[QUOTE=ORDnHKG;11942280]
When NW was using shorter range 747-100, it use Anchorage as refuel stop from US to NRT, rather than Hawaii, that is in the late 70s and early 80s. After that, they no longer need to refuel when the 747-200B comes, they can do ORD-NRT and JFK-NRT nonstop.

For a long time, NW LAX-TYO and NW SFO-TYO were routed through HNL because NW did NOT have non-stop authorityonb this route. Northwest's advertising at the time confirms this: "Mid-Pacific flights" were routed throught HNL from both LAX and SFO. The "North Pacific flights" were from SEA and "Polar Express Flights" were through ANC originating in IAD, CLE (for a time) and ORD.

Pan Am had exclusive Great Circle flights from SFO-TYO (yes, TYO, prior to Narita) which occasionaly touched down in ANC for refuling. Op is correct. It wasn't until NW acquired longer range 747s that NW operated SFO-NRT non-stop.