I am sitting in business class seat 2K, a single window seat, on this ANA Boeing B787 aircraft bound for Haneda, Tokyo from Sydney. I have used a little over 30K Avianca LifeMiles to redeem this leg of my return trip to Taipei.

Upon boarding, I am shown to my seat which at first glance looks quite good, a herringbone shaped seat facing the window with an amenity kit, blanket (duvet), mattress, and headphones (all wrapped in plastic). But I soon realize the hard product doesn’t compare with other airlines such as SQ and Eva air. For example, the amenity kit doesn’t have hand cream or face/body cream, the blanket is small and thin, the headphones are not noise canceling, and the usb charger does not work.

There is a choice of either a Western or Japanese meal – I have ore-ordered the Japanese meal thinking it would be amazing as I am flying a premier Japanese airline, but my recent Japanese meal on Taiwan’s Eva Air was much better. The ice cream for dessert, for example, is served rock hard and I have to wait about 10 mins for it to slightly soften before I can stick a spoon in it.

During dinner I watch the new Jeff Bezos bio documentary which is ok, and then once it finishes convert my seat into a bed and pop on the pajamas I have requested. I sleep on and off for about 6 hours.

The cabin lights turn on about 75 mins before landing and I order Croque Monsieur and decaf coffee. The sandwich is lukewarm. Great presentation but so-so taste.

The service is attentive but just doesn’t hit the mark when I compare it to other business class products. I can’t quite work it out but I have always thought a Japanese airline would be vastly superior in all aspects. I am mistaken.

Rating: 7/10