Greetings from Tokyo! I’m now enroute on my trip around the world and want to provide my initial thoughts on my ANA A380 “Flying Honu” flight from Honolulu to Tokyo Narita in first class.
First, service on ANA is simply exceptional. Every interaction with every flight attendant was warm, well-intentioned, and genuinely kind. The flight attendants are professional and really go out of their way to make every passenger comfortable.
The eight-seat first class cabin is located on the upper deck of the A380 and features closed-door suites, rainbow-colored mood lighting, and a wallpaper featuring stars. I prefer these suites to the the ANA Square Suite on the 777 because you can actually look out your window here.
Pajamas, slippers, a sweater, and amenity kits were provided, even on this relatively short daytime flight.
While I did consider ordering the Japanese meal, I stuck to the western menu (surprise, surprise….I know) and enjoyed an exquisite meal featuring lovely canapés, delicious fresh bread, a remarkable scallop appetizer, salad, soup, a beef filet, and a warm chocolate brownie with ice cream and cappuccino.
ANA does western food better than most western carriers!
I managed to squeeze in a three hour nap.
We landed over 45 minutes early at Narita, which was really a shame…the flight was far too short.
As I stepped off the aircraft, I smiled as I noticed more than two dozens passengers taking pictures of the new aircraft. I joined the gaggle…it’s not only a great aircraft on the inside, but a photogenic aircraft on the outside.
CONCLUSION
I look forward to sharing my full trip report, which will provide far more detail and pictures on this flight.
Now I’m off to Haneda for my connection on Thai Airways to Bangkok!
I really wish ANA would fly those to the Mainland as well. What an amazing use of my Virgin Atlantic miles this would be. Judging from the pictures, I would take this over the JAL 777 First Class suites. However, like you said, with the old 777 First suites I would choose JAL any day over ANA even if it means forking out a ton of my valuable Alaska miles. Matthew, what’s your take on JAL 777 First compared to ANA A380 First?
@ Matthew — Sweet!
“While I did consider ordering the Japanese meal”
That must have been one of the longest seconds of your life to date…
These seats are definitely much nice than their other first class seats. Sleeker and more stylish, and more practical also. Hopefully they'”ll begin installing them on other planes soon…
Lol. I seriously considered it.
@Aaron – LOL!!
How was the noodle bar in the ANA lounge @ NRT?
Always one to stick his neck out, never retreating into his shell, Matthew posts two stories featuring turtles 🙂
Enjoy the many, many flights ahead!
Thanks for the update. Good comment on the Windows- only major complaint on B777. Your canapés & appetizer look better.
I might have commented on an earlier post how I got a great picture of your Honu from the NRT Hilton Royal Suite on RTW19 2.0 (stay tuned for RTW19 3.0 in Nov. – 4 Showers in a row! 🙂
For D. A. In May the Noodle Bar was delicious. I had a nice stay in one of the purple chairs in the 1st Lounge. Great tarmac views.
Not to worry, Matthew. I fly NH F next week and will give you a full play-by-play of the Japanese option. 🙂
Thank you in advance!
Really hope these F class suites come on their 77W and 777X soon so they can be enjoyed on longer flights like HND to JFK. There were rumors of ANA retrofitting their 77W somewhere. I know most travel bloggers rank JAL F over ANA just because of ANA’s cubicle seat.
I still found service in JAL F better than ANA F on this flight. Cannot exactly pinpoint why. Service truly lovely.
Sweet! Just contemplating the VA CC for future ANA redemption now since apparently these 1st suites will be on the 777 in future Really I want to look out the windowS 🙂
Awww, I saw this aircraft at the Airbus factory in Toulouse, right before it was painted! Love to see how it turned out and love the interior! Our Airbus tour guide said this route is popular with honeymoon couples and that there’d be special seats for couples in this plane, is that true?