Why this Tokyo-Sydney business-class flight is worth every yen
Like so many travellers right now, I am having a love affair with Japan. Reluctant to give up the nation's charm and eloquence when I leave, I decide to prolong the experience by snaffling a discounted business-class ticket on ANA's Friday night service from Tokyo to Sydney.
CHECKING IN: There is no check-in because I am transiting from a London-Tokyo flight, but last time I checked in for NH879 it was a 10-minute breeze, and there are always super polite ANA staff to help. I have a very generous 64kg checked-in luggage allowance (2x 32kg bags) and 10kg of carry-on. I paid for a third checked suitcase (at $110, cheaper than air-freight). In the vast ANA business lounge I book a shower in one of the spacious, spotless bathrooms, then find delicious katsu curry, great Japanese whiskies and Kirin beer from robotic taps.
THE FLIGHT: My flight, on a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, is delayed, leaving closer to 1am on Saturday rather than the scheduled 10.45pm on Friday. Not ideal but champagne, shochu and a truly delicious Japanese banquet numb the pain. I get a solid six-hour sleep. We land two hours late and ANA almost immediately emails me telling me how to apply for 3000 yen in compensation: about $32 but it's better than nothing.
THE CLASS: I'm in 1A in business. There are 40 business-class seats in a 1-2-1 layout; each has direct aisle access and reclines to a fully flat 189cm long, 49cm wide bed. I have a universal plug socket, USB port, headphone port, reading light, 18-inch touchscreen, pillow, blanket and mattress, which looks flimsy but is actually very comfortable. Window seats in even-numbered rows offer more privacy as they are separated from the aisle by a side table.
FOOD & DRINKS: One of the best in-flight meals I've had in years. I order the Japanese "washoku" meal (there's a Western alternative) and enjoy a selection of small starters including shrimp fish cake and cherry blossom tofu with crab, with a glass of Drappier champagne, then ocean perch with an aromatic Kawagoe sweet potato shochu. It's a delicious riot of flavours and all beautifully presented. You can get snacks after the main service, including a moreish corn soup.
ENTERTAINMENT: The range of films, TV and audio is OK but nothing special. I watch a Japanese film without subtitles to see if I can get the plot; I fail but the scenery is beautiful. The TV series are not complete sets; season one of Veep has only the first three episodes (out of eight).
THE SERVICE: ANA business-class service on this flight is as good as it gets and everything works first time. I call the attendants only once, to get a shochu top-up, and they arrive in seconds.
IN A NUTSHELL: ANA is fast becoming my airline of choice and this flight proves why, despite the delay: impeccable service, great food, comfy flat-bed seat and a clean-as-a-whistle cabin.
The writer flew at his own expense
Like so many travellers right now, I am having a love affair with Japan. Reluctant to give up the nation's charm and eloquence when I leave, I decide to prolong the experience by snaffling a discounted business-class ticket on ANA's Friday night service from Tokyo to Sydney.
CHECKING IN: There is no check-in because I am transiting from a London-Tokyo flight, but last time I checked in for NH879 it was a 10-minute breeze, and there are always super polite ANA staff to help. I have a very generous 64kg checked-in luggage allowance (2x 32kg bags) and 10kg of carry-on. I paid for a third checked suitcase (at $110, cheaper than air-freight). In the vast ANA business lounge I book a shower in one of the spacious, spotless bathrooms, then find delicious katsu curry, great Japanese whiskies and Kirin beer from robotic taps.
THE FLIGHT: My flight, on a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, is delayed, leaving closer to 1am on Saturday rather than the scheduled 10.45pm on Friday. Not ideal but champagne, shochu and a truly delicious Japanese banquet numb the pain. I get a solid six-hour sleep. We land two hours late and ANA almost immediately emails me telling me how to apply for 3000 yen in compensation: about $32 but it's better than nothing.
THE CLASS: I'm in 1A in business. There are 40 business-class seats in a 1-2-1 layout; each has direct aisle access and reclines to a fully flat 189cm long, 49cm wide bed. I have a universal plug socket, USB port, headphone port, reading light, 18-inch touchscreen, pillow, blanket and mattress, which looks flimsy but is actually very comfortable. Window seats in even-numbered rows offer more privacy as they are separated from the aisle by a side table.
FOOD & DRINKS: One of the best in-flight meals I've had in years. I order the Japanese "washoku" meal (there's a Western alternative) and enjoy a selection of small starters including shrimp fish cake and cherry blossom tofu with crab, with a glass of Drappier champagne, then ocean perch with an aromatic Kawagoe sweet potato shochu. It's a delicious riot of flavours and all beautifully presented. You can get snacks after the main service, including a moreish corn soup.
ENTERTAINMENT: The range of films, TV and audio is OK but nothing special. I watch a Japanese film without subtitles to see if I can get the plot; I fail but the scenery is beautiful. The TV series are not complete sets; season one of Veep has only the first three episodes (out of eight).
THE SERVICE: ANA business-class service on this flight is as good as it gets and everything works first time. I call the attendants only once, to get a shochu top-up, and they arrive in seconds.
IN A NUTSHELL: ANA is fast becoming my airline of choice and this flight proves why, despite the delay: impeccable service, great food, comfy flat-bed seat and a clean-as-a-whistle cabin.
The writer flew at his own expense
Like so many travellers right now, I am having a love affair with Japan. Reluctant to give up the nation's charm and eloquence when I leave, I decide to prolong the experience by snaffling a discounted business-class ticket on ANA's Friday night service from Tokyo to Sydney.
CHECKING IN: There is no check-in because I am transiting from a London-Tokyo flight, but last time I checked in for NH879 it was a 10-minute breeze, and there are always super polite ANA staff to help. I have a very generous 64kg checked-in luggage allowance (2x 32kg bags) and 10kg of carry-on. I paid for a third checked suitcase (at $110, cheaper than air-freight). In the vast ANA business lounge I book a shower in one of the spacious, spotless bathrooms, then find delicious katsu curry, great Japanese whiskies and Kirin beer from robotic taps.
THE FLIGHT: My flight, on a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, is delayed, leaving closer to 1am on Saturday rather than the scheduled 10.45pm on Friday. Not ideal but champagne, shochu and a truly delicious Japanese banquet numb the pain. I get a solid six-hour sleep. We land two hours late and ANA almost immediately emails me telling me how to apply for 3000 yen in compensation: about $32 but it's better than nothing.
THE CLASS: I'm in 1A in business. There are 40 business-class seats in a 1-2-1 layout; each has direct aisle access and reclines to a fully flat 189cm long, 49cm wide bed. I have a universal plug socket, USB port, headphone port, reading light, 18-inch touchscreen, pillow, blanket and mattress, which looks flimsy but is actually very comfortable. Window seats in even-numbered rows offer more privacy as they are separated from the aisle by a side table.
FOOD & DRINKS: One of the best in-flight meals I've had in years. I order the Japanese "washoku" meal (there's a Western alternative) and enjoy a selection of small starters including shrimp fish cake and cherry blossom tofu with crab, with a glass of Drappier champagne, then ocean perch with an aromatic Kawagoe sweet potato shochu. It's a delicious riot of flavours and all beautifully presented. You can get snacks after the main service, including a moreish corn soup.
ENTERTAINMENT: The range of films, TV and audio is OK but nothing special. I watch a Japanese film without subtitles to see if I can get the plot; I fail but the scenery is beautiful. The TV series are not complete sets; season one of Veep has only the first three episodes (out of eight).
THE SERVICE: ANA business-class service on this flight is as good as it gets and everything works first time. I call the attendants only once, to get a shochu top-up, and they arrive in seconds.
IN A NUTSHELL: ANA is fast becoming my airline of choice and this flight proves why, despite the delay: impeccable service, great food, comfy flat-bed seat and a clean-as-a-whistle cabin.
The writer flew at his own expense
Like so many travellers right now, I am having a love affair with Japan. Reluctant to give up the nation's charm and eloquence when I leave, I decide to prolong the experience by snaffling a discounted business-class ticket on ANA's Friday night service from Tokyo to Sydney.
CHECKING IN: There is no check-in because I am transiting from a London-Tokyo flight, but last time I checked in for NH879 it was a 10-minute breeze, and there are always super polite ANA staff to help. I have a very generous 64kg checked-in luggage allowance (2x 32kg bags) and 10kg of carry-on. I paid for a third checked suitcase (at $110, cheaper than air-freight). In the vast ANA business lounge I book a shower in one of the spacious, spotless bathrooms, then find delicious katsu curry, great Japanese whiskies and Kirin beer from robotic taps.
THE FLIGHT: My flight, on a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, is delayed, leaving closer to 1am on Saturday rather than the scheduled 10.45pm on Friday. Not ideal but champagne, shochu and a truly delicious Japanese banquet numb the pain. I get a solid six-hour sleep. We land two hours late and ANA almost immediately emails me telling me how to apply for 3000 yen in compensation: about $32 but it's better than nothing.
THE CLASS: I'm in 1A in business. There are 40 business-class seats in a 1-2-1 layout; each has direct aisle access and reclines to a fully flat 189cm long, 49cm wide bed. I have a universal plug socket, USB port, headphone port, reading light, 18-inch touchscreen, pillow, blanket and mattress, which looks flimsy but is actually very comfortable. Window seats in even-numbered rows offer more privacy as they are separated from the aisle by a side table.
FOOD & DRINKS: One of the best in-flight meals I've had in years. I order the Japanese "washoku" meal (there's a Western alternative) and enjoy a selection of small starters including shrimp fish cake and cherry blossom tofu with crab, with a glass of Drappier champagne, then ocean perch with an aromatic Kawagoe sweet potato shochu. It's a delicious riot of flavours and all beautifully presented. You can get snacks after the main service, including a moreish corn soup.
ENTERTAINMENT: The range of films, TV and audio is OK but nothing special. I watch a Japanese film without subtitles to see if I can get the plot; I fail but the scenery is beautiful. The TV series are not complete sets; season one of Veep has only the first three episodes (out of eight).
THE SERVICE: ANA business-class service on this flight is as good as it gets and everything works first time. I call the attendants only once, to get a shochu top-up, and they arrive in seconds.
IN A NUTSHELL: ANA is fast becoming my airline of choice and this flight proves why, despite the delay: impeccable service, great food, comfy flat-bed seat and a clean-as-a-whistle cabin.
The writer flew at his own expense
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