All Nippon Airways Mileage Club - New ANA new 787 routes- Seattle and San Jose (SJC)

It is being reported that ANA plans on starting new 787 routes to Seattle and San Jose,CA next year. San Jose has been talking extensively to ANA over the past year and the Mayor of SJC has visited ANA headquarters a couple of times. There is no doubt; SJC is subsidizing this route with incentives.

Even though NH flies their 77W up the road to SFO, the President of ANA is quoted saying the SFO market is quite strong and he expects SJC to be the same. This route, IMO, will be mostly O&D. We will see if it last after the subsidies run out.


http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-12-21/all-nippon-to-begin-787-flights-to-u-s-next-fiscal-year-1-.html?cmpid=yhoo

Official press release: http://www.ana.co.jp/eng/aboutana/press/2011/111221.html


TOKYO December 21, 2011- ANA, Japan's largest airline and the launch customer for the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, today announces the first destinations it will fly to in the USA using the revolutionary aircraft. ANA plans to begin operating services from Tokyo's Narita airport to Seattle and San Jose from fiscal year 2012 onwards.

Flying long-haul services to these two key West Coast destinations will enable ANA to maximize the Dreamliner's efficiency and performance. The Dreamliner uses 20 per cent less fuel than similar-sized aircraft, making it the first mid-sized airplane capable of flying long-range routes, and offers new standards of passenger comfort because of its composite structure and interior design.

...

Nothing on the ANA website. Anybody know the seating config. Hopefully lie-flat and not reclines up front.

Nothing on the ANA website. Anybody know the seating config. Hopefully lie-flat and not reclines up front.

it won't start till later in the next fiscal year. It will probably have staggered seats and the same config as HND-FRA

Nothing on the ANA website.

http://www.ana.co.jp/eng/aboutana/press/2011/pdf/111221.pdf

It hasn't been formally announced, hence the lack of fanfare on the NH home page. It's good to see NH adding new routes (particularly to SEA), but personally I'm looking forward to service to SYD, YVR and YYZ more than expanded US service.

Helps out the utility of my US Dividend Miles by a lot- though I have to wonder if NH starts NRT-SEA whether UA will drop it (or downgauge to C/Y only): that would be a huge increase in capacity (DL flies NRT-SEA as well, and OZ flies ICN-SEA, so there's two realistic competitive options for *A flights connecting to Asia out of SEA as of today, this makes three).

It hasn't been formally announced, hence the lack of fanfare on the NH home page. It's good to see NH adding new routes (particularly to SEA), but personally I'm looking forward to service to SYD, YVR and YYZ more than expanded US service.

It has been formally announced as NH has issued a press release already (see post number 2). They just haven't announced the exact dates yet

These will be useful for the Silicon Valley - Japan nexus, and likely significantly more economical with a 787 than with the 777-200ERs AA attempted to provide services with.

it won't start till later in the next fiscal year. It will probably have staggered seats and the same config as HND-FRA

I would assume no F? Does the HND-FRA have F?

An int'l flight with three classes is just a long shuttle service -- no less than Jet Blue or Southwest. Take ANA's F away (one of the best in the skies BTW) and who really cares? Not everyone flies F, I get that, but apparently no one will be if they're coming from SJ or SEA.

As another poster said - am sure San Jose offered plum incentives. I can't imagine SJC will have enough traffic to support the flight. It can barely support domestic traffic.

It has been formally announced as NH has issued a press release already (see post number 2). They just haven't announced the exact dates yet

Yes, I saw that. However, the Japanese press release has different wording, including that they "want to set up" these routes. I didn't read the English version.

"今後、就航時期などを含めた最終決定内容につきまして順次お知らせいたします。"

(Paraphrased) "We will release final details, including when flights will begin, in the coming days."

So the Japanese says this is not a formal announcement, but the English version sure reads like one for some reason...

An int'l flight with three classes is just a long shuttle service -- no less than Jet Blue or Southwest. Take ANA's F away (one of the best in the skies BTW) and who really cares? Not everyone flies F, I get that, but apparently no one will be if they're coming from SJ or SEA.

Do you mean two classes? The 787 will only have economy and business class, as far as I can tell.

If there is sufficient demand for first class, I imagine NH would upgrade the route to a 77W.

Do you mean two classes? The 787 will only have economy and business class, as far as I can tell.

If there is sufficient demand for first class, I imagine NH would upgrade the route to a 77W.

Yeah, that's what I meant. 787s on ANA, as far as their current configs, only have the two classes, and unless they're getting 787-9s anytime soon it will be a difficult fit to cram in all three classes. If any flights in the world demanded a justifiable expense for F, it's long-haul transpac and Euro-Asia flights. But I guess for folks in SJ or SEA it will be good to have any direct connection vs. their current options.

Yeah, that's what I meant. 787s on ANA, as far as their current configs, only have the two classes, and unless they're getting 787-9s anytime soon it will be a difficult fit to cram in all three classes. If any flights in the world demanded a justifiable expense for F, it's long-haul transpac and Euro-Asia flights. But I guess for folks in SJ or SEA it will be good to have any direct connection vs. their current options.

UA already offers F direct on NRT SEA. Wondering if NH is going to offer it as also since it's a little more comfortable than UA's F.

The NH 787 have no F class. They are currently configured with 46 J Class and 112 Y class.

IMO, this will work on the proposed NRT-SJC route. ANA will still fly a few miles up the road with a F class on their 777W. So, if CEOs and Directors want to fly to the Bay Area, they will use SFO to have access to the F class.

One more thing I just realized is that SJC has no lounge. It is doubtful ANA will open a dedicated lounge for this flight. Does UA have a lounge at SJC? If not, it would make more since for UA to open a lounge since they have a few flights each day.

hmmm, interesting what they will do since NH will have 46 J seats.

I doubt that SJC and SEA are huge paid F markets.

Anyway, new C is flat and seems to be very private; I'd be happy to have that in lieu of UA F....

Probably not a huge paid F market, but there's enough of a demand beyond the two markets to support the third service to NRT. If * has issues with too much SEA-asia capacity, perhaps one carrier could be Untied from the situation.

Personally, I would prefer to see SEA-HND than to NRT.

But NRT is much better for other international connections.

Really glad that ANA is taking this SEA-NRT route as I refuse to fly DL/UA.
Now I can get on a nice new fancy plane to Asia with great service.

One more thing I just realized is that SJC has no lounge. It is doubtful ANA will open a dedicated lounge for this flight. Does UA have a lounge at SJC?

The only lounge at SJC is the old Admirals Club located near gate 8 (previously gate A9). That was a bit of a hike from the international arrivals gates 16 and 17 (previously numbered A1A and A1B), but it's certainly not being used. I'm sure they could set it up for current use with little upgrades. No other lounge at SJC that I'm aware of, but some good food options in the newer end of the terminal. Probably one of the nicest terminals that nobody uses. :-)



http://www.sjc.org/travelers.php?page=maps/terma&subtitle=Maps+and+Directions+|+Terminal+A+and+Inte rnational+Arrivals

This is good news. I have always wanted to visit Japan and will use the new ANA 787 route from SJC.

One thing missing is an airline lounge at SJC. I hope to see the old AA club get revamped into a lounge that is not specific to the airlines, Priority Pass Lounge Access and those with Premiere Credit Cards. If ServisAir or Swissport ran the lounge they could allow access to mutli airlines not just Alaska and the Priority Pass Members, Credit Card holders and day passes.

Possibly they could add an Alaska Boardroom in Terminal B as well. They could call it the Club at SJC like they have at DFW(Club DFW) and add shower rooms, have self-serve alcohol, a beer machine etc.

It will be fun to fly from SJC overseas so as not to contend with the busy customs at SFO. Its a 20 minute drive from my house and plus its on the 787.

I was wondering why don't they upgrade the SFO to the 787 as well? I know ANA has the SFO-NRT flight.

It seems like they will operate out of the International Hall at SJC. Could ANA open counters at the International Concourse between Terminal A and B and use the security there for the flight? Or would they open counters at Terminal A?

I read in the Merucry News about the route being added but they did not mention a date. They said they would start in fiscal year 2012 so this could be January 1st or December 31st 2012 am I right?

Anyways good news and will be looking for the sale to get a package from SJC-Japan.

I was wondering why don't they upgrade the SFO to the 787 as well? I know ANA has the SFO-NRT flight.

A few reasons:
1. Reduced capacity compared to the 77W
2. The 77W already has the the new Y/C/F seats
3. The 787 has no F class

The 787 would be a downgrade from the 77W, not an upgrade.

One more thing I just realized is that SJC has no lounge. It is doubtful ANA will open a dedicated lounge for this flight. Does UA have a lounge at SJC? If not, it would make more since for UA to open a lounge since they have a few flights each day.

hmmm, interesting what they will do since NH will have 46 J seats.

I was wondering the same thing

In order to put UA and ANA together, there'd have to be quite a bit of moving around. UA operates from Terminal A while NH would likely operate out of the newer Terminal B. That said, there will really have to be some lounge facility for long-haul J travelers. If they're smart, they'll work with Alaska which is adding flights at Terminal B and has discussed interest in a lounge. Definitely the shared model would be the best way to go about with this

Probably not a huge paid F market, but there's enough of a demand beyond the two markets to support the third service to NRT. If * has issues with too much SEA-asia capacity, perhaps one carrier could be Untied from the situation.

I doubt UA will have any issue at all, aren't they sharing revenue on all TPAC flights now?

A few reasons:
1. Reduced capacity compared to the 77W
2. The 77W already has the the new Y/C/F seats
3. The 787 has no F class

The 787 would be a downgrade from the 77W, not an upgrade.
Agreed - the 77W offers the capacity that ANA and Star partners can fill. The 787 was designed for these types of thinner capacity nonstop international routes.

Agreed - the 77W offers the capacity that ANA and Star partners can fill. The 787 was designed for these types of thinner capacity nonstop international routes.

Thinner long routes include new destinations, but also include new frequencies to same destinations....

The NH 787 have no F class. They are currently configured with 46 J Class and 112 Y class.

IMO, this will work on the proposed NRT-SJC route. ANA will still fly a few miles up the road with a F class on their 777W. So, if CEOs and Directors want to fly to the Bay Area, they will use SFO to have access to the F class.

Which J class seats will they use? Will they use the same J class seat on short haul 787 routes and long haul 787 routes?

Which J class seats will they use? Will they use the same J class seat on short haul 787 routes and long haul 787 routes?

no, long haul j class gets the staggered seating (same as new 77W), short haul gets the regional recliners

I am glad I will be fly out SJC to Asia with NH

As another poster said - am sure San Jose offered plum incentives. I can't imagine SJC will have enough traffic to support the flight. It can barely support domestic traffic.

The city has offered incentives - I think the first year is no landing fees, the second year at 50% off, or something like that. The AA flight was always full, even after SJC was downgraded to a destination. However, the *A flights out of SJC are very poor - a couple to DEN, PHX, IAH, and LAX. It's hard to see ANA getting much more than point-to-point traffic on this flight.

But I will be quite happy to stop driving to SFO for my quarterly NRT flight.

The city has offered incentives - I think the first year is no landing fees, the second year at 50% off, or something like that. The AA flight was always full, even after SJC was downgraded to a destination. However, the *A flights out of SJC are very poor - a couple to DEN, PHX, IAH, and LAX. It's hard to see ANA getting much more than point-to-point traffic on this flight.

But I will be quite happy to stop driving to SFO for my quarterly NRT flight.

Perhaps NH can gain some connecting pax from SJC to other parts of Asia it serves. I agree that connection at SJC won't work for *A since it's not a hub.

LAX

Perhaps NH can gain some connecting pax from SJC to other parts of Asia it serves. I agree that connection at SJC won't work for *A since it's not a hub.

LAX

The hub in this case is not SJC, it is NRT. Now, I wonder how many UA flyers will switch to NH and forego the Lifetime BIS mileage accumulation.

The hub in this case is not SJC, it is NRT. Now, I wonder how many UA flyers will switch to NH and forego the Lifetime BIS mileage accumulation.

I don't think many. UA fliers are U.S. based and for them to switch over to NH and then try to cash in a domestic UA ticket using NH miles would be too many steps, IMO. The UA fliers will stay with UA and just earn miles on their NH flight, IMO.

I don't think many. UA fliers are U.S. based and for them to switch over to NH and then try to cash in a domestic UA ticket using NH miles would be too many steps, IMO. The UA fliers will stay with UA and just earn miles on their NH flight, IMO.

They don't have to switch FFP, just switch metal since UA frequent flyers can fly NH metal & credit to UA since NH metal, earning full EQMs & elite bonus.

With upgrades more difficult to clear (not sure how true it is on SFO-NRT) & degradation elite status, UA is making it easier for its own elites to fly other *A carriers. Plus, with the new policy of not allowing 2Ps (or whatever it's called now with the new program) until T-24hrs, it would be tempting for them the try out NH metal, especially if they are not too tall or allowed to choose exit row/bulkhead in advance.

LAX

Can't wait to fly the ANA 787 using frequent flyer points.

When would tickets go on sale for these two routes?

If they are shooting for April, it seems awfully soon.

Can't wait to fly the ANA 787 using frequent flyer points.

Why don't you pay for your travel and fly now?

Will there be other FT'ers on the Haneda-Frankfurt inaugural on the 21st of this month?

:confused:

One more thing I just realized is that SJC has no lounge. It is doubtful ANA will open a dedicated lounge for this flight. Does UA have a lounge at SJC? If not, it would make more since for UA to open a lounge since they have a few flights each day.

hmmm, interesting what they will do since NH will have 46 J seats.

A lounge really makes sense only if you are transiting at a hub with some down time. SJC, with a very easy ingress and egress, really doesn't need one considering the core clientel likely won't hang around the airport for long anyways.

A lounge really makes sense only if you are transiting at a hub with some down time. SJC, with a very easy ingress and egress, really doesn't need one considering the core clientel likely won't hang around the airport for long anyways.

Well we sure as heck don't want to hang out at the gate between security and boarding. No way Jose!

A lounge really makes sense only if you are transiting at a hub with some down time. SJC, with a very easy ingress and egress, really doesn't need one considering the core clientel likely won't hang around the airport for long anyways.

I use a lounge all the time before my flights. I am sure the majority of people do also. Can you imgaine the CEO of hitachi hanging out at the gate waiting for his NH flight to NRT.

There was an Admirals Club at SJC back in the day -- perhaps it could be spruced up and reopened as a United Club with ANA picking up much of the tab.

NH has been "inventive" with this in the past... the current MNL "lounge" is a restaurant they rope off before the flight and put out a buffet for eligable customers in.

There was an Admirals Club at SJC back in the day -- perhaps it could be spruced up and reopened as a United Club with ANA picking up much of the tab.

It's probably more likely that a 3rd party operates a contract lounge with NH participating.

LAX

NH has been "inventive" with this in the past... the current MNL "lounge" is a restaurant they rope off before the flight and put out a buffet for eligable customers in.

Somehow I feel like this is more acceptable in MNL than it would be in SJC. ;-)