Biz class to Asia; UA vs NH vs OZ; What to choose?
May 2, 2019, 6:46 pm
#16
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NH without any hesitation. Have not had a bad flight over the past two years. Be adventurous and eat the japanese meal, especially out of Japan. Helps if you have been eating local while there 
May 2, 2019, 7:25 pm
#17
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I recommend NH highly. I think it's the most consistently excellent business class service out there (warmer than SQ and just as well trained). Food is also excellent (and abundant). Hard product compares well to Polaris . . . footwell can be a little restrictive on the 77W and the cushion is a bit harder than UA's, but seats are private and overall comfortable. Lavs are kept absolutely spotless.
Everything but the seat - NH.
Seat - UA Polaris
OP hasn't flown NH, so I would join the chorus and recommend that. I would suggest the 787 if an option -- at least the 787-9 has a much improved staggered seat with far less knee intrusion thanks to a refined table and monitor design. Not sure if that exists on the 788 as well.
If you had flown NH before and are focused on the sleep, as I am, I'd say UA first (as I always do as the resident contrarian on these threads).
Do watch out for the late night departures on NH as they often have a significantly reduced meal service - e.g. the LAX-HND flight
May 2, 2019, 8:29 pm
#18
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Location: Wayne, NJ USA
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EWR but JFK is also fine.
I take the train to Narita Village and then it's a pleasant walk through town to the temple.
They serve Ippudo ramen?! Heck, that seals the deal.
So I should try to get there by 789? Not sure if they fly JFK with that ship.
I am a major NH fan and have used them for 20 plus years ,to and from Japan and when I lived there as my primary internal and inter Asia carrier, good food, clean planes and great service.
Not sure about how long your layover is or how much you like walking, The Temple at Narita is 5 miles each direction
Not sure about how long your layover is or how much you like walking, The Temple at Narita is 5 miles each direction
I largely concur with this:
Everything but the seat - NH.
Seat - UA Polaris
OP hasn't flown NH, so I would join the chorus and recommend that. I would suggest the 787 if an option -- at least the 787-9 has a much improved staggered seat with far less knee intrusion thanks to a refined table and monitor design. Not sure if that exists on the 788 as well.
If you had flown NH before and are focused on the sleep, as I am, I'd say UA first (as I always do as the resident contrarian on these threads).
Do watch out for the late night departures on NH as they often have a significantly reduced meal service - e.g. the LAX-HND flight
Everything but the seat - NH.
Seat - UA Polaris
OP hasn't flown NH, so I would join the chorus and recommend that. I would suggest the 787 if an option -- at least the 787-9 has a much improved staggered seat with far less knee intrusion thanks to a refined table and monitor design. Not sure if that exists on the 788 as well.
If you had flown NH before and are focused on the sleep, as I am, I'd say UA first (as I always do as the resident contrarian on these threads).
Do watch out for the late night departures on NH as they often have a significantly reduced meal service - e.g. the LAX-HND flight
Last edited by WineCountryUA; May 2, 2019 at 9:05 pm Reason: merging consecutive posts by same member
May 2, 2019, 8:33 pm
#19
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They do, and it's good. I also really like Panda Express, which is great, because Ippudo and Panda are sister companies. I wonder how many people would be excited though, if an airline announced Panda Express on board.
(Yes, I know that's not a completely fair comparison)
(Yes, I know that's not a completely fair comparison)
May 2, 2019, 9:01 pm
#20
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Also agree the cushioning is a little hard on these seats compared to Polaris, even with their egg-crate mattress pad.
May 2, 2019, 9:47 pm
#21
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They do, and it's good. I also really like Panda Express, which is great, because Ippudo and Panda are sister companies. I wonder how many people would be excited though, if an airline announced Panda Express on board.
(Yes, I know that's not a completely fair comparison)
(Yes, I know that's not a completely fair comparison)
Panda Express would be better than any meal I've had on United in the last 20 years. (it was different in the 90s).
May 2, 2019, 10:59 pm
#22
Join Date: Mar 2005
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P.s. if you want to get out of NRT to see the town of Narita, you need something like 4-5 hours. Customs is usually quick, but its not like you can just walk out and hop on train, wonder around,and come back. Unlike HKG, its takes some time to get to/from the train, and customs can take some time (randomly IMHE).
ua polaris is awful when you look at nh or oz. i'm a big fan of oz, very good food and wines, and the 380 seat is ^
May 3, 2019, 4:24 am
#24
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The 90's were good on UA. No footwell or knee-room issues on the barcaloungers, and some pretty solid meals up front.
Fair enough. Given the option and no time constraints, I'd do that for sure. I'm assuming the OP doesn't want to route via TPE though.
May 3, 2019, 6:51 am
#25
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Here is a press release I just turned up (about premium economy, but with reference to first / business):
ANA will Start Serving Famous IPPUDO Ramen in Premium Economy
May 3, 2019, 7:09 am
#26
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Maybe NH will fly EWR-HND by the time OP takes his business trip (referring to the new round of HND slot awards), allowing for the most ideal EWR-HND-GMP itinerary
May 3, 2019, 5:26 pm
#27
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Ippudo is somewhat commonplace in Japan, I would say. It is quite good of course, but it is not the trendy rarity there that it is in NYC and outside of Japan. So it might not seem very surprising that ANA has a partnership with them.
Here is a press release I just turned up (about premium economy, but with reference to first / business):
ANA will Start Serving Famous IPPUDO Ramen in Premium Economy
Here is a press release I just turned up (about premium economy, but with reference to first / business):
ANA will Start Serving Famous IPPUDO Ramen in Premium Economy
May 3, 2019, 5:51 pm
#29
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