zrs70

I'm flying from NRT, and have the option of both as an F award.

Obviously, the NS is easier. But I enjoy the travel, and I have time on my hand. So aside from the ease of a NS, can someone weigh in on the pros/cons on F on both flights?

Unterwegs

Both are great products. NH has a bit more privacy, OZ has less traffic in the aisle and a quieter plane. The F lounges both in NRT and ICN are just average.

TheBOSman

Food is better on NH in my opinion, particularly ex-NRT (as opposed to from an outstation, where it is still good but slightly different). Beverage selection is relatively similar between the two airlines. I can't remember which had the better bed, as I didn't sleep a ton on either flight, but I feel like it was NH. I'd probably go NH if I had to pick between the two.

s0ssos

F lounge in NRT is way better than lounges in ICN. Unless I didn't go to the one in ICN, or I went and remember nothing.

Kacee

I was slightly underwhelmed by the OZ hard product. It's spacious and private but the seat controls are awkward, it's difficult to find a comfortable lounging position, and the AVOD selection is pretty weak. OZ F lounge at ICN nothing special at all. Very similar to J lounge, just fewer people.

On the other hand, OZ food and service are very good (but I think you already know that).

TheBOSman

I've been to the ICN OZ F (and both of the OZ lounges on the concourse at ICN, but not the main terminal OZ J lounge), and I mostly recall it being very quiet and spacious mostly due to few passengers using it as it only caters to OZ F passengers. It also had an extremely nice bathroom (IMO). I'd prefer the ICN OZ F lounge over the NH F NRT lounge personally, but not by so great a margin that it would change my mind either way.

Duke787

I would agree with this assessment. Back in 2014 they served JWB in the OZ F lounge but there are reports that this is no longer happening. OZ F lounge also feels (and looks) like a quiet library.

NH serves Hibiki 17 in the NH F lounge if you are a Japanese Whisky fan and has nice views of the apron.

What is the NRT - ICN equipment? That could impact this decision - when I flew OZ F it was JFK - ICN - NRT and the ICN - NRT was on the A321 which wasn't particularly good and not enjoyable to fly after already doing JFK - ICN.

I would disagree on the earlier point about NH F having more privacy since OZ has sliding doors in F for both the A380 and 777 and NH F does not.

For me - I prefer the privacy of the OZ seat but NH F wins in my book due to service and food (OZ's wasn't bad in either department but NH's was fantastic).

Kacee

That's gone and the food in the lounge is terrible (except the mini-cartons of Haagen-Daz).

It is a very quiet lounge though.

Madone59

I haven't flown either but from everything I have read NH is the way to go here. What ever you chose, please report back.

Time traveller

I think both the ICN F Lounge and the NRT F Lounge are quiet and not very crowded. But I feel the NRT F Lounge is more spacious with better food options. Both are much nicer than UA F lounges in the US.

If OP is flying from NRT, I would recommend the non-stop flight. In terms of NH F service, IME they treat the Japanese passengers differently (better) than American (or non-Japanese) passengers although it could just be a language/cultural thing. I don't think it was a revenue ticket vs award flight, because I was on full revenue tickets on NH F. It may be a difference of treating ANA elites better on their own metal vs *A partner elites though.

AntonS

Between NH and OZ, safety would be decisive factor for me. I do not know how much OZ improved pilot training and CRM after SFO crash. With NH, on the other hand, I have no issues whatsoever, probably one of the safetest airlines in the world.