Update: In the meantime ANA has introduced an all new first class suite — see here for a full review of that.
Continue reading: Review: ANA First Class 777-300ER Chicago To Tokyo
Share your questions, experiences, and thoughts below.
I had precisely the same experience with 777 LHR-HND.
We had middle seats and was so hard to talk to each other.
The service was amazing tho!
Check it https://youtu.be/V8bOnAJSXOk
I happen to love ANA, much better than JAL. On my flights, the cabin was actually kept cool! JAL I sweat. The seats in the boxes are silly but the seat itself is more comfortable than JAL. The food on ANA is as good as First Class or airplane food can get, as long as you get the Japanese meal. Service on my 2 JAL flights were not good with much bigger language barriers than my ANA flights. I guess that could have just been bad luck.
ORD-NRT is much better than IAH-NRT. We don't get the 21 yr hibiki on that flight.
@Ralph: Looks square to me. Nice to see ANA take cues from Dave Thomas (Wendy's) and not cut corners! 😉
@Ben the "Leg Refreshing Sheet" goes on the back of your calves while you rest/sleep. It is sort of like a cooling gel pad that relaxes your leg muscles. They really did seem to make me more relaxed. I also liked the aromatics they place behind your pillow (if they still do that).
Would you recommend row 1 or row 2? Is row 1 loud or bright? We’re flying that route next May (ORD-NRT and HND-JFK on the way back) and are currently in the 2nd row middle, though I am really hoping to get the new cabin by then.
We took this route back in May. The crew will happily give you as many WiFi passes as you want, so you're really not limited to 100 MB.
We flew ORD HND last September and it was a great experience. They had a special sake made just for ANA, which was delicious. And being a fan of Hibiki, I made sure to try both the 17 and the 21 y/o.
The downside was certainly the inability to chat easily with my wife next to me. Mind you, some might find that a significant benefit for 13 hrs. 😉
I LOVE THAT "CRIME PREVENTION VIDEO" ON ANA!
My favorite part is when the friend visiting Japan for the first time loses his wallet, and the other friend tells him not to worry and that someone will turn it in. He just has this amazingly smug attitude that says, "You're in a civilized country now. People wouldn't do something as barbaric as steal your wallet."
The fact that they're both speaking only in Japanese makes the whole thing even more surreal.
@Brian Vysocky The cardigan stays. I know they at least have LL pajamas. I'm usually a Large and sleeves on the L pajamas hit me about 3 inches above the wrist. The LL was much better on top, though the bottoms were a bit loose.
I'm going to be on this same flight just a couple of months from now and I can't wait! I actually love those legs cooling pads, hah! They're pretty good especially if the cabin is kept too warm. By the way I'm curious, is there a particular reason why you both picked the western meal instead of the Japanese one?
Ben - Another great review! However I'm curious... you mention you got a deal on these seats with miles. Can you elaborate on that aspect of the trip? I've been saving up my Citi and Amex points and have been looking at transferring them to Virgin to use on a possible ANA J or F flight (which I found out about through you and TPG!). Thanks!
@ Matthew Anhalt -- I booked through Virgin Atlantic and transferred points during a 30% bonus. All the details are in the intro post:
https://onemileatatime.com/japan-trip-report-introduction/
My favorite airline hands down. I enjoy the seats very much as I find them very conducive to getting a good rest.
Sitting in close proximity to/ communicating with spouse/SO is not always the preferred option : yesterday I was seated next to a very nice man , in budget airline Y, a 9 hour flight. He told me that his wife was seated about 20 rows back, so I offered to swap ( more out of courtesy than a real desire to go further back).
He was quite adamant that I stay. It was pretty clear that they both enjoyed the break . Probably healthy after 30 plus years.
Ben,
I’ve flown ANA F 10+ times and I’ve always been baffled about the cubicle approach, especially the fact that the windows are blocked.
I lived in Japan for a few years and was always perplexed by the culture of the window, i.e. the fact that they “block” windows in dwellings, temples, etc. (Example: even though my second story Tokyo flat looked out onto an empty field, all my windows were frosted opaque!)
In Japan having one window to look out of, and covering up the others is not abnormal. It’s a matter of a “curated” view.
That’s my very unscientific guess as to the reasoning/justification for the seat design.
For a good example of window culture, google “viewing room at Unryu-in, Kyoto”.
I love ANA first and agree with a previous poster that it is largely superior to JAL. I also agree that blocking the windows is odd but let’s be honest, for 95% of the flight there is little to see out of the window and the middle window is still accessible. Also I appreciate the limited ability to talk to each other, not because I want to be isolated from my travel companions but rather because I HATE when passengers chit chat all flight. It’s extremely rude and disruptive and anything to limit that is good in my book. The ANA crews are truly the best I have ever had consistently (JAL is a mixed bag) and the food is superior as well. They still serve Hibiki 21 which is virtually impossible to find and sells for over $1000 a bottle today. On my last flight she left the bottle for me on my tray. It’s just an outstanding airline.
The cubicle seats are a very Japanese thing about privacy/being left alone/no one else can see you. ANA and SQ are always outstanding no matter what cabin you are flying in
Those pajamas look a little higher quality than the ones I received on this flight back in 2017. I didn't keep my ANA pjs then but those look like ones I would keep.
weird that you and Ford never order the asian meal on asian airlines. Live a little Ben.
American and Chinese tend to speak very loudly in public , not of all of them but a lot of them
Great report, Lucky. That burger looks good. And I have to find this crime prevention video. Lol.
While the F/A stood guard outside your lavatory door for you to change into the pajamas did you notice the drop down platform/step for you to stand on to keep your feet off the lavatory floor? I'm not sure both lavs have it, but the larger lav definitely has it.
Were condiments (egg white/yolk, onions, sour cream) offered with the caviar?
They serve Belgian caviar on this flight.
That makes as much sense as Iranian chocolates.
Who came up with this for a food item that has so much visibility?
Imagine if you were a first time flyer and the safety brief was given by R2-D2.
I have to admit after the yoda thing i read, “The crew asked us if we wanted to change undies.”
@Clem~ The Japanese menus on JAL and ANA are really nothing like the Japanese food you may be accustomed to at home. It is mostly traditional high calibre delicacies not rolled out for everyday eating.
Most ( and there are many, many little plates!) are not to most Westerners tastes. Older Japanese can relate more to them. So you may be disappointed if you like the idea but are not certain what you will get!
The colour scheme ANA uses in both first and business class has to be the one of the most unattractive of any airline. Absolutely awful.
I have found that ANA First Class F/A's have a better grasp on the english language than JAL. They're also a bit more personable and not overly formal/sterile, which can be the case on JAL. Catering EX: TYO is exceptional. A5 Waygu beef, a-mazing. Also Hibiki 21 (JFK/FRA/LHR routes), is the best whisky in the sky!
The seats are FINE when traveling alone (table tray does suck), and I agree IFE needs much more content, and the WiFi clearly is running off a 14.4 modem.
Living in Asia, ANA First is still my favorite way to get back to The States.
–JRL
I flew ANA J class on a 777 HND-HKG a few years ago when they were just rolling out the Star Wars livery.
As I recall, the in-flight magazine had a couple of pages showing the fleet: so many 777s, so many 787s, ... and 1 Millennium Falcon. You have to admire that level of attention to detail.
Would love to fly ANA long haul F.
@Ted
Hibiki 21 yrs is not over $1000.
You should be able to find one for around $500~600
Hibiki 17 yrs is about 350~400
Nevertheless, they are both good and expensive whisky
@Luis: “weird that you and Ford never order the asian meal on asian airlines. Live a little Ben.”
And yet, he ordered the Japanese curry.
@Eric Wu
The price of Hibiki 21 has sky rocketed in the last year. No more $500 bottles, at least not in the U.S. It is true that I slightly exaggerated though. It is very difficult to find in stores and online in runs $850 to $1,000. Over a thousand for decorative bottles (I agree, that does not count). If you can buy it for $500 I’m in, please let me know where!
@Eric Wu
I just tried posting several links to Hibiki 21 selling at or over $1,000. I guess links may not be allowed?
Suffice it to say that the days of $500 Hibiki 21 are over for now. The prices have skyrocketed in the past year (at least in the U.S. If you are able to get it for $500 buy all you can, it would be a fantastic investment!
@Eric Wu
A quick search shows prices in the $800-$900 range in Hong Kong, slightly more in Japan and north of $1,000 throughout the U.S.
When they discontinued it last year prices went nuts. Even the 17 year old is in the $500 - $600 range. So ANA is serving some expensive whiskey!
Ben, regarding your comments about the style of boxed in first class seats. I find it a little harsh given the luxury that sourrounds and the utter courtesy of the ANA cabin staff. Flying 12 plus hours is a long time to keep smiling and be courteous. Nothing quite compares.
For me the biggest issue with ANA is the IFE and rip-off Wi-Fi ($19.99 for the "whole flight" up to 100MB . . . which lasts closer to an hour than the entire flight). I find JAL food and lounges somewhat better, but when service is good, its as nice as can be. I hope the new products don't make already tough redemptions even more difficult - if you can find seats ANA is an unbeatable redemption value.
@glenn t : I have flown both ANA and JAL in F , and have been to Japan several times - a big reason for that being that I thoroughly enjoy traditional Japanese cuisine as opposed to westernized "Japanese" food ;).
@Clem~ I expect you would be in a small minority in enjoying Japanese traditional cuisine. The average American who thinks hamburgers are a gourmet meal would not. In fact many younger Japanese feel the same way. They would also gag at the idea of whale meat that their grandparents still consume, not that the airlines serve that, as far as I know.
What “average American” thinks hamburgers are “gourmet meals”. None is the answer. Many many Americans love burgers, none think they are gourmet meals. If you are flying first on ANA or JAL you absolutely should do the Japanese meals. Both are excellent.
Overall the review was pretty standard stuff to expect in ANA F except the Sony headphones, those are significantly better than any Bose that I've come across, as Sony's usually are, to say them are of regular quality is quite a crime.
"total of four first class passengers — we were the only ones in row two, and then in 1A was a Japanese guy and in 1K was an American lady who was going on a two week group tour of Japan."
I wonder how much this American lady paid for her 2 weeks group tour of Japan including her Ana1st Class flights.
Just chiming in with the others to say that you really missed out not drinking the Hibiki 21. The Krug is great, but for more readily available and less than half the price.
For those who want to see the "crime prevention" video that is referenced, here it is:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b53VuudLQXc
The "crime prevention" part is about 11 minutes in, following a "traffic safety" segment.
It's all fantastic, and makes me eager to visit Japan again -- what a fantastic country and culture!
Best service airline in the world and the Hibiki and Krug are top shelf, far out reaching the crystal served on JAL.
The last thing I need to do on an ANA flight is sleep who needs a bed on Singapore?
The Japanese food is five star restaurant