Do you still remember the 2003 drama Good Luck starring Takuya Kimura? He played a pilot for the renowned Japanese airline, All Nippon Airways (ANA). Watching that drama made me curious and eager to fly with ANA someday. But since I hadn’t been to Japan and was busy exploring the Western Hemisphere, I didn’t get a chance to fly with ANA—until this May. After finally trying an ANA flight, I now have my own experience to share.
With a (forced) return to Indonesia, I booked an ANA ticket from Chicago to Jakarta for around $520. It wasn’t cheap for a one-way flight, and I bought it a month before departure. However, my curiosity about ANA’s service, along with a nearly full-day transit in Tokyo, convinced me to go for it on Traveloka. There was a cheaper option with China Eastern for under $250, which was quite a difference. Next time, I’ll try China Eastern when heading back to the U.S.—affordable with a transit in Beijing.
After a 25-hour journey from Chicago to Jakarta with a 21-hour, 20-minute layover in Tokyo, here’s my experience flying with All Nippon Airways:
1. Friendly Staff
Check-in at Chicago O’Hare Airport went smoothly. The ANA staff were super helpful, with one attendant offering me a seat with no one beside me. It was great to have a row to myself—no small talk with neighbors, and I could even stretch out. This check-in agent was actually with United Airlines, but it seems ANA partners with United for U.S. operations, so they managed the entire process from check-in to boarding.
2. The Food
The food was perhaps the main reason I enjoyed flying with ANA. Not only was there plenty of it, but the flavors were fantastic. Living in the U.S., I only got Asian food about once a week, with the rest being American dishes or my own cooking with limited variety. So, having authentic Japanese food that wasn’t store-bought (I’d been getting sushi from The Festivals weekly!) felt like a treat. Fresh, flavorful, and with many options! On the Chicago–Tokyo leg, I had two main meals, plus endless snacks and drinks. There were choices beyond Japanese food, like delicious pasta. ANA was generous with additional snacks and beverages, which added to the high standard of my flight experience.
3. Excellent Cabin Crew Service
Beyond the food, ANA’s cabin crew service stood out. I happened to have spring flu, likely due to sensitive sinuses and the pollen in the air from the season change. I was sneezing nonstop from Chicago to Tokyo, feeling exhausted and not able to enjoy the in-flight entertainment fully. I was also concerned about disturbing other passengers, but thankfully, the flight wasn’t full, and I was in an empty row toward the back. Noticing my struggle, a flight attendant kept bringing me drinks. After a while, she even offered hot tea, which was perfect for my symptoms. I really appreciated her attentiveness—it truly embodied Asian hospitality. Compared to European and American airlines, there’s just something about the warmth and attentiveness of Asian carriers. Turkish Airlines, for instance, serves plenty of tasty food, but based on my experience, their cabin crew isn’t as friendly. With ANA, I felt like I was already in Asia even though I was still thousands of miles away.
Despite my generally positive experience with ANA, I think there’s room for improvement. Minor issues included non-reclining seats, but I didn’t mind too much since I could stretch out in the empty seat beside me. A bigger issue, however, was ANA’s slow response on Twitter. They often just directed me to their website, where I couldn’t find answers to my questions. Norwegian Air, in contrast, handled Twitter queries very efficiently during my Europe trip in late 2023, replying quickly with clear information.
Landing in Haneda, Tokyo, the first thing I searched for was a baggage delivery service from Haneda to Narita. My next flight was from Narita, and my luggage couldn’t go directly to Jakarta, so I had to pick it up at Haneda and bring it to Narita myself. Though I researched beforehand, I hadn’t encountered a situation like this, as my luggage usually went straight to my final destination. Given it was Golden Week in Japan, the baggage transfer service required two days, and I only had 21 hours. So, I ended up hauling four bags around Tokyo until I finally found a coin locker at Shinjuku Station. Lesson learned! But I feel ANA could improve their baggage service for flights with a transfer involving different airports.
Would I fly with ANA again? Absolutely. With good food and caring cabin crew, I’d definitely choose them in the future. For my next trip to Japan, I plan to try JAL to compare it with ANA. What about you? Have you flown with All Nippon Airways (ANA)?