All Nippon Airways Mileage Club - First time on ANA

Hi,

I have a redemption from BMI in J on ANA from LHR to NRT.

Any tips on what to expect in terms of the lounge options, and how to choose the best seats?

I don't know how to check in online - would my BMI code work for that? Can I select a seat now, or is it at T-24?

Any other advice? First time to Japan too, purely leisure! :)

thanks all

Enjoy Japan! Plenty of great threads in the Japan forum to help you pick some sites to see in and around Tokyo, assuming you're staying around there..

Compared to most US and European carriers, NH is quite a step up IMHO. There are a ton of comments in threads here about soft and hard product, all in all though, I find it fantastic - and what a great way to head to Japan for your first time, experiencing a Japanese carrier on the way.

Re LHR, assuming NH departs from the same terminal as UA, you'll have access to the *A lounge assuming appropriate status / ticketing class. It's not bad - beats most domestic US RCC's by quite a bit.

For a seat, I'd call ANA and ask them to help you out directly. You should be able to do it now.

Thank you. Will definitely root around the Japan threads.

Yes staying in Japan for two weeks.

Am in business class on ANA - have a feeling it's an SAS lounge. Was gutted not to be able to use VS Clubhouse but there you go...

Actually, NH does not fly from the same terminal as UA - UA flies from T1 now and NH is still in T3 along with TG, SQ, SK, etc.

There's only the choice between the London Lounge (AC/SK joint lounge) and the SQ Silver Kris lounge. Food is marginally better in the SQ lounge but the hardware is better in the London Lounge.

For choosing the seat, you can plug the BMI reference numberer into http://classic.checkmytrip.com which will then show an NH PNR (6-digit reference number similar to the BMI one, but listed separately at the top of the page). Then, you can go to the ANA website and use the NH PNR to assign seats.

The best seats are the true window seats down the two sides (i.e. right next to the window rather than separated with the footwell of the seat behind).

Any other advice? First time to Japan too, purely leisure! :)

Tell them you want to buy some whiskey in Japan and ask if they can give you a few to try.

Last time they gave me a couple of tasters from F as well as a splash of every one they had on the J list ^^^

i flew this route last week :)

you will enjoy yourself. i first tried ANA back in 2009 and have been loyal since. their 777-300ER's are awesome, and since you're flying business you will have their lie-flat business-staggered seat. I recommend you select a seat closest to the window as it affords you more privacy. really though, you can't go wrong in choosing any seat. as noted in other replies to your post, ANA departs out of Terminal 3. The only lounge I tried was SQ's and it was a little crowded during that time because SQ's SIN departure leaves about an hour before the NH flight. It quickly quieted down though once the SQ flight began boarding. Worth noting was that I was on the First-class side of the lounge, and it was busy. I imagine the business class side would have been busier. Although I flew ANA First Square last week, I took a stroll to the business cabin to test the seat out. It does look like the arm rests lift to provide you more space. You can store your carry on under the ottoman in front of you. The only thing I was disappointed in was the entertainment selections. BUT, ANA does have a camera turned on during the flight so you can see outside, but with it being dark, there was really nothing until the sun appeared. I slept a solid eight hours on my flight last week...I'm sure you'll get good rest too. :D

Thanks all. As there's me and my other half I selected the two middle seats.

If I was on my own with work, I'd definitely have gone for the window number.

Thanks all. As there's me and my other half I selected the two middle seats.

If I was on my own with work, I'd definitely have gone for the window number.Bear in mind that, unlike OZ and EY etc, the two "middle seats" aren't actually next to each other in the traditional sense. You will have a footwell of the seat behind between you and your other half.

Gosh, it's been so long since I've actually gone on a longhaul flight with anyone else that I'm trying to decide whether, if I were in the same situation, I would choose the window or the middle! :o

So will we be able to see each other, converse etc...? He might not mind!