Finally! Another Star Alliance from YVR - Japan
Feb 13, 2014, 8:44 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: YVR
Programs: AC E75, SPG Plat, HH peon-by-choice (ex Gold)
Posts: 8,090
Finally! Another Star Alliance from YVR - Japan
Just saw in the local newspaper that ANA is starting a YVR-HND service as of March 30. Finally! A great alternative to AC and landing in HND to boot!
Checking the ANA website, I'm not sure which J seat is being offered but have a feeling it's their Business Cradle. And, given a choice of AC or NH, I'll take NH any day!
Checking the ANA website, I'm not sure which J seat is being offered but have a feeling it's their Business Cradle. And, given a choice of AC or NH, I'll take NH any day!
Feb 13, 2014, 9:01 pm
#2
Join Date: Jun 1999
Location: YVR
Programs: ACSEMM QRGold SPGLifetimePlat FairmontPlat HyattD AMEXCenturion SerenaPlat TalkBoard Founding Member
Posts: 8,963
Feb 13, 2014, 9:35 pm
#3
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Never home.
Posts: 2,971
Just saw in the local newspaper that ANA is starting a YVR-HND service as of March 30. Finally! A great alternative to AC and landing in HND to boot!
Checking the ANA website, I'm not sure which J seat is being offered but have a feeling it's their Business Cradle. And, given a choice of AC or NH, I'll take NH any day!
Checking the ANA website, I'm not sure which J seat is being offered but have a feeling it's their Business Cradle. And, given a choice of AC or NH, I'll take NH any day!
For me, J is all about the hard product.
If ending in Tokyo I can see the advantage to HND over NRT.
Feb 13, 2014, 9:53 pm
#4
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: YWG
Posts: 2,273
Well, there's also UA, CA, OZ, etc., but they require connections.
But the only *A carrier from Japan is ANA, so now there are 2 direct *A options. And there probably won't be any more *A direct options, seeing as neither Canada nor Japan has any more *A carriers.
But the only *A carrier from Japan is ANA, so now there are 2 direct *A options. And there probably won't be any more *A direct options, seeing as neither Canada nor Japan has any more *A carriers.
Feb 13, 2014, 9:56 pm
#5
Join Date: Jul 2005
Programs: SQ *Gold
Posts: 871
Flew a couple of transpac long-hauls last year on NH in Y and loved the soft product. Service was superb with flight attendants bowing before sitting down each time, and while I normally dislike airplane food, I really enjoyed the Japanese menu. Loved the little details too like the ice cold bottled water and Japanese ice tea they serve... so much more refreshing than the room temperature dasani they serve on AC. And of course, HND is awesome for entry to Tokyo. You could definitely tell the difference and what makes NH a skytrax 5-star airline.
NH lounges are alright too... got to experience the HND NH International First lounge on a business trip to Tokyo last April and liked the personalised service of attendants bringing you drink and food orders (albeit that sort of service is pretty standard for first class lounges).
NH lounges are alright too... got to experience the HND NH International First lounge on a business trip to Tokyo last April and liked the personalised service of attendants bringing you drink and food orders (albeit that sort of service is pretty standard for first class lounges).
Last edited by jbb; Feb 13, 2014 at 10:08 pm
Feb 14, 2014, 5:21 am
#8
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: YYZ
Programs: Aeroplan, Air Miles
Posts: 942
Finally! Another Star Alliance from YVR - Japan
I would fly from YYZ to YVR just to catch that...oh wait...I guess if I'm going to connect, ill fly south and catch an ANA pod.maybe out of Washington
Feb 14, 2014, 12:38 pm
#9
Join Date: Sep 2011
Programs: AC*SE100K, SPG Gold
Posts: 331
I love ANA and I like the late departure from both YVR (455pm) and HND (955pm). I am not sold on the 767 with the recliner seats in J though. I think the announcement of this flight was the motive for Japan Airlines to change equipment to YVR from 767 to 787. I have a feeling ANA will do the same as soon as they get more 787.
Feb 14, 2014, 1:24 pm
#10
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Never home.
Posts: 2,971
I love ANA and I like the late departure from both YVR (455pm) and HND (955pm). I am not sold on the 767 with the recliner seats in J though. I think the announcement of this flight was the motive for Japan Airlines to change equipment to YVR from 767 to 787. I have a feeling ANA will do the same as soon as they get more 787.
They may just need 788 efficiencies for the route to remain profitable with 3 airlines.
Feb 14, 2014, 9:03 pm
#11
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: YVR
Programs: AC E75, SPG Plat, HH peon-by-choice (ex Gold)
Posts: 8,090
Sure, hard product is important. But I really, really hate AC pods. Earphones that buzz, seats that sometimes don't work, the seats are too narrow, etc etc. The NH soft product is far superior and landing in HND over NRT saves me a bunch of time.
Feb 14, 2014, 9:11 pm
#12
Join Date: Jul 2005
Programs: SQ *Gold
Posts: 871
Flying time is only about 9.5 hours, so lie-flat is somewhat less important than if you're flying to HKG.
Feb 14, 2014, 10:05 pm
#13
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: YYC - not the centre of the universe
Programs: AC*S100K 1MM, LH FTL, Hyatt Globalist, Accor Plat
Posts: 4,769
Lie flat is everything for me in J. Sleep is key. Service is a nice bonus and I will seek out better carriers if all else is equal. I also doubt NH will be cheaper than AC so I really don't see the point. NRT doesn't make a big difference to me. I'm always picked up so I can work and reconnect after the long flight on the (long) drive into/through the city.
JAL put 787s on YVR due to engine issues. They can't fly through certain types of clouds so to avoid issues they shuffled them around to routes where such formations are less likely to exist.
JAL put 787s on YVR due to engine issues. They can't fly through certain types of clouds so to avoid issues they shuffled them around to routes where such formations are less likely to exist.
Feb 16, 2014, 1:13 am
#14
Join Date: Jun 2009
Programs: Air Canada Aeroplan
Posts: 1,748
What? Which 787 engines can't flight through what clouds? Can you point us to more info? I'm curious...
Feb 16, 2014, 2:00 am
#15
Join Date: Feb 2009
Programs: Marriott Titanium, AC E50, National Exec
Posts: 516
Boeing warns of engine-icing problems on 747-8, 787
Because of the advisory, Japan Airlines, the world’s second-largest Dreamliner operator, said it decided to replace its Dreamliners on flights between Tokyo and Delhi with 777s starting Sunday and will switch to 767s on its Tokyo-Singapore route. The airline also dropped plans to use 787s on its Tokyo-Sydney route.
Explaining the decisions, Yuichi Kitada, a general manager in JAL’s engineering department, said: “There may be cases where we wouldn’t be able to go all the way round the cloud formation and we’d have to turn back.”
Because of the advisory, Japan Airlines, the world’s second-largest Dreamliner operator, said it decided to replace its Dreamliners on flights between Tokyo and Delhi with 777s starting Sunday and will switch to 767s on its Tokyo-Singapore route. The airline also dropped plans to use 787s on its Tokyo-Sydney route.
Explaining the decisions, Yuichi Kitada, a general manager in JAL’s engineering department, said: “There may be cases where we wouldn’t be able to go all the way round the cloud formation and we’d have to turn back.”