ANA First Class “The Suite”: NRT-ORD B777-300ER

After a wonderful experience last year, I had to try ANA “The Suite” again. This time it would be an evening flight departing from Tokyo. I was able to lock in the one-way First Class flight using 121,000 United miles + $49.85 in taxes for NRT-ORD-SAN, but the ORD-SAN segment was in Economy.

From Shinjuku station I hopped on the Narita Express (NEX) and opted for Green Class. I had multiple bags and the yen was strong so I tried it out. The Green Class train car wasn’t full and definitely worth it for the experience. The check-in experience for ANA First Class passengers is amazing. They have their own dedicated area which feels like a hotel lobby along with private security. Same as I experienced back in 2015 although this time they stopped wrapping luggage in plastic. I was able to tag my 3 bags all the way to SAN, but I’d need to collect and clear them via customs in ORD. I was through security in no time as there wasn’t anyone waiting and then quickly passed immigration.

I had won the Duty Free whisky lottery for the opportunity to buy a bottle of Hibiki 30 so I headed over to Japan Duty Free – North 2 to purchase it. They select 1 winner per month and I was the lucky winner for January 2024. The clerk verified my passport and other paperwork to ensure I was the selected winner. She rang up the bottle and it was 250,000 yen which was around $1,700 USD at the time of purchase. It was the Japan Airport Limited Edition Bottle “The Beauty of Nature” which is made by Kagami Crystal for Suntory. I did a bit more shopping and came across the last bottle of Yamazaki Smoky Batch at the store near Gate 44 so I had to buy it as well. With so many bags I was done shopping and headed to the lounge.

The ANA Suite Lounge at Narita is definitely worth the detour. I was able to grab a shower to freshen up before my flight which is always a nice touch. Food is cooked to order and you can order via the QR code located at your seat in the lounge. The menu is extensive. I opted for the Sushi Set & Hamburger Steak as my lunch. You’re notified when your order it ready for pickup from the kitchen. While I waited for my order I grabbed a drink of Hibiki Blender’s Choice. An ANA A380 was parked outside the window I was seated at which only operates their HNL-NRT route. The food was ready in no time and it was delicious. Wow! Restaurant quality just without a waiter. I wanted to save room for the flight, but it was so good and airplane food can be hit or miss.

Boarding commenced on time and First Class passengers were invited to board after the pre-boarding process was complete. I was greeted and shown to my seat, 2A. Champagne was offered as a welcome drink which you can’t turn down. Pajamas, slippers, an amenity kit, noise cancelling headphones and a WiFi voucher were provided as well. There was only 2 other passengers in First Class so the flight attendant mentioned my bed would be made in Seat 2D later in the flight.

 

The food and drink never disappoint on ANA First Class. Checkout these menus! Hibiki 17 was loaded on this route and they ended up running out, it’s just too good 🙂

Dinner was served after takeoff and I opted for the Japanese option. The amuse along with a glass of Hibiki 17 was a great start. They still use the mini bottle for Hibiki 17 which is an awesome touch. The Zensai followed which was so fresh and allowed a small sample of different dishes. Owan soup was served with beautiful vegetables and I was starting to get full. Next up, Otsukuri, was my favorite dish as it’s a selection of sashimi which included Pacific Bluefin Tuna for January. The main course was served which include Wagyu Beef and Flounder. Yum! To top it off, dessert was delicious. After the meal service, I decided to take some photos of my new prized purchase, Hibiki 30. The limited edition bottle is so elegant. The flight crew wanted photos of it as well which I happily invited them to take photos. They were in shock that I had won the lottery to buy it.

I was headed off to bed after letting dinner digest. The flight attendant prepared my bed in Seat 2D. The doors on the suite closed to add additional privacy. I was able to get a solid 5.5 hours of sleep.

Prior to landing, they offered a light meal. I opted for a Garden Salad and Hamburger. Getting adjusted back into the American cuisine 😉 The burger was delicious.

Landing in Chicago during winter provided a great view of the skyline and a frozen Lake Michigan. We landed into ORD on time, but unfortunately our gate was occupied. ANA only has one gate and the flight to Tokyo was delayed in boarding. We ended up on the tarmac for over 1 hour. I had a tight connection, but with 45min until boarding I disembarked the flight and still made it. I ran to immigration and used Global Entry then my bags were first off the baggage carousel being in First Class. Pure luck I made the connection to SAN. All the stars aligned otherwise I’d be stuck flying the next day or buying a flight on AA.

 

Conclusion: Round 2 of “The Suite” on ANA, still amazing and better than the redeye last time! The food and beverage is worth taking a daytime flight to get the full experience. The crew was top notch and I can’t wait to fly it again next year. Blog post coming soon on how to secure ANA First Class using ANA miles (via AMEX points transfer) 1 year in advance… It’s worth planning ahead!