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Trip Report: Avianca (B787-8) Ejecutiva (Business) LAX-BOG

December 24, 2018November 28, 2021Posted in Avianca, Star AllianceLeave a comment

The Details

Flight: AV89
Aircraft: B787-8
Class: Ejecutiva (Business)
Seat: 6K
Route: Los Angeles International (LAX)-Bogota El Dorado International (BOG)
Distance: 3,533 miles
Duration: 6hrs 34min
Departure: 8:11PM
Arrival: 5:23AM

The Preflight

This Christmas Eve flight was the beginning of a family trip with my dad, sister, and I in Columbia. We had booked an economy ticket and luckily our bids for business class upgrades cleared 24 hours prior to departure. We arrived at around 3:30PM, four hour before the scheduled departure time of 7:10PM.

Avianca flight operate from the Tom Bradley International Terminal at LAX, however the check-in counters are actually in Terminal 3. Once we got our boarding passes printed and luggage checked, we walked over from T3 to TBIT. Thanks to PreCheck, all three of us were through security in about 15 minutes.

As a member of Star Alliance, Avianca allows all business class passengers to use the Star Alliance Lounge at LAX which is one of my favorites in the United States. There is an outdoor patio with comfortable seating and views of the apron.

There was also ample indoor seating. Given that it was Christmas Eve, the lounge was fairly empty.

The buffet featured a variety of hot Christmas themed foods including ham.

The dessert selection was excellent.

At the entrance, there was a Christmas tree.

With 20 minutes until boarding was scheduled to begin, my family and I made our way to the gate area. The gate area was a complete mess with a ton of people already in line at the door despite multiple announcements that boarding had not yet begun. As Group A was invited to board, we pushed through the masses to get onto the jet bridge.

Our B787-8, registration N785AV, was delivered brand new to Avianca in October 2015. She had a pair of Rolls Royce Trent 1000 engines.

The Flight

Avianca offers a total of 28 business and 222 economy seats on board their B787-8s. The business class seats are the excellent Zodiac Cirrus reverse herringbone seats arranged in a 1-2-1 configuration. Each seat was 21″ wide and had a pitch of 72″.

There are two business class cabins onboard, with five rows between the first and second pair of doors then a second mini-cabin of two rows after the second pair of doors. I was seated in 6K which is the bulkhead seat in the mini-cabin behind door 2R.

One of the perks of being seated in the bulkhead row was that the IFE screen did not have to be stowed for take-off or landing. In addition, the foot cubby felt larger than other non-bulkhead foot cubbies.

The IFE screen was fairly responsive to touch and had good video quality.

Below the footwell was a small ledge perfect for shoes. The literature pocket was next to the foot cubby. Below the tabletop area on the right was a water bottle holder.

The right armrest was adjustable and could be folded up to create more surface area for sleeping. There was a small storage compartment underneath the armrest.

To the left of the seat was the IFE remote, reading light, seat controls, headphone jack, and power ports. There was a 110V outlet in addition to a USB port. There was also a small compartment in which the headphones were stored. I really liked how the IFE remote could double as a second screen when watching something else on the main IFE screen.

The tray table was stored in the tabletop area to the right of the seat. It was very sturdy but the surface area was a bit small.

Awaiting each passenger at their seat was a fairly standard pillow.

There was also a comfortable blanket provided wrapped in a red ribbon.

I found the Avianca branded headphones very low quality and uncomfortable.

Once we were situated in our seats, flight attendants came through the cabin with a tray of predeparture beverages. Option included sparkling wine, water, or orange juice.

Tumi branded amenity kit and a shoe bag were also distributed. Contents of the kit included an eye mask, socks, earplugs, tissues, headphone ear covers, tissues, a pen, dental kit, microfiber cloth, L’Occitane hand cream, and lip balm.

Flight attendants then came through the cabin passing out the menu.

Boarding was complete by 7:55PM and we pushed back at 8:11PM. We had a fairly quick taxi to the runway. I didn’t realize until now just how dirty the windows were.

Our take-off roll was quick and we had a smooth ascent from LAX.

Dinner was immediately served once we reached cruising altitude. A very surly flight attendants came by and asked in broken English what I would like to have. I asked for the steak with red wine sauce and got a blank stare back. After I repeated myself again, the flight attendant went back to the galley and brought me the chicken dish…

Everything was served from a single tray and the meal included two slices of cheese, some packaged crackers, and a Caesar salad. I found the grilled chicken to be pretty flavorless. A cold bread basket was also presented and I went with an olive roll. My Chilean sparkling wine was topped up as well.

There was a single dessert selection which was a raspberry cheesecake. I decided to have a glass of Cognac Courvoisier neat.

Once the table cloths were collected, the flight attendants came through to hand out water bottles.

With about four hours to go, I decided to make my bed a get some sleep. I found the bed, pillow, and blanket to be very comfortable

The footwell was big enough for me to lay on my back and not have my feet feel restricted.

As Christmas Eve turned to Christmas Day, the captain came over the intercom and wishes everyone a Merry Christmas. A few passengers cheered and clapped.

I managed to get almost two hours of sleep into before waking up. Breakfast was served 90 minutes prior to arrival and the only option was a chicken sandwich. I had a cup of black coffee as well.

We landed at 5:23AM local time and taxied directly to a gate. Thanks for the ride!

This was a very comfortable ride down to Columbia from LAX with Avianca. While the food and service were subpar, I appreciated that our upgrade cleared and my family had the chance to snag a reverse herringbone lie-flat seat for a fraction of the actual cost.

Trip Report: Ethiopian Airlines (A350-900) Cloud Nine (Business) ADD-JRO

July 1, 2018November 28, 2021Posted in Ethiopian Airlines, Star Alliance1 Comment

The Details

Flight: ET815
Aircraft: A350-900
Class: Cloud Nine/Business
Seat: 4A
Route: Addis Ababa Bole International (ADD)-Kilimanjaro International (JRO)
Distance: 833 miles
Duration: 2hrs 27min
Departure: 10:56AM
Arrival: 12:48PM

The Preflight

After arriving from my connecting flight from Accra, I had a roughly 12 hour layover in Addis Ababa until my final flight to Kilimanjaro, Tanzania. While I had been provided a hotel night at the Radisson Blu by Ethiopian Airlines, I was waiting for my SO who was arriving on a later flight.

I headed towards to Cloud Nine Lounge 2 which is open to all Ethiopian Airlines business class passengers.

Upon entering, there was a seating area centered around a coffee station.

There was a fair amount of sofa seating.

There was a bar area which was unfortunately closed overnight.

There was also a buffet area that offered an excellent selection of local foods.

I had some delicious beef and chicken dishes with some excellent Injera bread.

While there was no beds available in the lounge, there was a small room with a few recliner chairs. I managed to nap for about three hours until my SO arrived. I met her in the terminal area and we spent the rest of the night and early morning in the gate area.

Once the morning rush of international arrivals began at Addis Ababa, we had excellent views of a few widebodies including B787s and A350s.

Our A350-900, registration ET-AUC, was delivered brand new to Ethiopian Airlines in October 2017. She was named “Abyssinia”.

Boarding was scheduled to begin at 9:40AM local time but was delayed by 30 minutes until 10:10AM. All passengers boarded via door 2L and I turned left towards the business class cabin.

The Flight

Ethiopian Airlines has a total of 30 business class seats onboard their A350s arranged in a 2-2-2 configuration. All of the Cloud Nine seats are between doors 1 and 2 across five rows.

These seats are Parallel Diamond seats with 65″ of pitch and 22″ of width. When fully lie-flat, each seat is 78″ long. Awaiting each passenger at their seat was a pillow, blanket, water bottle, and amenity kit.

The IFE screen was large and responsive. I appreciated the quality of the flight map.

Once most of the business class passengers were seated, flight attendants came through the cabin offering a predeparture drink. Options included champagne, water, or orange juice.

A menu was also provided.

Boarding was completed at 10:26AM but had a long taxi to the runway. Finally, at 10:55 we took off. bound for Tanzania.

Once we reached cruising altitude, the flight attendants came through with a beverage service. I had a second glass of champagne. Warm towels were also distributed.

The appetizer and dessert for the lunch service was all presented on one tray. The starter was a delicious king prawn, the salad was couscous, the dessert vanilla cake, and the cheese course a prepackaged cheese.

For my main dish I went with the salmon fillet with ratatouille and a side of pasta. I found the salmon to be OK.

After the main meal service, flight attendants came through with a coffee and tea cart. I had a cup of black coffee and also had a glass of excellent Ethiopian Merlot.

It was a beautiful ride down to Tanzania.

As we neared JRO, the peak of Kilimanjaro could be seen from the window.

We landed at Kilimanjaro International Airport at 12:48PM and had a very quick taxi to the remote stand. Deplaning was done via two separate air stairs from doors 2L and 4L.

Thanks for the ride!

Ethiopian Airlines offers a great hard product for flight within the continental Africa. I appreciate that they operate newer aircraft such as the A350 and B787 on many of their intra-Africa routes. While the catering could be improved upon, I found this flight to be enjoyable.

Trip Report: Ethiopian Airlines (A350-900) Cloud Nine (Business) ACC-ADD

June 30, 2018November 28, 2021Posted in Ethiopian Airlines, Star Alliance5 Comments

The Details

Flight: ET920
Aircraft: A350-900
Class: Cloud Nine/Business
Seat: 2A
Route: Accra Kotoka International (ACC)-Addis Ababa Bole International (ADD)
Distance: 2,682miles
Duration: 5hr 49min
Departure: 1:12PM (delayed 1hr 9min)
Arrival: 10:09PM

The Preflight

After my month in Cape Coast, Ghana, I was excited to head to Tanzania for my Kilimanjaro climb. The check-in counters for Ethiopian Airlines at Accra Kotoka International Airport were not open until exactly three hours before the flight was scheduled to depart. Once I cleared security, I made my way to one of the two Priority Pass lounges in the airport.

The first lounge I went to had a good amount of seating but had no views of the outside. I was the only passenger in the lounge during my time inside.

I then headed towards the second Priority Pass lounge at ACC. This lounge was on the second floor of the terminal and had views of the apron. There was a very large amount of seating in the lounge with comfortable sofas.

Interestingly, there was a room with AstroTurf that was behind glass windows. The only thing inside was a large Turkish Airlines B737 model.

Food offerings included a variety of fried foods and pastries.

There was also a respectable alcohol selection and an espresso machine.

Boarding was scheduled to begin at 11:35AM and so I left the lounge at 11:30. However, once I got to the gate, the staff announced that the flight was delayed by an hour. At 12:25PM, boarding finally began and passengers were directed to buses that would carry us to the remote stand.

Our beautiful A350-900, registration ET-AVB, was delivered brand new to Ethiopian Airlines in February 2018. She was named “Gelada Baboon”.

The Flight

Ethiopian Airlines offers a total of 30 business class seats in a 2-2-2 configuration between the first and second set of doors on their A350s. There are also 313 economy seats. The business class seats are B/E Parallel Diamonds which are 22″ wide and have 65″ of pitch. When fully flat, the bed length was a total of 78″ long. The seat controls were located in the left hand armrest as well as the IFE remote.

At each was there was a very comfortable pillow and thick blanket along with a green amenity kit. Water bottles were also at each seat.

Each seat also had a very large and responsive IFE screen. Next to the screen was a coat hook.

The very friendly flight attendants came through the cabin with predeparture beverages once most of the passengers got situated. Options included champagne, orange juice, or water.

A menu was also provided.

We pushed back at at 1:12PM local time and had a very quick five minute taxi to runway 3. The climb out of Accra was slightly bumpy with clouds obscuring any views.

Service began 30 minutes after take-off with some hot towels. A beverage cart then came through. Instead of the traditional nuts, Ethiopian decides to serve a very unique roasted teff which was delicious. I had a second glass of champagne.

We encountered some severe turbulence after the beverage service and service was temporarily suspended for safety reasons. After about 45 minutes, the fasten seat belt sign was finally turned off. Flight attendants then came through the cabin and set up tablecloths for the main meal service.

There was only one option for the appetizer which was a cold sliced beef sirloin. I found the beef to be very dry and flavorless. There was also a small side salad and cold bread roll.

For my main I had the grilled beef steak with pepper sauce, mixed sautéed vegetables, and roasted wedge potatoes. This was a rather disappointing dish as the beef was incredibly tough. To pair with the beef, I switched to the Ethiopian Merlot which was excellent.

Once the main dish plates were cleared, flight attendants came through with a dessert cart. Options included a cherry pie, cheese plate, or fresh fruit. I had both the cherry pie and the cheese plate. While the cherry pie was disappointing, I enjoyed the cheese plate.

By the time the meal service concluded the sun had set below the horizon. Flight attendants made one last pass though the cabin with coffee and tea but I declined.

I set up my bed and put on the airshow. As with all Parallel Diamond seats, I found the footwell very restrictive and uncomfortable. I managed to get maybe an hour nap in before the cabin was prepared for landing.

We landed at 10:09PM local time in Addis Ababa and parked at a remote stand. Deplaning was done via air stairs and all the business class passengers were directed to a dedicated business class bus.

Since my layover in Addis Ababa was going to be roughly 12 hours, Ethiopian Airlines was generous enough to offer me a hotel accommodation at the Radisson Blu.

In the end, I found this business class flight with Ethiopian perfectly acceptable. While the food and seat were mediocre, at the end of the day, I still enjoyed this A350 experience. I also must commend Ethiopian Airlines for giving business class passengers overnight accommodations at respectable hotels if they have long connections.

Trip Report: South African Airways (A330-300) Business IAD-ACC

May 30, 2018November 28, 2021Posted in South African Airways, Star AllianceLeave a comment

The Details

Flight: SA210
Aircraft: A330-300
Class: Business
Seat: 2A
Route: Washington Dulles International (IAD)-Accra Kotoka International (ACC)
Distance: 5,296miles
Duration: 14hr 10min
Departure: 11:15PM (5hr 6min delay)
Arrival: 1:04PM

The Preflight

This trip was going to be the very first time that I would be to Africa and I could not have been more excited to take this flight. My connecting flight from San Diego to Washington Dulles aboard a United Airlines B737-900ER got in at about 3:40PM which gave me less than an hour to connect to this flight.

Since my SAN-IAD flight gate was at gate D12, I had to hustle my way over to the B concourses which took about 30 minutes.

Once I got to the gate, agents informed me that I had to undergo a document check and re-print the boarding pass that had been issued in San Diego. Had I had enough time to visit a lounge, I would have had access to the Turkish Airlines Lounge near gate B37.

Our A330-300, registration ZS-SXJ, was leased to South African Airways and delivered new in 2016.

Boarding began promptly at 4:30PM, one hour and 10 minutes before the scheduled departure time of 5:40PM local time.

This plane featured the Thompson Vantage XL seat, which is South African Airways newest business class seat. Each seat features 45″ of pitch and is 78″ long when completely lie-flat. The seats were a generous 24″ wide as well. Since the seats are staggered, the even numbered rows were closer to the window while odd numbered rows were closer to the aisle. I was seated in 2A.

This was a very premium heavy aircraft with a total of 46 business class seats spread across 12 rows in a 1-2-1 configuration. The first eight rows of business class were between the first and second pair of doors. Behind door 2 was a mini-cabin of 16 business class seats. In addition, there were 203 economy seats in a 2-4-2 configuration.

The crisp IFE screen was massive at 18″. Unfortunately, SAA does not offer gate-to-gate IFE and it was disabled while we were on the ground. Next to the screen was a USB port.

Below the IFE screen was the footwell which I found to be restrictive.

There was a large work space next to each seat. The 21″ tray table popped out from under the work space. Next to the tray table release button were some seat buttons and a reading light button.

SAA also installed a small mirror which flipped up from the armrest. The IFE remote was located in this area.

Additional seat features included a touch screen seat control, reading light, universal power outlet, audio socket, and another USB port. There was also a storage space and a water bottle holder.

Once I settled into my seat, flight attendants came through the cabin with some predeparture beverages. I had a glass of sparkling wine. Other choices were orange juice or water.

Just as we were about to pushback, a flash thunderstorm appeared over Dulles International Airport and all traffic ground to a halt. The captain came over the intercom to inform us that ATC had decided to ground all aircraft for the time being. They did not have an estimation on how long the weather delay would be.

Once we were getting close to an hour at the gate with the doors closed other passengers began to get rowdy. Flight attendants turned on the IFE entertainment in an effort to appease them.

We finally pushed back about two hours after our scheduled departure time at 7:30PM. While we were taxiing to the runway there were a few loud bangs and our plane came to a sudden stop. The captain came over the intercom again and announced that there was a problem with the brakes… Great. We were going to have to return to the gate and have the maintenance crew check out the plane.

By this time, some passengers became very loud and angry. One passenger made it all the way to the front of the plane to yell at the flight attendants, stating that she was both hungry and thirsty. I must give props to the purser who quickly defused the situation by announcing they would come through the cabin with some water. He was also going to ask the captain if they could begin the dinner service on the ground.

The maintenance crew eventually got onto the plane around 8PM and walked back and forth between the cockpit and jet bridge a few times.

Once the captain gave his OK to begin serving food on the ground, flight attendants came through the business class cabin and set-up tablecloths. No menus were distributed and no hot towels were offered. Appetizer options included “salmon”, “salad”, or “soup”. By this time it was 8:54PM, a full four hours since we had boarded.

The smoked salmon was very tasty and flavorful. Unfortunately, no bread was offered. I also asked the flight attendants if I could have something to drink. They replied that the only drink option available at this time was water.

The purser also passed through the cabin asking each passenger what they would like to have for their main dish. Options included “beef”, “fish”, or “risotto”.

I chose the “risotto” which was surprisingly delicious with shaved black truffle and sundried tomatoes.

For dessert, there was a choice of key lime pie, strawberry cake, or a cheese plate. I went with the cheese plate which was fairly basic.

Once dinner service was completed, the captain announced some good news at 10:59PM. The maintenance crew had fixed the problem with the brakes and we had been given clearance for departure. Finally, after over five hours, we were on our way to Ghana.

After watching the flight map for a while, I decided to watch Black Panther which was fun.

Since dinner had already been served, the crew came through the cabin with some chocolates once we reached cruising altitude. There was also a full beverage service.

Once I finished Black Panther, I asked for the crew to set up my bed. I appreciated the fact that SAA offers a turndown service. There was a mattress pad, blanket, and pillow which were all very comfortable.

I found the foot well fairly restrictive. Laying supine on my back, I was unable to move my feet at all. Despite the restricted foot well, I managed to sleep well for almost the entire flight.

I awoke with about two hours left in the flight. The views of the Atlantic Ocean were stunning.

Breakfast was served very shortly afterwards. The three choices were egg frittata, oatmeal, or French toast. I went with the egg frittata which was served with two goat breakfast sausages, roasted mushrooms, and some potatoes. A bread basket was also offered which included croissants and muffins. There was also a side of plain Greek yogurt. I have to say this breakfast was very hearty and yummy. It was all washed down with an excellent black coffee.

As we approached Accra we flew over the lush Ghanaian forestland and some villages.

On approach, we had some great views of Accra.

After landing, we taxied to a remote stand and deplaned via air stairs. There was no dedicated business class bus and we waited on the hot tarmac until the bus was full. Our flight ended up being five hours and 40 minutes late.

Thanks for the ride!

I must say that I was glad to get off this plane. The thunderstorm followed by a mechanical issue made the entire experience including dining on the ground an unfortunate but unique experience. What South African Airways did well was the seat, food, and service. I hope to be able to fly them again!

Trip Report: LOT Polish (B787-8) Business WAW-ORD

February 25, 2018November 28, 2021Posted in LOT Polish, Star Alliance1 Comment

The Details

Flight: LO3
Aircraft: B787-8
Class: Business
Seat: 1B
Route: Warsaw Chopin (WAW)-Chicago O’Hare International (ORD)
Distance: 4,739 miles
Duration: 9hr 39min
Departure: 5:17PM
Arrival: 7:40PM

The Preflight

My connecting flight from Frankfurt landed at 12:30PM local time at Warsaw which gave me 4.5 hours until my final flight of the trip to Chicago O’Hare. This trip had originally began in Tokyo and I was ready to return home to Chicago.

I headed towards the flagship LOT Polish Business Lounge. The lounge itself actually felt crowded and tight with seats packed closely together.

Food options included a variety of local Polish foods which I loved. There was a delicious red cabbage stew, rice, and chicken dish.

There was also a build-your-own noodle station.

Snack options included peanuts, croissant, fruit, and chocolate wafers.

There was a refrigerator with an assortment of cold cuts, cheese, salmon, hummus, and olives.

Drink options included a self-serve coffee machine, sparking water, wine, and hard liquor.

Another refrigerator contained juice, beer, and dessert.

To start, I had a plate of cold cuts and cheese. I appreciated the variety available.

Then I had a bowl of mixed hot food including cabbage, carrots, and chicken.

For dessert I had a a strawberry chocolate cake and vanilla cake. Both were excellent.

With about an hour until boarding was scheduled to begin, I went to take a shower. The shower room was basic.

After passing through the Schengen customs area, I made my way to the gate. There were quiet a few LOT Polish regional jets including this baby E170.

Our beautiful B787-8 Dreamliner, registration SP-LRE, was delivered to LOT Polish in 2013.

The Flight

LOT Polish has Zodiac Aura Lite aboard their B787-8s/9s. Seats are arranged in a 2-2-2 configuration.

These seats are very similar to Qatar Airways’ older generation business class seats. While not all seats have direct aisle access, the benefit to this particular seat is that there is infinite leg room. This seat is extremely comfortable in bed mode because of the lack of any restrictive foot cubby.

When fully lie-flat the bed length is 79″. Each seat is 23″ wide. One negative to the seat is a lack of privacy. It felt very exposed, especially in the aisle seat.

There are a total of 18 business class seats in a 2-2-2 configuration spread across three rows. In addition, there are 21 premium economy seats in a 2-3-2 configuration and 213 economy seats in a 3-3-3 configuration.

Under the center armrest was a small storage space with a water bottle holder and IFE remote.

There was a power outlet and USB port under the armrest as well. The seat controls in the center armrest included lumbar support.

The tray table emerged from the center table and was massive.

Awaiting each business class passenger at their seats was an amenity kit which was well provisioned. There was a sock, eye mask, hair comb, shoe horn, ear plugs, dental kit, mouth wash, facial tissue, and nail file.

There was also a pair of LOT branded headphones that were not as good as my pair of Bose headphones.

Once I got situated, flight attendants came through the cabin with predeparture beverages. Option included champagne or water. I went with a glass of champagne.

Then flight attendants came through with a small amuse bouche.

Menus were distributed as well.

As well as the drinks menu.

Doors closed at 5:17PM and we pushed back on time. After a very short taxi to the runway we blasted off towards Chicago.

Once we reached 10,000ft I popped out the IFE screen from the center armrest and I pulled up the flight map.

Inflight service began with a round drinks accompanied by a ramekin of cold nuts. I opted for a glass of champagne.

For my first course, I went with the pork tenderloin served with parsley pesto and green lettuce. It was accompanied by a mixed salad with Jantar cheese.

Then I had the beef tenderloin with plum sauce that was beautifully plated. The sauce was very flavorful however the beef was cooked medium.

To finish dinner, I had both the cheese plate and a refreshing lime dessert.

Stuffed full from the big dinner, I set up my bed for sleep. I must have fallen asleep immediately because I awoke to the flight attendants preparing the cabin for the pre-landing service.

Since our flight would be landing in the evening in Chicago, dinner was served again. This time the dishes were fixed and there were no other options. All of the dishes were served together on a tray.

The roast beef with caramelized apples and pomegranate was surprisingly delicious. The salmon in teriyaki sauce was also delicious. For the main, it was lemon risotto which was flavorful as well. There was a small fruit salad for dessert.

We had a smooth approach to runway 28C at O’Hare and landed at 7:40PM. After a brief taxi to Terminal 5 we got into the gate. I quickly made my way through Customs thanks to Global Entry and was finally on my way home.

I must say this was a flight that I went into with low expectations and emerged impressed. While the seat lacked direct aisle access and privacy, it was extremely comfortable for sleeping in and felt like an actual bed. Not to mention both dinner services were fantastic. I loved all of the flavors the LOT Polish incorporated into the meal and was probably one of the best business class meals I have had. Well done!

Trip Report: LOT Polish (E195) Euro Business FRA-WAW

February 25, 2018November 28, 2021Posted in LOT Polish, Star Alliance1 Comment

The Details

Flight: LO382
Aircraft: E195
Seat: 5A
Class: Euro Business
Route: Frankfurt am Main (FRA)-Warsaw Chopin (WAW)
Distance: 558 miles
Duration: 1hr 51 min
Departure: 11:08AM
Arrival: 12:33PM

The Preflight

After arriving from Tokyo I spent a few hours in the Lufthansa Business Lounge.

Since it was 6AM, breakfast was being served. Options included croissants, bread, cold cuts, sliced cheese, and hot scrambled eggs.

There was an open bar as well with bartender service. The bar also had a LavAzza machine which made excellent espresso.

I had about five hours before my next flight and had the chance to take a shower. The room was very clean but very drab.

About 50 minutes before departure I made my way to the gate and was bused to the aircraft at a remote stand.

The Flight

LOT Polish has 20 business class seats aboard their E195s. Seats are arranged in a 2-2 configuration and are identical to economy seats. The difference in business class being that the other seat is blocked giving you entire row.

Pitch was a standard 31 inches and each seat was 17.3 inches wide.

There was a 110V outlet below each seat. There was also a standard folding table.

I was seated in row 5, the last row of the business class “cabin”. The flight ended up going out entirely full.

There was no predeparture beverage service offered on this flight. Once all passengers were boarded (two busses), we had a quick taxi and take-off.

Our flight path brought us just over downtown Frankfurt.

The in-flight service began with a beverage service. I had a cup of water.

It was a very short flight to Warsaw from Frankfurt. However, a meal was still offered. I appreciated that table cloths were also set up. The meal included smoked salmon and pate. It was delicious and incredibly fresh. Warmed bread was also handed out and I had an excellent whole wheat roll. A small Lindt chocolate was also included.

After the meal a second beverage service was offered. I had a cup of stiff black coffee.

Very shortly after the meal service concluded we began our descent into Warsaw.

We landed on time and arrived at a gate. I made my way to the LOT Polish lounge before my flight back home to Chicago.

This was a perfectly acceptable intra-European business class flight. While the seats are no equal to the Domestic First class seats aboard American carriers, the service was truly phenomenal.

Trip Report: All Nippon Airways (B777-300ER) First HND-FRA

February 24, 2018November 28, 2021Posted in All Nippon Airways, Star Alliance3 Comments

The Details

Flight: NH203
Aircraft: B777-300ER
Class: First
Seat: 2A
Route: Tokyo-Haneda International (HND)-Frankfurt am Main (FRA)
Distance: 5,823miles
Duration: 12hr 10min
Departure: 1:42AM
Arrival: 5:03AM

The Preflight

After spending the week in Tokyo with my family I was ready to return home to Chicago the long way via Europe. I was pretty excited for this flight as it would be my first ever first class experience internationally. It took roughly an hour to get from our AirBnb in downtown Shinjuku to Haneda Airport via the Airport Limousine Bus.

There was a dedicated First Class check-in counter. Once I get my boarding passes I was escorted to the premium passenger security checkpoint.

Security screening and customs took just 5 minutes and after another 5 minutes I arrived at the ANA Suite Lounge.

Since it was about dinner time I headed to the a la carte dining area. It was fully staffed and had made to order food.

I was seated immediately and offered a glass of champagne.

The menus is as follows.

I opted for the Hokkaido Scallops and Whelk with Potato salad which was phenomenal. The scallops were cooked perfectly.

There was also a buffet.

Still feeling a bit peckish, I tried the buffet offerings which were also delicious.

There was also a large seating area with expansive views of the apron.

And also many individual cubicles.

Inside the lounge was another area of sofas.

There was also some high-top tables. I was in the lounge during the 2018 Winter Olympics and the Japanese national team was playing.

There was another dining area with a buffet. There was hot food available here.

There was also a made-to-order noodle bar.

I decided to try the famous ANA curry which was very good.

The dessert was also irresistible and topped with gold flakes.

The showers were located between the two dining areas.

I put my name on the list for the showers and was handed a buzzer.

The showers were very nicely provisioned.

Once showered I decided to make my way to the gate. Our flight had been delayed by 30 minutes.

Our bird, JA784A, was a B777-300ER delivered to ANA in December 2012.

The Flight

ANA features eight first-class seats aboard their B777-300ERs in a 1-2-1 configuration.

Seat Map of Boeing 777-300ER (212 seats)

Each seat is similar to a “cube” with the seat surrounded on both sides with a solid wooden panel.

The seat itself was massive, 38 inches of width and more than enough legroom.

Each suite was extremely private and I barely saw the passenger sitting across the aisle from me.

The IFE screen was massive and in front of it was a nice storage space.

Below the screen was the enormous foot well and additional floor storage space.

There was also a small drawer.

There was also a small tray table that folded out.

There was a touch screen control pad for the seat as well.

To the left and right of the seat were numerous concealed storage bins. One was perfect for my glasses and the other had a hook for the headphones.

The IFE remote was in a separate compartment with a fold-able mirror.

Each seat also had a USB port and 110V outlet.

At each seat was a small pillow and light blanket. Thick and comfortable pajamas were also provided.

The Samsonite amenity kit was well stocked with The Ginza cosmetics, a tooth brush, socks, eye mask, and ear plugs.

The flight attendants on this flight were exceptional. I was greeted at the door and escorted to my seat. Upon sitting down I was immediately offered a glass of water.

Once situated, I was asked what I’d like to drink and I opted for a glass of Krug champagne. It was poured from the bottle at my seat.

This would be the first of many glasses of Krug on this flight…

Menus were also distributed. This specific flight to Frankfurt, NH203, leaves at 12:55 AM and thus the dining options are very limited compared to other ANA First Class flights. There was no elaborate wagyu beef or caviar service. Most passengers went straight to sleep and I was the only one to have dinner.

There was however, the full wine and beverage offerings.

Right after take-off light attendants came by and asked if I would like to have dinner and what I would like to drink. I had my second glass of Krug along with the amuse of truffle-flavored hummus, uncured duck ham, apricot and butter roll, and soft smoked scallop with orange sauce. The flavors were very interesting.

The table was then set for dinner. I was presented with a palate cleanser.

For my main course I opted for the Japanese option of grilled blackthroat seaperch. It came with steamed rice, miso soup, natto (fermented soybeans), and salted kombu help.

I also had an excellent cheese plate featuring a blue cheese from Hokkaido.

I also had some vanilla ice cream with another glass of Krug.

And finally to finish I was given a plate of petits fours.

By the end of the meal I was stuffed. Flight attendants passed out bottles of water.

As I went to the lavatory to brush my teeth and change into the pajamas flight attendants made my bed.

Both the comforter and mattress pad were excellent. However, as with most Asian airlines, the cabin temperature was kept very high. I ended up not using the comforter because I started sweating.

Throughout the flight the lavatory was kept immaculate. Each time a passenger used it, a flight attendant would go in and clean it and leave a fresh seat cover on the toilet. There was also a bidet in addition to real hand towels. Mouth wash, tooth brushes, and tooth paste were also provided.

I was incredibly tired by the time I settled into bed. I fell asleep and slept for the majority of the flight; waking up with about 90 minutes into Frankfurt. By then it was too late to order any breakfast and I just watched the airshow as we approached Frankfurt.

This flight was the first time that I was seated in an international First Class cabin. I must admit, I was a little bit timid and almost afraid to speak to the flight attendants to ask for more food or drinks. This certainly diminished the first class experience and I wish I had the chance to try more of the amazing food and alcohol selection. However, I was really grateful to experience this flight and look forward to flying ANA First Class again!