On my recent trip to Japan I took a domestic flight on ANA (All Nippon Airlines) between Tokyo's Haneda airport and Osaka Itami Airport. Here is a quick look at the journey!
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| Arriving at the airport bus in the early morning, Shinjuku - Tokyo |
I took the airport bus near Shinjuku station to the airport. The ride at 5.15am was pretty quick and I was inside Haneda less than 30 minutes later. I was initially a bit confused about the check-in procedures but eventually found some ANA staff who were extremely polite and checked me in and took my baggage. Then it was time to head through security and onto the lounge...
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| Electronic display/map showing the location of your flights departure gate! |
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| Lounge entrance |
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| Sterile looking ANA lounge |
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| Lounge drinks |
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| Lounge seating |
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| Boarding Pass |
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| View from lounge as the sun rises |
The lounge was really disappointing. There was basically zero food options and just some machine coffee and juices and similar. Very very poor as I had been hoping to have some breakfast. I really do appreciate the fabulous domestic lounges we have in Australia when I get to a lounge like this one. Needless to say I did not hang around for long and instead went back to the main terminal area and purchased a ham sandwich for breakfast.
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| My bird - awaiting departure (Star Alliance Colours) |
I went and sat around the gate area and noticed my flight today was being operated by a 777-200 in Star Alliance colour sceheme. Whilst I was waiting I saw a couple of ANA 787's, including this one which was being pushed back. This is my first ever sighting of a 787 in the flesh!
THE FLIGHT
Airline: ANA All Nippon
Flight: NH13
Seat: 13A (Economy)
Aircraft: B777-200 Domestic Config. JA711A - 7 years old
Scheduled Departure: 07.00
Actual Departure: 07.00
Scheduled Arrival: 08.10
Actual Arrival: 08.07
Passenger Load: 50 out of 412 (just 12%)
Boarding was soon called and I made my way onboard with approximately 50 other passengers. I guess Sunday morning at 7am is not the most popular time for business travel on this route. I don't recall being on a more empty flight on an aircraft of this capacity. I estimate just 12% of the seats were taken. I immediately noticed the 10 abreast seating configuration which ANA use on their domestic 777s. I find it unacceptable on long haul but for this short flight it wasn't too bad. Particularly since the seat beside me was vacant.
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| 777 Seating |
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| Another 787 parked beside us |
The menu was available in the seat pocket along with the inflight magazine. Overhead screens were showing some short programs but I didn't bother watching. Instead I spent my time looking at the passing scenery out the window.
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| Menu - hope you can read Japanese |
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| Ground Crew wave and also bow in Japan - very nice! |
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| Taxi to new runway we see a Singapore A330 |
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| Ahead of us is the JAL oneworld 767, appropriate since we are in Star Alliance livery |
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| About to line up Runway 05 |
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| Up and away! |
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| Through the cloud base |
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| leg room - tight but sufficient for 1 hour sector |
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| The safety card |
Service on this short sector consisted of.... a drink. Mine was orange juice, but tea and coffee was also available. No snacks, no food at all. You certainly have to fend for yourself in the catering department on these short flights in economy. Between the lounge and the flight itself I got basically nothing.
Descent soon commenced and I had some amazing views of the concrete jungle that is OSAKA. I have never seen so much cement and buildings so close together. They really don't seem to have any large park areas at all, other than what you can see around the Osaka Castle.
We had a nice smooth landing and headed to the gate. Being a domestic airport there was nothing but JAL and ANA tails to be seen. Many of them of course are wide bodies which are used frequently on domestic flights in Japan.
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| Arriving at the gate |
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| Crew waiting to open the door |
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| Here we are! |
I was soon out of my seat and heading down the jetway and on to baggage claim. My first experience of Japan domestic travel left me feeling very underwhelmed. It's basically a low cost carrier shuttle flight with next to no frills. Still, it was very efficient and got me there in one piece and on time. I'd probably take the bullet train next time.
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| My bird takes a rest |
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| Baggage Claim |
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