Korean Air vs ANA Business Class: An Honest Comparison

Comparing the revolutionary ANA 'The Room' with Korean Air's Prestige Class, focusing on seat comfort, dining, and the overall business class experience.

Korean Air vs ANA Business Class: An Honest Comparison

Redefining Business Class The standard for business class is high in Asia, but two products frequently dominate the conversation. ANA’s 'The Room' has sparked a revolution in seat design, while Korean Air’s 'Prestige Suites' offer a dependable, high-comfort alternative. Our team examines whether the innovation of ANA outshines the consistent quality of Korean Air.

The Hardware: A Study in Space ANA’s 'The Room' is perhaps the most spacious business class seat in the world. It is exceptionally wide—nearly double the width of a standard business class seat—and features a sliding door for total privacy. The design is inspired by traditional Japanese living spaces, minimizing clutter and maximizing utility. However, some of our editors find the seat cushion to be on the firmer side, which may not appeal to everyone.

Korean Air utilizes the Apex Suite for many of its Prestige Class cabins. While it lacks a door, the staggered 2-2-2 configuration allows every passenger direct aisle access. The Apex Suite is renowned for its immense legroom and the high degree of privacy provided by its deep partitions. It feels more like a traditional armchair than ANA’s 'Room,' and the bedding is notably soft and inviting.

Culinary Offerings and In-Flight Service ANA’s business class dining is a highlights reel of Japanese flavors. The 'The Connoisseurs' program features collaborations with renowned chefs, and the Japanese meal set is consistently excellent. The attention to detail in the presentation of the zensai (appetizers) is a testament to the carrier’s dedication to quality.

Korean Air offers a delightful array of Korean specialties, most notably their award-winning bibimbap. The service style is graceful and attentive without being overbearing. One unique feature of Korean Air is the 'Celestial Bar' on the A380, a dedicated lounge space where passengers can socialize and enjoy cocktails. While such features are becoming rare, they add a layer of luxury that ANA’s more solitary 'Room' lacks.

Soft Product and Lounges ANA provides high-quality amenity kits—often from brands like L'Occitane—and excellent slippers, which are a staple of Japanese travel culture. Their lounges in Tokyo are functional and offer excellent food, though they can become busy. Korean Air’s Prestige lounges at Incheon are spacious and offer a wide variety of seating options, though the food selection is sometimes more limited than that of ANA.

The Final Choice If privacy and sheer space are your primary metrics, ANA’s 'The Room' is the clear winner; it is a transformative product that rivals many first-class cabins. However, for those who find wide seats less cozy and prefer a softer mattress and a more social cabin atmosphere, Korean Air’s Prestige Class remains a top-tier choice. For the night-flight where sleep is paramount, the choice may depend entirely on your preference for seat firmness.

Published by Peters Signature Travel.