Chicago to Tokyo Ana Boeing 777 Economy Review

Inbound the ANA 777-300ER Inspiration of Nihon get-go class cabin – Photo: David Delagarza | AirlineReporter

Airline: All Nippon Airways (NH)
Aircraft: Boeing 777-300ER
Departed: Houston Intercontinental (IAH)
Arrived: Tokyo Narita (NRT)
Class:ÂFirst Course
Seats: 1D & 1G
Length: Nearly 14 hours

It seemed to happen every solar day for ii weeks –  I'd glance out my office window in Denver at about noon, just in time to encounter the contrail of a high-altitude wide-body fly by.  Being the diligent AvGeek I am, I would check out my flight tracker phone app to discover out what I but saw.  The answer was the same every fourth dimension: ANA Flight 173 – from Houston to Tokyo.  It felt like I was being teased — I had first class tickets booked on that very flight for our upcoming trip.  Seeing that plane in the sky, day after day, was merely rubbing it in — today'due south not the solar day.  But that twenty-four hours would soon come.

Flying this route was actually somewhat of a last-minute modify to our itinerary, in which Bangkok was our final destination.  We had initially been booked trans-Pacific on United's Global First service from Chicago to Beijing; however, a very short layover in Beijing combined with United's poor on-fourth dimension functioning on the 747-400 was making me nervous. I had been keeping an eye on alternate routing when I found first form honour availability on ANA and Thai Airways via Houston and Tokyo most iii weeks prior to the trip.  Yes, delight!  The Houston-to-Tokyo route is a new addition to ANA'due south North American offerings, having just kicked off service in June.

Although we live in Denver, my wife and I had stopped in Fort Worth to driblet off our two-twelvemonth-one-time son with his grandparents.  This afforded us the rare luxury of a child-gratuitous vacation.  The morn our ANA flight was to get out, nosotros had a brusk connecting flight on United from Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) Drome to Houston Intercontinental (IAH).  Easy, right?  Famous concluding words.

Shortly after arriving at DFW airdrome, our United flight (a 737-800) was delayed an hour for maintenance.  No problem, I idea, nosotros've got a four-hour layover at Houston.  Fortunately, we were paged by a gate agent who moved us to another flying which was now scheduled to depart before than our now-delayed original flying.  Nosotros would lose our starting time class seats to Houston, but I didn't actually care about that for a 45-minute flight every bit long as it would go the states to Houston in fourth dimension to make the large flight.

We boarded the new flight, a 737-900, and quickly pushed back from the gate.  After a long filibuster, the airplane pilot informed us that we were notwithstanding waiting on weight and balance data from operations, where there were some figurer problems.  Eventually nosotros taxied to the stop of the rail and continued to wait.  Finally, the pilot informed us that the weight and balance had been manually computed and we were cleared for takeoff, nigh one-half-an-60 minutes belatedly.  At least nosotros were finally on our mode to Houston.  Now cypher was in our way.  Again, famous terminal words.

Departing DFW, side by side end Houston – Photo: David Delagarza | AirlineReporter

The flight was quick, and we presently landed at Houston.  Nosotros taxied for a fleck, then stopped on a taxiway near the terminal, where seat the belt sign turned off. "Uh-oh," I thought, "that tin't be a good sign".

"Well," said the pilot over the PA, "it turns out the estimator issues we were having earlier are system-wide. All United flights are now grounded worldwide.  Since there are no gates available, we're going to exist hither awhile, and so feel costless to go up and stretch your legs."  Yeah, today was indeed that day – July 8th – when all of United's calculator systems came to a screeching halt.  I could see our generous layover chop-chop withering away.

While we were waiting on the taxiway, the ANA 777 - freshly arrived from Tokyo – taxied right in front of me as if to taunt me 1 last time.  And so close and yet so far.  All I had to do was get off this plane.

ANA 777-300ER at Houston Intercontinental Airport – Photograph: David Delagarza | AirlineReporter

Afterwards most an hour, United worked out their computer problems and we were soon off the airplane, much to our relief.  Subsequently a brief stop in the United Lodge (I really wish Houston had a proper get-go grade lounge), we made our way to the new ANA gate in Terminal D.

As the only start class passengers at the gate, we were the first to board  the aircraft.  The moment nosotros stepped on board we were greeted past proper noun by the flight'due south caput purser and shown to our seats – 1D and 1G in the centre department of the starting time class cabin.  The flight attendants helped us stow our luggage and go situated.

ANA's 777-300ER Inspiration of Japan kickoff form seat – Photograph: David Delagarza | AirlineReporter

We were before long offered a pre-difference potable of Orange Juice or Krug champagne.

Orange juice or Krug champagne? That's an easy reply for me. – Photo: David Delagarza | AirlineReporter

Looking effectually the seat, the first matter I noticed was that in that location were so many little compartments. Even the headphones had their own place.

Even the headphones have their own lilliputian compartment – Photo: David Delagarza | AirlineReporter

My only complaint about the seat layout was that information technology was clearly designed with solo travelers in mind.  Although my wife and I had seats next to each other in the center section of the cabin, in order to talk we both had to lean forrad several anxiety to see each other through a small-scale 'window' between the seats.  During the flight, this led to the somewhat-ridiculous do of one of us waving a magazine through the window to get the other's attending whenever nosotros wanted to conversation. I volition admit, however, the seat was very private, well-nigh like an enclosed suite.

The window between center section first class seats on ANA's 777-300ER – Photo: David Delagarza | AirlineReporter

The amenity kit offered with the flight was a very nice Samsonite kit (very similar in manner and quality to the popular Rimowa kits) stocked with a nice array of high-terminate lotions, hand creams, and toiletries, as well every bit pajamas.

ANA first class Samsonite amenity kit and pajamas – Photo: David Delagarza: AirlineReporter

Throughout the pre-boarding process, the cabin crew was extremely circumspect, offering drinks, magazines, and newspapers, knitwear (separate from the pajamas) and many other amenities. At one point the head purser came to my seat and informed me in person that the flight would exist leaving tardily due to some late connecting passengers (cheers United).  I consoled myself with another glass of Krug.

Krug champagne in ANA showtime class – Photograph: David Delagarza | AirlineReporter

Just before the cabin door was shut, some other passenger arrived in the commencement grade cabin.  Upward until that bespeak, my married woman and I had been solitary in the cabin, and we had been hoping to have the entire cabin to ourselves.  Still, we left the gate with only three of us in the viii-seat cabin, so it was still quite individual.  Afterwards pushing back, it was a short taxi to the runway. I approximate I've never saturday that far frontward in a 777 before, considering it was the smoothest takeoff I've always experienced.

Before long after arriving at cruising altitude, we were served some other circular of drinks equally well every bit existence presented with the master menu options.  The bill of fare is generally carve up between a Japanese menu and an international (western style) bill of fare with several different master class options.   I went for the international menu, while my wife chose the Japanese carte du jour.

ANAs first form menu from Houston to Tokyo (click to overstate) – Photo: David Delagarza | AirlineReporter

The first form was a delicious Amuse course featuring Pâté, Eryngii mushrooms with Parmesan cheese and zucchini agrodolce, and smoked salmon with caprine animal cheese, which was all beautifully presented.

First course on ANA first class Houston to Tokyo – Photo: David Delagarza | AirlineReporter

The next course was an appetizer course of roasted duck and foie-gras terrine with mango dressing (in that location were also caviar, seafood, and salad options).

Second course on ANA beginning class Houston to Tokyo – Photograph: David Delagarza | AirlineReporter

For the chief course, I had chosen the fillet of beefiness steak. It came out a perfect medium-rare.

My beef fillet chief course on ANA's Houston to Tokyo first class – Photograph: David Delagarza | AirlineReporter

My wife's seafood-centered Japanese master course was beautifully presented and, based on the few bites I stole, delicious.

My wife's Japanese menu chief course on ANA's start class – Photo: David Delagarza | AirlineReporter

After a desert of ice foam and petits fours, I was stuffed.  I accept to say, this meal was as expert every bit any I have always had at whatever fine dining restaurant, and it was impeccably presented. The meal definitely exceeded my (already high) expectations.  I had also sampled several different wines during the repast and was blown abroad by the quality of each of them.  Afterward dinner, I decided to settle downward over a warm sake and spotter a few films. Adjusting the seat into its reclined position was like shooting fish in a barrel with the bear on-screen control.

ANA commencement class touch screen seat command – Photo: David Delagarza | AirlineReporter

The AVOD system included a expert selection of newly released English-language movies, as well as some classic favorites (when was the last time you watched The Usual Suspects?).

23-inch screen in ANA'south Inspiration of Nippon commencement class seat – Photo: David Delagarza | AirlineReporter

Afterward watching a few of them on the massive 23-inch screen, I was feeling tired and prepare for sleep.  I paged a flight attendant, and she was in that location in less than five seconds.  I asked if she could make the bed while I changed into pajamas. When I returned, the bed had been made with a comfortable pad atop the spacious flat-bed seat.  I managed to become a few hours of sleep, although the motel temperature was very warm for my preference, which made it somewhat difficult to get to slumber.

6'one″ me sleeping comfortably on ANA'southward Inspiration of Japan kickoff class – Photo: Bonnie Sarkar | AirlineReporter

Afterwards I awoke from my nap, a flight bellboy offered me a snack from the "light dishes" menu. Although I was still somewhat full, I couldn't decline the offer, as each of the seven dishes on the menu sounded astonishing. I chose a prawn and vegetable dish which was, unsurprisingly, delicious.

ANA's first class 'someday' menu options on the Houston to Tokyo flight (click to overstate) – Photo: David Delagarza | AirlineReporter

It seemed like no time at all before nosotros were landing in Tokyo. I never imagined that a xiv-60 minutes flight could get by so apace. I'one thousand so used to sitting in economic system, where the hours seem to slowly crawl by.

Last await at the first class cabin in Tokyo – Photo: David Delagarza | AirlineReporter

Afterward landing in Tokyo, we fabricated our way to the beautiful start suites lounge to await our Thai Airways A380 flight to Bangkok.

Tokyo Narita Airdrome seen from the ANA First Suites lounge – Photo: David Delagarza | AirlineReporter

As this was my first fourth dimension in an international first grade, I really was non also sure what to expect. Given ANA'southward reputation, I'd had very loftier expectations going into the flight. I was not disappointed; I found the food to be better than expected, the in-flight service to be wanting zip, and the seat itself extraordinarily comfortable. My one complaint is that the cabin temperature was a bit too hot for me to slumber well. This was true for both this flying and our return flying (which we flew in business class).

My i regret is that I did not order the Suntory Hibiki 21-year quondam whisky that ANA pours in first grade.  Although I consider myself a scotch lover, I had never had the opportunity to experience Japanese whiskey.  Indeed, I had been somewhat blind to the whisky revolution happening in Japan and did not fifty-fifty consider ordering it given all the other beverage selections.  Afterwards accidentally ordering the eighteen-year old Hibiki in ANA'south business grade on the flight home, I really wish that I had taken the opportunity to sample its older sibling when I'd had the chance.

E'er since returning home, I nevertheless occasionally glance up and run across that 777 fly over.  Now that I actually know what I'thousand missing, I'm not sure it's meliorate than when I didn't know. It's okay though; I'll find my way back onboard eventually.

Acquaintance EDITOR - DENVER, CO. David is a civil engineer past grooming and trade, but his caput is in the clouds. A licensed private pilot and skydiver, he grew up effectually airplanes and airports. He calls Colorado dwelling house, but travel is in his blood. You can find him sitting in bus with his wife and toddler on the way to their next neat adventure. Email me at davedlg@airlinereporter.com

https://world wide web.airlinereporter.com/author/davedlg/

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Source: https://www.airlinereporter.com/2015/09/flight-review-ana-first-class-houston-tokyo-777-300er/

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