ANA First Class “The Suite” Evaluation

All Nippon Airways wowed vacationers in 2019 by unveiling a brand new first-class product: The Suite. Mixed with ANA’s popularity for unbelievable onboard service and glorious food and drinks, ANA’s The Suite shortly landed close to the highest on lists rating the perfect first-class product on this planet.

Nonetheless, shortly after its launch, the pandemic pressured the closure of Japan and led to cutbacks for in-flight service. So, I waited to check out ANA’s The Suite for myself till issues returned to regular — or not less than the brand new regular.

Here is what it is wish to fly on The Suite, the most effective first-class choices on this planet.

This one-way, 13-hour award flight from Tokyo to New York value me simply 60,000 Virgin factors per particular person plus $173.17 in taxes and costs. That is a spectacular redemption contemplating you’d must pay 110,000 Aeroplan factors, 120,000 LifeMiles or not less than 121,000 United miles for a similar award flight.

Or, for those who’re made of cash, you’ll be able to guide an ANA first-class flight between New York and Tokyo for round $15,193 a technique or $23,111 spherical journey.

You possibly can pay even fewer Virgin factors to fly ANA first-class between Tokyo and Hawaii or the U.S. West Coast. Nonetheless, watch out when reserving, as solely sure routes have ANA’s The Suite.

Be aware that it is uncommon to seek out any ANA first-class award house between Tokyo and the U.S., a lot much less for 2 passengers. However that is what I used to be capable of finding for this flight. Even higher, this award house opened for a flight on my spouse’s birthday — and you may see under how ANA helped us rejoice.

From the airport entrance to the gate, ANA supplied a streamlined floor expertise. Two first-class brokers labored as a workforce to shortly and effectively test us and our luggage into our flight. On the finish of the check-in course of, an agent stepped over the luggage scale at hand us our passports and clarify the boarding time, gate location and lounge entry.

Haneda Airport would not present a devoted safety line for precedence passengers, however there wasn’t a necessity because the safety and immigration course of could not have gone quicker. It took us simply 18 minutes from coming into the airport terminal to arriving on the entrance of ANA’s first-class lounge. And that is with loads of stops for photographs alongside the best way.

The effectivity broke down on the boarding gate. After a protracted and complicated preboarding course of, gate brokers started the usual boarding course of simply 21 minutes earlier than scheduled departure.

Brokers mistakenly began boarding the Group 2 enterprise class line. About half of that line would board earlier than brokers realized the error. After heartfelt apologies to us first-class passengers and their top-tier elite passengers, we had been welcomed onboard.

Firstclass passengers had been directed down the ahead jetway. It turned out that my spouse and I had been two of simply three first-class passengers. As soon as all three of us had boarded, the crew closed that boarding door and the bottom crew separated the jetway for departure as passengers continued to load by means of the second boarding door.

This flight featured ANA’s “The Suite” first-class product. Regardless of being launched again in July 2019, these seats nonetheless aren’t discovered on all plane and routes. The Suite is mostly provided on ANA’s flagship routes — together with flights to New York — which can be serviced by Boeing 777-300ER plane.

The cabin is organized into two rows of a 1-2-1 configuration, that means there are particular person window seats on both aspect of the aisle with two seats within the center.

If you happen to’re flying solo and are not capable of snag a window seat, the central divider between the center seats makes for a considerable wall.

Flying as a pair? That wall might be dropped to allow you to fly aspect by aspect.

Suites measure as much as 38 inches vast, though the seat itself is a bit smaller. And there is virtually limitless legroom. The seat reclines flat right into a mattress measuring 76 inches lengthy.

If you’re prepared for some relaxation, you’ll be able to shut the doorways to finish the “suite” feeling. With that mentioned, the partitions aren’t very excessive, so do not anticipate the doorways to supply a lot privateness.

Every suite gives a person coat closet, hidden away within the wall. On the other aspect of the suite is an in-flight leisure distant, seat and light-weight controls, headphone jacks, a common energy outlet, two USB energy retailers and an HDMI outlet.

ANA first-class window seats supply three home windows. Every window has particular person controls that you need to use to decrease a privateness shade or cowl the window solely. Or, you’ll be able to make the most of a button in your seat to open or shut all three blinds on the identical time.

The suite’s in-flight leisure display screen stretches 43 inches diagonally. Mixed with the high-quality noise-canceling headphones, watching in-flight leisure is kind of the immersive expertise. And AvGeeks rejoice: You possibly can benefit from the flight by means of the onboard cameras.

When stowed, the tray desk serves as a desk underneath the in-flight leisure display screen. The desk will also be launched and pulled alongside a observe towards you as shut as you need. When absolutely expanded, the tray desk is huge. Nonetheless, it is a tighter squeeze if you wish to dine with a fellow passenger.

ANA first-class passengers have two devoted restrooms for a most of eight passengers. Which means you are hardly ever, if ever, going to have to attend to make use of the restroom. Fundamental facilities are supplied there: dental kits, particular person satchels of mouthwash and refreshing physique wipes.

As one may anticipate from a Japanese airline, the bathroom gives a bidet possibility.

ANA began its first-class food and drinks service simply moments after we boarded. A flight attendant provided a tray of champagne, orange juice or water.

And that is no abnormal champagne. ANA served Krug Grande Cuvee (version 167) on our flight. The flight attendants had been very happy to show the bottle that retails for over $200. Searching for one thing a little bit totally different? Properly, Krug is only one of three champagnes served in ANA first-class.

The entire food and drinks choices had been specified by two substantial menus, which had been offered in a sublime leather-bound black folder.

As soon as we had been within the air, it was time to feast. Whether or not you order the Japanese or “worldwide” menu, ANA first serves an “amuse-bouche” — a small plate of bite-sized appetizers. And though my spouse and I each ordered the Japanese menu, the flight attendants proactively provided the caviar appetizer plate from the worldwide menu.

ANA adopted these two appetizers with a parade of 4 extra programs. Every was meticulously positioned and launched by the flight attendant.

If you happen to get peckish midflight, ANA first-class passengers can order from a choice of sizzling menu gadgets. I attempted the deep-fried fishcake, which was complemented by a refreshing sake.

For my arrival meal, I opted for the Japanese menu of simmered meats, flounder, steamed rice and enhances.

At boarding, every occupied suite was prestocked with an amenity package, noise-canceling headphones and slippers. Shortly after boarding, a flight attendant provided a set of pajamas. Sadly, they underestimated my measurement, resulting in a moderately tight match, so do not hesitate to ask for a bigger measurement earlier than departure.

Additionally throughout boarding, a flight attendant handed by means of the cabin with a basket of extra facilities, together with eye masks, moisturizing masks, combs, earplugs, cleaning wipes, dental kits, moisturizing sprays and extra.

All ANA first-class passengers obtain a voucher offering a full-flight Wi-Fi move. The Wi-Fi examined significantly better than it carried out. When working a pace take a look at over Montana, it clocked in at 3.24 Mbps obtain, 0.67 Mbps add. However, on the identical time, it could not efficiently load e mail in one other tab. So, do not plan on getting a lot work achieved on-line whereas in flight.

ANA first-class flight attendants supplied spectacular service. From providing an in depth tour of the suite to exactly positioning plates and giving descriptions of the quite a few programs, it is clear that ANA first-class flight attendants are educated to supply top-notch service.

ANA additionally earned factors by offering above-and-beyond service for my spouse’s birthday — one thing that we did not talk to the airline forward of the flight. For dessert, our two flight attendants introduced out Katie’s dessert on a plate marked with “Pleased Birthday” and the date and variety of our flight.

After we had been able to relaxation, flight attendants used the empty seats in the course of the cabin to arrange our beds. This meant that we may proceed to get pleasure from our suite till the mattress was made, moderately than having to vacate our seats and wait whereas the beds had been arrange. To high off the service, our flight attendants left a bottle of water and a glass beside the mattress.

Though we acquired spectacular service, the one factor that might have improved was extra flexibility. My spouse and I are fortunate sufficient to have flown first-class just a few instances, but we had been nonetheless a bit overwhelmed by this expertise. First-time first-class passengers may discover the service too formal, nearly bordering on stuffy.

ANA first-class may take its service to the following degree by adapting to every passenger’s character — as we have skilled onboard first-class in Cathay Pacific and Etihad Airways.

ANA’s first-class “The Suite” constantly ranks as one of many high first-class merchandise on this planet. From unbelievable food and drinks to top-notch service and an enormous suite, our onboard expertise lived as much as the hype.

Our solely disappointments had been with the poor boarding scenario and a less-than-first class lounge expertise. Nonetheless, for the worth I paid — 60,000 Virgin Flying Membership factors a technique — this was a spectacular deal and an expertise I heartily suggest to anybody who can discover ANA first-class award seats.

Featured picture by JT Genter.