All Nippon Airways (ANA) is one of my favorite airlines and I wanted to share a video with you that nicely captures the very heart of the Japanese airline.
ANA Disembarking Video Shows All There Is To Love About ANA
After landing, the following video is shown on your ANA flight:
One word frequently came to mind while watching: quality. Quality in everything.
This is not just a well-made video, which is easy enough to do these days, but is really backed up by what I have witnessed while flying ANA for many years. I love the “We hope you’ll find a place you love in the blue sky” message.
I’m still touched by the way that the ANA team in Honolulu began the day by bowing to all waiting passengers before opening up the check-in desks.
Over and over I am impressed by the onboard quality of the cuisine, both western and Japanese, whenever I have the pleasure of flying ANA. I’m impressed by the thoughtful little touches like a thank you note and the attention to detail in the thoughtful garnishes on the menu.
What also impresses me is that ANA does not speak, it acts. Take its new business class seat, known as the The Room. Less than a month after the new seats were unveiled, they were rolled out onboard. ANA did not produce high expectations only to let people down, but shocked with a delivery
Compare that to Lufthansa, which unveiled new business class seats (and paid for won a Skytrax five-star award) years in advance and to this day has not delivered. It seems to me that when ANA talks, it delivers.
Part of it is cultural (indeed, I offer a similar tribute to JAL), but ANA is really something special.
CONCLUSION
I know I already mentioned this video in my flight review, but I enjoyed it so much I think it merits its own post. Kudos to ANA for not sacrificing quality during this turbulent period and for really setting a high standard for excellence.
> Read More: How Impeccable ANA Shines Even During Flight Check-In
p.s. SWISS also has produced a similar video that I simply love:
LH is a joke compared to NH, the fact that Skytrax has a price for 5* really devalues its rating
Damn, I wish I could fly ANA one day. Too bad Japan will never open up, but even if they did, I could never find the F/G Virgin Atlantic award availability everyone seems to rave about.
I meant F/J*. Anyways.
I will fly ANA anywhere in the world, Business or economy♥️♥️♥️. I missed so much. Waiting the pandemic to end.
There is no doubt that from the perspective of service level and in terms of consistency that JAL and ANA are probably at the top. No, the product is not cutting edge or bling or do they offer gimmicks like showers or bars. But the product is competitive and the service is as polished and as lovely as you will find anywhere. I have never encountered a single flight attendant in my years of flying them that was ever off or uncaring. For the most part this is an extension of the culture. The same holds true at even mid-tier hotels or small simple restaurants in Japan. Pride in service and quality is at the root. Personally, I think every flight attendant in the U.S. should be sent to Japan to be trained for a month on the art of service. It’s a beautiful thing when done right. And, I am sure, encourages a sense of pride for those who can excel to it.
One month or one year training of the US/North American FA won’t do the trick, it’s the culture!! Japanese culture also has some/many negatives but when it comes to service, they excel
I agree that it can’t change the overall culture imbedded in American service workers. But it can certainly help them develop a bit of understanding as to quality. Yes, there are small faults with Japanese service in not being flexible beyond the norm, but it’s minor compared to the horrid levels we experience in the US these days.
It’s why the first “adult” book I bought for my daughter, who is 13 now, is Zen and The Art of Motorcycle Maintenance. I hope it will help her achieve some respect for quality that is lacking in American society these days. And could be argued is the root of all our problems.
In a different generation, that dedication to order produced a war machine that brought misery to millions of people in the Republic of China, Korea, Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaya (Malaysia), Philippines (then part of the US), and the United States (mostly military personnel), etc. For decades, relatives and my family refused to buy a Japanese branded car. Among my grandparents, parents, and me, the first Japanese car purchased was when I bought one in 2020. World War II finally ended for us in 2020. So it was 1941-2020, 79 years.
Yikes. You didn’t need to flex your family’s xenophobia so hard on us.
What other purpose does he/she have in life, if not to troll the comments section of websites?
ANA is really nice (the room looks amazing), however, Polaris is usually $2500 cheaper round trip.
That much? Usually it looks to be the same and they are even codeshare and joint venture partners.
Not sure when you have been looking but I find JAL and ANA to offer some pretty fantastic Business Class deals from LAX and SFO quite regularly (Pre-Covid). United is so booked out with corporate deals that they rarely are reasonable (as if I care). But I have found many r/t’s on both JAL and ANA for around $2900.00. Yes, they have restrictions and are not flexible, but still, if you can tie down your schedule are a bargain. Also, SQ is back with NRT-LAX and they often had one way last minute fares in the the $1200 range if bought in Tokyo.
I noticed similar pricing. @Amy, keeping looking – there are deals to be had.
I too love the Japanese airlines. I’m very finicky about airline food but the only economy class meals I’ve enjoyed are on ANA. The way ANA flight attendants bow in unison at the opening of a flight to the passengers and how Japanese ground crews will bow to the plane as it wheels out from the terminal – such beautiful gestures of service.
Some years ago I was flying ANA from Japan. I was at the check in counter before it opened that morning. As they prepared to open, staff stood in front of the counter as an announcement was made, in Japanese. At the conclusion of the announcement the staff bowed to us and check in began. It was really cool. I couldn’t help but think about how that will NEVER happen in the US.
On a visit to Tokyo I happened to show up at the giant Mitsukoshi department store in Ginza at their opening hour. A store worker came out to the front doors and made an announcement and then I was allowed in. All along the expansively long main hallway were lined up the staff who proceeded to bow to me as I walked past. And I was just wearing shorts and a t-shirt! It felt like being a king and was a delightful experience.
Matthew, I have experienced the same great customer service and incredible attention to detail as well on ANA.
An amazing culture.
JL all the way.