About this flight
Although I had originally booked an economy class ticket from Narita to Brussels, the capital of Belgium, I was fortunately upgraded to Premium Economy for free, which made the flight much more comfortable.
At Narita Airport, I used a private booth in the ANA Suite Lounge.
There, I enjoyed a variety of delicious Japanese dishes, including mentaiko (spicy cod roe) and simmered yellowtail.
For the in-flight meal to Brussels, I had pre-ordered a Western-style meal from ANA’s paid menu. It featured a delicious appetizer and a main dish of seared sea bream, both of which I thoroughly enjoyed.
Before landing, I was also served the standard Economy Class meal, which included pancakes and eggs Benedict—a satisfying and flavorful way to end the journey.
Fukuoka Airport
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Arriving at the Airport on Foot from Hakata
This is the domestic terminal at Fukuoka Airport just before dawn. It was around 5:00 AM.
Unless the weather is bad or there are special circumstances, I usually walk from Hakata Station to Fukuoka Airport. It took me about 40 to 50 minutes to reach the airport that day.
Breakfast at the Lounge
Here’s what I had at the ANA Suite Lounge in Fukuoka:
- • Minestrone soup
- • Bread roll
- • Diet Coke
Boarding Gate
This is the boarding gate for the Narita-bound flight, scheduled to depart at 7:20 AM.
Aircraft for the Flight
This is the aircraft for today’s flight — a Boeing 737-800.
It is equipped with winglets on the tips of the wings, which help improve flight stability in strong winds, reduce fuel consumption, and lower noise levels.
Flight to Narita
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Onboard View (1)
This is the cabin of the Boeing 737-800.
The seat covers shown here are no longer in use.
Onboard View (2)
A front-facing view of the seat.
View Just After Takeoff
This is a view of Fukuoka City right after takeoff from Fukuoka Airport.
Over Fukuoka City
A view over Fukuoka City.
Since it was early morning in January, some buildings still had their neon lights on.
Beverage Service
In-flight beverage service.
Narita Airport
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International Departure Lobby
After arriving at Narita Airport, I headed to the international departure lobby.
Priority Check-in
This is the entrance to the ANA Suite Check-in Counter.
Lounge
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Private Booth
This is the ANA Suite Lounge at Satellite 3. The lounge has private booths, which I often make use of.
Meal I Had
This is the meal I had inside the lounge.
- (Left side)
- • Bell pepper, mentaiko (seasoned cod roe), stir-fried vegetables, ham, burdock root, konjac, etc.
- • Simmered yellowtail, pickles, sweet potato mash
- (Right side)
- • Scrambled eggs, kombu roll, vegetable salad
- • Champagne, red wine, white wine
Second Plate and Ice Cream
I had a second plate of food along with ice cream.
- • More simmered yellowtail — I went back for seconds.
- • An open sandwich topped with cream cheese, cucumber, and smoked salmon
- • Two Häagen-Dazs ice cream cups
Boarding Gate
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Aircraft for Today’s Flight
This is the aircraft for today’s flight—a Boeing 787-9. We’ll be flying to Brussels, Belgium, on this plane.
Boarding Gate Area
This shows the boarding area for the Brussels-bound flight, departing at 11:00 a.m. The Brussels route was one of the first European routes to resume service during the COVID-19 pandemic. This is because Moderna’s vaccine production facility is located in Brussels, and the route was crucial for transporting vaccines to Japan. ANA had already been operating the Brussels route before the pandemic, so the Japanese government requested its early reinstatement.
Aircraft from the Gate
This is the Boeing 787-9 as seen from the boarding gate. The ANA logo visible between the two boarding bridges is a delightful sight for any ANA fan.
Jet Engine
This is the large jet engine, seen just before boarding the aircraft.
Onboard Flight to Belgium
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Premium Economy Seat
This is the Premium Economy seat I had for the flight.
It looked like the Business Class cabin in front of Premium Economy was also quite full.
Drinks After Takeoff
These were the drinks served shortly after takeoff.
- • Sparkling wine
- • Diet Pepsi
Paid In-Flight Meal
I had pre-booked a Western-style paid in-flight meal for an additional charge of around ¥2,500.
Meal Contents
- • (Appetizer) Smoked salmon, shrimp, pâté, etc.
- • (Main) Seared sea bream with butter rice and green beans
- • Bread
- • (Dessert) Mousse topped with a chocolate slice
Ice Cream
Haagen-Dazs ice cream was served after the meal.
Mid-Flight Snack
This is what I had as a mid-flight snack.
- • Business Class sparkling wine
- • Two types of Business Class desserts
- (Matcha cake, Mont Blanc cupcake)
Economy Class Snack
This snack was served to passengers in Economy Class.
- • Tuna sandwich
- • Corn soup
Drinks
These drinks were also served to Economy Class passengers.
- • Cola
- • Sparkling water
Pre-Landing Meal
This was the second meal, served before landing.
- • Pancakes and eggs Benedict
- • Sausage
- • French fries and broccoli
- • Yogurt and fresh fruit
During the COVID-19 pandemic, ANA started a service that delivers Economy Class meals to your home. This very menu is part of that lineup, so you can enjoy the same meal at home. It’s very tasty.
Coffee After the Meal
This coffee was served after the pre-landing meal.
Brussels
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Arrival at the Airport
I arrived in Brussels.
Clear Skies in Brussels
On this day, I transferred from Brussels to Milan. The weather in Europe was absolutely beautiful.
