Fourteen hours and fifteen minutes. That’s how long I was scheduled to be in the air on my longest flight yet, flying ANA (All Nippon Airways) Business Class from Mexico City to Tokyo Narita. The route heads north through northern Mexico and the southern U.S., passes north of San Francisco, and then commits to a 13-hour-15-minute crossing of the Pacific. Here’s how it went.
The Lounge: Grand Lounge, Mexico City
Departure was very early in the morning, so I didn’t have much of an appetite — just some fruit and orange juice, which means I can’t fairly judge the food. The Grand Lounge is shared among several airlines and offers both a buffet and menu ordering.
The standout feature, oddly, is the decor: a full space theme, complete with a large crew capsule and spacesuit displayed in the middle of the lounge. I have no idea why — if anyone knows the story behind this, I’d love to hear it.
Boarding & Cabin
With only about 120 passengers on board, business class was less than half full — which meant service was, unsurprisingly, top-notch.
The aircraft was a Boeing 787-8, in a fairly standard 1-2-1 business class layout. One quirk worth noting: window seats alternate between being directly at the window and directly at the aisle, so seat selection matters more than usual here. Do you prefer to be right at the window for more privacy or more towards the aisle, less claustrophobic?
Each seat has a small side table trimmed with a blue LED light (which can be switched off). The seat itself was comfortable, if not the best I’ve experienced in business class — but both armrests drop down, giving you extra width that’s especially welcome when trying to sleep.
The display is on the smaller side, but still adequate, and the selections for movies and shows are limited in English and include few new releases. I have experienced this on most of the Asian airlines; they feature lots of Asian films instead.
The amenity kit is complete, is from Ettinger, and has the basic, usual items. Headphones are on the cheap side, considering what other airlines are providing nowadays. Slippers, a blanket, and a good-quality pillow are also provided.
Food & Beverage
Meal service began about an hour after takeoff, with a choice of Asian or Western cuisine. Unusually for business class these days, the full meal arrives on a single tray rather than in courses.
I went with the Asian option on the first service — an interesting bento box that tasted better than it looked.
About two hours before landing, after the main rest period, a second meal service came around. This time I chose Western: a solid filet mignon with asparagus and a shrimp appetizer — again, all on one tray.
The Bathroom
Worth its own section: the lavatory was notably large and even had a window, making it more comfortable than what I’ve seen on other business class flights.
The Verdict
Long? Yes — it’s still nearly 14 hours in the air. But comfortable, well-served, and if you’re after solid business class at a better price point than some of the more premium Asian carriers, ANA is a great way to fly to Asia. I have not included it in my blog list of top 10, but it would certainly be in the upper section of 6/10.
Leave a Reply