Stress-Free Flights with Kids: ANA The Room Business Class for Parents

Ever since baby Xiexie started flying at just 2 months old, she has practically flown with every airline that operates between Taiwan and the U.S. From EVA Air, China Airlines, STARLUX, to UA and ANA, she has always been my loyal travel buddy. However, this post focuses on ANA’s latest business class, The Room. We were lucky enough to secure a KHH-NRT-SFO business class ticket—KHH-NRT was on EVA Air, and NRT-SFO was on ANA. EVA Air’s smaller aircraft had only eight business class seats, and the seat was a dental chair-style one that couldn’t fully recline.

The NRT-SFO leg, however, was on ANA’s new B777-300ER. Unlike typical lie-flat business class seats, ANA’s The Room also offers a door, providing full privacy! This suite-style design is usually reserved for first class on many airlines, but ANA gives you a first-class experience in business class! Plus, the seat is nearly one and a half times the size of a regular one, making it perfect for one adult and one child. When flying with a baby under two years old, the extra space allows the baby to lie down while mom can still have enough room for a good night’s sleep—it’s truly amazing!

When I flew UA’s Polaris Business Class before, though the seat was larger than EVA Air and China Airlines, I still had to either sleep on my side or hold Xiexie in my arms when we slept together. With ANA’s The Room, both Xixi and I could fully stretch out and lie flat. Although I never sleep well on planes, at least I didn’t wake up with back pain or stiffness.

As for the food, UA’s meals were nothing to write home about—pretty much like economy class meals. If flying from SFO, you can grab a meal at the Polaris Lounge before boarding and sleep through the flight. EVA Air and China Airlines both consistently offer decent business class meals. Last year, I flew China Airlines when they partnered with the Michelin three-star restaurant, Le Palais, for an autumn menu featuring their braised Middle Eastern abalone with noodles. The noodles soaked up the abalone’s rich flavor, and the abalone itself was so tender, even someone with weak teeth could easily eat it. For a midnight snack, there were options like braised dishes or fried chicken, but since Xiexie was sleeping on me, I didn’t get a chance to order anything 🥲.

For ANA, I pre-selected my meal online and opted for the Japanese menu. The multi-course meal took nearly two hours to finish, making it the longest meal I’ve ever had on a plane 😆. But the taste was indeed fantastic—the appetizer included abalone and eel sushi rolls, and the main course was Japanese-style braised pork belly with grilled halibut. They also offered a late-night snack of Ippudo ramen, though it was vegetarian, so I skipped it. Fortunately, The Room was spacious enough for Xiexie to sit on her own, allowing me to leisurely enjoy my meal.

We had a 5-hour layover in Narita, so after strolling through the airport, we headed to the lounge to rest. ANA’s lounge at Narita has a whole row of window-side seats where you can dine while watching planes take off and land. The lounge offered a variety of light bites like sushi, takoyaki, and yakisoba, along with beer and soft drinks. But the must-try dish in the ANA lounge is, of course, the curry! The aroma of authentic Japanese curry fills the air as soon as you enter the lounge, and the taste did not disappoint. There are also options for freshly prepared ramen, udon, and soba.

Next time we book a trip for a family of four, we might not fly business class as often, but while Xiexie is still under two years old, using miles to book business class is definitely worth it. Some airlines even allow you to book an infant ticket with miles, making it even more cost-effective. Otherwise, paying for an infant business class ticket can cost $700 to $800.

If you have a baby under two years old and need to fly long-haul or return to Taiwan, I highly recommend considering a layover in Japan and flying ANA’s The Room. Both mom and baby can get a good night’s sleep, turning what used to be a travel nightmare into a pleasant journey!