JAL Mileage Bank - No New SkySleeper Solo Seats on my JL9 flight, and no Taittanger???

Both were back on JL 10, but this was big disappointment as I don't like the old seats and the "promise" of the new seats from ORD-NRT was one of the reasons I routed via ORD vs. JFK.

Everything was fine on the return, however, except that they didn't have the Ju-yon-dai Japanese Premium Sake (April Special), but did have the
Iso-jiman Japanese Premium Sake (April Special), which the Purser said was "just as "expensive/special". Frankly, I thought it was pretty good, but the Purser on the ORD-NRT flight said the Ju-yon-dai was "most special".


Otherwise, I have a funny observation: when the first round of glasses of champage are offered post-take off, it seems to always be the cheaper Gosset. When I asked, the Purser said that this was the "welcome champange" or something like that; I declined and requested the Taittinger, and she promptly popped the cork for me, but the default seems to be the Gosset, which is a little chincy, IMO.

Also, is JL basically the only airline that won't serve pre-departure drinks, :( except for the Arab airlines that don't serve alchohol?

It is the only one that I know. I, however, welcome the time to quietly get organized in my seat, put on sleepwear etc. The service that follows more than makes up for not receiving early service in my estimation.

AA & UA serve cheap "pre-departure" champagne on the ground as its not considered duty free. On occasion I've found both carriers trying to finish off that rank stuff even when airborne. But at least you can have water or OJ pre-departure.

AA & UA serve cheap "pre-departure" champagne on the ground as its not considered duty free. On occasion I've found both carriers trying to finish off that rank stuff even when airborne. But at least you can have water or OJ pre-departure.

That's just cheap of them.

BA serves Krug, or whatever they are serving in the air, on the ground, as well as whatever else you want, such as $150/bottle Johnnie Walker Blue Label.

JL has all the good stuff, just doesn't bother with pre-departure drinks. What does ANA do?