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This series covers a trip to China for our first "post-COVID" TPAC expedition. Please refer back to Part 1 for the full background.
At the time, NH only operated 3x daily service between these 2 important economic hubs (PVG-NRT/HND and SHA-HND). With their sporadic Japan-China timetable, any flight to NRT on NH requires an overnight stopover. The PVG-HND flight is a 2.5 hour red-eye, no thanks. That leaves SHA-HND, which is the best compromise. While we like to fly out of SHA due to its convenience, all flights from China to HND are on B788s in the less-desirable regional configuration. Also, this flight would require us to have a 5h layover in HND, which is kind of an awkward layover length since it is too long to stay in the lounge (especially NH's), but a little to short to make a meaningful trip into the city considering you would have to do immigration twice. Regardless, this was the best flight option, so the one we went for.
This report will cover the flight from Shanghai-Hongqiao to Tokyo-Haneda. As a reminder, the routing for this series:
At the time of booking, our plane was confirmed as a B788 with a regional configuration of 240 seats (J42, Y198). I opted to select seats in the rear mini-cabin since it should be quieter. With the cradles, we picked a pair of seats along the window and one seat across the aisle.
Our pre-flight turned out to be not as relaxing as we originally planned when we realized we picked the wrong terminal for rental car return and traffic was bad due to some accidents. NH departs from T1 and we needed to return our car at T2. While in a typical airport that would not be a big deal, SHA's 2 terminals are literally on opposite sides of the airport and requires a ~7km drive around the airport (15-30 minutes depending on traffic) or subway (~5 minutes) that runs under the airport. With our large number of bags in tow, we decided to split up and I took the bags and our son while my wife drove over to T2 to return the car before taking the subway back to T1. Arriving at a pretty quiet T1, which only handles regional international flights (Seoul/Tokyo/Taipei/HK/Macau) and 9C domestic.
Heading inside, there was the standard explosives screening. We then had to load our bags onto the conveyor belt for screening. After collecting our bags, we head towards the check-in area to find a seat.
NH’s check-in area, we grab a seat across the way to wait for my wife to return from dropping off the car. There are extremely limited amenities air side at SHA T1, I only saw a Subway by the 9C check-in area during our long walk around the terminal to kill time. All the other stores were closed from the pandemic and will likely not be re-opening anytime soon.
FIDS showing the limited international destinations served by SHA.
My wife finally got back to T2 at 12:15 and we rushed up to the NH counters that were now deserted. They were starting to roll up the carpets indicating we were certainly the last passengers to check-in.
At check-in our seat selections were confirmed for both flights and we were informed my wife’s seat on the HND-SFO leg had a broken USB port and asked if we wanted to change seats. We decided to keep our seats since they were carefully selected. Our bags were tagged and we were handed boarding passes and a lounge invitation voucher that we won't have time to use.
Off to immigration and security.
Analogous to arrival into China, you also need a QR code for health declaration to leave the country. Fortunately, they let you save your details so it took us less than 5 minutes to get our new QR codes and proceed to immigration.
There was no line for foreign nationals at immigration and we were immediately helped. Chinese nationals, on the other hand, had a long line. At security, the agent let us use the special assistance lane so we were again quickly air side at 12:45.
Map of tiny SHA T1.
We decided it wasn’t worth going up to the lounge since boarding was due to start in 15 minutes. We just used the bathrooms in the terminal before walking over to the boarding gate. SHA (like PVG) was extremely hot in the terminal, they are clearly saving money by keeping the temperature set high.
Our plane being prepped for the return to HND. SHA T1 is not very spotter friendly since you can't get close to the glass and there are closely spaced vertical supports.
All Nippon Airways, NH970
Equipment: Boeing B787-800 [JA808A, delivered April 2012]
Departure: 13:35 (ATD: 13:43)
Arrival: 17:25 (ATA: 17:07)
Flight time: 2:25
Boarding started at 13:05 and we joined the very end of a ~60 person Group 2 line (a lot of Japanese business men on this lucrative SHA-HND route). When the agent came to check our documents, she asked our son’s age and directed us to use the special assistance line even though we don't qualify (NH only qualifies families traveling with children under 2).
One diplomat boarded ahead of us with his entourage and we were the 2nd to board ahead of the ~5 NH Diamonds in Group 1.
A MU A333 just arrived next door as we head down the jet bridge. The army of ground crew make their way to turn that plane around quickly
As expected on a B788, only L2 is engaged.
The crew welcomed us onboard and escorted us to our seats. The plane has WiFi, but it was not enabled on this flight from China.
The rear mini-J cabin with regional cradle seats. There are 18 seats across 3 rows in our cabin.
The bulkhead seats have good legroom, but have smaller foldout IFEs.
My son wanted the window seat, so I took 7D after we all settled in. View down the row from my seat. As you can tell, there is good privacy with the large privacy screen between seats, but this is not moveable so it can be awkward when traveling with a companion that you don't want to ignore.
A look back at Y. There is no W on the regional configuration aircraft.
The seat pitch is very good. The IFE is touch screen, but definitely too far away to reach by hand.
Pre-placed on the seat was a packaged blanket.
In the seat back pocket are the slippers and headphones (Panasonic, non-noise cancelling).
The other seat back contents.
Safety card on this B787.
As soon as we settled in, the purser came to introduce herself, welcome us on board, and confirmed our Japanese meals and my son's CHML. We requested the CHML be brought out immediately and she said they would take care of it. Again, no PDBs offered on these regional flights.
She then returned with entry permits. We had a 5h layover in HND, so we wanted to keep the option open of going into the city for dinner versus staying in the airport.
The shared center console.
The cup holder and basic seat controls (the green light means the seat is in the upright position).
Charging ports, audio jack, and storage compartment (they indicate in their pictogram that it is good for water bottles and glasses).
IFE remote and more storage (good for a laptop/pad or book).
Reading light and headphones hook.
Front door closed at 13:25 and push back was at 13:29. The Rolls Royce Trent engines fired up at 13:33 filling the cabin with a plume of jet fuel. The safety video played while we did the long taxi out to the runways at SHA.
A MU A333 following us out.
A glimpse of an EU Comac ARJ21 with the stubby little CF34 engines.
We aligned onto Runway 18R after a MU B737 MAX8 took off, a rare species in China as they are slowly returning to service. Goodbye SHA as we rotate in front of T2.
Our last glimpse of land before starting the trek across the East China Sea.
The crew was released at 13:50 and immediately closed the curtain behind me.
The menu for this flight.
Service started with distribution of the packaged oshibori.
At 14:07, just 25 minutes after take off, our son’s child meal was brought out. The FA opened his tray table, laid a table cloth, set out his tray, and took his drink order. An apple juice was soon brought out in a small cup with a straw. As you can tell, unlike the NRT-PVG flight, the FAs actually used the small ramekins to serve butter, salt and pepper.
The catering ex-SHA was pretty CHML friendly other than the starter. The starter was shrimp and peach salad. Our son didn't touch it.
The main was pasta, which I ate a couple of bites of and thought it was quite good since it was still al dente and didn't have a heavy tomato sauce.
Fruit for dessert and a kawaii bear bread.
As we were crossing under Jeju, drink carts finally arrived at the last row. My linen was laid and drink orders were taken.
The tray table folds out from the armrest and is quite flimsy.
Alcohol is poured at the seat from the bottle following display of the label. I opted for the sake from Iwate and a glass of water, which were served with the packet of otsumame.
My washoku as delivered.
Drinks were also refilled.
The zensai had a good selection of proteins, but the zucchini and Chinese pickles were the best.
The kobachi was good.
The shusai that is served with steamed rice. Protein size is small (hidden under that mound of vegetables), but as on all previous NH flights, the fish is very well cooked. The whitefish was very moist/flaky and soaked in a citron sauce, certainly wouldn't call it "grilled" like they described it on the menu.
Disposable chopsticks, but a metal spoon.
Hot green tea was offered.
Later, our son wanted another roll and the FAs apologized profusely for not having any more of the bear shaped bread. To compensate, they heated a whole basket of rolls for him.
It was turbulent as we crossed a cloud covered Kyushu and service was suspended.
Service resumed as we crossed over Shihoku.
Coffee and tea service was done as service resumed. Instead of by cart, drinks were walked out from the galley. The FA accidentally spilled some coffee onto the saucer when placing it down. She immediately apologized and went back to make me a new cup. The small attention to details go a long way.
Again, just a packaged dessert on the regional flights. This time, we had a very good mochi.
The bathroom on the B788 is standard issue (no window like on the B789). It had bidet toilet and full amenities.
After service, I tried out the recline. The seat has this fold-out leg rest and is reasonably comfortable for a nap, but definitely not something you would want on a red-eye like on PVG-HND.
The IFE is small, but reasonable resolution. The content is the same as all the other flights, very limited, but sufficient for a regional flight. The WiFi was not operational on this flight and the Sky Live TV was also disabled.
Our final descent started and the cabin was prepped for landing as we approached the Boso Peninsula.
The crew came through and handed out candies from a tray and then brought out a set of souvenirs for my son.
Awa-Katsuyama as we see the mouth of the Tokyo Bay. Unfortunately, it will be a rainy day making the photography not as good.
Kimitsu.
Continuing our run up the bay to Chiba.
The Port of Chiba as we reach the top of the bay and prepare to loop back into HND.
The Naka River is now in sight.
Reaching the Arakawa River as we loop around downtown.
So many baseball fields dotting the river banks, a very clever use of land.
There are also some golf courses nestled along the river banks.
Tokyo Tower.
The video of arrival into HND, one of the best airports for arrival when it is not low visibility.
After a hard thud, the braking was smooth as we arrived on Runway 16L about 15 minutes early. Turning in past the remote stands filled with NH and a couple JL intruders.
Cabin on arrival.
We had to taxi around T1/T2 offering some spotting.
Would JA798A be our ride tonight? Resting after arriving from JFK earlier in the day.
More JL/NH planes at remote stands.
JL B763 in Tokyo Disney special livery.
NH A321neo.
T3 is visible now.
We pull up short of crossing 34L/16R to let this JL B789 take off.
AY A359.
We pull into Gate 108 next to our twin.
The FAs quickly curtain of Y for deplaning.
The jet bridge engages quickly and we deplane quickly through L2. The FAs help our son with the step off the plane.
Fuselage shot.
We head towards transfers.
Last look at JA808A.
NH B77W next door.
We reach transfer security for T3 and are air side quickly.
This is where I will leave off this series as we begin our layover in HND. Thanks for stopping by!
NH's regional product does not stand out considering the wealth of options to cross the East China Sea. On regional routes out of HND, the hard product is better than what most narrow bodies offer, but considering that a lot competitors operate long-haul wide-bodies on these routes its very average.
Cabin/Entertainment: The B788s regional configuration is a dated product (CX's refreshed A330s are a better designed seat). That said, the 2-2-2 offers fairly wide seats and the pitch/privacy is excellent. The IFE is a newer version, but still has a small screen size and lower resolution. The content is very minimal, but sufficient for a regional flight. There was no WiFi on this flight and the Sky Live TV was also switched off. USB and AC charging ports remain good connectivity.
Crew: The cabin crew on this flight was excellent and had good interaction with our son and us. There were also both Chinese and Japanese FAs offering good coverage of language options.
Catering: NH catering again is good, but not memorable. Packaged oshibori, packaged dessert, and no PDB are three obvious areas that could use improvement. The meal itself was good and satisfying, always nice to get well cooked fish on a plane. The drinks menu is more than sufficient for a regional route, but it is obvious there are downgrades on the sake/shochu offerings versus long-haul.
2 Comments
A nice strategy to split up between the bags and the rental car to return
Just maybe a very quick glass of champagne eheh
I didn't know this was a regional configuration plane.
I like the seats, but shame it was still a 2-2-2 layout.
a nice spotting session with this ARj21
the catering looks nice actually - and i like the silverware
Champagne in a lounge in China? Those are very lofty expectations^^
These are the replacements for the old B763s, they pretty much operate from HND into the major China/Korea/Taiwan markets. NRT gets more long-haul configured aircraft that operate these routes since they need to keep them busy during the day in-between long-haul flights. For a <3h daytime flight, there is absolutely nothing wrong with this product since it has great pitch and very private despite the 2-2-2. I'm not sure why there is always an expectation that every plane should have a flat-bed product.
Thanks for stopping by Chris!
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