Review of Ana Milan Malpensa - Tokyo Haneda A/R direct flight in Premium and Business

If you are in a hurry here in three words a round-trip flight from Malpensa to Tokyo Haneda with Ana, All Nippon Airways: essentiality, functionality, space.

If you have a few minutes, however, here is the story Of my experience: gone in premium economy On the inaugural flight of the route, Back in Business a few days later.

Just enough time to understand a little more about the Japanese attitude toward transportation, and in general, and thus to better appreciate the prospect of an Ana-branded trip as well. Disclaimer: for yours truly First flight with Ana and first flight over Japan.

ANA launched the direct Milan Malpensa - Tokyo Haneda flight, and we were there

Let's rewind the tape: Wednesday, December 3, 2024 Ana launched, for the first time, the direct flight Milan Malpensa - Tokyo Haneda, what could be called the city airport of the Japanese capital (it takes less than an hour to reach the city center).

The link operates three times a week and is operated with a 215-seat Boeing 787-9. The Flight Club was aboard the inaugural flight from Italy and the third flight back from Japan the following Sunday as part of a press trip promotion of the company and the route. Therefore, in the name of transparency, a second disclaimer: round-trip tickets, unlike 99.9% of the reviews on Tfc, were offered by the company.

After the launch ceremony at gate B58, complete with cake and sparkling wine, Boeing models and giant pictures of Mt. Fuji, speeches by dignitaries-there was also the Ana's ceo, Shinichi Inoue - and a cascade of selfie and gadgets, the first flight inevitably left with a little late: one hour and five minutes after the schedule, that is, at 11.45 instead of 10:30 a.m. The arrival at Haneda will materialize, however, with only 15 minutes more than the scheduled time, 7:45 a.m. Of the next day. A delay, in short, all things considered. acceptable even by the very precise local passengers given also the exceptional nature of the occasion. namely the activation of a service - the second direct flight from Italy after Ita's flight from Fiumicino - which was Expected literally for years.

Review of the outward and return flight: watchword essentiality

But back to our review. What was it like to travel with All Nippon Airways? To answer this, a premise is necessary on the company, which was founded in 1952 and since 2013 has continued to receive uninterruptedly the 5 Skytrax stars. The premise is: do not expect-and I already apologize for the misuse of the expression-the so-called 'wow effect'.

Everything aboard an Ana flight is under the banner of theessentiality: from colors to lighting, from cutlery to kits, from theinfotainment to communication, you will not lack anything you may need, and the service will be efficient, impeccable. However, discerning travelers may notice the absence of a quid, in a touch of originality, of eccentricity, a lack that probably also refers to the Japanese way of life. The "tidbit", paradoxically, Comes when - indeed, where - you would least expect it.

Cabin appearance: blue, white, geometry but plenty of space

But let's start with thecabin appearance. Stepping aboard, what immediately leaps to the eye are the colors: optical white and dark blue, a pairing that recalls the brand of the company but, going back in time, to Japan's historical connection with the indigo trade. Immediately after the colors, to become apparent, evident, are the geometries: as much the 146 seats in Economy as the 21 in Premium Economy and - we will see on the way back - the 48 in Business class, at first glance may remind one of the cubicles Of an office in the 1980s. But be careful.

Everything is square, yes, and perhaps in spite of the curvy aesthetic that so many other companies have accustomed us to, But on this B878 Dreamliner every inch has its function. and the third impression I felt, as I approached and then sank into my chair, was that the available living space was more generous Than usual.

In Premium economy, in particular, I ended up with a width of 49 centimeters real. I can't say anything about legroom: I was sitting in the first row behind the partition from the Business so I could safely stretch them out without even touching the wall. But also the chair recline system (Fixed Back Shell) was very functional, and even though I lowered my backrest considerably, the passenger behind me was not affected. The width combined with the recline allows passengers who are not particularly tall or portly (like yours truly) to rest almost in a fetal position.

The above breadth is also declined on the front of the windows: with 47 centimeters high and 28 centimeters wide, and 30% more visibility than, say, a Boeing 767, I would directly call them "windows." Not to mention the hatboxes: it was one of the first times when I positioned the trolley and regretted not having brought a larger one. Each hat rack can comfortably hold four standard size carry-on suitcases and various jackets, coats, bags.

Infotainment, improvable but wi-fi...

Not just "thumbs up". On the front of theinfotainment, with a good monitor of 28 centimeters in Premium Economy and of 23 in Business, it is a pity not have a particularly rich offering or imaginative. Or rather, the number of films in the catalog is very high but these are, for the most part, products for an Asian audience that, even in the translated version, do not meet Western tastes very well. A few news channels are present but there are no games available. The flight map is pleasant but lacks interactivity: zero references about places flown over or other company routes.

There is, however. a great quid pro quo: on board (in Premium), you can have the wifi for free messaging from shortly after departure until landing, and the formulas for Internet use are also more than affordable. For business class internet is included in the at of the ticket through a voucher. However, on my return flight, the service was only available in hiccups due to a technical problem. The fact remains that even just that being able to use freely whatsapp o messenger (no photos and no video) on a 13- to 15-hour flight can help both get some chores done and make the time pass more quickly.

The food offer on the outbound flight in premium economy Ana Milan-Tokyo

The outbound flight, which, we repeat, in our case was the inaugural one of Ana's connection between Malpensa and Haneda, on the food front saw in premium economy the distribution of two meals, one shortly after takeoff, and the other shortly before arrival. Available by asking the stewardesses or by going to the galley, unlimited snacks and drinks at will.

I could define the main meal an attempt at Euro-Japanese fusion, with a basic course of rice, vegetables and steamed cod (or beef stew), and some appetizers and side dishes: a small salad, a container with prosciutto (excellent) and quinoa (less so), and another with a kind of Omurice (the omelet with rice typical of many izakaya, Japanese taverns), and then and a food not well identifiable except as surimi. The latter products were very cold, almost frozen, but to accompany the meal, for those who wanted, a delicious vegetable broth, a kind of miso soup but more basic. For dessert a Haagen Dazs brand ice cream. The meal-breakfast/dinner-before landing was more than just a snack: hot dish with vegetable chicken and rice, all in all well executed, a cheesecake, a fruit salad and a package of Italian brand cookies. On the way out, I did not try any alcohol except for one welcome champagne, served in a paper cup and not exactly unforgettable.

If I had to take stock of the Malpensa-Haneda (outbound flight), overall, I would give a 8 full to the comfort of the premium chair, which allowed me to land in Tokyo decidedly rested, another 8 to the availability of staff, kind but without being affected or overly present, a 7 to infotainment and endowments and a 6+ to the quality of the meal.

Eating in Business on Tokyo-Malpensa with Ana: Whasoku experience

The matter changes totally, speaking precisely of food, with regard to the return flight in business class. An international menu and a Japanese menu are available, but it goes without saying that the choice could not but fall on the very complex Whasoku, a term used to refer precisely to the richness of Japanese cuisine.

What I was served, about an hour after takeoff was a mosaic of flavors and colors: from grilled squid with sea urchin to the sea bream sushi roll in kelp seaweed, from grilled chicken pate with poppy seeds to amberjack with sesame soy sauce, grilled charcoal fish, classic miso soup, or Koshihikari rice, an especially fine quality.

Accompanying this is a saké Hakkaisan aged in snow 8 years, with a rich and elegant flavor. During the journey one has the opportunity to order several hot dishes, both oriental and western. Having left around 1 a.m., and since the main meal was served around 2 a.m., many gave it up but just as many set out to order bowls of noodles seemingly very inviting at 5 a.m.

Business class seat on Ana Tokyo Haneda - Milan Malpensa direct flight

Very good impression also on the comfort of the chair. It is not the legendary "The Room", business class conformation that Ana offers only on some 777s from London to Tokyo, but also the Business Staggered On which I flew, and slept - for 6 hours straight - from Haneda to MPX offers uncommon convenience. As I wrote at the beginning, there are no frills. If The Room is the result of a collaboration between the likes of designer Kengo Kuma and Acumen Studio, the Dreamliner's Staggered is a very ordinary armchair with aisle access and some (not many) storage compartments. Cubicle style, indeed. However, it is by sitting and experiencing it that one appreciates its functionality. The pull-out table is sturdy and wide, and together with another shelf allows, for example, eating and working on the PC at the same time. The backrest has the lumbar support adjustable, real relief on a 15-hour flight (on the return flight it is longer because of the Arctic route).

The chair totally reclines until it becomes a bed of 191 centimeters but in addition to Nishikawa quality bedding and a semi-rigid pillow with a three-layer structure, one of two items is provided game changer of this flight, a kind of mini tatami, thin, natural material, to be placed on top of the chair and making it almost more comfortable than a bed, as well as decreasing the vibrations and noise that can sometimes be really loud if you sleep on your side.

If I may make another note, unmemorable beauty kits. That basic in premium economy has many plastic elements (a material still very much, perhaps too much, on board). L'amenity of Business, a clutch branded Tattinger, contains two samples of skin products. Quality but nothing more. The slippers and face mask are like the same in Business and Premium.

The ultimate Jap "treat": the water-bidet

The other element that it is not every day that you find on an airplane., and which Ana offers both First Class and Economy passengers, is the toilet with bidet integrated into the toilet, with hot water and adjustable jets. The technology is that of Toto, one of the best-known brands in Japan.

Usage can be somewhat tricky for Western passengers who, like me, have never experienced it but for the Japanese it is a real fetish. To stay on topic, I can't help but mention how on both the outbound and return flights I noticed a Almost maniacal attention to cleanliness and assortment of materials in the toilets.

Flight crew, record-breaking speed

About the crew. I have already written how the service was impeccable and functional, with a passenger focus and natural kindness without ever coming across as affected. I can add, among the points in Ana's favor, the effort on the part of the crew to communicate in English (not taken for granted) and to some extent in Italian (on the outbound flight, even in messages from the cabin). Also, the Near-record speed in doorbell calling. On the outward journey, in the middle of the night, it took only about 20 seconds for a stewardess to arrive, in premium economy, to satisfy an irrepressible craving of mine for broth (I said it was delicious...). On the return trip, in Business, again in the middle of the night, the seconds of waiting were less than two. Less than two. And I assure that the stewardess was not already standing in the aisle.

Ground services and lounges

Finally, on a positive note for the ground services. Both for those traveling in premium economy and, more obviously, for those with business tickets are provided for Priority check-in, boarding and baggage claim. But also access - in Tokyo - in the All Nippon Airways lounge.

The latter is no small plus given that the return flight to Milan is the absolute last of the day in case of departure from Haneda Terminal 2, and in the terminal virtually all stores and food courts are now closed.