) offered to make the bed for the night at one of the other seats. By design, we also had a private bathroom/lavatory since no one was allowed up front (they actually escorted someone out who tried).
Food was amazing, drink selection too (although we’re beer drinkers, they put the Asahi on ice upon our request as it was very warm), but the service was above and beyond. They even tucked my wife in as she was laying down in her bed.
For anyone seeing themselves confronted with the same scenario, forget about the hard product and choose ANA’s first class. Especially if it’s a matter of 10,000 points.
Food was amazing, drink selection too (although we’re beer drinkers, they put the Asahi on ice upon our request as it was very warm), but the service was above and beyond. They even tucked my wife in as she was laying down in her bed.
For anyone seeing themselves confronted with the same scenario, forget about the hard product and choose ANA’s first class. Especially if it’s a matter of 10,000 points.
Nov 6, 2022, 3:01 pm
#29
Join Date: May 2001
Location: exUA1K, UA MM, lifetime UA1P, AA MM, HH Diamond, Marriott Gold
Posts: 3,731
Unlike some others, I always enjoyed the F Square seats and never missed the reduced window access.
I just finished a RT in the F Suite and quite enjoyed the new improvements. However, it only took me 30 minutes to notice that the Suite seats are way too hard for prolonged comfort. 13 hours on a hard seat is not what it should be.
However, of all the carriers flying USA-Japan, NH is still my favorite.
I just finished a RT in the F Suite and quite enjoyed the new improvements. However, it only took me 30 minutes to notice that the Suite seats are way too hard for prolonged comfort. 13 hours on a hard seat is not what it should be.
However, of all the carriers flying USA-Japan, NH is still my favorite.
