Notice of Check-in Start Time

This is the notice for the Honolulu-bound check-in counter opening time. Check-in begins 2 hours and 30 minutes before departure.

If it weren’t during the COVID-19 pandemic, passengers could have checked in at any time on the day of departure.

Check-in Counter

This is the First Class check-in counter.

Security Check Entrance

The entrance to the security check area.

Duty-free Area

This is the duty-free shopping area after immigration procedures.

As you can see, there were still very few passengers.

International Departures Information Board

This is the international departures board photographed on August 13 at 7:41 PM. Only four international flights were operating that day.

ANA Lounge Entrance

The entrance to the ANA Lounge.

Entrance to the Restroom in the Lounge

The entrance to the restroom inside the ANA Suite Lounge.

A wooden chair is placed at the back.

Welcome Decoration

This is the food corner in the lounge, but today it was decorated with special touches.

Since the Airbus A380 was operating temporarily for the first time in a while, you could really feel the warm message of “Welcome to the ANA Lounge” from the staff.

Food Corner in the Lounge

The food section inside the ANA Suite Lounge on that day.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, everything was individually packaged with lids or wraps.

View from the Lounge

The outside view taken from the ANA Suite Lounge.

Inside the Lounge

The interior of ANA’s First Class “Suite Lounge.”

As part of COVID-19 measures, white lace curtains were used to separate seats between passengers.

Meals Ordered from the Menu

These are the dishes I ordered from the menu, rather than the food corner.

Dishes from the Food Corner

These are small plates I picked up from the food corner.

Shower Room

These are the amenities provided inside the shower room.

Shower Room Amenities

Other amenities provided in the shower room.

With these amenities available, you can enjoy a very comfortable shower.

Heading to the Aircraft

Leaving the lounge and heading to the aircraft.

Boarding Gate

The boarding gate.

Boarding Pass

The boarding pass.

Suit of Armor Display

A suit of armor was on display.Perhaps symbolizing the spirit of not giving in to COVID-19.

Near the Boarding Gate

The area near the departure boarding gate.

Send-off

Just before boarding, we were given a send-off with a banner.

At that time, the future was still very uncertain, so to mark the special occasion of operating the Airbus A380 again, ANA gave us a grand send-off.

The Aircraft

Today’s aircraft seen from the departure lobby near the boarding gate.

To the Upper Deck of the A380

After the boarding pass check, I headed directly to the upper deck via a boarding bridge. Since it leads upstairs, the bridge slopes upward.

Upper Deck Entrance of the Aircraft

Just before entering the upper deck after finishing the climb.

Emerald Green Door

This is the door to the upper deck entrance.Since this is Aircraft No. 2, the door is painted emerald green to match the aircraft’s livery.

First Class Seat

A First Class seat. It was truly exciting to fly First Class on the Airbus A380 for the first time.

I received an amenity pouch with a black base and a leather strap decoration. Since I was traveling with my mother, the partition between the seats was lowered.

Welcome Drink

The welcome drink — champagne.

Screen

The screen in front of the seat.

Inside the Cabin

The ceiling of the First Class cabin.

Emergency Equipment Instructions (1)

The safety instructions for emergency equipment.

Emergency Equipment Instructions (2)

The reverse side of the emergency equipment instructions.

Seat Made into a Bed

The neighboring seat converted into a bed.

Menu Book

The menu book. Although it looks somewhat black in the photo, it actually has a dark blue leather cover.

Champagne KRUG

The first champagne I had after takeoff. KRUG, often referred to as the “Queen of Champagnes,” has long been served in ANA First Class.

I also took a photo with the bottle.

Amuse-bouche

Amuse-bouche (a French-style appetizer). These were charming, refreshing little dishes.

Japanese Appetizers

These are the Japanese appetizers my mother ordered.

Western Appetizers (1)

Western-style appetizers.

Western Appetizers (2)

A lower-angle shot of the appetizers. The salmon with cream cheese was thickly sliced.

Green Salad

The green salad served after the appetizers.

[Editor’s note: The red leaves might be radicchio (Italian chicory).]

Champagne DEUTZ

I also tried another champagne offered onboard. DEUTZ. I took a photo of the bottle as well.

Corn Soup

Corn soup.

Main Course

The main dish — steak.

Served with grilled bell peppers in green, red, and yellow.

Hamburger

About an hour and a half before landing, I had a lighter meal.

Dessert Cake

Dessert cake.

The compote on the side seems to be raspberry and blueberry.

Approaching Hawaii

The in-flight map just before arriving in Hawaii.

Honolulu Airport

After disembarking from the aircraft. Daniel K. Inouye International Airport in Honolulu, Hawaii.

This is right before immigration control.

View of the Aircraft We Flew In

Honolulu Airport has open areas without glass windows, allowing a direct view of the apron.

In the distance, I could see the emerald-green livery of ANA’s Airbus A380 (Aircraft No. 2), the very plane we had just flown on.

Waikiki Beach

Arrived at Waikiki Beach in Honolulu.

Hawaiian Sky

At Waikiki Beach.

The sky in Hawaii has a vivid, striking blue that feels different from the sky in Japan.