It was a 20min Airport Limousine Bus ride back to the airport from Hakodate JR station. Reached the airport domestic terminal 1.5hrs prior to departure. The international terminal 5min walk down the road. It is smaller and seperated from the domestic terminal
Check-in hall.
There are no dedicated check-in counters for ANA's premium pax at Hakodate, unlike the other major airports. Luckily the check-in and baggage drop queue moved fast. There are also no dedicated ANA lounges here. Hence maybe that explains the lower Premium Class fares from Hakodate, which is only 5000yen more than economy, inclusive of 40kg luggage, 125% miles and the full Premium Class experience onboard.
Boarding pass
There is a huge shopping area above the check-in hall before security, offering all the usual Hakodate and Hokkaido snacks and souvenirs.
As with almost all Japanese airports, there is an open-air viewing gallery. Hakodate is definitely not a very busy airport.
Our B772 touching down slightly late from Haneda and taxiing in.
This 5yrs young Boeing (for a B772) will be performing the short sector to Tokyo.
FIDS
Domestic security was swift but for some reason, we were provided with another boarding pass-like slip to indicate that security was cleared.
The departure was fully packed with the B772 passenger load.
View of our widebody. Air DO was seen taxiiing in as well.
Due to the late arrival, our boarding and departure time was rescheduled later by 15min.
24 June 2017
All Nippon Airways ANA
NH 554
Hakodate (HKD) - Tokyo Haneda (HND)
B777-200
JA742A
Premium Class
Flight Time: 1H04M
As expected in Japan, boarding was very orderly and priorities were strictly followed.
Was wamly welcomed by the ANA crew upon boarding. ANA's domestic B772s are fitted with 21 Premium Class seats (equivalent of domestic business class)in 2-3-2 configuration in the Premium Class cabin. The crew serving our aisle also introduced herself and informed that she would be taking care of us on this flight. Really personalised service on my first ANA experience and this is the start of the really awesome ANA service on this very short flight. Lets see if ANA deserves its 2nd World's Best Cabin Crew award (according to Skytrax 2017).
My seat for the flight. These are the new Premium Class seats which are currently being fitted on the domestic fleet. A blanket was already placed on each seat.
A personal reading light and a small storage compartment at the side.
Mechanical seat controls for the recline, leg and foot rests. The seat slides forward to recline instead of the conventional recline method. It is not a lie flat but more than sufficient for the domestic sectors that this aircraft is deployed on.
Innovative indicators on whether you would like to be disturbed.
The flight attendant, upon realising that we were not Japanese, offered either English or Chinese newspapers for our reading pleasure. We chose the English papers.
Leg room is very generous. A pair of slippers and headphones were available in the magazine compartment. IFE is limited to radio channels and short features shown oon the monitors.
View out the window.
Amenities and inflight magazines.
Premium Class service information and beverage menu.
View of the Premium Class cabin. Only 3 rows of seats in 2-3-2 configuration.
With Japanese efficiency, boarding was completed rapidly. Doors closed and armed, and we pushed back.
Safety video was played.
Taxi to Rwy30.
Departure from Rwy30.
Service started immediately after seatbelt signs were turned off. 3 flight attendants were serving in Premium Class today.
Scenery outside.
On this noon flight, the Premium Gozen meal was offered along with the full range of beverages. The crew described the meal while offering it, and also offered miso soup to go with the meal. I also ordered a shochu with ice and apple juice. A packaged wet cloth towel was also provided.
The meal was served at room temperature, and comprises of 2 beautifully arranged bento boxes.
This first bento consisted of salmon, omelette and various side dishes.
The second bento box was grilled chicken with rice. All the items were very tasty!
Shochu with ice.
Sake, which my friend ordered.
After we were done with our meal, the crew immediately collected the meal trays, and came back with another tray to offer rice crackers and mixed nuts. We were also asked if we would like any more drinks. Awesome service!
We asked the crew if they have any postcards or memorables, and the very nice crew came back with sets of 4 different postcards for us to choose from! I had one of each design for keepsake.
View of my half-reclined seat.
Visit to the lavatory, which was huge but only offered the basic amenities.
Flight map shown on the monitors.
Just when we started our descend, the crew came round again and ask if we would like coffee or tea. I gladly accepted a coffee and it was brought rom the galley and offered with a tasty matcha cookie!
Descending into Haneda.
Just when we have thought that the service has ended, the lovely ANA crew appeared with a basket of snacks and sweets to offer to Premium Class pax halfway through the descent. A lovely touch! We were all in praises for the ANA cabin crew for the wonderful service on this very short sector.
Nearing Haneda.
Descending over Tokyo Bay.
Landing on Tokyo Haneda Rwy23.
Taxied to and parked at Terminal 2, which is ANA's domestic base.
A last look at ANA's Premium Class seat for the flight.
Disembarking, where a final pleasant surprise awaits…
While passing the crew during disembarkation, the Premium Class crew serving us passed us a postcard and thanked us for flying ANA. It was with great surprised that they actually wrote a thank you card on behalf of the entire flight and cabin crew after we had sang praises of their service and how it was our first time flying ANA!
Walking down the jetbridge.
ANA land
Missed the Star Wars plane by a digit! The registration of the Star Wars aircraft is JA743A.
One of ANA's many 787s
Our luggage were one of the first to be out as they were priority tagged for Premium Class.
From Haneda T2, it was a 19min monorail ride to Hamamatsucho, and a 10min walk from the station later, brings us to Mitsui Gardens Hotel Shiodome Italia-gai. Hotel offers reasonable sized rooms for Tokyo standards and has deluxe amenities such as a Nespresso machine.
The hotel is also about 10-15min walk away from Shimbashi and Ginza districts.
It is pedestrian-friendly in Ginza on Saturdays.
Yayoi decor in a new shopping mall, Ginza 6.
It has always been a must to have Ichiran ramen while in Japan. The Shimbashi branch is much less crowded than the Shinjuku branch.
Another must have are cakes from Harbs. Tried a few during the short stay in Tokyo as well.
A simple but deliciously good beef bowl from Matsuya.
Katsukura tonkatsu at Takashimaya. One of the famous katsu restaurants.
With the BAKE craze in Singapore, why not have it in Tokyo where there is barely a queue!
And oh-so-yummy Zaku-Zaku as well.
It was also my first time having a meal at Coco Curryhouse in Japan.
Back to busy Shimbashi area for some last minute shopping on the final day before departure.
And chanced upon this small eatery with OMG-ish delicious buta-don!
Thank you for sharing this FR.
looks like you enjoyed your ANA business class exxperience
Nice report terryyong. Amazing the differences of a 1 hour flight on ANA to US domestic carriers, starting with a hand written note versus maybe an acknowledgment for flying wth them. And you wouldn't get that meal on a 5hr premium transcon over here. Thanks for sharing.
That is phenomenal service.
Great report - Wow, what an amazing service ANA offers on a short flight like this. The food looks delicious and great to get on a widebody jet like the 777!
Thank you for sharing.
Hi Terryyong,
Thanks for the great report! Wow!! what a service for such a short flight... and the personal note was very touching! and as always, thanks for the foody bonus.
Cheers!!!
What a delightful flight and trip report! Superb service by ANA.
Greetings Terryyong and thank you for sharing this lovely experience. Like teh other commenters I'm also very impressed with ANA. Simply superb service reagrdles of stage length. The fact that it was a +/- 1hr flight makes it even more impressive. Love, love, love the Tokyo tourist bonus. I got some great ideas for my next trip! Thanks again and happy flying.