All Nippon Airways Mileage Club - Trip report from the 787

Day three of scheduled service and I got my chance to fly. It was a lot of fun; great atmosphere surrounding the flight and LOTS of others on the plane with cameras out to document the event.

http://www.wandr.me/images/blog/Living-the-Dreamliner-My-first-787-fligh_E336/IMGP4453-1_thumb.jpg
(http://boardingarea.com/blogs/thewanderingaramean/2011/11/living-the-dreamliner-my-first-787-flight/)
Overall the cabin was quite comfortable and I mostly enjoyed it. The rainbow light scheme is a bit trippy, which can be good or bad, depending on your point of view.


http://www.wandr.me/images/blog/Living-the-Dreamliner-My-first-787-fligh_E336/IMGP4758_thumb.jpg

http://www.wandr.me/images/blog/Living-the-Dreamliner-My-first-787-fligh_E336/IMGP4720_thumb.jpg
(http://boardingarea.com/blogs/thewanderingaramean/2011/11/living-the-dreamliner-my-first-787-flight/)


Only minor quibble is that there was a high pitched whine going on the whole flight. One friend has suggested it is related to the LED lights. That could be annoying if it is a long-term issue. But overall a great experience.

Read more (and more photos) here (http://boardingarea.com/blogs/thewanderingaramean/2011/11/living-the-dreamliner-my-first-787-flight/) and here (http://boardingarea.com/blogs/thewanderingaramean/2011/11/living-the-dreamliner-the-prequel/).

Whoa, the lighting certainly is interesting in that picture. Thanks for posting!

Whoa, the lighting certainly is interesting in that picture. Thanks for posting!

I've got a video on the blog showing them (http://boardingarea.com/blogs/thewanderingaramean/2011/11/living-the-dreamliner-my-first-787-flight/) playing with the lighting and turning on the rainbow mode. It is pretty trippy.

Very cool. How were the windows?

Very cool but that C on the boarding area doesn't look special. I can't believe it's only a 2 class. Then again, I can.

Very cool. How were the windows?

HUGE.

I laid my arm against the window and it was from my elbow to my finger tips. Very tall.

It was a night flight so I don't have a lot of feedback on the impact of the window size on the in-cabin experience but they were definitely big. The dimmers were cool, I suppose, but a bit sluggish to respond. Plus it was a night flight so I'm not sure the impact. But they worked as advertised so I supposed that's a good thing.
Very cool but that C on the boarding area doesn't look special. I can't believe it's only a 2 class. Then again, I can.
This aircraft is for short-haul/regional service. It isn't a long-haul configuration.

So which config will they use to FRA in January?

I am tempted to take one of these flights to Hiroshima in Premium Class. I might need 900 miles for UA 1K and a R/T in PC should cover it.

So which config will they use to FRA in January?

Business Staggered in C; I think Y is the same across both international configs.

I'm sitting in the lounge at HIJ waiting for boarding; the observation deck was quite full with people hoping to see the 787 (and instead taking lots of photos of a 763...).

I'm sitting in the lounge at HIJ waiting for boarding; the observation deck was quite full with people hoping to see the 787 (and instead taking lots of photos of a 763...).

Ah! There is a lounge?

What were your qualifications - C ticket, ANA elite status, or alliance elite status?

Ah! There is a lounge?

What were your qualifications - C ticket, ANA elite status, or alliance elite status?

Yes, NH has their own (small) lounge at HIJ. (There's an airport-operated lounge at OKJ but I've never used it.)

I was on a discount F ticket (but it was a ridiculous amount of money in retrospect...). The plane was overbooked in Y and they were asking for volunteers.

I'm still on the train now, but I'll try to have a report and photos up soon.

all i would ask is........."MORE MORE MORE"

I posted a trip report in the Trip Reports forum, so please take a look.

Incidentally, the 787 flight was the flight where I qualified for DIA, so it had even more significance for me :)

Incidentally, the 787 flight was the flight where I qualified for DIA, so it had even more significance for me :)

^ Wow. Congratulations!

Cong, but what is DIA?
I posted a trip report in the Trip Reports forum, so please take a look.

Incidentally, the 787 flight was the flight where I qualified for DIA, so it had even more significance for me :)

Cong, but what is DIA?

Diamond, which is the highest tier in AMC.

http://www.ana.co.jp/eng/amc/reference/elite/diamond.html

Congrats on DIA

I was under the impression that the currently delivered 787's were regional international configuration? So, the domestic version will get different Premium class seats - but what about Y? Those international shell seats with PTV are quite generous compared with ANA's current domestic offering, will those be on the domestic config?

Great report - this might be a stupid question but I thought I would ask it. I was planning to go on a flight next week but have become ill and may not be able to make it. How long are the 787s doing domestic runs? I thought one of the international services was starting in December. Is it a permanent run that 787 will do HND/OKJ/HND/HIR/HND domestically or will it end at some point in time? Thanks

I believe the first international service is FRA, starting on 20 January.

Good TP: http://www.ausbt.com.au/photos-and-flight-report-ana-s-boeing-787-dreamliner

My questions for he windows are : Can the F/As override the pax? I am one of the guys you hate, I love my window shades open during the flight. I will tone it down a notch, but that's the best I am willing to do. I sleep at home, not in airplanes.

Very nifty! Thanks for the report!

My questions for he windows are : Can the F/As override the pax? I am one of the guys you hate, I love my window shades open during the flight. I will tone it down a notch, but that's the best I am willing to do. I sleep at home, not in airplanes.

I believe so -- on the FA's control panel there was an option for the window shades, so I'm guessing they can override the settings during takeoff, landing, etc.

My questions for he windows are : Can the F/As override the pax?

Yes they can, but passengers still have around 10% control either way - so you can make the window a bit darker or a bit lighter than the cabin-wide setting.

Oh, and for those who're interested, here's a snap of the ANA 787s 'LED mood lighting' control screen - I didn't snap one of the window settings but you can see the button for this screen at the left, marked 'Dimmable windows'.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/11331488@N00/6339335466/

I believe the first international service is FRA, starting on 20 January.

Have the services to PEK been announced cancelled?

I believe the first international service is FRA, starting on 20 January.

21 January. I booked myself the first day it was posted on ANA Skyweb. I will have a window seat second row Economy cabin.

1/21 (SA) NH203
Tokyo(Haneda) Frankfurt 01:00 05:25 Boeing 787 788

:)

There are still a number of Economy seats available on the flight. No more window seats and no more Business Staggered. They're all sold.

Beautiful aircraft inside and out. I love the cabin colours they are quite psychedelic.

Great trip report.
What do the safety cards look like? ANA generally has beautiful safety cards.

I am going to look at the other trip report in the trip report section.

I really look forward to being on board the Haneda-Frankfurt flight. Should be a great experience. Even though it will be a night flight I hope there will be party-ready passengers on the flight and ANA will treat us all to some goodies.

I bet the arrival at Frankfurt airport will be a big success and there will be lots of spotters waiting.

:)

Oh, and for those who're interested, here's a snap of the ANA 787s 'LED mood lighting' control screen - I didn't snap one of the window settings but you can see the button for this screen at the left, marked 'Dimmable windows'.
http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6226/6339335466_cc4de55bc3.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/11331488@N00/6339335466/)
ana-787-lightingcontrols (http://www.flickr.com/photos/11331488@N00/6339335466/) by djsflynn (http://www.flickr.com/people/11331488@N00/), on Flickcr

:-:

I believe the first international service is FRA, starting on 20 January.

http://www.ana.co.jp/int/svc/w_en/c/seat/787_8_business_staggered/

looks nice!

I can guess it was weak on takeoff, not like the 757.

Finally, the new overhead bins, while well designed for baggage, are not particularly well configured for an adult to climb in. I’m thoroughly disappointed in that development.

I can't say I've ever tried to climb in any overhead bins.:D

I can guess it was weak on takeoff, not like the 757.
I don't know that it was weak, but it definitely wasn't like the incredibly over-equipped engines on a 752.
I can't say I've ever tried to climb in any overhead bins.:D
You're missing out. :cool:

Ok. Ready for my 787 ride to Okayama and back.
4F Suite Lounge now and my bird has just docked at gate 64 below me.
Outbound is paid premium.
Return Visit Japan. What better use of my time than to arrive early at HND, drink free beer and check-in for my return a good 6 hours before departure and spend my last 4 upgrade points on well, a 787 upgrade. I left my longer OKA segs open for a cash upgrade and the associated points ;-)
-Scho

Got home from Haneda and Frankfurt some hours ago. I did not sleep the whole flight.

A great experience flyibng the long haul 787 wih ANA. All was absolutely perfect. The economy section offers ample leg room and comfort.

The on board service was almost to perfection. Everybody seemed happy. I did not want to leave the aircraft. I was the last passengzer to leave the plane.

I had arraged a late connection so I could see the plane off back to Haneda. The ceremony at Frankfurt airport seemed to have a tremendous success among all those who were there.

We had deplaned at a remote stand and bussed to the terminal at 5.00 AM and the aircraft was later taken to its designed gate for re-boarding and the ceremony and food feast in the gate room. I did not food feast as I had a huge breakfast in the B terminal Senator lounge the new one with the Babor Spa.

I was just hanging around the gate hold to look at the 787 again before it would be on their way out and back to Haneda. Some passengers did the return flight also on the same day.

I have got heaps of pictures I will have to see what kind of trip report I can do here or on A.net.

Sleepless over Siberia and through the whole flight.

The 787 inaugural experience was a treat. Thanks to ANA for the little goodies bag.
I now need some rest.

Well.
It was nice and all.
But at the end of the day it's an airplane that gets you from point a to b.
I enjoyed the business cradle seat. Comfy.
The rainbow light show is nicer in Y than up front. I fought my way back past the Y mini cabin during boarding to take a photo then swam upstream like a salmon trying to get to row 1.

Would I go fly a turn on the 787 again? No.
But I'm glad I did yesterday.

-Scho

Well.
It was nice and all.
But at the end of the day it's an airplane that gets you from point a to b.

Agreed, and this has been the case with every aircraft I've flown on. I wasn't expecting it to be truly revolutionary, but it was a nice experience.

I posted Part 1 of my 787 trip report on A.net

http://www.airliners.net/aviation-forums/trip_reports/read.main/208052/

Will post the link to Part 2 when available. Should not be too long!

:)

I posted Part 1 of my 787 trip report on A.net

http://www.airliners.net/aviation-forums/trip_reports/read.main/208052/

Will post the link to Part 2 when available. Should not be too long!

:)

Interesting report.
Looking forward to the second report.
I guess you ate a lot of crabs in Yonago.

Enjoyed the TR and photos.

Here are a few photos I took on an OKJ->HND flight in November:
http://s1131.photobucket.com/albums/m544/mrwunrfl/#!cpZZ2QQtppZZ12

There are a couple of photos of the 787 on the other two pages along with photos of the Pokemon 747, kimono at Meiji Jingu, and F seats on OZ.

Thanks for posting your pictures.

Looks like my cherished JA805A was grounded at Frankfurt airport yesterday and left FRA several hours late.

http://www.airliners.net/aviation-forums/general_aviation/read.main/5369461/#28

Anyone know for sure if the plane flew back to HND empty?
All speculation for now.
I am curious to know.

:confused:

I have posted Part 2 of my trip report with the flight, gate ceremonies at HND and Frankfurt and lots of pictures.

http://www.airliners.net/aviation-forums/trip_reports/read.main/208176/

Enjoy!

:)

"I did not food feast as I had a huge breakfast in the B terminal Senator lounge the new one with the Babor Spa."

Upon arrival into FRA from HND will have four hours before my connection on OU down to ZAG then to DBV. Any suggestions on which is the best Lounge to hang out in? *G and have a Priority Pass card. On return from ZAG have three hours. The new Senator lounge at Terminal B with Babor Spa the best? Any info appreciated. Thanks.

I'd just go to the lounge nearest your departure gate in FRA. The new one is nice but not enough to much around with immigration if that would be necessary to get there.

The spa is a paid option so unless you want to buy yourself a massage it doesn't offer a ton of value IMO.

Thank you. If it is convenient will try and find it.

I have an award ticket (booked with CO miles) on a FRA-HND 787 in June. The other segments (JFK-FRA, NRT-BKK) are in C but FRA-HND is currently booked in Y because C wasn't available at the time of booking. As a matter of fact, I've never seen C award available on 787s, which is understandable but I want to get C if possible given that I've paid the C price (ok, miles).

So my questions are
1) I know that the situation will change significantly as the novelty factor wears out, but what is the load on this route recently, particularly in C?

2) Has anyone seen C award availability on 787s?

3) Assuming that I'm stuck in Y until the day of departure, do you think there is any chance that I get an op-up if C is open and I show my itinerary with C in all other segments? I don't know the partner award deal in detail, but I'd guess that NH is entitled to a C compensation from CO (UA) if NH actually puts me in C (fare class I) because this is a C award, so NH won't loose anything especially if C is open anyway.

After all, it might be good to experience long-haul Y to see if 787 is really a game changer, but I can't help asking nonetheless...
Thanks for your insights!

1) I know that the situation will change significantly as the novelty factor wears out, but what is the load on this route recently, particularly in C?

High, anecdotally. Add to that the fact that half the planned 787 flights have been switched to the 772 and you have lots of folks trying to switch to the days where the 787 is operating.

2) Has anyone seen C award availability on 787s?

I see availability several days a month until the end of July, but a lot of waitlisted flights. This is NH DIA availability, however, so *A award availability is likely rather poorer. NH does have a tendency to open up some seats a week or less before departure, however, so you may get lucky.

3) Assuming that I'm stuck in Y until the day of departure, do you think there is any chance that I get an op-up if C is open and I show my itinerary with C in all other segments?

There is always a chance, if Y is overbooked. But NH elites tend to be upgraded first, and from what I hear there have been a lot of elites flying or looking to fly the FRA-HND route over the next several months.

I think loads are running near 100% in C. Can give you a real read in a few days. In my search for my C award on the flight I never saw inventory on the CO website for C. Not one seat in C. On that favored route the number of NH people with status would trump us UA/CO flyers. In fact we just flew into NRT and UA/CO status met nothing (was assuming this, which is fine) to NH. If you want that seat in C you might consider having NH points.

The Y product on NH inbound looked comfortable much more than UA.

Thanks, armagebedar and RTWSTARALLIANCE. Hopefully things will change by June but Y doesn't sound too bad so I should be ok either way.

I haven't flown long-haul on NH for a while but I remember the great service even in Y.

DO NOT GIVE UP! That is one long flight. I was just reviewing my itin and it is one set of long flights period. Just keep checking the CO website. You might want to get a NH login so you can see inventory there also. I have no NH status but have always found their award inventory to be more than fair. They also treated me very fair when the flight for the 787 went every other day because of a delivery failure on Boeings part. That of course should not be the case when you fly. Safe travels.

I've seen all the red cautions about the early morning departure time to FRA online. What is a pretty ideal time to arrive for the flight? I would like to visit a NH Festa store if they have one at HND and try the Lounge (have been before at HND but that was a flight to Chitose) if it is worth trying. Any other hints on making the most of my first 787 experience appreciated. Thank you.

DO NOT GIVE UP! That is one long flight. I was just reviewing my itin and it is one set of long flights period. Just keep checking the CO website. You might want to get a NH login so you can see inventory there also. I have no NH status but have always found their award inventory to be more than fair. They also treated me very fair when the flight for the 787 went every other day because of a delivery failure on Boeings part. That of course should not be the case when you fly. Safe travels.

Of course I'm not giving up!:) I sure hope that the load gets a bit lighter when it goes daily.

I do have a NH account and have also been checking there. Is it any different from CO as a GM?

Yes. I think NH is holding those seats in C for their point members and it looks to me they have never been released as of yet to other Star carriers.

I was on NH002 NH902 and NH009 this week again in Economy.

No 787 this time but the cabin crew were so nice and the special meals were ample quantity with yummy taste.

Thank you ANA.

My JFK-FRA with Lufthansa in whY class was a true disgrace. The cabin crew were so rude!!

Does not encourage me to fly long haul with Lufthansa. I will definitely avoid them next time and will choose to fly with the competition.

:mad:

I flew the Yamaguchi to Haneda flight earlier this week in Premier class.
At only 80 minutes it was too short to enjoy all of the plane's features, but definately a nice plane.
The crew was still figuring things out so it was interesting to try to find things in the galley and get the videos running.

Looking forward to a longer ride in the near future.