Review of ANA flight Tokyo → Hakodate in Economy

Hello everyone! Welcome to the second part of the series to Japan with All Nippon Airways. This report will cover the flight from Tokyo Haneda to Hakodate.

After we disembarked the plane from Hong Kong, we quickly made our way to the immigration counters. There were a lot of people because they only opened so few counters despite serval flight arrived almost at the same time. Finally, it took us about 25 minutes to get through. We picked up our luggages and went straight to the domestic check-in transfer counters. Before we reached these counters, there were staff who came up and took care of our luggages. Since we already had our boarding pass on hand for the domestic flight, we were told to go through the security check opposite to the domestic counters, which would then take us directly to the airside of the domestic terminal. We decided not to do so, as we had quite a lot of time and we want to spend some times exploring the domestic terminal.

Firstly, we headed upstairs to the departure level. Every year during this season, there is a hydrangea exhibition inside the airport.

It was too early and most of the shops and restaurants were not opened yet.

Then we decided to visit the observation deck for some plane spotting.
1. JA807A HND-GMP NH861 
2. JA888A HND-HAN NH857
3. JA839A VIE-HND NH206. It would later handle the flight to Paris as NH215.
Also at the background, the JA899A in Star Alliance livery was preparing its flight to Bangkok as NH847 at 11:00am. 

The observation deck of international terminal.

View of the domestic terminal side.

JA884A was preparing its flight to Beijing as NH961. The 767-300ER which took us to Tokyo was being towed to a remote gate. She would be used on the flight NH923 to Guangzhou at 9:15am.

We spent a short time in the observation deck and we then took the normal shuttle bus to the domestic terminal 2. The journey just took about 8 minutes.

Arriving at the domestic terminal 2 where it handles all the flight for the ANA groups.

One side of the departure hall of terminal 2.

We headed again to the observation deck and there we could see more domestic traffic on the apron.

JA803A was preparing its flight to Hiroshima as NH673 at 8:15am. Behind the B787-9, an A321-200neo was departing to Takamatsu as NH531 at 7:45am.

On the other side, we could saw a few B777-300.
1. JA755A to Okinawa as NH467 at 8:35am
2. JA751A to Sapporo New Chitose as NH53 at 8:00am
3. JA754A to Sapporo New Chitose as NH51 at 7:00am

The Star Wars jet was being towed to gate for its next flight

B777-200, JA743A was preparing its flight to Fukuoka as NH243 at 8:30am.

B787-8 without engine was passing by…

Then, we then went downstairs to the restaurant, Airport Gill & Bar. We picked a seat by the window so that we can enjoy the view on the apron while having the breakfast.

Time for the Star War jet to depart to Fukuoka.

We spent about half and hour in the restaurant, then we decided to head to the airside. We checked again from the flight information display board that our flight to Hakodate NH553 would be departing from gate 71 and it was recommended to use the security check zone D.

In front of the security check zone D.

After passing through the security, the certificate was given.

Our gate was not far away and we reached there in no time.

Our plane had already arrived. JA809A, the 787-8 was delivered to ANA in June 2012. For domestic version B787-8, there is only one type present in the fleet. It is F12Y323 configured with a total of 335 seats.

The waiting area in front of the gate 71.

Official announcement of the boarding time of our flight would be 9:37am.

The boarding time was commenced preciously at 9:37am. Passengers were asked to board in accordance with the boarding group printed on the boarding pass and security certificate. I was in Group 3 where group 1 are for diamond members, group 2 are for the star alliance gold members.  A boarding information sheet was issued while boarding.

In front of the airbridge, cabin earphones and bags were placed so that everyone can take one before entering the plane.

About to embark the plane.

Cabin view

My seat 31A. 

Front side of the cabin as seen from my seat.

Back of the seat. As you can see, there is no PTV installed in every seat, but I think this is fine for short domestic flights. Once I settled down, I gave my logbook to one of the crew as usual.

View out of window from my seat. The weather condition was getting much better.

At 10:00am, all doors were closed and 5 minutes later safety video was shown.

At 10:08am, pushback was commenced.

Taxing to the active runway.

At 10:17am, we took off from RWY34R.

Seconds after takeoff, we had a good view of the Tokyo center.

About 7 minutes after takeoff, the seatbelt sign was turned off. Since 1st April, 2018, ANA offers free in-flight Wifi on its domestic flights. I connected the WiFi with my mobile phone, and the connection speed was quite good indeed.

The entertainment provides quite a variety of choice for short haul flights.

Besides these entertainment programs, it also provides the real-time flight map.

During the flight, the overhead monitor were broadcasting the ANA original program, セレクトラベル 静岡編.

At 10:40am, I opted for an orange juice for the complementary drink.

Passing through Tsuruoka-Shi (鶴岡市) and Sakada-Shi (酒田市) in Yamagata Prefecture.

and soon the Akita-Shi (秋田市) in Akita Prefecture.

Odate-Noshiro Airport (大館能代空港).

At 10:55am, announcement from the cockpit that we had 10 minutes more to the final approach into Hakodate airport.

The Mount Iwaki (岩木山) in the Aomori Prefecture.

Entering the Tsugaru Strait (津軽海峡).

We had a good view of the Hakotate city. The famous Goryokaku tower could also be seen.

At 11:18am, we touchdown on RWY12

Reach the final parking position at gate 4.

After landing, my logbook was returned!

Thanks for reading!