In the coming weeks, I’ll be headed to Niseko, Japan, for a ski trip. In terms of hotels, I’ll be reviewing the Park Hyatt Niseko and Ritz-Carlton Reserve Niseko. Up until now, I hadn’t really decided on flights, though that’s all starting to come together a bit, thanks to some award availability that just opened. I want to share what I have booked so far, as it’s not totally finalized.
In this post:
I’m finally flying All Nippon Airways’ A380 first class!
There’s only one Airbus A380 first class product in the world that I haven’t flown, and that’s on All Nippon Airways. The airline has the world’s quirkiest A380 fleet — there are just three jets, and they exclusively fly between Tokyo (NRT) and Honolulu (HNL).
I’ve been wanting to fly this jet for a long time, but flying between Tokyo and Honolulu is rarely actually useful for me, even on a review trip. But I just saw award availability open up in first class within a day of my intended return date to the United States from Niseko, so I figured this is as good of a chance as any to finally try ANA’s A380 first class.
I booked this using Virgin Atlantic Flying Club points, at the cost of 57,500 points plus under $200 in taxes and fees. When you consider that I earned those points with a recent 30% transfer bonus, that’s a heck of a deal! I’ve had great experiences in ANA’s first class, and I can’t wait to see what the A380 has to offer. I just wish the flight were longer!
I’m also going to fly Hawaiian Airlines’ 787 first class
Given that I’m going to be in Honolulu, there’s obviously one product that’s most on my list (well, other than taking the Island Hopper, but I’ll have to save that for another time, as I need to get home eventually). Specifically, I’ll be flying Hawaiian Airlines’ 787 first class from Honolulu (HNL) to Los Angeles (LAX).
This is of course the carrier’s new flagship aircraft, and it’s going to be interesting to see what happens to the Dreamliners in the long run, with Alaska building up a long haul network out of Seattle.
For now, I booked this flight for 80,000 miles from the HawaiianMiles program. I’m hoping that the cost of the flight decreases a bit (either in cash or points), in which case I could rebook. But otherwise, I’m ultimately happy with that too.
What I’m thinking for the outbound itinerary
I now have the return journey more or less figured out, but I still need to finalize the outbound itinerary. So, what am I thinking? Tentatively, I have an award ticket booked from Boston (BOS) to Madrid (MAD) in Iberia’s new Airbus A321XLR business class, so I’m hoping to take that.
What I’m currently keeping an eye on is the possibility of Finnair opening some A350 business class award space from Helsinki (HEL) to Asia. Ideally to Japan, but I’m also willing to double or even triple connect. I’ve reviewed Finnair’s new A330 business class, but would also like to check out the carrier’s A350, no-recline business class.
If that doesn’t work out, I’ll hopefully creatively fly from Madrid to Japan in some other creative way. I’d also like to fly Iberia’s A350, but that mostly flies to Latin America.
Bottom line
I’ll finally be making the journey from Japan to the US mainland via Honolulu, flying All Nippon Airways’ A380 first class and Hawaiian’s 787 first class. I’ve been meaning to check out both of these products for some time. Given how hard ANA award space can be to come by, I couldn’t help but pounce on the availability when I saw it open up.
I’m still finalizing the outbound portion of the trip, though hope it’ll entail Iberia’s A321XLR business class, and Finnair.
Any predictions for these ANA, Hawaiian, and (hopefully) Iberia flights?
Ben: Once this trip is completed, hope you will consider joining the Circumnavigators Club. Search for info. Or contact me for details - [email protected]
Two weeks ago I did A321xl BOS-MAD and HEL-LHR on A350 with no recline J lie flats .
BOS-MAD is with weaker catering than originating from Spain , same seat as B6 mint with better 4K screen.
I liked the J no recline seats , stylish and smart concept in my eyes ( one uses two handles for upping two pieces).
Be sure to check out the ANA lounge at HNL! You can board the plane directly from the lounge to the upper deck. There are nice views as well.
Won't happen bc he's flying to HNL rather than from HNL.
Finnair has very attractive pricing for day of upgrades to Business. They also aggressively sell it at the gate
Really curious to see your take on the Ritz-Carlton Reserve, Niseko. It looks like a Courtyard from the outside, and the inside is only marginally better. It was very obviously designed to be something else and then sloppily "upgraded" at the last second so it's a very bizarre RC, let alone a Reserve charging thousands of $$$.
I believe that the Iberia A350 operates the Madrid to Tokyo flights.
Yes, but those A350s don't typically feature the new J... you'll find the new seat in flights to Latin America, especially in those with more frequencies like MEX, EZE and BOG
You're sure you don't want another go at the premium Delta 767 on TYO-HNL? You'd make someone super happy if you changed your mind about the product and you'd be back in good graces
You may want to look at cash prices and then upgrade with points for Hawaiian. I just booked the 787 HNL-JFK for $297 and then 25K points to upgrade to first class. Since they switched to the 787 I am seeing a lot of upgrade availability at the lower rate
Bring a book. The HA 787s do not have the Starlink internet installed yet (whereas as all the A330s do), at least as of last week when I was on an HA 787
If you have no choice but to fly to NOU on Aircalin, you can fly westbound to SIN and figure out how to get to Japan.
Royal Brunei, Air Niugini, and even SQ's 737s would be some unique options for you.
Another option would be to fly north to PPT and fly to Japan from there with Air Tahiti Nui.
*Eastbound to PPT, not north. Brain fart.
Pakistan International now flies to Europe. Ben has written extensively about this airline and also Air Asia X but has flown on neither.
As far as I'm concerned, Niseko is one of the most affected region by overtourism bound for Japan - and began even before the Pandemic. I haven't actually been there in recent times though but that's what I've been told.
For the flights, may I suggest Asiana - they fly directly to BCN from ICN. You know, before it's gone...
Asiana even occasionally deploy A380s on that route
Food in biz on Honu from HNL-TYO was not that great and seat was tight. I’m sure first is better.
Which color are you hoping for?
As an alternative to this Iberia flight, you could do PIA from Toronto to Kuala Lumpur via Karachi, and then hop on Air Asia X to Japan.
Just remember though, PK doesn't fly direct KHI-KUL. The flight is either via ISB or LHE depending on the day.
What about Paris - Islamabad - Kuala Lumpur? It shows as a direct on FlightConnections...
Make sure you make dinner and taxi reservations in Niseko. Public transport is fine during the day but is brutal at night.
You can show up to an empty restaurant and they will not seat you without a reservation.
Lucky, it’s been I think 7 years since we saw a Biman Bangladesh review. That would be such an amazing review if you could connect to London after Madrid!
Try flying LOT Polish on a "true" longhaul instead of the TATL. They have updated their lounges in WAW and have changed quite a bit in their onboard soft product as well. Also, it's hard to find reviews of them that aren't just a transatlantic flight.
Alternatively, it would be fun to see OS for example or fly to Jakarta and try Garuda First class.
Flown NRT to HNL on ANA NH 182 and 184 many times. Yes it's a great deal.
But, it is an evening flight, shorter flight time vs HNL-NRT, so you don't get to fully experience unless you choose not to sleep. You will though get to experience the lounge at NRT.
I normally end up eating dinner at the lounge then sleep through the flight...unable to have the in flight meal.
The Ritz Carlton Resverve is terrible. Even as a normal Ritz Carlton it wouldn't be good, but as a Reserve? Ridiculous.
Currently sitting in Finnair J class from LAX -> HEL. The seat design certainly is... interesting, I think you'll either love or hate. Sleep mode was pretty comfortable tho (at least to me)--I usually suck at sleeping on planes, and I just slept 5 solid hours. Food, while not large portions, was surprisingly tasty (at odds with some of the advance reviews I read). Genuinely friendly flight attendants. Minimal amenity kit, but you can simply...
Currently sitting in Finnair J class from LAX -> HEL. The seat design certainly is... interesting, I think you'll either love or hate. Sleep mode was pretty comfortable tho (at least to me)--I usually suck at sleeping on planes, and I just slept 5 solid hours. Food, while not large portions, was surprisingly tasty (at odds with some of the advance reviews I read). Genuinely friendly flight attendants. Minimal amenity kit, but you can simply ask for upgrades like combs, shaving kits, and so on. WiFi just ok--$24.95 for full flight (or one hour for free), as provided by Panasonic (?); speeds wildly inconsistent at various points on the flight. But all in all, not a bad way to cross the pond, would likely fly again. Ask me again tho, after I somehow make onward connection in Helsinki, where they seem to specialize in incredibly tight connections. :-)
I hope you enjoy their famous blueberry juice!
You most likely made your connection. No security theatre coming from the US, just passport control (if you continue to a Schengen desination).
Yes, the seat divides opinion. I like it a lot but especially the older generation seems to find it uncomfortable for anything but sleeping.
I just made the connection (had to move very fast). Sadly, my bag did not; it is being delivered to me in AMS today.
How does this Ben guy have so many points all of the time? Hmmm.
Welcome, first-time reader! Let me introduce you to a concept of credit cards and referrals...
There is a blog out there explaining this with quite some detail: https://onemileatatime.com/
Link not working for me
The First Class meal service could take half the flight lol, it was only 6 hrs in the air when I flew NRT => HNL on the A380. Dinner in Biz was just under 2 hrs & I slept until landing
@Ben,
You really should take ANA from Honolulu to Tokyo. It is a day flight, there is time to provide the service. Boarding directly from lounge in Honolulu. Review of the ANA Suite Lounge in Honolulu.
As opposed to a rushed service to get a few hours of sleep on a relatively short overnight flight from Tokyo to Honolulu. Though Z counter check in at Narita is pretty neat, if open that late.
I went to niseko in 2004 when it felt like a country town! Flew business class for the first time ever on the way home via Tokyo. JAL was overbooked so they put us on a 747 via Brisbane to Sydney 2 hours later than the direct flight. Put us in biz and gave us each $600 in compensation which almost paid for our return flights. Win!
LOL if you go to Niseko now you'll see more Australians there than in Sydney.
Étihad apartments via London and Abu Dhabi. It’s been a while and not that expensive using AA miles.
There's always AirCalin from Paris to Bangkok! After that, maybe fly Thai or some other rare carrier on the way up to Japan?
@ Mike O. -- So the Aircalin route has obviously fascinated me. I've found a good bit of availability from CDG through to NOU, but not just as far as BKK. Has anyone else had better luck?
Maybe time for a review of the new Air India fleet from LHR?
Seconded! AI has been serious about turning a new leaf, especially now that the Vistara merger is done. Will they be any better than Korean Air? We all know what’s happening to KE well before its own merger…
Glad that you’re finally flying the ANA A380, but I doubt it can even beat the ANA 777 first class, let alone JAL’s A350-1000, which totally blows ANA out of the water. On a different trip you could try the SQ 737 MAX or even TG A320 as well.
AI has been serious about brainwashing its customers, like you, to believe that it's becoming a world-class airline.
And what makes you bring KE, when those two are barely competing directly.
Another day with your shadow boxing against Korea?
Proximanova.
What a wise man you are.
I'm very much looking forward to a Finnair review (and am excited to hear your take on Finnair catering, which has been watered down to the extreme), but bear in mind that Finnair has been in the midst of an industrial action that has, over several weeks already and with no end in sight, seen lots of random cancellations. Especially the Japanese routes seem cancellation-prone for whatever (commercial) reason.
If you get to fly Finnair,...
I'm very much looking forward to a Finnair review (and am excited to hear your take on Finnair catering, which has been watered down to the extreme), but bear in mind that Finnair has been in the midst of an industrial action that has, over several weeks already and with no end in sight, seen lots of random cancellations. Especially the Japanese routes seem cancellation-prone for whatever (commercial) reason.
If you get to fly Finnair, be sure to ask for a memory foam pillow at the beginning of the flight. It is sturdier and makes the seat concept work better. Those were a basic amenity when the seats were introduced but have been "enhanced" away and only a handful are available now on request only.
Recently I wanted to book Finnair flight from ZRH via HEL to Japan, to try the new seats, but there was a problem - even when it was written "Business" all the way through the booking process, only at the end just before paying it showed under "flight details" that ZRH-HEL flight was actually economy. Which I find unfair.
I tried several times, got always the same result. No Finnair for the next two years for me.
@Daniel from Finland: you got me worried - we have intra EU flights scheduled in the next 2 days on Finnair. Have intra-EU Finnair flights been also affected? Thanks.
Sorry, I do not know, I live in Switzerland.
I am constantly looking for alternatives to flying LH group and just learning along the way.
Yes, shorthaul flights are affected as well. The odds are not that big – it's only a few flights a day, ten at most, that get cancelled, but there is some consistency. LHR is often affected, as is the morning flight to BRU.
Thank you. Keep our fingers crossed......
Iberia A350 nonstop from MAD to NRT!
@ Zak -- If only there were points availability!