On the airplane
So, boarding onto the ANA 787 was rather orderly. The flight crew loaded the Business Class and Economy Plus passengers first , as well as those needing extra assistance. When it cam to the General boarding, there was no call for zones or sections or rows - it was just “General Boarding”, and we all headed to the gate. Fortunately, a cue began ahead of time, and we got into it near the beginning. We made our way to our seat. The 787 is a wide body airliner, and seemed to be pretty roomy. This airplane was configured as a 3x3x3 (three seats on each side of the aisle, and three seats in the middle) Our seats were in row 25 , seats D and F - so we had an aisle and middle seat. This was the front section of Economy. There was plenty of overhead storage for the suitcase. The seat pitch seemed very generous - probably 33 or 34 inches. Each seat had a seat-back entertainment system. Not only did it have a selection of movies (mostly international), but it also had games, a moving map of where we were), live TV broadcasts from CNN, Sport 24, and NHK (Japanese news network). Each seat also came with a set of cheap headphones, and a small pillow and blanket.
The crew went through their check lists and pre-flight preparation. Instructions were given in Japanese and English. The flight attendants also came through right away with our Japan Immigration forms (one for each of us), and a Japanese Customs Declaration form (one for both of us). We’ll have to complete the form before arriving at Narita.
Push back from the gate was about 20 minutes late. No big deal for a 10 hour flight.
We taxi’ed out to what I believe was 16L. As we “lined up and waited”, I noted a long string of airplanes on the taxiway that were behind us. 6 Alaska planes, a Delta, and a Southwest. We were the larges plane of all of them. Kinda felt good to be the big dog in the pack.
When the 787 spun up the Rolls Royce engines, it wasn’t nearly as loud as I had expected. The newer technology engines and this aircraft did a real good job of dampening the engine noise. The take off was very smooth, and it seemed like it only took a few minutes before we reached 10,000 feet, and the Fasten Seat Belt sign was turned off.
The aircrew got right to work, bringing a bag of rice crackers/nuts and water through the cabin. They also brought a small moist towelette to wipe your face with. Nice touch for Economy.
As I explored the seat back entertainment, and played some Blackjack and a round of Golf, the flight crew came through with the first beverage service. It had the usual stock of soda, water, or juices. They also offered alcohol - wine and beer. And, it was included - no sliding of a card for that extra. So, I decided to try my first Sapporo beer. They gave me the whole can, and it was rather good.
Donna and I started to watch a movie on the seat back system - “Going in Style”, the movie where Morgan Freeman, Alan Arkin, and *********** decide to rob a bank after their pension was dissolved in a corporate shell game. Not a bad flick.
Lunch service began during the movie. The flight attendant came by, row by row, and provided a plastic menu with the current offerings. The seat back menu wasn’t exactly up to date - it only provided information about having a “Japanese” meal or an “International” meal. The menu for today was either Mackerel with rice and salads or a Chicken/Beef meatball meal. Donna took the mackerel, and tried the meatballs.
We weren’t disappointed. I think this was the best in-flight meal I’ve ever had.
The meal came with a hot entree - Meatballs in a tangy sweet sauce and veggies, and tater tots. I didn’t see that coming. It also came with some cold noodles and a noodle sauce and packet of dried seaweed; a small bowl with potato salad, pork slice, and cantaloupe; another small bowl with a candied/pickled mushroom-type vegetable, and a small dinner roll. The beverage cart immediately followed, and I had another Sapporo. She also offered a vegetable soup in a cup. The silverware was real metal cutlery - albeit, the knife was VERY rounded on the end, and not too sharp. For economy class flying, it was a great meal.
Oh - and it was followed up with Haggen Das ice cream cups. 1++++++++.
We went back to the movie and I suspect we’ll get some sleep. Yea, I’m typing this at 36,000 feet, somewhere off the southwest coast of Alaska. No Wifi - I’m just typing this in a word processor for now, and will cut/paste into the blog later. If anything else of significance comes up during the flight, I’ll add it. Otherwise - next stop, Narita Airport.
So, boarding onto the ANA 787 was rather orderly. The flight crew loaded the Business Class and Economy Plus passengers first , as well as those needing extra assistance. When it cam to the General boarding, there was no call for zones or sections or rows - it was just “General Boarding”, and we all headed to the gate. Fortunately, a cue began ahead of time, and we got into it near the beginning. We made our way to our seat. The 787 is a wide body airliner, and seemed to be pretty roomy. This airplane was configured as a 3x3x3 (three seats on each side of the aisle, and three seats in the middle) Our seats were in row 25 , seats D and F - so we had an aisle and middle seat. This was the front section of Economy. There was plenty of overhead storage for the suitcase. The seat pitch seemed very generous - probably 33 or 34 inches. Each seat had a seat-back entertainment system. Not only did it have a selection of movies (mostly international), but it also had games, a moving map of where we were), live TV broadcasts from CNN, Sport 24, and NHK (Japanese news network). Each seat also came with a set of cheap headphones, and a small pillow and blanket.
The crew went through their check lists and pre-flight preparation. Instructions were given in Japanese and English. The flight attendants also came through right away with our Japan Immigration forms (one for each of us), and a Japanese Customs Declaration form (one for both of us). We’ll have to complete the form before arriving at Narita.
Push back from the gate was about 20 minutes late. No big deal for a 10 hour flight.
We taxi’ed out to what I believe was 16L. As we “lined up and waited”, I noted a long string of airplanes on the taxiway that were behind us. 6 Alaska planes, a Delta, and a Southwest. We were the larges plane of all of them. Kinda felt good to be the big dog in the pack.
When the 787 spun up the Rolls Royce engines, it wasn’t nearly as loud as I had expected. The newer technology engines and this aircraft did a real good job of dampening the engine noise. The take off was very smooth, and it seemed like it only took a few minutes before we reached 10,000 feet, and the Fasten Seat Belt sign was turned off.
The aircrew got right to work, bringing a bag of rice crackers/nuts and water through the cabin. They also brought a small moist towelette to wipe your face with. Nice touch for Economy.
As I explored the seat back entertainment, and played some Blackjack and a round of Golf, the flight crew came through with the first beverage service. It had the usual stock of soda, water, or juices. They also offered alcohol - wine and beer. And, it was included - no sliding of a card for that extra. So, I decided to try my first Sapporo beer. They gave me the whole can, and it was rather good.
Donna and I started to watch a movie on the seat back system - “Going in Style”, the movie where Morgan Freeman, Alan Arkin, and *********** decide to rob a bank after their pension was dissolved in a corporate shell game. Not a bad flick.
Lunch service began during the movie. The flight attendant came by, row by row, and provided a plastic menu with the current offerings. The seat back menu wasn’t exactly up to date - it only provided information about having a “Japanese” meal or an “International” meal. The menu for today was either Mackerel with rice and salads or a Chicken/Beef meatball meal. Donna took the mackerel, and tried the meatballs.
We weren’t disappointed. I think this was the best in-flight meal I’ve ever had.
The meal came with a hot entree - Meatballs in a tangy sweet sauce and veggies, and tater tots. I didn’t see that coming. It also came with some cold noodles and a noodle sauce and packet of dried seaweed; a small bowl with potato salad, pork slice, and cantaloupe; another small bowl with a candied/pickled mushroom-type vegetable, and a small dinner roll. The beverage cart immediately followed, and I had another Sapporo. She also offered a vegetable soup in a cup. The silverware was real metal cutlery - albeit, the knife was VERY rounded on the end, and not too sharp. For economy class flying, it was a great meal.
Oh - and it was followed up with Haggen Das ice cream cups. 1++++++++.
We went back to the movie and I suspect we’ll get some sleep. Yea, I’m typing this at 36,000 feet, somewhere off the southwest coast of Alaska. No Wifi - I’m just typing this in a word processor for now, and will cut/paste into the blog later. If anything else of significance comes up during the flight, I’ll add it. Otherwise - next stop, Narita Airport.
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