Trip Reports - LAX-NRT First Class on JAL

I had to get back to NRT to complete my quest for Senator status on LH. I was going from NRT toFRA to CPT to complete my run. This segment was on JAL flight 61 from LAX-NRT
Arrived at 11:15Am for a 1PM flight from the Tom Braddley terminal at LAX. Very busy for a June 27. However the first class line at JAL was very short. Was given a boarding pass for seat 3H, as well as a pass for the first class SAKURA lounge. Went through security which took less then 5 minutes. Quite suprised. I then went to the Sakura lounge but was disappointed to see that the food selections were NONE. Just cookies and open bar. Therefore, I decided to go to another lounge. I asked to see the ANA lounge and was told to just look.......but I saw some great looking sandwiches and I was quite hungry. The nice concierge came over to me and offered me anything I wanted. She was great. I then was able to go into the Cathay Pacific lounge which had different sandwiches than the ANA lounge. I then returned to the JL lounge where some finger food was finally put out, but nothing to speak about. Amazing that US lounges in general do not compete with tieh European or Asian lounge in pre departure food and drinks..
All first Class passengers were led to the departure gate of 101. There was no line at all. I was suprised to see that there were only 4 passengers in first out of a possible 12. The seats were 2 by 2 with sleeper seats but not suites. While passing through business class I noticed that the space between rows was incredibly long. Apparently JAL has enlarged pitch in C Class on the JFK, LAX, and SFO routes.
Arrived at my seat where I was told that there was no one next to me. Seat was very comfortable but did not have the storage space that the LH seats did. BUT, the video system was ON DEMAND which is far and above better than most airline entertainment systems. Movies could be stopped, started and paused like a home DVD or video tape system. Movies included ALI, Life is a House, and some great foreign movies. Very impressive. Noice cancelling headphones were also given out. Slippers were in our seats . very comforable. We took off on time and immediately given the menus. Here is the transcript:

APPETIZER
Sevruga caviar
Seafood Mille-feuille in Marsala Wine Jelly with Ravigote Sauce

SOUP
Black Mussel Cream Soup

SALAD
Fresh Vegetable Salad
French dressing

MAIN DISH
Grilled Beef Chateaubriand with Bearnaise Butter Red wine sauce
Roasted Rack of Lamb "Persillade" with Basil Gravy Sauce
Oven Roasted sae Bass with tomato and caper Salsa

SELECTION OF CHEESE

DESSERT
Creme Brule with Raspberry, Strip Opera Chocolate, Blueberry charlotte, Mango Lime Hexagon, cut Fruits in season

BEVERAGE
Coffee, Tea, Herbal Tea, Greem Tea, Espresso, Cappuccino

CHOCOLATES

or
SUMMER TASTE OF JAPAN
JAPANESE APPETIZER
Octopus and Cucumber
Baked Lobster with Sea Urchin
Salmon and Lotus Root, Rolled Chicken with Seaweed
Green Soy Beans Mousse

WAN
Japanese Clear Soupr with Sea Urchin Mousse

SASHIMI
Tuna, Scallop, Squid

KOBACHI
Eel teriyaki and Cucumber in Sweet vinegar Sauce

NIMONO
Cold Egg Custard

MAIN DISH
Simmered Black Cod and Vegetable in Sweet Soy sauce

RICE
Japanese Steamed Rice, Japanese Pickles, Miso Soup

DESSERT
Cut Fruit in seasons
Japanese sweet

BEVERAGE
Green Tea

SELECTIONS aavaialbal eat any time
WESTERN TRAY
Seafood Risotto with Summer Vegetables
Fresh Salad Balsamic Vineger Dressing
Peach Compote with Crystal Jelly
Special Roll Selection with Butter
Coffee Tea

JAPANESE TRAY
Simmered Sundried Radish in Soy Sauce
Salt Grilled sea Bass
Sauteed Celery in soy sauce
Japanese Pickles
Miso Soup
Steamed rice or rice Porridge

RICE
Steamed Rice and vegetables with Japanese Tea "Ochazuke
Chicken curry Japanese style
Simmered Eel in Sweet Soy sauce

NOODLE
Chinese cold Noodles
Japanese Udon Noodles in Soup with Fried Bean curd
Chinese Ramen noodles in soup with "Kagoshima Pork fillet

A LA CARTE
Seafood Nantua in Yorkshire Pudding gratin
Crepe Patissiere
Beef Stew
Open face sandwiches

REFRESHMENTS
Prepared Fresh fruits
Organic Lemon Sherbet or vanilla Ice Cream

Wine selection was good, but since I do not embibe while fliying I could not recite the selections. But Champagne was Tattinger Comptes de Champagne and various Bordeaux wines.
Flight seemed to go very quickly. Took a nap and then had seafood risotto, and the seafood nantua Both excellent. I had the caviar, the sea bass, and some of the finest pastries I have had. Congradulations to JAL. They have upgraded their food since my last trip in December 2001. Also, we were given comfort sweatshirts, and comfort sweatpants to wear during the flight. I hope that more FT begin to experience JAL. I was very impressed

I flew 15 years ago JAL in F from Tokyo to London and I stupidly chose the Japanese meal. For my taste buds it was horrible. And the croissants/danish were also bad.

I would certainly choose the western menu were I to fly them again. They gave us a Japanese robe to put on.

RTW4,

Thanks for the report.
I do not quite understand why you chose JAL for this flight if you are running for LH SEN status? AFAIK there are no status miles for JAL flights on any Star Alliance mileage programs, am I wrong?

I had a free ticket on JAL which is reason of going JAL from LAX-NRT

OK, I understand. Free ticket is always a good reason for flying http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

RTW,

Maybe they will give you a bottle 'to go'.
Then you can bring it to an LA dining experience with Flyertalkers.

Dan

Thanks for your report and the delectable menu transcripts! JAL looks pretty nice.

What's up with the LAX lounge scene? From your description, it sounds as if just having a First Class boarding pass will get you into most any First Class lounge there!