As part of my Hong Kong status run, I returned home via Tokyo on ANA in business class. Here is my review of the product and service aboard ANA’s 777-300ER from Haneda to Chicago.
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- United’s Polaris Lounge San Francisco
- Polaris Business Class Service San Francisco to Hong Kong
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- ANA Business Class Hong Kong Tokyo
- ANA Haneda Lounge Review
- ANA Business Class Tokyo-Haneda to Chicago O’Hare
Seat
There was some confusion at checkin in Hong Kong when I discussed the seat for this flight. I was unable to change it using the United app and hadn’t bothered to call and secure something specific. We went round and round establishing what exactly constitutes a window seat.
“Is this a window seat?” – Me
“No, it’s a table seat.” – Agent
“Pardon? Is there someone else next to me?” – Me
“Yes.” (points to middle aisle) – Agent
“Is there anyone in between me in and the window?” – Me
“No. Table.” – Agent
Following that exchange, I took my assignment and started my journey. When I arrived at my seat, I understood what the agent meant regarding a table, but also thought that it constituted a window seat.
In fairness, however, all of the seats have the same exact table accompanying them. Wouldn’t they all be table seats then?
Functionality
The lie-flat seat features tons of storage. There is, in fact, a table at the window though I still consider the seat to be a window seat. There are several modes for reclining and sitting, standard for this type of seat and class of service.
One way that ANA differentiates their product is by including a small bed mat. American Airlines uses Casper, Delta uses Westin bedding, United has Saks Fifth Avenue. I have tried a couple of those products but found that ANA’s no name mattress pad was comfortable, easy to set up and something I would have liked to wander off with. I didn’t. That would be stealing. In reality, the size of the mat would have little utility outside of their service anyway, but it was really comfortable.
Space
I previously mentioned all of the storage space which held my passport, documents, headphones, and everything else in a closed space with easy access for me but difficult access for anyone else. The one drawback of the product (maybe this is why the staff is adamant about which seat is a true window and which is a “table”) is its lack of privacy. Not every business class seat has to have a closed-door or “suite” function – that’s what first class is for. But the reverse herringbone that some carriers offer faces away from the aisle and have higher than normal walls which feels a bit more sheltered from passersby. With ANA’s seat passengers are essentially lying immediately next to the aisle. Every cart or passenger that rattles by is next to your head and that’s a little unsettling.
Food
Menu
The menu offers excellent choices for sophisticated Japanese diners. I love trying the local flavor and enjoy Japanese cuisine. Most Japanese cuisine. This menu, however, was not a hit for me. My FA, one of several in business but this particular one serving just three or four passengers in a half full cabin, had tried to persuade me to order the western option. I find that most FAs on foreign airlines try to encourage this to ensure a happy passenger. Given my excellent experience in the lounge, I was both fairly full but also remained adventurous. In the same way that I wanted to try the Star Alliance lounge in Hong Kong (the provided lounge was Singapore SilverKris though I could have gone to any other) I also wanted to give their Japanese options a try even if I didn’t like them. How else would my readers know?
The main course was actually rather good, though the old adage is to never eat seafood on an airplane I ordered the Swordfish in a soy-based wasabi sauce. Following the meal, I slept for nearly the remainder of the flight.
Snack
About an hour and a half prior to landing I awoke to find the FAs preparing the breakfast meal for arrival. I can have an omelet anywhere, I wanted the Pork Katsu Curry, a curry, rice, and fried pork dish. I love this dish and though it was a heavy meal, I preferred it over the breakfast option, again a western choice. Bless the heart of the FA that collected my last Japanese meal mostly full of food (except for the main course) and really pushed back on my choice for a snack over the omelet. I appreciate that she was only trying to ensure I had a great experience.
Lucky for us both, I did. The dish was well prepared, served quickly and I cleaned the plate.
Service
For frequent travelers to Japan, the experience of their culture is common. To those who infrequently travel through or to Japan, they will be blown away by the attention to detail, respect and order that permeates all areas of the experience. Perfectly executed boarding, the crew immaculately dressed, elegant and polite are all part of the ANA service. One thing that I loved (call me a schmuck if you like) was that the ground crew, FAs, and pilots show respect for each other and their passengers before the plane departs.
Once pushed back from the gate, placed on the line to head to the taxiway, the aircraft pause while ground crew give a long, deep bow to the pilots and passengers before rising and waving as the plane taxis away. It’s a really nice touch and emblematic of their culture.
Bathroom
Yes, I have a bathroom section on a flight review. Why? Because of the wonderful Japanese toilet with bidet and seat warmer – on an airplane. Many carriers do special things for flagship aircraft in their fleet. American Airlines has an espresso maker (many others do as well) that is only for first-class passengers (and they are strict as was ANA – I can try right?) Many use the large pass bar area as a snack station, but this is the first and only time I have found a bidet attachment on an airline seat.
It was glorious. I have one in my home (though mine has more options and a seat warmer – get jealous), you should too.
Final Thoughts
The soft product was excellent with the ground experience leading the way. Service was exceptional and while not everything I ate was to my taste, I could tell that the food and beverage were of a high quality. The hard product was very good, the seat itself not industry-leading, but very, very good. I am surprised the cabin was not more full as I understand that SWUs from United should clear on ANA codeshare flights, this one certainly was such a flight. As a United 1K, this would be my target flight for applying the upgrades in the future. And that bathroom, oh that bathroom! If the prices and routing are fairly similar to the competition I would choose ANA’s business class product on this Tokyo-Haneda route again in a heartbeat.
What do you think? Is the seat good enough or does it need a refresh? How about the toilet? What’s your favorite in-flight amenity from a carrier?
Kyle, why did you take such bad pictures? Usually they’re good, but not on this article. Safe travels!
Lol – Sorry about that GT, I don’t really write airline reviews because I dislike taking photos on the plane. I know it’s a blogger flaw, but it’s the way it is.
I have a toto S300 washlet in my house and I love it!!! Best thing I ever bought for the house.
Best. Purchase. Ever.
Good to know that business class on this flight has ample storage, since first class is really bad about that.
Thanks for ordering the “meal of the carrier” Kyle. Nice review!
I’m interested in the food and drink aspect of luxury travel and the “outside your comfort zone” experiences of food is definitely a part of it! I can eat a steak at home. Seeing pictures and reviews of the Western option all the time (or picky eaters who only choose salmon or chicken every flight and opt “not to drink”) doesn’t paint the complete picture.
Glad I could help, even though I wasn’t overly enthusiastic about the appetizer and amuse bouche.
I for one find your and Matthew’s obsession with bidets – strange, though my father-in-law certainly shared y’alls enthusiasm. To each his own, I suppose.
Overall I’d say the seat looks like it’s aged well. They are a bit exposed, but ample storage space is a big plus. BTW, kudos for being adventurous and trying the Japanese option. I have found the same “are you sure, sir?” attitude when flying Asian carriers, though like you, it seemed to be out of a concern that I be satisfied with the meal. It was actually kind of amusing trying to explain to an FA on EVA that the congee she was trying to talk me out of ordering is pretty much the exact same dish served in South India.
Much of the world uses some sort of bidet, almost all of southeast Asia employs the “bum gun”, plenty of Europe, northern Asia the bidet or bidet attachment – maybe you should give it another go.
You have to at least try the “local” option, though one of the best meals in the sky I ever had was a cheeseburger (snack meal) on Cathay Pacific. So sometimes I guess it pays to try the western option.
Oh, I am quite familiar with bidets. They use them in India, at least the “bum gun” as you call it. I still think they’re weird.
Dude using water is the only way to keep the bum clean. I normally smuggle in an empty bottle so that I can wash if I have to go on a plane.
The jet sprays as they are colloquially known are even better. You can direct the spray to ensure optimum cleanliness
I’m surprised that you were so confused about the seat. ANA’s seat maps are some of the better ones out there. They actually make it very easy – A and K seats are “true” window seats, while C and H seats are “aisle” window seats. Even if you couldn’t change your assignment, it couldn’t have been too hard to figure out in advance.
Also, if you didn’t like the exposed nature of the aisle seat, why didn’t you move? In a half-full cabin, it’s hard to believe that they wouldn’t let you do so (even though the Japanese are known for being rule-oriented).
FYI, what you had was Pork Katsu Curry (not Katsudon, a different dish).
In any case, it’s good to see that you enjoyed your trip! It’s a shame you didn’t show any of the amenities – kit, pajamas, slippers, etc.
If there is no other seat between myself and the window and I have control of the shade, it’s a window seat and they were all taken, probably for their privacy. Of the half-full (half empty?) business class cabin, none could be secured.
I’ll edit for the meal name correction. My sincerest apologies.
They didn’t offer any pajamas (I brought my own anyway, so no harm there), the slippers were not worth writing about (though the Polaris ones are worth keeping) and the amenity kit was as basic as it gets. I guess some readers may have benefited from seeing just how basic it was (disposable toothbrush, toothpaste, earplugs, etc.) but I chose to exclude it because it was nothing of note. The rest of the service seemed to be a much more elevated experience that it didn’t seem interesting to me.
Oh, sorry, from the post, it seemed as though you didn’t know it was an aisle-side window seat vs. a “real” window seat. I guess it shouldn’t be a surprise that those were already taken, even on an empty flight; the more savvy travelers had already booked them! 🙂
Also, no apologies needed for the meal name! You were pretty close. 🙂
AFAIK, ANA offers a lot of amenities that aren’t included in the regular kit. I can’t recall if they’re in the lavatories or offered in a basket/by request, but they have disposable items usually not available on other airlines – scented cards, cooling pads for face/arms, combs, shoe horn, etc. Pajamas are supposed to be available for in-flight use on long-haul flights, but maybe they don’t proactively offer them. Regardless, it’s nice to see that ANA’s service is still consistent(ly good).
ANA usually has pretty good food. And they have one of the better snack menus you’ll find in business class.
The good thing is they publish their menus online (Emirates and Lufthansa do as well), so you can get an idea of what’s going to be onboard before you fly.
Yeah…a couple of those starters are pretty aggressively Japanese (I’m Japanese, and a couple of those my mom wouldn’t eat, or at least wouldn’t enjoy). Thanks for trying them, though. I feel like a large part of experiencing different cultures is in trying their food, so good on you!
Their uppudo noodles for snack is really good. Too bad it does not come with eggs and meat.
Great Review Kyle! Very informative and thorough (even thought it lacked picture wise). My mother and I are traveling to Singapore for winter break from my school and the first flight we will take is from Chicago to Tokyo Narita, so I was thinking that business class, which I will be flying in mainly because my mom will die on a 13 then 7 our flight in economy, that it will be extremely similar if not the exact same experience. Great Review, especially the bathroom part!! I look forward to my flight, hopefully with a table seat!!! Please correct me on anything because I have never been on ANA before, the only airline from Asia I have been on other than Etihad is Korean Air soooooo. Is business class the same?? Because that looks like a gooooood seat.
Would love to try flying business class sometime! I think it looks like a nice set up. We did enjoy our experience on economy in ANA, fine though 🙂 Would fly again.