Well it was mad dash to the finish this year but I’ve made it. My last transpac did it. Thought I’d have a little fun with this and try to flesh the stage summaries below.
It was a little hectic at the end with the uncertainty in BKK but it forced to open up some new options for 2009. An there were definitely high highs and low lows.
I’ll start with Prologue the three thumbs down to UA Economy Plus RT to BKK for a wedding. Ouch!
The only good thing about this experience is that 3 segments were bulkheads. The Outbound transpac was dreadful but the seats were very good behind a crew rest area. Tons of pitch!!! It was my first transpac in Y in maybe six years. I was shocked that I was being asked to pay $6.00 or 600 yen for a beer on international flight. The only thing on that tray of food I was willing to touch was the brownie. The FA knocked off the tray table and stepped on it. She growled about “finding” another one and stormed off ultimately keeping good on her promise.
I was holding out for the Kiri and Crackers at the F lounge with a little bit of the beer machine. Mmm…and such a treat between such rotten flights.
Then they literally threw a processed Turkey and Swiss Molten Goo Ball at us! Enroute on NRT- BKK.
While in Thailand, I was on the receiving end of a broad side car accident and was a little banged up, the final transpac was the only segment without bulkhead. My knees were on the seat in front of me without any reclining. We the guy leaned back I politely told him in Japanese that those were my knees and he kept his seat upright the entire flight. Thank You! Slept a lot on the way home. I was a little banged up but in striking distance for a methodical strike at Diamond 2009.
Stage One : The Last Minute F Upgrade on the “NH James Bond 007”.
After a reworking due to a temporary aversion to BKK, the thought of fitting in an Okinawa runs about was going to be possible so I did some last minute Seoul searching an managed to pick up just enough mixture of miles and awards to move around on a ton of cool flights. There I was the night before departure spoiled rotten not looking forward to an NH C transpac. Finally break down and call the Diamond desk. Airport Control, Wait List Cleared at Check-in. Happy to be in 1A Good service, glad to start off in F on the tour. I’d vowed never to upgrade with miles but I broke down.
Stage Two: The Okinawa Swing.
After to attending to matters in Tokyo I was headed to Okinawa. On the outbound from HND, I upgraded to SuperSeat at checkin with 5000 yen. Collected all pax outerwear prior to departure. Still suffering from jetlag, I slept most of the way. I set the Do Not Disturb Card and they did not. Awoke in time for a couple Asahi’s and I hit the ground running. On the return to HND I did not clear the upgrade list. It was showing full online and I was a DofD WL. But the service was pretty solid. Cabin crew stowing all the pax bags. Working hard for on time departure. Doing the safety demo, etc. Then Drink/Soup Service. Maybe Newspapers. Well Done. Point being, there was such rockin customer service going on in Y, it made up for the fact that a meal was not served IIRC.
__________________
"It's my job to win!"--Lance Armstrong
Stage Three: The reposition reward rest day.
Well the rest day started early with the OKA-HND return. Then it was a transit at HND for the HND-GMP flight. It was like going back in time! Like walking onto a Hawaii 5-0 Set. Just security, immigration, and lounge. Non-NH operated lounge. All waitress service in the lounge.
The equipment was a 777-200 2 class. It wasn’t NewStyle C. Seemed more like Club ANA Asia. In seat electric outlets in C, great attentive service. Hot meal service, some egg and rice item and a sushi bento served together on a tray.
Overall good C for 2.5 hours. Very good from HND if that’s a good connection for you. I’ll do this one again too.
Seemeless bus transit from GMP to ICN and a quick call by the information desk to the Incheon Hotel Queen put me in my room by 20:30. Time for dinner and a quick recharge then off to Diamond in the AM.
Stage Four: “Mr. Schoflyer , Mr. Schofyer the gate has closed!
I awake and leisurely head to the ICN for the UA Intra-Asia F flight to NRT. Counter was “closed” until 11:00 but after killing some time found a different counter that was open. Strange. Went to the lounge out in the new Satellite terminal. Asked the OZ staff as I was going in if there would eb a boarding announcement. “Yes” but no.
The next thing I knew I had the UA Staff calling my name. The gate had closed and they were waiting. That was nice. As soon as the door closed the service wend down hill. First comment made to me by the crew was “Did you just get on board?”
A tired Chicken Caesar was dropped on my tray. They kept my beer full. It was a tired “F Suite” Yipee!
NH C was better service and meal. Period.
Stage Five: The Home Run in 2000 on 008
And so it is that on my last flight of they year on NH transpac, I manage to pull down Diamond again. I feel lucky as the BKK thing really threw a wrench in my planning. One of my routes even left me 31 points short! Eek!
In the end it didn’t matter. Re-qualified with a few K points to spare. Just enjoyed the pan fried wagyu again as well as a Super Cheeseburger. Nice flight, well rested great service maybe even a little too much Keigo!
The Podium Medal Ceremonies.
So how do things rank?
1) NH F service.
2) NH C Intra Asia C Service.
3) UA Intra-Asia F Service
4) NH Domestic Super Seat
5) NH Domestic Y
6) UA Intra Asia Y
7) UA Transpac Y
Schoflyer Diamond Again. Next year it's Diamond or Diamond Club.
Cheers.
__________________
"It's my job to win!"--Lance Armstrong
The next thing I knew I had the UA Staff calling my name. The gate had closed and they were waiting. That was nice. As soon as the door closed the service wend down hill. First comment made to me by the crew was “Did you just get on board?”
A tired Chicken Caesar was dropped on my tray. They kept my beer full. It was a tired “F Suite” Yipee!
Curious about you mentioned chicken caesar, is that the only chocie they have ? Thought I heard someone mentioned about a cold bento box, also saw it on the UA japan site. I am going to take that flight next month also in F.
I agree with you UA transpacific Y meal is horrible, the only entree taste good is shanghai noodles with chicken (which FA always called chicken noodles, everyone think it is a western entree, instead it is asian). NH Y meals taste much better, but then NH Y pitch on 763 or 77W feel like it is 31", really cramped, it is unbearable even on a aisle seat on a short flight NRT-HKG. Basically if I can't get the bulkhead, just forget about to fly NH Y.
Thought I heard someone mentioned about a cold bento box, also saw it on the UA japan site.
I agree with you UA transpacific Y meal is horrible, the only entree taste good is shanghai noodles with chicken (which FA always called chicken noodles, everyone think it is a western entree, instead it is asian). NH Y meals taste much better, but then NH Y pitch on 763 or 77W feel like it is 31", really cramped, it is unbearable even on a aisle seat on a short flight NRT-HKG. Basically if I can't get the bulkhead, just forget about to fly NH Y.
Never sat in Y on NH. Economy Plus on the Prologue RT was required. I gave up my elite bonus too ;(
Yes, there was a bento box option that I chose not to explore.
FA's well at least mine was attentitive. But I just didn't want that hairy guy leaning over me grabbing the table, adjusting the seat, etc. Meanwhile I watched many of the FAs working the flight stop by and hang out with one fairly obvious pax in center aisle seat. I'm sure this pax was a FA too. A uniformed pilot up front as well.
You'll like the lounge. It's pretty. Freshly manufactured luxury. The lounge seemed crowded with too many empty chairs. Seemed like only UA F pax.
A great UA ground staffer rushed into the lounge and fished me out of there at 12:05. Flight depart scheduled for 12:15. Keep an eye on your watch.
I had a tough time locating the UA check-in counter. I found one but that seemed to be for a separate code share and opened at 11:00. I had a burger to kill some time. When I exited Burger King, I noticed an open check-in counter off to my right.
So when you arrive at the airport, stand opposite BK and the check-in would be one aisle to your left.
***Oh and NH F Tikka Masala is good too if you get a chance. Really! Could be available in C as well.
***Oh and on the HND-GMP you can get 1000 yen off Duty Free instead of entering the lounge. It's written on the back of the lounge invite for this flight.
Enjoy!
__________________
"It's my job to win!"--Lance Armstrong
Last edited by schoflyer; Dec 24, 08 at 12:56 am.
Reason: Clarificatoin
Great review Scho, although some of those experiences sound pretty terrible.
It has been a long time since I have flown transpac on a NA carrier, and even longer since it was in Y. The thought of doing that again would be terrifying. I am just not used to it anymore, and more than the crappy food and seat, it is the service that I find most difficult to tolerate. They are remarkably rude!
I agree that NH F is a special treat within a treat... it's even hard to describe to someone who has not enjoyed it before. I must admit that I am getting spoiled and will probably feel it when I need to occasionally fly NH C next year on the transpac. After all, one simply burns faster than one earns with their new system. Perhaps it is a good thing to occasionally fly NH C to remind you of how special NH F really is.
Hang out with a fairly obvious FA ? cute guy ? or cute girl ?
I could just tell this younger elegant woman pax was a flight attendant. All the FAs on the flight must have stopped by to chat with her. Well maybe I'm exaggerating.
I also re-read my original comment for clarification. The point I was trying to make was that there were UA non-revs in F.
__________________
"It's my job to win!"--Lance Armstrong
Good service, glad to start off in F on the tour. I’d vowed never to upgrade with miles but I broke down.
