ANA A380 Jumbo Jet - HNL - NRT

Travel

Flying the ANA Airbus A380

A Jumbo Jet Built for Vacation

The Aircraft

A Rare Bird in the Skies

I recently had the chance to fly aboard ANA's Airbus A380, a double-decker jumbo jet that's become something of a unicorn in modern aviation. ANA operates this aircraft exclusively on the Narita (NRT) to Honolulu (HNL) route, and if you're heading to Hawaii, it's absolutely worth trying at least once. Spacious, smooth, and strikingly quiet for its size, the A380 offers a unique experience tailored for leisure travel.

 

Onboard

Comfort and Cabin Experience

The flight was every bit as comfortable as you'd expect from ANA, with service that met the airline's consistently high standards. The aircraft layout felt thoughtfully designed for relaxation—whether you're in economy, premium economy, or business class, there's a sense of space that smaller widebodies just can't match.

If you've flown ANA's 787 or 777 aircraft, the service and seat experience will feel familiar. The key difference here is the novelty and scale of flying on a massive double-decker jet—something that's increasingly rare in today's era of fuel-efficient twins.

Dining

In-Flight Dining: A Tale of Two Departures

One note for frequent flyers: ANA's in-flight meals tend to be better on Japan-departing flights. While the food on this Honolulu-bound leg was still a step above what you'd get on most U.S. carriers in economy, it didn't quite reach the same standard I've come to expect when flying out of Japan. It's a small detail, but one worth noting if you care about the dining experience.

 

If the dining experience matters to you, the NRT-departing leg will generally deliver the better meal. Still above average either way.

NRT → HNL on ANA's A380 — a double-decker worth going out of your way to book at least once.