ANA All Nippon Airways: Flight, Lounge and Hotel Reviews (and Resources)

ANA All Nippon Airways: Flight, Lounge and Hotel Reviews (and Resources)

ANA All Nippon Airways is, together with JAL Japan Airlines, one of the two major Japanese airlines, and it operates both domestic flights throughout Japan, as well as international flights from Japan to destinations all around the world.

The airline also operates lounges at several airports in Japan (as well as in Honolulu in the United States), and is involved in the hotel business through its partnership with IHG (International Hotel Group).

Over the last several years, I had a chance to fly on quite a few of their flights, as well as visit some of its lounges and stay at some of its hotels.

Below is a list of all the reviews I’ve written based on those experiences.

 

 

ANA All Nippon Airways Flight Reviews

Over the last several years, I’ve been on quite a few flights operated by ANA All Nippon Airways and its partners. I took both economy and business class, as well as domestic and international flights.

Below are reviews of some of the ANA All Nippon Airways flights that I took to date.

 

ANA Boeing 737-800 Domestic Economy Class (Sapporo – Naha)

ANA Boeing 737-800 Domestic Economy Class Review (Sapporo - Naha)

While most of ANA’s domestic flights depart from or arrive at Tokyo Haneda airport, the airline also operates an extensive network of domestic flights out of other Japanese airports such as Osaka, Nagoya, and Sapporo. The route that stands out the most among all of them is the Sapporo – Naha route which connects Japan’s northernmost prefecture of Hokkaido with its southernmost prefecture of Okinawa.

The flight is operated daily using ANA’s Boeing 737-800 aircraft, and it takes about three hours. Even though the flight is longer than all other domestic flights, the service offered is exactly the same. When I took the flight, the cabin crew passed through the cabin offering soft drinks a couple of time. No food or snacks were offered, though. That said, on all its domestic flights, ANA offers free wi-fi which was certainly nice to have on a flight this long.

Read a full review of the ANA 737-800 economy class flight from Sapporo to Naha

 

ANA Boeing 737-800 Domestic Economy Class (Tokyo – Nagoya)

ANA Boeing 737-800 Domestic Economy Class (Tokyo - Nagoya) Review

Even though traveling between Tokyo and Nagoya is easier by Shinkansen – Japan’s famous bullet train – both ANA and JAL each still operates a pair of daily flights between Tokyo Haneda and Nagoya Centrair airports. The main target of these flights are transfer passengers continuing from Tokyo Haneda on international flights. However, if purchased well in advance, the flights are also oftentimes cheaper than the bullet trains are, and so, they are also popular with domestic travelers on a budget.

The flights are operated by Boeing 737-800 aircraft equipped with onboard wi-fi. Because the route is very short, drinks may or may not be offered depending on when the day’s flight time, as well as the weather conditions. When I took the flight, there was no service.

Read a full review of the ANA 737-800 economy class flight from Tokyo to Nagoya

 

ANA Boeing 777-300 Domestic Economy Class (Naha – Tokyo)

ANA Boeing 777-300 Domestic Economy Class (Naha - Tokyo)

For years, one of the main things that was known about ANA – at least among aviation enthusiasts – was the fact that the airline operated aircraft in special Pokemon-themed liveries. The last of those was a Boeing 777-300 in the PEACE JET livery pictured above.

I had a chance to fly on the aircraft twice – including its very last passenger flight before repainting back into the standard ANA livery. While the aircraft was still wearing the full Pokemon livery at that time, inside, there was no trace of Pokemon given that the contract between ANA and Nintendo had expired by then.

Read a full review of the ANA 777-300 flight from Naha to Tokyo

 

ANA Boeing 777-300ER Domestic Economy Class (Osaka – Tokyo)

ANA 777-300ER Star Wars BB-8 Flight Review

The end of the Pokemon era at ANA didn’t, luckily, also mean the end of the special livery era. Instead, ANA formed a new partnership with Disney to promote Star Wars. Currently, there are four different aircraft wearing a Star Wars-themed livery – including a Boeing 777-300ER painted like BB-8.

While the aircraft is nowadays used on international flights, I took its inaugural flight from Osaka where it was painted to Tokyo where it is based. The service on the flight was the same as on all other ANA domestic flights, however, the mood onboard was very different (very celebratory) since it was a special flight.

Read a full review of the ANA 777-300ER flight from Osaka to Tokyo

 

ANA Boeing 777-300ER International Business Class (Beijing – Tokyo)

ANA Boeing 777-300ER International Business Class (Beijing - Tokyo)

ANA operates its Boeing 777-300ERs equipped with first class mostly on its flagship inter-continental routes. However, there are also some intra-Asian routes where the aircraft are deployed – in which case, the first class cabin is made available to elite business class passengers.

I flew on the aircraft in business class from Beijing to Tokyo as part of an award ticket, and while I wasn’t able to enjoy a first class seat, I still enjoyed the fairly short flight in the large staggered seat. The in-flight entertainment selection was more than sufficient for the length of the flight, and the meal was decent.

Read a full review of the ANA 777-300ER business class flight from Beijing to Tokyo

 

ANA Boeing 787-8 International Economy Class (Tokyo – Dusseldorf)

Review: ANA Boeing 787-8 International Economy Class (Tokyo - Dusseldorf)

With the introduction of Dreamliners – Boeing 787s – into its fleet, ANA has been able to expand its route network to “secondary” destinations in Europe and the United States. One of those destinations is Dusseldorf where the airline flies daily.

I flew on the route back in December 2016. Unfortunately, I found the seats on the Boeing 787-8 that operated the flight to be too tight, and the catering to be mediocre at best. That said, things might have improved since I found the catering on a recent flight from Tokyo to Vienna to be much better.

Read a full review of the ANA 787-8 economy class flight from Tokyo to Dusseldorf

 

ANA Boeing 787-9 International Business Class (Tokyo – Singapore)

Review: ANA 787-9 Business Class from Tokyo Narita to Singapore

ANA operates Boeing 787-9s configured for international flights with two different types of business class seats. While those used on shorter, regional flights, are equipped with recliner seats in a “2-2-2” layout, those used on long-haul (and some of the longer regional flights) feature staggered seats in a “1-2-1” layout.

In this review, I take a closer look at the latter which I had a chance to experience on an evening flight from Tokyo Narita to Singapore Changi. While the seat was very comfortable, without a doubt, the highlight of the flight was the multi-course dinner.

Read a full review of the ANA 787-9 business class flight from Tokyo to Singapore

 

ANA Wings Bombardier Q400 Domestic Economy Class (Sapporo – Sendai)

Review: ANA Bombardier Q400 Domestic Economy Class (Sapporo - Sendai)

Rather than operating them directly, some of ANA’s regional routes are operated by its subsidiary ANA Wings which operates a fleet of Bombardier Q400 and Boeing 737-500 aircraft. With the aircraft wearing the standard ANA livery, the crews wearing the standard ANA uniforms, and the printed materials being the same as those on ANA itself, it is hard to notice any difference between the two airlines.

Similarly, the onboard service is basically the same. On my short flight from Sapporo to Sendai, free soft drinks were offered. Unlike the mainline ANA aircraft, though, no in-flight wi-fi was offered. Then again, though, it was just a short turbo-prop flight.

Read full review of the ANA Wings Q400 economy class flight from Sapporo to Sendai

 

 

ANA All Nippon Airways Airport Lounge Reviews

ANA All Nippon Airways operates several lounges at airports across Japan to serve its (and its partners’) business and first class passengers, as well as elite status holders.

Below are reviews of some of the ANA All Nippon Airways lounges that I visited to date.

 

ANA Lounge Sapporo New Chitose

ANA Lounge Sapporo Review

ANA’s domestic lounge in Sapporo went through reconstruction and was reopened in 2017. It’s accessible to ANA Premium Class passengers as well as Star Alliance Gold members.

Like all ANA domestic lounges, it features a variety of different seating areas ranging from seats along counters all the way to sofa chairs. Refreshments offered in the lounge include rice crackers and a selection of both soft and alcoholic drinks.

Read a full review of the ANA Lounge at Sapporo New Chitose Airport

 

ANA Lounge Tokyo Haneda (Domestic Terminal – North)

ANA Lounge Tokyo Haneda Domestic (North) Review

At its hub, Tokyo Haneda airport, ANA operates a pair of domestic lounges in terminal 1, as well as an international lounge in the – no surprise – international terminal.

While the domestic lounges have not gone through reconstruction like the lounge in Sapporo yet, they still offers a comfortable place to relax and work in before taking a domestic flight. The refreshments in them are the same as well.

As far as the two ANA domestic lounges at Haneda – North and South – are concerned, they are roughly the same.I visited both of them, however, I only reviewed the North one on KN Aviation yet.

Read a full review of the domestic ANA Lounge at Tokyo Haneda Airport

 

ANA Lounge Tokyo Narita (Terminal 1 Satellite 4)

ANA Lounge Tokyo Narita (Terminal 1 Satellite 4) Review

With the number of international flights ANA operates out of Tokyo Narita airport – and the fact that the terminal it operates from is fairly large – it’s no surprise that it runs two lounges at the airport.

They both offer ample seating including cubicles perfect for getting some work done, staffed noodle bar, as well as a buffet with a decent selection of drinks and food. The one major difference between the two is that the lounge in satellite 4 that I reviewed on this site has no windows while the other one offers nice apron views.

Read a full review of the international ANA Lounge Tokyo Narita Airport

 

 

ANA All Nippon Airways Hotel Reviews

While not fully operated by ANA All Nippon Airways, the airline is also involved in the hotel business in Japan. More precisely, it’s partnered with (International Hotel Group) to operate ANA Crowne Plaza and ANA Holiday Inn hotels.

Below is a review of one of the ANA Crowne Plaza hotels that I stayed at so far.

 

ANA Crowne Plaza Hotel Chitose

ANA Crowne Plaza Hotel Chitose Review

The town of Chitose near Sapporo airport is home to quite a few airport hotels ranging from those run by major Japanese chains all the way to smaller independent hotel. Without a doubt the highest-end one of them, though, is the ANA Crowne Plaza Hotel Chitose which is also used by many airline crews.

The hotel consists of two buildings – an old one and a new one. I stayed in a standard room in the new section of the hotel which I found to be very comfortable.

Read a full review of ANA Crowne Plaza Hotel Chitose

 

 

ANA All Nippon Airways Resources

ANA Official Website – Visit this website to book ANA flights, create an ANA Mileage Club account, and so on.

SeatGuru: ANA – Visit this website to find what the best seats on different aircraft types operated by ANA are.

Where to Credit: ANA – Visit this website to learn about which programs you can credit the miles for your ANA flights to, and what the accrual rate is for each of the booking class and program combinations.

Wikipedia: ANA – Visit this website to learn about ANA’s history, fleet, and so on.

How Can I Help You?