Japan’s All Nippon Airways (ANA) will be the next airline to turn a parked plane into a restaurant. This is something that Singapore Airlines did with an A380 in late 2020, so it’s cool to see another airline give the concept a try.
In this post:
ANA’s 777 restaurant at Tokyo Haneda Airport
Over the coming weeks, ANA will give people the opportunity to dine on a parked Boeing 777-300ER at Tokyo Haneda Airport. With this, customers will be able to book a business or first class seat, and will be able to enjoy the same cuisine that would usually be offered in the sky, with the choice of a Japanese or Western menu.
For what it’s worth, it would appear that ANA will use a 777 with the “old” configuration for the restaurant, based on the seatmap.
So don’t expect to enjoy ANA’s new “The Room” business class, or ANA’s new “The Suite” first class.
Those who book this experience will also have access to ANA’s lounges at Tokyo Haneda Airport before their “flight.”
There will be both a lunch seating (from 11:30AM until 2PM) and a dinner seating (from 6PM until 9PM) on the following dates:
- Wednesday, April 14, 2021
- Friday, April 16, 2021
- Saturday, April 17, 2021
- Sunday, April 18, 2021
- Monday, April 19, 2021
- Wednesday, April 21, 2021
- Friday, April 23, 2021
- Saturday, April 24, 2021
- Sunday, April 25, 2021
- Monday, April 26, 2021
- Tuesday, April 27, 2021
I’m surprised by just how many seatings they’ll have, as we’re talking about almost two dozen different experiences.
How expensive are tickets?
Pricing varies based on whether you want to “travel” in first or business class:
- A business class ticket costs 29,800 JPY, or 270 USD
- A first class ticket costs 59,800 JPY, or 540 USD
Obviously that pricing sounds steep on the surface, but it might not be a bad value if the menu is in fact the same as it would be if you were on an actual flight. For example, in first class ANA serves Krug champagne, caviar, and all kinds of other incredible food.
Below are some of the pictures of my ANA first class flight between London and Tokyo in early 2020.
While the concept of paying to enjoy airplane food on the ground seems rather backwards, ANA does have some of the best inflight catering of any airline, and I bet there will be demand for this, especially given the lack of international travel opportunities for those in Japan at the moment.
Bottom line
Over the coming weeks, All Nippon Airways will be turning a 777 into a restaurant at Tokyo Haneda Airport. The airline will only be selling first and business class seats, and will be serving roughly the same menu you’d usually find onboard a flight.
While the experience won’t be cheap, it does sound pretty awesome.
Does anyone in Japan plan on booking the ANA 777 restaurant? And would you be interested in a concept like this if it came to an airport near you?
Dear Ben,
Please see ‘Jetex Iftar in the Sky’ concept on a private jet, taking-off this Ramadan.
@Jesper, compared to what they serve on international flights, I don't disagree. Still, a main dish (at times a wagyu steak) along with several crafted appetizer plates on a flight less than 2hrs flying time, are impressive. Not to mention the wide selection of soft/alcohol drinks available.
@Hiro
I am not sure I would call JAL domestic F a full proper meal. An elegant snack more like it.
@Ed
They still serve Noguchi Naohiko, so probably also do for this event.
F**k the Krug they were pouring Noguchi Naohiko sake before the pandemic and that is really something to write home about.
Very tempting, if I never flew their F/C product before. Alternatively, you could fly JAL's domestic F with unlimited Champaign (though not Krug) and a proper full meal, for less than US$300.
@Ed
Do you also know where to go to get a meal with a bottle of Krug along with it for 60K yen? :)
Though it is always the question of how generous the flow is....
"Hey do you like sharing air with strangers in closed airspaces during a pandemic? How about not going anywhere while on a plane? Do you miss tarmac delays? Do you like trekking it to the airport?"
Like, uh. I don't get it.
I know that if I were in Tokyo with 60,000 yen I know where I can get a better dinner than that. However, fly that plane to to Melbourne and take my money.
I'm not sure, but when I flew business class on ANA a number of years ago, the food was very plentiful and amazing. Fine dining at 35,000 feet. If I was there this month, I would be tempted to make a dining reservation on a parked Boeing 777.
540 USD is really steep.
120000 Virgin Atlantic miles cost exactly 4x the price at $2,160 USD, and you'd get 2 of these F dining experiences, plus an extra "breakfast experience", and roundtrip flight across the globe. Seems like the much better deal if you're able to just wait until things open up again.
I might go, I tried booking for the first round. But it sold out too quickly.
Ridiculous concept.