Assessment of American Airways Flight 26 on the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner from Tokyo to Los Angeles

How a lot does enterprise class price to e-book on American Airways?

Flights between the U.S. and Tokyo are comparatively costly, and it does not appear to matter whether or not you are reserving shut in or longer out at this level. Maybe that is why American Airways is planning on deploying greater planes on the route between Los Angeles Worldwide Airport (LAX) and Tokyo’s Haneda Airport (HND) subsequent summer season. The most cost effective round-trip tickets obtainable in the meanwhile price $848 in financial system and a whopping $4,500 or extra if you wish to fly in enterprise class.

I additionally searched excessive and low for mileage redemptions, however essentially the most reasonably priced tickets I may discover price 61,000 AAdvantage miles and $49 round-trip in coach. The least costly business-class tickets required a whopping 305,000 miles plus $49. I do sometimes see saver awards for as few as 60,000 AAdvantage miles one-way in enterprise class, however these awards are more and more tough to safe.

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Right here is the vary of round-trip money and award charges on flights between Tokyo and Los Angeles over the subsequent a number of months.

Checking in to and boarding enterprise class on American Airways

American Airways operates from Terminal 3 at Tokyo’s Haneda Airport (HND).

There have been 14 check-in counters, and all however three of them had brokers serving to clients once I arrived 4 hours earlier than my flight to Los Angeles.

Three of the desks had been for Precedence passengers and three had been for Predominant Cabin passengers; the remainder had been both bag-drop stations or different customer support stations. There have been 11 kiosks the place passengers may carry out self-check-in.

Apparently, there was additionally a biometric screening station, though it did not seem like working.

Regardless that I had conveniently checked in for my flight on-line and gotten a boarding move through the American Airways app, I nonetheless needed to see what it might be like checking in on the counters. I waited only one minute earlier than a pleasant girl requested for my passport. There have been very quick traces for the financial system passengers, too.

The agent did not point out any lounges, though I knew I had entry to a number of. American Airways business-class passengers can anticipate the next precedence providers on the airport:

There was a fast-track safety lane for first- and business-class passengers with automated gates activated by scanning your boarding move.

Sadly, the precedence lane dumped me again into the final safety line, however I bought to it sooner than a lot of the different passengers, went by way of the automated immigration gates and made my method to the lounges I might have entry to.

Certainly one of my favourite components of touring from Haneda Airport is the plethora of lounges obtainable for passengers departing in enterprise class or passengers with Oneworld standing, together with two Japan Airways business-class lounges that passengers flying in enterprise class on American Airways can enter: the Sakura Lounge and the Sakura Lounge Sky View on the fourth and fifth flooring of the terminal.

Neither lounge was crowded, although I bought to the Sky View lounge simply because it opened, so it was a lot emptier.

Each lounges featured an intensive collection of drinks (wine, beer, spirits) and numerous snacks and meals to gasoline up for the flight forward.

Each lounges had been large, with loads of distinct seating areas and minimalist, Japanese-inspired design.

My top-tier standing with American Airways equates to Oneworld Emerald standing, so I’ve entry into first-class lounges when flying on a Oneworld airline, together with the magnificent JAL First Class Lounge.

A beautiful hallway leads you into the principle a part of the lounge, the place you will discover a number of seating preparations, together with lengthy desks with nice views of the airport tarmac.

The eating space referred to as JAL’s Desk contains a live-cooking station with contemporary sushi, and you should utilize a QR code at every seat wherever within the lounge to order a la carte objects, together with curries and Japanese delicacies.

Certainly one of my favourite spots was a again space referred to as the Pink Suite, which had a Champagne bar, distinctive seating areas and vintage airline memorabilia, together with mannequin planes, globes and historic paperwork from Japan Airways’ lengthy historical past. There was even a shoeshine station.

There was an entire different flooring upstairs with a staffed bar and extra seating.

In fact, I took a bit break and bought a 20-minute therapeutic massage from one of many lounge’s computerized therapeutic massage chairs.

There have been additionally showers obtainable and all of the facilities you could possibly need for a protracted layover or fast preflight scrub.

It was a 10-minute stroll to my gate, the place boarding started promptly an hour earlier than the flight. There have been loads of seats and charging towers within the boarding space, however there have been just a few open seats left by the point I arrived.

Passengers in enterprise class bought to board in Group 1. That meant I used to be one of many first passengers on the aircraft.

The method was easy and orderly, and the doorways had been closed a number of minutes earlier than our departure time.

How snug was enterprise class on American Airways?

My flight, American Airways 26, was operated by an 8-year-old Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner with the tail quantity N813AN. That is the smallest Dreamliner variant, and the business-class cabin had simply 20 seats. Right here is the fundamental format of the cabin and seats:

The cabin is specified by a 1-2-1 configuration, which implies all of the seats have aisle entry. The seats additionally lay flat, and I used to be in a position to get an excellent 5 hours of sleep throughout my journey.

Facilities in American Airways enterprise class

Already ready at my seat once I boarded was a Bang & Olufsen headset, a bottle of water, a Raven + Lily-branded amenity package and a paper menu.

The B&O headsets had been nice high quality and made for a quiet and pleasurable sound expertise. It is simply too dangerous American Airways makes flight attendants accumulate them as early as an hour earlier than touchdown, which actually limits the expertise.

Contained in the amenity package had been a lot of the fundamentals like an eye fixed masks, earplugs, Pholk hand and physique lotion, lip balm by Macabalm, and a dental package. I discovered the absence of disposable socks unusual, however I suppose that is a cost-cutting measure lately.

There was additionally a big plastic-wrapped pillow and Casper blanket at my seat. The bedding supplied an excellent combine of heat and luxury. American Airways is within the means of rolling out extra environmentally pleasant bedding from Nest that does not are available plastic. I bought to strive it out on a current flight to London and it was additionally fairly good.

Wi-Fi supplied by Panasonic price $35 for the full-flight bundle with no knowledge limits.

Whereas I did not spend an excessive amount of time on-line because it was a nighttime flight, as you possibly can see under, Wi-Fi speeds had been typically not nice.

How was the meals in American Airways enterprise class?

General, the meals on this Tokyo flight was middling at finest.

Passengers boarded to seek out menus ready at their seats.

As we settled in, flight attendants supplied water, orange juice or glowing wine in plastic cups. The Italian Altemasi Trentodoc Brut they served retails for about $14 per bottle.

Flight attendants handed out heat towels about 20 minutes into the flight.

Warmed nuts had been introduced out about 10 minutes later with a collection of cocktails. The nuts had been lukewarm and tasted a bit stale. I went for a membership soda and cranberry, which the flight attendants supplied to refill proactively.

As I discussed, there have been solely 20 business-class seats on this aircraft and three flight attendants, together with the purser Louis, who oversaw my row, so it made for a fairly good service expertise.

The principle programs on supply had been:

• Grilled beef fillet
• Salmon fillet
• Polenta lasagna
• Steamed rice obtainable on request

Louis was good sufficient to carry me the Japanese meal he served to a different passenger so I may {photograph} it.

For the Western meal, the primary course was a small plate of tuna tataki in a plum sauce, together with a salad of seasonal greens with cucumber, ginger and snap peas. I selected the peppercorn ranch dressing however Japanese sesame soy dressing was additionally obtainable. The tuna was scrumptious. I did not style the plum sauce, however the breadcrumb crust was tasty.

White rolls, pretzel bread and wheat rolls had been additionally supplied with a pat of butter. The bread regarded a bit dried out, however it was high-quality as soon as some butter had been unfold on high. I ordered the polenta lasagna as a essential course.

It was filling, however watery and bland. The one factor that did not disappoint was dessert.

Selections for dessert had been:

• A fruit-and-cheese plate
• Customized-made sundaes
• Panna cotta (an Italian cream dessert)

You actually cannot beat the sundaes American Airways presents as a part of its long-haul business-class service. I had a scorching fudge sundae with further whipped cream. Traditional however scrumptious.

The meal service was accomplished simply over an hour into flight, which I appreciated because it allowed for extra time for sleep.

Arrange within the galley on the entrance of the cabin had been small finger sandwiches and different small bites.

There have been additionally a number of beverage choices and a collection of packaged snacks, together with Japanese crackers and different goodies.

Breakfast was served about an hour and quarter-hour earlier than touchdown.

There have been two decisions for the meal, each served with a small salad with soy dressing. The choices had been:

• Stir-fried udon noodles
• Pink pepper-and-onion quiche

The udon noodles had been thick and doughy in a savory broth. The salad was a bit wilted, however dessert was a scrumptious opera cake with whipped cream and a single half of a strawberry.

Breakfast was far superior to dinner on this flight. The flight attendants had been nice at refilling my espresso, however Louis did ask me if I had a giant assembly or one thing since I might requested for thus many refills! I replied that the cups had been small.

The meals in American Airways’ long-haul enterprise class simply did not maintain a candle to Japan Airways, which I’ve flown a couple of occasions. For my part, that is most likely purpose sufficient to decide on Japan Airways over American on this route if the value is comparable. Flight attendants collected the Bang & Olufsen headsets about 40 minutes earlier than touchdown.

Service all through the flight was typically superb, with a pleasant crew of 9 flight attendants. Louis, who taken care of me, was particularly pleasant once I pestered him with questions in regards to the aircraft and seats. Flight attendants additionally usually handed by way of the cabin to see if passengers wanted something, so general the expertise was very constructive.

Would you advocate American Airways enterprise class?

An early departure from Tokyo and arrival in Los Angeles and a snug, if tight, lie-flat mattress made for a good flight. The service was good, with an environment friendly and pleasant crew. The expertise wasn’t the perfect I’ve had on American Airways, however I fee it as a wonderfully nice expertise general.

Though it isn’t my best choice for flying between the U.S. and Japan, I might advocate American Airways enterprise class when you apply an improve like I did. The seats aren’t the perfect, however they’re snug sufficient for getting some relaxation on a protracted flight.

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