About this flight
John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York has terminals ranging from Terminal 1 to Terminal 8 (with Terminals 3 and 6 currently closed).
ANA operates out of Terminal 7, which is relatively small compared to major terminals like those at Narita or Haneda airports. Because Terminal 7 is more compact, it’s easy to navigate with short walking distances.
On this particular flight, there was an irregular situation. The inbound flight from Narita Airport to New York JFK Airport, which was scheduled to turn around for the return flight to Japan, had to divert and land at Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey due to severe weather conditions (heavy fog) and departure/arrival restrictions at JFK.
After waiting for the weather to improve, the flight was cleared to continue on to JFK. As a result, the return flight from New York JFK to Narita—ANA Flight 103 (scheduled to depart JFK at 5:05 PM local time and arrive at Narita at 9:00 PM)—was delayed by about six hours.
Due to this delay, it became clear that the flight would not be able to land at Narita before its nightly curfew. As a result, the destination was changed to Haneda Airport instead.
At that time, up until the fall of 2016, daytime slots for U.S.-bound flights to and from Haneda Airport were restricted, and ANA had not yet launched a Haneda–New York route.
So, this was my first opportunity to experience arriving at Haneda, which is closer to central Tokyo, on a return flight from New York.
Table of Contents
At the Airport
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Boarding Gate
Due to a delay of approximately six hours, I ended up spending an extended amount of time relaxing at the airport.
Parked Aircraft
This is the Boeing 777-300ER, being prepared for departure as the return flight ANA 103 to Haneda.
Galleries Lounge
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Light Meal Corner
After passing through security, take the escalator directly ahead to go up one level, then another escalator on the left to reach the next floor. There, you’ll find the British Airways Galleries Lounge, available for Business Class passengers. In April 2019, after extensive renovations, it was rebranded and reopened as the British Airways Club Lounge.
Since ANA relocated its operations at New York JFK Airport from Terminal 3 to Terminal 7 in June 2003, passengers have been able to enjoy this high-quality British Airways lounge, offering a relaxing environment and comprehensive lounge services. Inside the Galleries Lounge, there are several spacious and bright seating areas where passengers can relax in a variety of styles before their flight. In addition to shower facilities and a business area, there’s also a generous light meal section.
It takes about five minutes on foot from the lounge to the boarding gate.
Light Meal Corner: Sandwich Station
I remember that the previous Galleries Lounge light meal corner mostly offered snacks and fruit, but now I’m impressed by the expanded food selection. This is the sandwich station.
In addition to the Galleries Lounge light meal corner, ANA also provides a separate section featuring Japanese tastes, offering rice balls (onigiri) and sweet breads made by Japanese supermarkets in New York. This service has been a consistent offering, even before the move to Terminal 7.
Light Meal Corner: Salad Bar
The salad bar offers a wide variety of fresh ingredients.
Light Meal Corner: Soup Bar
It’s great to have a selection of hot soups available as well.
Soft Drink Corner
There’s a drink dispenser serving apple juice, orange juice, guava juice, and tomato juice. You’ll also find coffee, tea, and a variety of other soft drinks readily available.
Bar Counter
A wide selection of alcoholic beverages is on offer—enough variety to make you want to sample several!
Dinner
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Table Setting & Aperitif
One hour after takeoff, once the flight reached cruising altitude, each passenger was served a cold drink. From a selection of carefully curated champagne, red and white wines, Japanese sake, shochu, and other alcoholic beverages, as well as a variety of soft drinks, I chose a Bloody Mary and white wine as my aperitifs.
Amuse-Bouche
Served alongside the drinks was an amuse-bouche, a small appetizer before the main starter. This included prosciutto with melon and pickled vegetables.
Western Appetizer: Full View
For dinner, there was a choice between Western cuisine and Japanese cuisine. I opted for the Western menu.
Appetizer Plate
The appetizer was a smoked salmon rillettes roll, served with a petite salad.
Bread Plate
A selection of warm bread, accompanied by butter and olive oil, was offered.
Main Dish: Beef Steak
For the Western main course, there was a choice between meat and fish.
I chose the US beef fillet steak. It was a pleasure to enjoy authentic American beef on the return flight from the United States.
Dessert
After savoring the American beef, the table was cleared and dinner continued with fruit, cheese, and dessert.
The dessert selection included a chocolate cake and bavarois.
Coffee
A cup of coffee was served after the meal, along with a piece of chocolate.
After-Dinner Drink
For an after-dinner drink, I enjoyed a glass of Baileys Original Irish Cream, a popular dessert liqueur from Ireland.
Snacks
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Snack: Overview
After dinner, the cabin lights were dimmed. About six hours after dinner, it was time for a mid-flight snack in the quiet darkness of the cabin.
The menu included options like hot paninis, ramen, udon, soups, cheese and fruit, and ice cream, among other refreshments.
Fresh Salad
I started with a fresh salad, a light and refreshing choice.
Ramen
Next, I enjoyed ANA Business Class’s signature Hakata Ippudo “Daichi” Miso Ramen.
The rich, slightly sweet broth was topped with butter, adding a smooth and creamy finish.
Ice Cream
For dessert, I had Haagen-Dazs ice cream. It was as rock-solid as the ones served on bullet trains in Japan, so I waited until it softened to just the right consistency.
Mixed Nuts (1)
To finish off, I had a serving of mixed nuts.
Mixed Nuts (2)
The mix included walnuts, almonds, and cashews, providing a satisfying end to the snack.
Pre-Arrival Meal
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Pre-Arrival Meal: Japanese Set
About 12 hours had passed since takeoff. Thanks to the comfortable seat, entertainment options, and delicious food and drinks, the long flight seemed to pass in no time.
Pre-Arrival Meal: Appetizer Box
An assortment of side dishes and fruits was beautifully arranged in the bento-style appetizer box.
Pre-Arrival Meal: Main Dish
The fish was tender and fluffy, with a broth that had a deep, flavorful dashi taste. It was absolutely delicious!
After Arrival
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Returning to Japan
I safely returned to Japan.
Since the flight arrived late at night, after public transportation services had ended, ANA provided special arrangements for passengers on this flight. This included special bus services to certain areas and subsidies for taxi fares to passengers' homes or accommodations.
