Today’s article is from TLFL regular contributor Jason. You can follow Jason on Instagram here @planejayds
You can read the first part of Jason’s comparison here.
In this post:
Booking
I booked this as a one-way redemption from Tokyo Haneda to Sydney for just 42,000 Avianca LifeMiles plus US$87 in taxes and fees, which I consider exceptional value and a real sweet spot of the program.
LifeMiles can sometimes be a bit temperamental, but when it works, the value can be outstanding—particularly given the frequent bonus promotions they run when purchasing miles. My top tip if you are considering purchasing miles is to make sure the availability is there for the redemption you want before booking. Speculative miles or points purchases can come back to bite you, as redemption seats are often hard to come by and airlines are notorious for devaluing points required for flights with little or no notice.
Once ticketed, everything was straightforward. I was able to view and manage the booking via the ANA app and select my seat without any issues, which is always reassuring when booking through a partner programme.
There was a brief moment of panic when, a couple of weeks before the flight, I received an email from ANA advising me that my flight would now be operated by Air Japan on behalf of ANA. Not familiar with the airline, I had a quick Google and only found results for a low-cost arm of ANA operating 787s in an all-economy configuration. After asking around a few forums, I was relieved to read that, by all appearances, it would be exactly the same as an ANA-operated flight, which it was.
Check-in & Lounge
With an 08:35 departure, I arrived at Haneda Terminal 2 at around 06:30. From the outset, the experience was exactly what you’d expect in Japan—efficient, calm, and completely stress-free.
Check-in at the dedicated Business Class desks was seamless, with no queue to speak of. Security was equally smooth (nothing needed to come out of hand luggage), and passport control was handled via automated e-gates, meaning I was airside within minutes.
ANA has now consolidated most of its Haneda operation into Terminal 2, having previously been split between Terminals 2 and 3. The terminal itself is very typically Japanese—nothing flashy, but spotlessly clean, well organised, and highly efficient.
ANA operates both a Business Class and First Class lounge here. The Business Class lounge is vast, with a capacity of around 900 passengers. That scale is achieved through relatively dense seating—rows of chairs facing each other and communal tables with stools—so it can feel a little utilitarian at peak times.
I was fortunate to arrive early, which meant I could take some photos before it filled up. Later on, it did become noticeably busier.
One nice touch is that ANA also grants lounge access to Premium Economy passengers when travelling on ANA-operated flights—a genuinely valuable and rare perk.
The lounge itself is pleasant, with plenty of natural light and great apron views thanks to a full wall of windows. There are also some distinctly Japanese touches throughout—automated machines dispensing rice and beer, individual phone booths for calls (which I really liked), and self-service trolleys where passengers return their used dishes (something most people actually do).
Food and drink options were solid, including freshly made noodles available to order via QR code. ANA even publishes the full lounge menu online, suggesting a fairly consistent offering across visits.
Boarding & Pre-Departure
Boarding commenced at 08:07, beginning with pre-boarding before moving through the groups. Business Class was called as Group 2, and the process was very orderly, with boarding groups strictly adhered to.
First impressions of the cabin were… fine. It felt a little dated and somewhat uninspiring in terms of colour palette—perfectly functional but lacking any real wow factor.
At my seat, everything was already set up: a bottle of water, slippers, an amenity kit featuring Ettinger products, headphones, and the full bedding set, which included two pillows, a mattress topper, and a blanket. It was a well-stocked setup and immediately gave a sense of comfort for the flight ahead.
I was warmly welcomed by a crew member who confirmed my pre-ordered Japanese meal and offered a choice of champagne or orange juice—served, like JAL, in plastic flutes. A basket was then brought through the cabin with additional items not included in the amenity kit, such as earplugs, dental kits, and eye shades.
A welcome announcement followed, noting that the flight was operated by Air Japan aircraft and crew, which was interesting to hear.
The Business Class cabin was almost completely full, with just two empty seats. The door closed exactly on time at 08:35, and we pushed back six minutes later—an efficient and punctual start.
The Seat
Both ANA and JAL now offer some of the most impressive Business Class products in the sky, with ANA’s latest iteration, “The Room,” receiving a lot of well-deserved attention.
The catch, however, is that this newer product remains confined to a relatively small subset of the fleet—specifically around ten 777-300ERs, primarily deployed on routes between Tokyo, the US, and London. Across most other long-haul services, including all flights to Australia and the majority of Europe, ANA typically operates the 787. With an impressive fleet of 86 aircraft, these are fitted with the Safran Skylounge III seat on long-haul variants, a product that dates back to around 2015. This is a staggered 1-2-1 configuration, so all seats have direct aisle access.
On the 787-9, Business Class occupies the entire forward cabin (rows 1–7), followed by a smaller mini-cabin of three rows located behind the second set of doors. I tend to prefer these mini-cabins, and on this flight I managed to secure 9A, one of the “true” window seats. As is typical with staggered layouts, window seats alternate between being closer to the aisle and closer to the window—the latter offering noticeably more privacy.
One advantage of the bulkhead rows in both cabins is a significantly larger footwell, which is worth bearing in mind when selecting a seat.
In terms of comfort, the seat felt slightly wider than JAL’s equivalent product, although it does come at the expense of storage space, which is more limited. JAL also has the edge in that all of its window seats are “true” window seats, whereas ANA alternates.
Each seat features a large side table, along with a literature pocket, reading light, headphone jack, and a handheld remote control. A universal power outlet and USB-C charging port were conveniently positioned beside the seat above the table.
A small but thoughtful touch was the “Do Not Disturb” button, which activates a light visible to passing crew—ideal if you want to maximise rest without interruptions.
ANA actually has quite a few 787 ‘firsts’. It was not only the first airline to put the 787 in service but was also the first to operate all three variants of the jet and, to top it off, operates the largest 787 fleet in the world.
The Flight
We were airborne at 08:58, with service beginning promptly at 09:25 as the crew distributed packaged refreshing towels and menus.
By 09:35, drink orders were taken. The crew used handheld devices to record orders—worn over the shoulder in a way that rather reminded me of train conductors with ticket machines, very similar to JAL.
In the spirit of “when in Rome,” I opted to try sake—something I know very little about. Noticing my hesitation, the crew member took the time to explain the two options, describing one as more “fruity” and the other as “rich.” It was a small but thoughtful moment that really reflected the attentiveness of the service.
At 10:00, my table was laid with a crisp tablecloth, and the sake bottle was presented and poured at the seat. This was accompanied by an amuse-bouche, which the crew member carefully explained. I had been particularly looking forward to the meal, given how highly JAL sets the bar for Japanese catering—and ANA certainly delivered.
At 10:15, the beautifully presented Japanese starters were served, consisting of a zensai (a selection of small seasonal dishes) and two kobachi (delicately prepared side dishes). The main course (shusai) followed, featuring simmered beef and baked fish, accompanied by soup, rice, and Japanese pickles. I finished the meal around 11:10 as we tracked north of Saipan, opting to skip dessert.
The quality of the food was excellent—refined, well-balanced, and very much in line with expectations. It’s genuinely difficult to separate ANA and JAL here, though if pushed, I’d say JAL perhaps just edges it. Like JAL, ANA also publishes its full menus online across all cabins and routes and offers the option to pre-order meals in advance.
I took a look at the lavatories—one at the front of the cabin and two located by the second set of doors. As you’d expect on a Japanese carrier, they were immaculate and equipped with bidets. A particularly nice touch was the addition of cute handwritten postcards placed in the bathrooms, outlining inflight service details.
After the meal, the cabin lights were dimmed. Unlike JAL, no loungewear or sleepwear was provided on this sector. An “anytime” menu, including ramen, sandwiches, and light snacks, was available on demand between services. I converted the seat into bed mode, which was comfortable, particularly with the mattress topper. One downside is that the armrest cannot be lowered to sit flush with the bed, which slightly limits the overall sleeping width.
I managed a few hours’ sleep and woke somewhere over Papua New Guinea. A coffee followed, though it’s worth noting that, like JAL, ANA does not offer espresso-based drinks. That said, the coffee served was still perfectly decent.
Around three hours prior to arrival into Sydney, the lights were gradually brought back up and orders were taken for the pre-landing meal. There was a choice between Japanese and Western options—I again went for the Japanese, which I enjoyed while flying over the Great Barrier Reef.
As the captain announced our descent, the crew made a final pass through the cabin offering trays of mints and personally thanking passengers for flying with ANA—a simple but very polished touch. We arrived into Sydney at 20:00, parking on stand around 15 minutes ahead of schedule.
IFE & Connectivity
Inflight entertainment is delivered via an 18-inch HD screen, fixed in position, and controllable either by touch or a wired handheld controller.
The interface itself felt a little dated, but functionality was solid. There was a respectable amount of content available, including around 120+ movies, TV episodes, games, and, of course, the moving map. In day-to-day use, I actually found the system more responsive than JAL’s equivalent.
Connectivity is another strong point. Complimentary Wi-Fi is provided for Business Class passengers, with a login code automatically emailed to the address linked to the booking around two hours prior to departure. Free messaging is also available across all cabins.
Verdict
Japan is incredibly fortunate to have two outstanding full-service carriers in ANA and JAL, and in truth, there’s very little between them.
Based purely on these two sectors, I’d say JAL just edges ahead, primarily on catering, which I found marginally better, and a few additional touches such as the provision of sleepwear. That said, the difference is slight.
Service on both flights was exceptional. It’s worth noting, however, that the ANA Business Class cabin was completely full, whereas JAL was only around half full, which inevitably influences the service dynamic slightly.
While neither airline currently offers its most cutting-edge seat on the 787, both have announced new Business Class products for these aircraft. ANA appears slightly ahead here, with its upcoming “The Room FX,” a new non-reclining seat, due to launch in the first half of this year.
Overall, whether you choose ANA or JAL, you can expect:
• Impeccable, polished service
• High-quality catering (particularly the Japanese options)
• A calm, efficient, and distinctly Japanese onboard experience
If there’s one area for improvement, a proper espresso-based coffee offering would go a long way for this coffee lover!
