Luxury Skies: ANA A380 & Hawaiian 787
In the coming weeks, I’m packing my bags and heading off to Niseko, Japan for what promises to be a spectacular ski trip. As far as where I’ll be laying my head, I’ve got reservations at both the Park Hyatt Niseko and the Ritz-Carlton Reserve Niseko. The flight plan has been a bit up in the air, but things are finally starting to fall into place, thanks to some newly available award seats. Let me take you through what’s on my itinerary so far, even though it’s not etched in stone just yet.
I’m Finally Flying All Nippon Airways’ A380 First Class!
Ah, the Airbus A380. It’s a beast of a plane, and I’ve ticked off the first class boxes on all of them except for the elusive All Nippon Airways. Their fleet is the definition of quirky—just three aircraft that shuttle exclusively between Tokyo’s Narita and Honolulu. I’ve had my eyes on this ride for what feels like forever, but those routes aren’t typically paragons of convenience for my travel plans. Serendipity struck with award seats opening up right around when I planned to jet back to the States from Niseko, so I seized the opportunity to finally try ANA’s A380 first class.
How did I snag this unicorn seat? With a bit of luck and 57,500 Virgin Atlantic points, sprinkled with just under $200 in taxes. To say I got a bargain would be putting it mildly, especially since I scored those points during a generous 30% transfer bonus. ANA’s first class is already a cherished experience under my belt, so I’m champing at the bit to see what’s in store on their A380. If only the flight were a tad longer!
I’m Also Going to Fly Hawaiian Airlines’ 787 First Class
While in the Pacific paradise of Honolulu, there’s one flight that tops my list, besides that dreamy Island Hopper—more on that another time, as getting back stateside is a priority. Enter Hawaiian Airlines’ 787 first class from Honolulu to Los Angeles. With whispers of Alaska Airlines growing its long-haul network out of Seattle, it’ll be intriguing to see where Hawaiian’s Dreamliners eventually wind up.
This leg of the journey set me back 80,000 HawaiianMiles, and I’m keeping an optimistic eye on the price. Should it dip, I’d happily rebook, but if it doesn’t, I’m cool with it—it’s still a fantastic experience waiting to unfold.
What I’m Thinking for the Outbound Itinerary
Figuring out the return leg has been a breeze, but the outbound still needs a few puzzle pieces to fit. Here’s the game plan: I’ve tentatively booked an award seat from Boston to Madrid on Iberia’s new Airbus A321XLR business class, and I’m eyeing it with optimism.
My radar is tuned to the possibility of Finnair freeing some A350 business class award seats from Helsinki to Asia, ideally to Japan. I’m willing to get creative with connections, going as far as doubling or tripling them if it means snagging a spot. Though I’ve critiqued Finnair’s A330 business class, I’m equally eager to see what their non-reclining A350 business class is all about.
If that doesn’t pan out, I’ll be flexing my travel creativity muscles to stage a Madrid-to-Japan flight through colorful routes. There’s also Iberia’s A350 I’m keen on, although it often zigzags to Latin America.
Bottom Line
In a few short weeks, the plan is to be jetting from Japan to the mainland USA, with pit-stops in Honolulu via ANA’s luscious A380 first class and Hawaiian’s 787 first class. It’s a trip I’ve been yearning to experience, especially since nabbing ANA awards can often feel akin to winning a golden ticket.
The outbound segment of my odyssey still holds some mysteries, with Iberia’s A321XLR business class and a potential Finnair connection in the running.
Got any predictions or tips for my upcoming flights on ANA, Hawaiian, and holding out hope for Iberia? Don’t hesitate to share them. If you’re also thinking of jet-setting soon, take a peek at Val Seny ski resort for some travel inspiration.