NH route now operated by Air Japan

[Rifty6210]

Hi guys!

I booked a J seat NH880 via Velocity points. At the time of booking, the award stated "Operated by All Nippon Airways (ANA)". Today I received an email that my operating airline has been changed to Air Japan. I am aware that Air Japan is a subsidiary of ANA operating as a LCC and that this brand is different to what I am presented with.

The email states "ANA (NH) flights operated by Air Japan will be operated under ANA's aircraft and service standards. This is different from the new Air Japan brand".

It is clear and good that the aircraft and service standards should be the same. However, my question is... will the plane have the Air Japan livery and will their crew sport the Air Japan uniform? I really liked the ANA style and colours.

Experiences from recent travelers would be highly appreciated! Thank you

 

[elanshin]

Air Japan flying NH route

I was looking around on velocity because of the triple SC and spotted this. For June 20, one of the 2 NH flights is "operated by Air Japan". I'm aware that Air Japan is ANA's new LCC subsidiary. I wonder if this is a precursor ti them launching thr route as Air Japan or if it's some other...

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

I had the same thought.

 

[encryptededdy]

I'm surprised there were NH880 flights operated by ANA in the first place. I've taken ANA's SYD-HND routes a few times in the past and they've always been operated by Air Japan.

Regardless, I find this naming quite stupid. Imagine if Qantas named Jetconnect as "Jetstar" - that's basically what's going on here.

 

[yachty]

It's a silly arrangement but it's been in place well before the LCC. If it's not an NQ flight number it's a normal ANA flight (and SYD has always been an operated by Air Japan destination).

 

[Himeno]

sounds like the old JALways flights to SYD and BNE before JO was folded back into JL in late 2010.

 

[robbo135]

However, my question is... will the plane have the Air Japan livery and will their crew sport the Air Japan uniform? I really liked the ANA style and colours.

The aircraft will be in an ANA livery and crew will be in the ANA uniform.

 

[dajop]

Lots of Singapore - Tokyo flights were operated by Air Japan, for many years. Could barely tell the difference. In the Qantas world it would more like Jetconnect than Jetstar.

 

[ben95]

I’ve flown plenty of NH flights operated by Air Japan over the years on both their 737 and 763 - if you didn’t look at the ticket you wouldn’t be able to tell it’s Air Japan. Everything from branding to service just says ANA.

Wasn’t a problem until NH relaunched the Air Japan brand as a LCC. Definitely confused many people.

I do also wonder what’s the requirement in tagging the operating airline in these situations. Perhaps NH should just not display the operator name if it’s an NH flight number. I know some of China Eastern (MU) 787 flight to SYD/MEL are operated by subsidiary Shanghai Airlines (FM) and when you book they don’t say it’s operated by Shanghai Airlines.

 

[Saab34]

I know a Aussie pilot who has been flying for Air Japan for at least a decade. All the expat pilots went to Air Japan apparently.

 

[Rifty6210]

Wow thanks for all the insight! @robbo135 appreciate the confirmation! =)

 

[BNEFlyer]

It's still NH, a lot of their 787 flights are operated by Air Japan (flights to LAX, FRA, SYD, SIN, DEL).

The confusion is that Air Japan is now a standalone airline as well.

 

[stm1sydney]

But why? If they are NH planes, uniforms, catering, service etc, is the difference just so that they can pay the crew less?

 

[encryptededdy]

But why? If they are NH planes, uniforms, catering, service etc, is the difference just so that they can pay the crew less?

Most likely yeah, so they can be on cheaper contracts. Unfortunately not uncommon in this industry.

 

[BNEFlyer]

Most likely yeah, so they can be on cheaper contracts. Unfortunately not uncommon in this industry.

Qantas/Jetconnect is a perfect example. QF flights operated by Jetconnect NZ with crews, paid much less than QF AU crews, operating flights from AKL/CHC/WLG to SYD, BNE, MEL; BNE-LAX; AKL-JFK; BNE-SIN.

 

[yachty]

Most likely yeah, so they can be on cheaper contracts. Unfortunately not uncommon in this industry.

It's a pilot thing, foreign pilots can't work alongside ANA pilots due to a union rule (or something to that effect). So they're crewed through Air Japan instead.

 

[justinbrett]

Qantas/Jetconnect is a perfect example. QF flights operated by Jetconnect NZ with crews, paid much less than QF AU crews, operating flights from AKL/CHC/WLG to SYD, BNE, MEL; BNE-LAX; AKL-JFK; BNE-SIN.

Not anymore, Jetconnect is no longer an airline. Just a crew base.

That’s very different to being operated by a subsidiary airline - Network Aviation’s A320 is a better example of this.