Hi and welcome to my new series of flight reports!
Background
This series will cover my quick business trip to a destination. In order to make the reports more interesting, I will reveal the routing as we go on. This is my first time in ANA.
It was a very urgent and rush business trip. I was not notified for the trip until the day before departure (!). During online check-in, I chose the left side window seat 20A. Advised by my friend, I later changed to the rear seat 27A because I might have the chance to see the Fujisan.
On the day of departure, I woke up very early and took the Airport Express to the airport. I arrived the Tsing Yi Station around 7am.
I presented my email confirmation to the CS counter for getting my ticket since my company bought me the ticket online. But the staff encountered a problem that he could not find my reservation in the system. He typed my reference number several times but not successful. It had dragged me 20 minutes and I was even told to stand aside so that the staff could serve other passengers first while waiting for system response.
Maybe I looked frustrated and helpless, a woman (gold hair in the picture) approached me and asked if I did not bring enough money to buy the ticket. She even bought me a ticket! (OK I turned down the ticket at last) There was still a kind person in the world :D
Later another MTR staff came and she found that my company mistakenly chose the QR code ticket during ordering. Actually the QR code was attached in my email (I overlooked the email lol). Therefore no record in the system.
After a mess I finally got on the train.
25 minutes later I arrived at the airport (2 hours 15 minutes ahead departure).
The departure hall. The ANA check in counter is located at aisle E.
Only a few passengers were queuing there. A friendly agent (far left in the picture) greeted and guided me to the counter. The counter agent checked my passport, passed the relevant immigration form for me to fill.
Guidelines for the carry-on baggage.
When I was filling the form, the agents on other desk were very busy in making a handful of phone calls to their colleagues. Their conversations revealed that today the UA804 flight from NRT to IAD was cancelled due to the blizzard. They coordinated with the UA agent for passenger rerouting.
The agent tagged my baggage and handed me the boarding passes. He also briefed me how to get to the gate and travel in NRT. My boarding pass for this flight (I took this picture later in the lounge). As you can see, this flight was indeed operated by Air Japan (NQ), which is a subsidiary of ANA Group.
On my way to the immigration and security.
The immigration and security was very fast and I passed it with no wait.
Airside of the terminal. In the meantime, Chinese New Year was coming and CNY decorations were installed inside the airport everywhere. Every year the peach blossom was positioned at the same location.
The “shark fins” tail line-up in the morning.
It was still early so I decided to have a break first. Walking along the Central Concourse.
I went to the smoking lounge which is next to Gate 29. As you can see on the map on the wall there are totally 5 smoking lounges in the airside.
Inside the smoking lounge.
And made a plane spotting after the break. A SK A330 was about to depart to Stockholm. Along with a DL A330 heading to Seattle.
There was a reason for me arriving the airport so early: trying the Plaza Premium Lounge.
Drawing lesson from last time that I was unable to access the overcrowded-and-no-windows East Hall Lounge near Gate 1, this time I went to the West Hall Lounge which is located in the West Concourse (the Y junction of Terminal).
But at the entrance I was blocked by the concierge and was told that I went to the wrong Lounge! Explained by the staff, the Lounge is divided into 3 separate zones which are not connected: a la carte services area (I was here) on the mezzanine level near Gate 60, a pay-in area and a free-access area (for eligible cardholder) on the another mezzanine near Gate 40.
Then I went down the escalator and walked and got up to another mezzanine (which took me 5 minutes lol). The pay-in Lounge is right at the top of the escalator.
On the other side is the “free-access” lounge entrance. I showed my boarding passes and credit card, and the concierges welcomed me to enter the lounge.
Behind the front desk is the dining area. Not many people there in the morning.
The food offerings.
I grabbed something and enjoyed my breakfast with the DL A330
Computers are placed alongside the hallway. But they occupy half of the hallway and make it narrower :(
I tried the computer network and it was fast.
The resting area at the end of the hallway. But it was filled with people. I found a bar desk seat and tidied up my travel documents.
I also tried the lounge toilet which was clean and tidy. Overall I was satisfied with the West Hall Lounge.
Boarding soon, l left the lounge and had one more break before heading to the gate. My gate for the flight.
This was my bird today. A Boeing 767.
Boarding had already started for a while. The position of Gate 27 is a bit awkward. As you can see there are duty free shops in front of the gate, which blocks passengers’ view of the gate from the central moving walkway.
Embarking
A FA welcomed me on board and I kept saying “Konnichiwa~”
Passing the business class cabin
The economy seat in 2-3-2 configuration
I found my seat 27A and my seatmate (27B) has already settled down: a middle-aged Japanese businessman. He wore a mask, looked very tired and desperate. We greeted each other. He firstly apologized that he had a fever and would keep sleeping throughout the flight. But he welcomed me to wake him up if I wanted to get out.
Here was my seat. Seat pitch is good! ANA is so generous.
The armrest with headphone plug and recline button.
Oh Jeez the airport staff did not clean the space here!
My seat view of the economy cabin. The flight was full load and from my observation Japanese occupied half of the cabin.
View from the wing. The weather was not good today. Drizzling outside.
The IFE along with the remote and a USB port
The other side of the IFE remote
The headphone
The blanket
The ground staffs were conducting final check for our flight
Our route today
The FA walked around and asked if anyone needed a pillow. The man in front of me requested one.
Soon the plane pushed back and the safety video started playing. Although push back was on time, we had a little delay in took off because several flights departed at the same time and our plane had to queue on the taxiway.
Taxiing to the runway. HX A330s in the background. My seatmate already fell asleep.
When we were following the 5J (Cebu Airline) A320…
A KA A321 was behind us. If you look closer you can see there are 2 AA 77Ws outside the rear hanger.
We were ready.
And took off! View of new Midfield Concourse (which is mainly used by HX and LCCs).
Unfortunately we immediately flew into the clouds. No aerial view of HK lol
It was still cloudy even we flew over the clouds.
Once the seatbelt sign was off, the FAs started distributing the immigration forms.
Coming next was aperitif service. I requested water and my desperate seatmate took the green tea. Otsumami were provided.
So it’s time to have a look on the seatback materials.
Safety card
The menu card, but not the menu on this flight. It only introduces the ANA in-flight catering services.
The Martian was very hit these days among the airline industry @@
User guide for the inflight Wi-Fi
Duty free catalog which has a short introduction of ANA routes…
And ANA wants you to apply their credit cards.
Our plane flew over Taiwan and view of Taichung Airport (TXG).
Lunch services started when we just passed Taichung.
There were 2 options: chicken teriyaki or stewed pork. I chose the teriyaki and my neighbor had the other one.
Yakult was also provided. For the drinks I ordered orange juice. The appetizer (salad and ham) tasted good. The chicken was fantastic and it totally beat my previous CX flights catering.
I really like the soba noodles! I would be happier if ANA provided ice-cream instead of chocolate.
ANA uses metal tableware for the catering!
After the lunch the FA dimed the light for resting. My desperate seatmate fell asleep again while I kept browsing the IFE. It is responsive and contains adequate selection of programs.
It was not surprising that ANA flights would feature the Star War collection.
I listened to Japanese Band サザンオールスターズ (Southern All Stars). They had special collections for ANA.
I also tried the ANA inflight free Wi-Fi but unsuccessful lol
My seatmate woke up and went to toilet when we just passed Amami Ōshima (奄美大島), and I followed him.
When I was waiting outside the toilet, I found the last row seats empty. But it was weird that a seat occupied sign was placed over them.
Inside the toilet, it was so-so.
The rear galley
Cabin view outside the rear toilet
We were now approaching Kyushu.
Wow the sky was so blue now!
My front passenger rested his head against the windows with the pillow after the lunch. Maybe he had a very good sleep that he even did not aware his pillow later slid backwards to me. A quick look of the ANA pillow. It kept staying with me for the remain flight.
Time flies and we were now approaching Narita. Oh jeez this time our plane used a sea route rather than the Japan coastal route. I could not see the Fujisan lol
There was a plane also about to land (on the south runway) and we were in parallel flying. I later discovered that it was an ANA 787
View of the coastal. Our plane was now entering the “Japan land”
Eventually we landed on the north runway.
And we had a long taxiing to Terminal 1. A probably DL B767 prepared to land (Update: it was a B777 corrected by member NGO85).
A MM A320 (ANA is one of its major shareholders)
Our plane parked at Gate 29. But actually it is a remote stand outside the No.5 Satellite and we had to take the shuttle back to Terminal 1.
Deplaning (following my seatmate)
Walking downstairs to the shuttle
The only fuselage shot of my plane.
The shuttle inside
Last view of the remote stands from the shuttle. The NH B787.
Our shuttle passed through the cargo and baggage makeup area. You could see how NRT handled your baggage. A long-life CO cargo container was going to be unloaded.
Getting dropped off at Terminal 1, we took the escalator up to the custom.
There were 2 passageways: yellow for arrivals and green for transit. I farewell my seatmate and went to the green. The queue was very long because only 1 security counter was open. Passengers even went down to the drop-off point for queuing.
Later the staff opened one more lane and it immediately became quicker.
The custom staff was very friendly and checked my boarding passes. I cleared the security in no wait.
Once I exited the security there are several FIDSs. And my next flight was already on the list. Could you figure it out? ^^
This is the first part of flight report and please stop by the rest of this series! So this is what I saw when I was on the second flight…
Thank you for your reading!
See more
Verdict
ANA
8.5/10
Cabin8.0
Cabin crew8.5
Entertainment/wifi8.5
Meal/catering9.0
Plaza Premium Lounge Management Limited The Travelers' Lounge (West Hall)
7.4/10
Comfort7.5
Meal/catering7.5
Entertainment/wifi7.0
Services7.5
Hong Kong - HKG
8.9/10
Efficiency9.0
Access8.5
Services9.0
Cleanliness9.0
Tokyo - NRT
9.2/10
Efficiency8.5
Access9.5
Services9.5
Cleanliness9.5
Conclusion
My first time in ANA flight and generally it was a pleasant flight experience. For the flight, the window seat was comfort with great seat pitch though it was not very clean. Good IFE (with good selection of programs). The FAs were friendly and attentive. The catering services was excellent where the food quality was good and tasty. We arrived on schedule. As a free access lounge, the Plaza Premium West Hall Lounge was within my expectations with adequate food selection, decent view and less crowded.
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Thanks for your comment Directorphilip2! “There's an outside smoking area in the new terminal” - Do you mean outside the HKG Terminal 2? I also haven’t been there since I only check-in at Terminal 1. But outside T1 there are also several smoking areas each floor^^
Thanks for your comment Airline Spotter! I think so too. Actually ANA can place the “for crew only” sign on it. IMO the seat occupied sign looks a bit odd.
Thank you for sharing your experience on NH with beautiful pics.
The catering in Y looks generous and visually appealing. Looked like you had good service from the crew which is expected from a Japanese carrier, almost like a trademark.
Thanks for your comment Jetsetpanda! The NH service is much better than CX that I experienced. At least the NH food tray is full (maybe I am so lucky to have the worst CX meal last time lol).
Thanks for sharing this first report in a new mysterious routing ^^
BTW, where did I go - Hmmm...well, not Washington, DC since IAD was closed due to the blizzard as you said. We got 1 meter of snow during that storm! It was quite a shock as I had just come back from summer in Australia to 1m of snow, hahaha
As you can see on the map on the wall there are totally 5 smoking lounges in the airside. - Yep! over the years I've memorized all their locations, hahaha. Very convenient :-P
The Plaza Premium lounge in HKG seems much better than the one I visited recently in SIN T1.
He firstly apologized that he had a fever and would keep sleeping throughout the flight. - Yuck, I'd be afraid to catch whatever he had. He shouldn't be flying with a fever!
Looks like a really good flight in Y overall. Good seat pitch, and I love the spacious feel of the 767 2-3-2 configuration. The catering looks really good too, and is well presented. This report reminded me a lot of my JAL flight from SIN-NRT also on a 767, that I haven't posted yet.
Very nice report with good pics! Thanks for sharing and I look forward to discovering the mystery destination! I'm going to guess that it's somewhere in North America...haha, that's pretty broad ^^ Ok, I'll narrow it down...North America, but not on the East Coast that was having the blizzard :-)
- A taste of fire and ice for your return! :P My another team of colleagues also had a trip to DC at that time and they were detained in DC for 3 days!
- Agree with you! Or we should add a smoking lounge rating? ;)
- The West Hall Lounge is located on a semi-open mezzanine, so it looks brighter and more spacious than the SIN one that I have seen online. But if comparing with the East Lounge, it would be another story. IMO the East and West Lounges are in 2 different levels.
- I should thank him for wearing the mask and being quiet @@
- In fact the cabin seems a bit old, but this explains the good seat pitch on this plane. And ANA delivers the excellent catering service as usual. BTW I am waiting for your aforesaid report ;)
- Hahaha I can only say that you are in right direction ^^
BTW, where did I go? - Well, since you are flying to NRT and and not HND, it strongly suggests a destination not in Japan. I'm going with NH182 to シアトル.
I later changed to the rear seat 27A because I might have the chance to see the Fujisan. - On a flight to NRT? Not very likely since you would probably approach from the west and not the east.
Maybe I looked frustrated and helpless - This seems to be a common trend after that last ORD encounter :P
trying the Plaza Premium Lounge. - Oh boy. MU sent me there, it was not fun. But I was in the dungeon lounge. It was not the same as the one you went to. Yours at least had light and lots of food and was filled wall-to-wall with people. The Plaza Premium Lounges aren't as good as the CX Lounges, but are better food offering than the NH Lounges.
He wore a mask, looked very tired and desperate. - You guys were a match made in heaven!! I wonder if he also had someone buy him a free MRT ticket. Also, not related, but did you know Stockholm's metro is also run by MRT? I saw the spider logo when I was there.
Oh Jeez the airport staff did not clean the space here! - Shame on NH.
The catering looks very good for this flight. That is a full long-haul meal tray. The chocolates for dessert are the only disappointment since on long-haul flights it is always ice cream after the meal. The menu cards are very clever and something the US carriers need to implement (other than DL).
But it was weird that a seat occupied sign was placed over them. - Crew rest or dead-heading crew?
A probably DL B767 prepared to land. - B777, it has three wheels on the landing gear.
But actually it is a remote stand - Wow, I have departed from a remote stand at NRT every time on domestic flights, but I have never arrived at a remote stand!
As you ratings suggest, NH is a very strong and consistent product. The Air Japan planes are old, but good enough^^
Thanks for sharing and I await to see where your destination is...
“it strongly suggests a destination not in Japan.” - You are in right direction together with member KévinDC ^^ If you read carefully, there is one important clue form the boarding pass ;)
On a flight to NRT? Not very likely since you would probably approach from the west and not the east.” - You are right! I later discover that all ex-HKG to NRT routes adopt this approach.
Oh boy. MU sent me there, it was not fun.” - This is the only Lounge which I have free access so far. Actually after reading your MU report I think I will not try the East Lounge anymore :P BTW the West one is satisfactory.
but did you know Stockholm's metro is also run by MRT? I saw the spider logo when I was there.” - No. I only know MTR has operations in the Mainland China i.e. Beijing & Shenzhen and nothing on their overseas’ operations. So thanks for your information!
Shame on NH.” - For NH it is not acceptable. So I deduct its points for cabin comfort.
“The catering looks very good for this flight. That is a full long-haul meal tray…” - That’s the point! ANA provides a high quality full meal on just a 3-hour regional flight! (now I would think of my last time CX’s meal is a joke lol) The menu cards with pictures make it easy to understand. Overall I am very satisfied with the meal even no ice-cream :)
Crew rest or dead-heading crew?” - It should be crew rest. But the crews did not rest for whole flight as you can see the blankets were still pre-packaged on those seats.
B777, it has three wheels on the landing gear.” - Thanks again for your correction! You have very careful observation^^
I have never arrived at a remote stand!” - This flight should be preassigned to arrive at the remote stand. All my friends flying on this route had the same experiences.
“The Air Japan planes are old, but good enough^^” - Totally agree!
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10 Comments
“There's an outside smoking area in the new terminal”
- Do you mean outside the HKG Terminal 2? I also haven’t been there since I only check-in at Terminal 1. But outside T1 there are also several smoking areas each floor^^
I think so too. Actually ANA can place the “for crew only” sign on it. IMO the seat occupied sign looks a bit odd.
The catering in Y looks generous and visually appealing. Looked like you had good service from the crew which is expected from a Japanese carrier, almost like a trademark.
The NH service is much better than CX that I experienced. At least the NH food tray is full (maybe I am so lucky to have the worst CX meal last time lol).
BTW, where did I go
- Hmmm...well, not Washington, DC since IAD was closed due to the blizzard as you said. We got 1 meter of snow during that storm! It was quite a shock as I had just come back from summer in Australia to 1m of snow, hahaha
As you can see on the map on the wall there are totally 5 smoking lounges in the airside.
- Yep! over the years I've memorized all their locations, hahaha. Very convenient :-P
The Plaza Premium lounge in HKG seems much better than the one I visited recently in SIN T1.
He firstly apologized that he had a fever and would keep sleeping throughout the flight.
- Yuck, I'd be afraid to catch whatever he had. He shouldn't be flying with a fever!
Looks like a really good flight in Y overall. Good seat pitch, and I love the spacious feel of the 767 2-3-2 configuration. The catering looks really good too, and is well presented. This report reminded me a lot of my JAL flight from SIN-NRT also on a 767, that I haven't posted yet.
Very nice report with good pics! Thanks for sharing and I look forward to discovering the mystery destination! I'm going to guess that it's somewhere in North America...haha, that's pretty broad ^^ Ok, I'll narrow it down...North America, but not on the East Coast that was having the blizzard :-)
- A taste of fire and ice for your return! :P My another team of colleagues also had a trip to DC at that time and they were detained in DC for 3 days!
- Agree with you! Or we should add a smoking lounge rating? ;)
- The West Hall Lounge is located on a semi-open mezzanine, so it looks brighter and more spacious than the SIN one that I have seen online. But if comparing with the East Lounge, it would be another story. IMO the East and West Lounges are in 2 different levels.
- I should thank him for wearing the mask and being quiet @@
- In fact the cabin seems a bit old, but this explains the good seat pitch on this plane. And ANA delivers the excellent catering service as usual. BTW I am waiting for your aforesaid report ;)
- Hahaha I can only say that you are in right direction ^^
- Well, since you are flying to NRT and and not HND, it strongly suggests a destination not in Japan. I'm going with NH182 to シアトル.
I later changed to the rear seat 27A because I might have the chance to see the Fujisan.
- On a flight to NRT? Not very likely since you would probably approach from the west and not the east.
Maybe I looked frustrated and helpless
- This seems to be a common trend after that last ORD encounter :P
trying the Plaza Premium Lounge.
- Oh boy. MU sent me there, it was not fun. But I was in the dungeon lounge. It was not the same as the one you went to. Yours at least had light and lots of food and was filled wall-to-wall with people. The Plaza Premium Lounges aren't as good as the CX Lounges, but are better food offering than the NH Lounges.
He wore a mask, looked very tired and desperate.
- You guys were a match made in heaven!! I wonder if he also had someone buy him a free MRT ticket. Also, not related, but did you know Stockholm's metro is also run by MRT? I saw the spider logo when I was there.
Oh Jeez the airport staff did not clean the space here!
- Shame on NH.
The catering looks very good for this flight. That is a full long-haul meal tray. The chocolates for dessert are the only disappointment since on long-haul flights it is always ice cream after the meal. The menu cards are very clever and something the US carriers need to implement (other than DL).
But it was weird that a seat occupied sign was placed over them.
- Crew rest or dead-heading crew?
A probably DL B767 prepared to land.
- B777, it has three wheels on the landing gear.
But actually it is a remote stand
- Wow, I have departed from a remote stand at NRT every time on domestic flights, but I have never arrived at a remote stand!
As you ratings suggest, NH is a very strong and consistent product. The Air Japan planes are old, but good enough^^
Thanks for sharing and I await to see where your destination is...
“it strongly suggests a destination not in Japan.”
- You are in right direction together with member KévinDC ^^ If you read carefully, there is one important clue form the boarding pass ;)
On a flight to NRT? Not very likely since you would probably approach from the west and not the east.”
- You are right! I later discover that all ex-HKG to NRT routes adopt this approach.
Oh boy. MU sent me there, it was not fun.”
- This is the only Lounge which I have free access so far. Actually after reading your MU report I think I will not try the East Lounge anymore :P BTW the West one is satisfactory.
but did you know Stockholm's metro is also run by MRT? I saw the spider logo when I was there.”
- No. I only know MTR has operations in the Mainland China i.e. Beijing & Shenzhen and nothing on their overseas’ operations. So thanks for your information!
Shame on NH.”
- For NH it is not acceptable. So I deduct its points for cabin comfort.
“The catering looks very good for this flight. That is a full long-haul meal tray…”
- That’s the point! ANA provides a high quality full meal on just a 3-hour regional flight! (now I would think of my last time CX’s meal is a joke lol) The menu cards with pictures make it easy to understand. Overall I am very satisfied with the meal even no ice-cream :)
Crew rest or dead-heading crew?”
- It should be crew rest. But the crews did not rest for whole flight as you can see the blankets were still pre-packaged on those seats.
B777, it has three wheels on the landing gear.”
- Thanks again for your correction! You have very careful observation^^
I have never arrived at a remote stand!”
- This flight should be preassigned to arrive at the remote stand. All my friends flying on this route had the same experiences.
“The Air Japan planes are old, but good enough^^”
- Totally agree!
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