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Head-to-Head: ANA First Class vs. Japan Airways First Class

Head-to-Head: ANA First Class vs. Japan Airways First Class

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Japan is residence to 2 of the world’s main air carriers: ANA and Japan Airways. Whereas they each have a wonderful fame, what’s most spectacular are the First Class merchandise which might be amongst the world’s most aspirational aviation experiences.

Onboard these First Class flights, you’ll expertise attentive and customized service, luxurious suites, indulgent multi-course meals, and costly Champagne and whisky.

On this version of Head-to-Head, it’s a battle of the airline titans as we pit ANA First Class towards Japan Airways First Class.

Routes

The Suite, ANA’s flagship First Class product, debuted in the summertime of 2019. Whereas the airline has 15 Boeing 777-300ERs in its fleet, simply 9 of them function the brand new product.

For the needs of this comparability, we’ll deal with The Suite; nonetheless, word that ANA additionally has two different First Class merchandise: the older “First Sq.” and a 3rd variant on the Airbus A380.

Since there are only a few 777s with The Suite, you received’t discover ANA’s greatest First Class product on a predictable schedule. Reasonably, you’ll need to manually verify if the plane scheduled on your flight has The Suite or the First Sq..

The primary three locations to obtain the brand new cabins had been New York, London, and Frankfurt, so that you’re extra more likely to discover The Suite on these routes. Sometimes, ANA rotates the brand new First Class product into different North American gateway cities, comparable to Chicago, Los Angeles, and San Francisco.

Alternatively, Japan Airways has the identical First Class product on all of its Boeing 777 plane, which serve Chicago, Los Angeles, New York JFK, and San Francisco, in addition to routes to London and Paris.

Each airways provide First Class cabins from Tokyo Haneda and Tokyo Narita.

Verdict: With constant routing and all of its fleet outfitted with the identical flagship First Class product, Japan Airways emerges victorious within the first spherical.

Availability & Reserving

Usually, scoring a First Class award ticket with ANA requires reserving far prematurely and being very versatile together with your schedule. Nonetheless, award availability for ANA First Class is at the moment extraordinarily difficult to come back by, even in case you search a yr forward of time.

Plus, because it’s fairly tough to acquire award area for just one passenger, discovering First Class award area for 2 is an excellent rarer incidence.

Discovering two award seats on ANA First Class could be very difficult

Reserving JAL First Class, however, is rather more reliable. Japan Airways is without doubt one of the few carriers with extra predictable, available award area.

In the event you ebook 9 months or extra prematurely, and have some flexibility on your departure date and airport, you could have a good likelihood of discovering award tickets for one and even two travellers.

It’s fairly potential to seek out two award seats on Japan Airways First Class

Nonetheless, what actually places JAL First Class forward of ANA, a minimum of in the case of award area, is the quantity of last-minute availability.

JAL persistently releases extra unsold award seats 14 days previous to departure. Subsequently, reserving First Class seats for one or two folks is mostly throughout the grasp of most savvy Miles & Factors lovers, so long as the flights aren’t offered out to start with.

In the case of candy spots, among the finest within the recreation is thru Virgin Atlantic Flying Membership’s partnership with ANA. You possibly can ebook a one-way flight in ANA First Class for simply 55,000 miles from the western United States and 60,000 miles from the japanese United States.

The identical flight booked with Aeroplan factors, for instance, can value twice that quantity.

Regardless of these candy spots, it may be tough for Canadians to earn miles with Virgin Atlantic Flying Membership. Canadians are restricted to US bank cards, the place US-issued Amex MR factors may be transferred to Virgin Atlantic, or changing Marriott Bonvoy factors.

JAL has a wider set of candy spots. Reserving with Alaska Airways Mileage Plan is probably the most handy choice for Canadians, and it prices simply 70,000 miles to fly First Class between North America and Japan, Korea, or India.

Sadly, incomes Alaska miles in Canada lately turned harder, with the discontinuation of the MBNA Alaska Airways Credit cards.

One other candy spot is to redeem 80,000 American Airways AAdvantage miles for a one-way JAL First Class flight from North America to Japan or Korea. AAdvantage miles may be earned by way of US bank cards, changing Marriott Bonvoy factors, or transferring from RBC Avion at a ratio of 1:0.7.

Verdict: Regardless of the unimaginable candy spot supplied by ANA and Virgin Atlantic Flying Membership, it’s rendered much less helpful when paired with a relative dearth of availability. As soon as once more, Japan Airways is the victor, with its superior award area and ample candy spots.

Floor Expertise

ANA and Japan Airways each have glorious floor merchandise, with ultra-modern lounge designs, ample seating, and glossy amenities.

The ANA Suite Lounge has a glossy and complicated ambiance, with darkish steel accents and black leather-based furnishings.

ANA Suite Lounge Tokyo Haneda – Seating

In distinction, the Japan Airways First Class Lounge is shiny and opulent, with brown furnishings alongside touches of marble and greenery.

Ground-to-ceiling home windows with spectacular views of the airport tarmacs, personal pods for working or stress-free, and showers can be found in each lounges. Nonetheless, the largest distinction comes with the meals choices at every airline’s flagship lounge.

Japan Airways First Class Lounge Tokyo Haneda – Seating

ANA has a modest meals unfold, with a good mixture of Japanese and Western breakfast objects, in addition to a buffet. The place ANA actually shines, nonetheless, is their made-to-order noodle bar, consisting of udon, soba, and ramen noodles that may’t be discovered within the JAL First Class Lounge.

ANA Suite Lounge Tokyo Haneda
ANA Suite Lounge Tokyo Haneda – Udon 

Japan Airways affords a really gentle buffet unfold, in addition to an à la carte menu. Throughout my most up-to-date go to, there was just one sort of Chinese language-style noodles accessible to order, and no Japanese-style noodles.

There may be, nonetheless, a sushi chef stationed within the lounge, from whom you may order limitless parts of sushi made proper earlier than your eyes.

Japan Airways First Class Lounge Tokyo Haneda – Sushi

Regardless of having a smaller meals choice than ANA, JAL’s Crimson Suite is probably one of the best function out of each lounges. With a self-serve bar of premium sake and Laurent-Perrier Champagne, this one-of-a-kind aviation-themed room exudes a way of marvel and luxurious.

Japan Airways First Class Lounge Tokyo Haneda – Crimson Suite seating

ANA and JAL’s two First Class lounges every provide one thing distinctive that the opposite doesn’t. Whether or not you’re looking for the very best quality meals unfold or a fancy location to unwind, precisely which is superior will possible come down to private choice.

In the event you’re like me and extremely worth a made-to-order noodle bar, you’ll most likely respect the ANA Suite Lounge. Alternatively, in case you’d quite calm down in an area that’s gentle and ethereal whilst you sip on some costly self-serve Champagne discreetly within the again, JAL will fulfill your wants.

Verdict: Let’s name this one a draw, attributable to every lounge having one thing distinctive that the opposite lacks.

Cabin

As one of many world’s most cutting-edge First Class, the brand new ANA First Class cabin carries a hanging look, with electric-blue temper lighting that highlights the brand-new glossy bronze suites.

ANA New First Class – Cabin

When in comparison with the attractive luxurious cabin in ANA First Class, JAL’s First Class cabin definitely falls quick. On condition that the suites on JAL First Class are over 10 years previous, they’ve a really typical and traditional design, with muted cream shades and patterned vintage carpets.

Japan Airways First Class – Cabin

When it comes to structure, each cabins function eight First Class suites unfold throughout two rows in a 1-2-1 configuration, every with direct aisle entry.

Verdict: Though JAL continues to supply a first-rate product, it’s beginning to lag behind different modern First Class designs, and is in want of a refresh. Thus, ANA’s The Suite, with its trendy cabin, is triumphant this time.

Seat

Aesthetics

Onboard ANA First Class, the aesthetics of the seats are all-around magnificent. The Suite is exceptionally giant and broad, with bronze partitions and oak accents, in addition to spectacular sliding doorways that present excellent privateness.

Furthermore, the blue accents within the furnishings complement the cabin’s vibrant temper lighting and the mesmerizing ultra-high-definition 42-inch leisure display screen.

ANA New First Class – Seat
ANA New First Class – Seat

JAL First Class seats are likewise very spacious; nonetheless, they don’t afford practically the identical stage of privateness as ANA’s trendy First Class product. JAL’s First Class suites are comprised of brown leather-based chairs and wood consoles, and have a a lot smaller leisure display screen than what you will discover on ANA.

Japan Airways First Class – Seat

Storage House

Each suites of those rival airways have a number of storage compartments alongside and beneath their consoles, with ample floor area and extra cupboard space beneath the ottomans.

Nonetheless, on ANA, it’s a comparatively skinny area, which is simply giant sufficient for a backpack or a a lot smaller private merchandise. On JAL, you’ll discover that the cupboard space is far bigger, and you may nearly definitely match a daily carry-on merchandise with ease.

ANA New First Class – Ottoman
Japan Airways First Class – Ottoman

Regardless of this, ANA pulls forward with two units of literature pockets, with one on the high of the seat wall and the opposite nestled down beneath. One other storage unit is situated close to the leisure display screen, and lastly, on the wall nearest to the aisle, a garment cupboard is constructed into the wall.

ANA New First Class – Space for storing
Japan Airways First Class – Space for storing

Moreover, the charging port and USB outlet onboard JAL First Class are situated on the far finish of the seat console, making them considerably out of attain with no longer wire. Onboard ANA, they’re extra centrally situated, beneath the centre of the console.

Japan Airways First Class – Charging port & USB outlet
ANA New First Class – Charging port & USB outlet

Tray Desk

Each First Class merchandise have a tray desk stowed on the far finish of the suite, beneath the leisure screens. The tray tables are unlatched by pulling on a deal with, and may slide forwards and backwards into the eating place.

Japan Airways First Class – Tray desk
ANA New First Class – Tray desk

One notable distinction is the tray desk onboard ANA may be folded out right into a full-sized desk, thus providing considerably extra floor area than JAL’s.

Seat Controls

On ANA, the 2 seat controls are proper subsequent to the leisure controller, inside simple attain.

ANA New First Class – Seat controls  & leisure controller

Management of the angle, recline, and lie-flat positions can be found within the front-row controls. Moreover, the leg relaxation and again assist positions could also be adjusted, and your entire seat may be moved ahead or backward utilizing the second row of controls.

ANA New First Class – Seat controls

A comparable configuration is utilized by JAL, which has two units of seat controls which might be conveniently positioned on the left facet of the suite, slightly below the console. The seat could also be adjusted to recline up, down, or right into a lie-flat place utilizing the primary set of controls.

Japan Airways First Class – Seat controls

The headrest, base, and footrest of the seat could then all be totally custom-made utilizing a extra in depth set of controls, in addition to adjustment of the footlight and the lumbar assist.

Japan Airways First Class – Seat controls

Mattress

These two First Class merchandise provide a totally reclined lie-flat mattress. When it comes to specs, in lie-flat mode, the seat on the ANA’s The Suite is 76 inches in size when in lie-flat mode and 33 inches vast.

ANA New First Class – Mattress

Compared, the mattress on JAL First Class is 78.5 inches lengthy and 33 inches vast.

Japan Airways First Class – Mattress

Each provide an ample quantity of actual property and elevated consolation. JAL has a slight edge with an extended size; nonetheless, it’s price noting that ANA’s new First Class tender product is provided with award-winning “Nishikawa AiR” mattress padding, that includes a three-layered design to enhance sleep.

Verdict: When all facets of the First Class onerous merchandise are considered, ANA emerges because the winner right here. The fashionable ANA First Class suite, full with an enormous leisure display screen, sliding doorways, and deluxe bedding, is rather more aggressive than the older, much less personal suite on Japan Airways First Class. 

Facilities

On ANA, the flight attendants come by and provide a tray with a bunch of in-flight facilities, together with ear plugs, dental kits, and eye masks.

ANA New First Class – In-flight facilities

Following this, a signature equipment is available in a classy however traditional beige and brown leather-based ANA-original Globe-Trotter Pouch. Inside is an expensive Shiseido “The Ginza” Essence Empowering skincare set, which incorporates face wash and evening cream, alongside just a few different objects, comparable to socks and warming pads.

ANA New First Class – Amenity equipment contents

Japan Airways First Class additionally comes with two amenity kits. The primary comprises all the usual choices by Zero Halliburton in a blue leather-based casing.

Japan Airways First Class – Amenity equipment contents

Following this, elevated skincare kits, within the type of a Shiseido equipment (for males) or a Clé de Peau Beauté equipment with facemasks and lotions (for ladies), are handed out.

Japan Airways First Class – Skincare facilities

Moreover, each JAL and ANA present top-notch two-tone gray pajamas.

Verdict: In the case of the facilities spherical, we’ve got one other draw, for the reason that two choices are nearly equivalent.

Meal Service

Each ANA and Japan Airways have world-class Japanese washoku menus, that are indisputably the primary points of interest of each First Class experiences.

ANA affords a wonderful demonstration of genuine Japanese delicacies, with loads of creativity and delightful shows. On the identical time, eating in Japan Airways First Class is among the many greatest within the recreation, providing an intricate array of Japanese flavours.

Previous to the primary dish, the ANA menu options 5 programs, together with sakizuke (“a style of issues to come back”), zensai (“a choice of morsels”), mushimono (steamed delicacies), nimono (simmered plate), and kobachi (“tasty tidbits”).

ANA New First Class – Sakizuke & zensai

Japan Airways begins the First Class meal service with a presentation of the “seasonal 5 vibrant delicacies” dish, which is adopted by a soup course and a sashimi dish previous to the primary occasion.

Japan Airways First Class – 5 seasonal vibrant delicacies

Each airways are very artistic of their essential course for First Class passengers. You possibly can look forward to finding a essential dish accompanied by an elevated facet of rice, in addition to a bowl of miso soup.

ANA New First Class – Nimono, kobachi, and shusai
Japan Airways First Class – Japanese essential course with simmered, rice, miso soup, & pickled dishes

To wrap issues up, you’ll have your alternative of desserts on each airways, bringing a candy finish to the primary meal service.

ANA New First Class – Japanese dessert
Japan Airways First Class – Japanese dessert

Japan Airways has traditionally served caviar on the western menu, whereas ANA continues to take action. Nonetheless, on a latest Japan Airways First Class flight, caviar wasn’t supplied individually, however was quite integrated into the sashimi plate.

ANA New First Class – Caviar
Japan Airways First Class – Seared blowfish & tofu topped with caviar

Lastly, ANA’s Japanese menu has an “In the event you choose” part, which consists of two extra plates which might be offered upon request.

Verdict: Each ANA and Japan Airways spotlight the best Japanese meals in First Class. The variety of the Japanese washoku dinner onboard ANA is excellent, however the servings of every dish are stored to a minimal.

Nonetheless, I discovered the dishes on Japan Airways had been to be extra artistic and adventurous, pushing the boundaries of beautiful delicacies as a high restaurant on the bottom ought to. Subsequently, I’ll award it to Japan Airways right here, however solely by a mere smidge, as a result of ANA’s onboard eating is sort of equally excellent.

Drinks

Each First Class experiences provide an unimaginable choice of drinks, with a wide range of purple and white wines, premium sake, spirits, and cocktails.

In the case of premium Champagne, the beverage menu onboard ANA First Class can embrace Krug Grande Cuvée, Restricted Version Bollinger 2007, and Deutz Blanc de Blanc 2012.

Onboard JAL First Class, you will discover Billecart Salmon, Comtes Taittinger 2007, and the beautiful Salon 2007, which retails for over $1,000 (USD) per bottle. Nonetheless, the Salon 2007 is just accessible on flights departing from Tokyo, and may doubtlessly run out throughout the flight, because it did on mine.

Japan Airways First Class – Salon 2007 Champagne

Though ANA doesn’t provide a $1,000 (USD) bottle of Champagne, they make up for it with their Suntory Hibiki 21 whiskey. This premium bottle additionally prices over $1,000 (USD), is just accessible on the New York, London, and Frankfurt routes, and is much less more likely to run dry throughout the flight.

ANA New First Class – Suntory Hibiki 21 whisky

Each airways present a healthful choice of espresso, teas, and non-alcoholic drinks. The premium Queen of the Blue Deluxe royal blue tea, served in a classy wine glass, is unique to JAL First Class.

Japan Airways First Class – Queen of the Blue Deluxe royal blue tea

Moreover, each airways have a signature drink onboard. JAL affords its “Sky Time” peach and grape beverage, whereas ANA has its kabosu citrus beverage as its trademark.

Verdict: Each airways provide spectacular picks of top-shelf liquor, wonderful wines, and scrumptious signature drinks.

JAL’s Salon 2007 Champagne and ANA’s Suntory Hibiki 21 whisky provide First Class passengers the choice to sip on among the most costly alcohol accessible on business plane.

Regardless of the sturdy choices on each airways, I’ll give the slight edge to Japan Airways right here, attributable to my choice for Sky Time over ANA’s kabosu.

Leisure

The 42-inch leisure display screen put in on the brand new ANA First Class is cutting-edge, with a crisp 4K decision.

ANA New First Class – Leisure display screen

There’s a distant which may be withdrawn from the console for handheld use. Nonetheless, the leisure display screen can be extremely responsive, and may be managed by way of a touchscreen.

ANA New First Class – Leisure controller

The 23-inch leisure display screen onboard JAL First Class certainly doesn’t even examine to the spectacular 4K-resolution display screen of ANA, which is sort of double the scale.

Japan Airways First Class – Leisure display screen

What’s extra, the leisure display screen isn’t contact responsive, nor does the choice show on the display screen whereas shopping. As a substitute, program selections are made immediately on the hand held distant, after which seem on the display screen as soon as chosen.

Japan Airways First Class – Leisure controller

In the case of leisure choice, ANA doesn’t provide probably the most in depth leisure choice, with round 50 titles, together with Hollywood blockbusters and probably the most present Japanese releases. JAL First Class additionally has a modest choice, with a smattering of few new releases as properly.

Lastly, ANA additionally affords onboard cameras and stay tv. The onboard digicam supplies a ahead and downward perspective, along with displaying the plane’s altitude and velocity.

Each airways provide complimentary Wi-Fi on their First Class flights, accessible by way of entry codes offered to First Class passengers, with good connection speeds.

Verdict: ANA is the clear winner on this spherical, with its 4K leisure display screen and responsive screens blowing away JAL’s older, restricted system, the place it’s important to navigate from a small controller display screen.

Snack Service

In the event you’ve managed to spare some room after the primary meal service, each ANA and Japan Airways provide a snack menu to First Class passengers. Fortunately, each airways have complete choices, with each western and Japanese dishes.

Udon and ramen noodles are the highlights of ANA’s First Class snack menu, whereas Japan Airways options rice bowls and curry dishes. You’re positive to be delighted by any of the alternatives, and I’d rank them as equal, regardless of the variations.

ANA New First Class – Udon soup
Japan Airways First Class – Junwakei hen rice bowl

Equally, ANA and Japan Airways have a second washoku meal service previous to arrival. Whereas not as elaborate as the primary meal, you’ll nonetheless discover a choice of scrumptious dishes that convey the in-flight service to a tasty conclusion.

ANA New First Class – Pre-arrival meal
Japan Airways First Class – Pre-arrival meal

Verdict: ANA and Japan Airways proceed to supply among the greatest meals within the skies, and apart from the primary course, each function mouth-watering snack menus and delectable pre-arrival meals.

On this last spherical, we discover ourselves with one other draw, which is bound to learn First Class passengers on both airline.

Conclusion

Even though each are world-class experiences with top-notch service, I’d give the sting to ANA First Class over Japan Airways First Class due to the substantial variations within the onerous product.

Onboard ANA, the brand new First Class providing is just breathtaking. It’s opulent, outfitted with the most recent know-how, and supplies the utmost stage of privateness.

Though JAL’s onerous product is undeniably one in all its weaknesses, I’d say the airline outperforms its rival in the case of its tender merchandise, in addition to the relative ease of discovering award availability.

Japan Airways will surely give ANA a run for his or her cash in the event that they had been to replace the First Class onerous product sooner or later, and I might wholeheartedly like to see the airways duke it out to turn into Japan’s greatest First Class airline if and once they do.

Extra ANA & Japan Airways First Class Flight Critiques



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