Trip Reports - RTW in F on *A and *wood

Part 1

This Trip report combines the tail end of a Jakarta issued *A RTW in F business trip starting from FRA with a new one also issued in Jakarta for leisure purposes. Mrs Zorro accompanied me for the second part, also on a *A RTW issued in Jakarta.

I don´t know how to operate a camera, let alone include pictures in a Trip report, but there was nothing to see that has not been shown on FT so far. Since I am a difficult customer however, a number of observations on this RTW may help others to prepare the trip better than I did and avoid some of the issues we encountered.

March 9
LH 404 FRA-JFK

I showed up at the FCT about two hours before departure. Although I had used the Terminal a number of times before, this was the first time I returned a Sixt rental car. While the check in girl took my luggage, a uniformed Sixt agent took the keys and returned the car. I was reluctant to ask for a receipt in such an elegant environment, although generally I insist on it to avoid unpleasant surprises. Of course, I just encountered a charge of € 5,71 for that rental, which I now either have to spend time and effort to chase up on, or just accept it as a "FCT drop off fee". The car was filled up, and € 5,71 would anyway only be the equivalent to a 5% of a full tank.

The check in process at the FCT is simply unique. Your passport is taken away and you pass security straight away. The passport and BP then is handed back to you just before being taken to the car that drives you to the plane. Security is fast and courteous, even when they have to insist on liquids or lap top removal. The only annoying aspect is that it is the living proof that security checks CAN be done in a dignified and efficient manner. There is just no excuse for the troglodytes keen on humiliating the passengers in the main building.

I like to smoke the occasional cigar, but these days this pleasure is increasingly difficult to enjoy. Home and office are out, restaurants rarely allow it, and hotels are only an option if I have a full suite with locking doors. I once slept in a room where I smoked a cigar, and could not get rid of the resulting headache for days. Airport lounges should provide the ideal opportunity to kill time peacefully until a delayed departure with a cigar, but even in those lounges where smoking sections exist, cigars are always specifically excluded. The cigar lounge at the FCT is therefore a welcome exception, and on its own a good excuse to choose LH - even with the ancient F seats – over another airline with superior seating comfort.

There were five of us to leave on LH404, and the Mercedes Viano luxury van was more than adequate. Although only two days before departure seatcounter.com showed F8 and A4 availability, the plane was full, and I was grateful I had reserved a window seat.

The meal was easily forgotten, and the time on the plane was spent mainly on reading and on and off conversation with my seat neighbour. At disembarkation no priority was given to F, and the disadvantageous position on the staircase was not helpful in the fight for a place in the immigration queue, which was mercifully short at that late hour.

Luggage delivery was quick, around ten minutes after passing immigration, taxi lines non-existant, and within an hour after landing I was at my hotel, the W in Lexington Avenue.

W Lexington Avenue

I had not expected any help with my luggage at arrival, but somehow the confirmation of the absence of customer service does disappoint somewhat. Fortunately I had acquired a suitcase with wheels recently. I know, they have been around for a long time, but generally I survived until now with porters or airport carts.

The entrance lobby was a zoo – strange people (artists?), and lots of them. Nobody appeared to inconvenience the 5 receptionists, and they were determined to keep it that way when I tried to get their attention.

"Excuse me, I have a reservation under the name of Zorro, Zed, O, Double R, O"

"Credit Card!"

I had a prepaid Internet rate of $ 159, came to $250, €155, already debited a few days earlier

"The room has been prepaid."

"Yeah but we need the Credit Card for incidentals".

Since I had a reclamation rate with unauthorized CC charges at Starwood hotels last summer of eight out of twelve (some as small as $3, all successfully returned), I try to minimize the occasions where I let a hotel have my CC details.

" I don´t need incidentals!"

"Sorry, Hotel policy, we need the CC"

"Sorry, Customer policy, I don´t give it out"

"Ok, have it your way,"

She turned away to chat to her friends again

I remembered my Negotiation Class at B School

"Alright, can I give you Cash?"

I saw a hint of a smile on her face, this is Noo Yawk after all.

"Sure, 150 bucks!"

"I don´t need incidentals for that........"

I counted eight $20 bills and shoved them over the counter and got a key for a room on the 18th floor. Too tired and jetlagged to ask for an upgrade or Platinum recognition I was not however too absentminded not to ask for a receipt for the cash.

"Sorry, you only get a receipt at check out."

"Then give me back my money, you will also get it at check out."

She saw my argument, and printed a receipt for $150.

"I gave you $160, what do you think the other 10 are for? Tip for good service or what?"

"Thank you Sir, that is nice of you!"

"No way, I want $10 back or a receipt for $160!"

Surprisingly, she printed a new receipt, rather than giving me $10 note from the open cash register with plenty of 10s in them.

The room was run down and adequate in size. Only later, when I looked up the thread on the Hotel in the Starwood Forum, did I find out that adequate size rooms are actually a major upgrade at this Hotel, and that quality of service was not a key success factor either. I had based my choice on price and the proximity of my appointments the following morning, not on the reviews on FT.

At check out I was asked about my experience at Check-In. I usually don´t bother with criticism once I have eliminated the possibility of a future stay. However, faced with such a specific question I made an exception as I could not decline the opportunity to recall the relaxed attitude of the clerk form the night shift. The cashier was clearly taken aback by my comments, but confirmed that 500 points had been credited as Platinum amenity.

Tbc

Part 2

On Monday afternoon I flew on to LAX, changing planes in IAD, mainly in order to be able to fly in a proper F cabin.

March 10
LGA-IAD UA7815

The short flight to IAD was operated by a regional affiliate of UA on an Embraer 145 in a one class configuration. I had no problem checking in at the International F desk, although this sector was in M. The check in agent tried to convince me to use the automated check in machines, but the combination of a foreign issued e-tix and a technophobe passenger forced her to proceed manually. I had looked forward to another argument, but she was just too nice and accommodating.

After all the horror stories, here on FT and elsewhere, and some unpleasant experiences I always dread US airports, US domestic flights, and UA. LGA was however an easygoing, uncrowded airport, security had no queues, boarding was quick, and departure was on time. Seating was 2-1, and I had a single seat on a fully booked plane. Legroom was better than on many European carriers with small commuter planes.

At IAD I tried to gain access to the International F lounge on the strength of an international F ticket, but no luck. I proceeded to the RCC a few gates further down and showed my BP without comment.

"I only let you enter because you are *Gold, not because you are flying F, you know!"

Her day must have been worse than mine.

I can confirm that the RCC is pretty far down the list of airport lounges, including most in Africa and Eastern Europe.

March 10th
IAD-LAX, UA947

Walking down the Terminal I was intrigued by the monitors next to each boarding gate announcing the names and seat numbers of passengers that had confirmed or waitlisted upgrades. This way I found out that six out of the eight seats in F on the 777 were upgrades, leaving only me and one other paying passenger in the cabin. Did he pay full fare?

I slept most of the flight, so can´t comment on the service or the lack thereof. When they work, the suites on the 777 are not bad, better than LH at least.

I picked up my car at Avis, installed my Navigation system and reached my hotel in downtown LA within half an hour. No traffic jams that late in the evening (9pm).

Westin Bonaventura Los Angeles

The check in was nice and professional, no queues or crowds in the lobby, and the bellboy and valet took care of the car and the luggage. The porter mumbled something to the effect that not he but someone else would bring the luggage to the room. I interpreted it as an attempt to extract a tip there and then and disregarded it.

Since I had only reserved and not prepaid the room, had a good initial impression of the hotel and the check in girl was smiling at me in a way that looked genuine, I decided to abandon my policy of not handing over the requested CC. I was offered the 500 points without asking and informed that I had been upgraded to a suite for the stay of two nights.

The suite was spacious with a proper division between sleeping and living room, two bathrooms and a kitchenette with two free bottles of water. It was a bit run down however and would undoubtedly benefit from a refurbishment.

The level of service was above what I expected for the US. The following evening I went to look for the drinks vending machine, but got lost in the maze of coloured towers and bridges. Finding that the souvenir shop in the lobby was closed, I tried to reach the breakfast room to see whether some soft drinks would be available to take to the room. Half way there I encountered a black suited gentleman with a sticker on his lapel identifying him as "Drinks and Beverage Manager". Enquiring about a place to find a can of coke he picked up a nearby phone and ordered two bottles. These were brought in less than minute. When I opened my wallet to pay, this was rejected under protest, claiming that it was part of the customer service.

I would definitely return to this hotel when in LA.

tbc

Great report so far. Cigar lounge at FCT in FRA is classy.

Part 3

I returned the Avis car three hours before departure of my ANA flight to NRT. After checking on FT that Avis considers cars with more than 10.000 miles smoking cars, and not finding any signs in the car or the contract to the contrary I had smoked a cigar – without air condition and with an open window. Nevertheless, this being California I feared some complaints. More than 10 years ago I was accused of smoking pot and threatened with calling the police by an overzealous Hertz employee who misinterpreted the odour of the Montecristos I had enjoyed.

March 12th
LAX-NRT, NH5

Check-in lines at the F counter was short, however no real difference was made between F and C customers. My bags were labelled through to SIN, I got my BP to NRT, but the connecting BP to SIN could not be issued. The English language skills of the Japanese agent were spotty, so I did not engage her in a discussion about through checking privileges on *A. As I was about to leave, she claimed that I had to take the bags to "security". Unfamiliar with such a degree of self service requirements in the US I stared at her with what must have been a rather blank look. A porter who appeared to be connected to ANA offered to take them to what I soon discovered to be an X- ray machine next to the long line of passengers waiting to be security checked. The bags disappeared and so did the porter, clearly not expecting a tip.

There were two parallel lines for security. One was guarded by an official who only let special customers through. These included handicapped passengers, unaccompanied children, crew, but also quite a number of serious looking business travellers accompanied by airline employees. Apparently First Class passengers, at least on NH, did not belong to that group and I was relegated to the rather long line of coach passengers. I had ample opportunity to jealously look at those fortunate enough to take the speedy line. Some were accompanied by NH employees. Anybody know what the deal there is?

The new *A lounge is clearly an improvement on the maze of tiny waiting rooms it replaced. But as others on FT have remarked it is nothing special and the F section is almost indistinguishable from the C lounge. The other F passengers (all Japanese) were called individually, but I was ignored. After I realized that I had been forgotten I rushed out and was the last person aboard. Although I had a centre-aisle seat in the second row I could move to 1J, as the cabin was not even half full.

Service was superb, as mentioned in several other threads here. Although I can´t remember the full menu, I do recall that it was clearly better than many other F meals, including on those on SQ. It was a delight to view a film on a decent sized screen, but most memorable was the attitude of the crew. Call buttons are superfluous, you just have to look up and someone will come and ask what they can do for you. After changing into the comfortable Pyjama-cum-Kimono, a helpful stewardess takes your clothes to hang them while you prepare for a rest. Unfortunately the same determination in providing an excellent service is applied at the end of the trip when you change out of the kimono and try to let it disappear into your hand luggage.

The only weak spot on NH is the limited knowledge of English of the crew, which can only be compensated for by smiles up to a point.

Arrival at NRT was confusing. I can not say with certainty whether the generous champagne refills had anything to do with this, or whether the lack of English speaking skills by the Japanese as opposed to my lack of English comprehension was to blame, but it took me quite some time and long corridor walks to find the SQ transit desk. At least the NH F lounge was close, as was the SQ departure gate.

The F lounge was not bad, and had a dining area which was not operative. Was there no NH long haul flight leaving at that time (late afternoon) ? I asked for a shower and was accompanied by one of the many pretty ladies to the shower area which was more than acceptable. Not quite as nice as the bathrooms in the F lounges in Frankfurt, but much better than the public showers I had to use a few years ago at NRT when waiting in the F lounge.

March 13th
NRT-SIN, SQ 11

The SQ flight had also arrived from LAX and was leaving on time. It was full in F and I looked briefly at the menu before falling asleep after take off. I would order the lamp chops later. When I woke up after maybe three hours a kind stewardess offered to serve me dinner, except the lamb chops which they had run out of. I had to content myself with some tasteless pasta which I did not finish.

Arrival was unfamiliar until I realised that we had arrived at T3 which was new to me. I was delighted to find both my suitcases waiting for me at the carrousel in spite of the dubious check in procedure at LAX. After a long walk to an ATM I took a taxi to my Hotel, the Sheraton Towers.

tbc

Part 4


Sheraton Towers, Singapore

I was upgraded to a full suite, two separate rooms with a door in between., for the two night stay. Everything ran like clockwork, not much to report there. Definitely better than the Meridien where I stayed in November.

March 14th
SIN-CGK-SIN, LH 778/779

I had reserved the next RTW tickets through LH in JKT, both for myself and Mrs Zorro, who was flying in from MAD on an F award ticket on LH. Since the flight from FRA to JKT stops in SIN, I had booked myself on the SIN-JKT leg and would join her on the plane. The turnaround was one and a half hour, and although we had no checked luggage I was slightly apprehensive that Immigration, customs, ticket issuing, check-in and emigration could be done in such a short time. No need to worry though

We were met by a lady with our names on a board who escorted us all the way to the check in desk, bypassing passport control and customs. The tickets and the CC slips were prepared and we had our BPs within minutes, even for the connection on SQ to BKK the following morning. For some reason they could not do e-tix as promised, but had to issue paper tickets. We even had some time to spare for duty free shopping.

There were only three or four other passengers in the cabin on both sectors, and service was correspondingly pleasant. The food again was nothing to write home about, but the wine went down well.

It was curious to see the surprised faces of the crew who could not understand the reason behind our curious routing. I made a feeble attempt to explain RTWs, different pricing in different countries and currencies, but realised early on that I lost them. Only when Mrs. Zorro confirmed that she did not understand the argument either, were they satisfied. Why would anyone being able to afford F want to go to such lengths to save a bit of money anyhow? The bit of money saved was quite a bit however, at $8.060 for the ARTWSTAR1, taxes and surcharges included.

March 15th
SIN-BKK, SQ970

Although we had our BPs already, we needed to check luggage, which we did at the F check-in at T2. We had a short connection in BKK (50mins) to HKT, so we would have preferred to have the BPs for that sector issued as well. SQ was able to tag the bags through to HKT, but informed us that we needed to get the TG BPs to HKT at the transit counter in BKK. Apparently it is not possible to issue domestic BPs outside Thailand, even TG in SIN could not do it according to SQ.

We spent a short time in the F lounge, which made a better impression than a few years ago when I last used it. Maybe it was because it was almost empty.

At security I had my cigar cutter confiscated. It had survived UK and US security for years, but SIN must have reason to fear such a tool. I got a receipt and told to recuperate it at BKK, they could not send it to HKT . Fat chance with a 50 min connection. Of course TG in BKK told me that this was an SQ problem, not theirs.

The plane, a 777, had the oldest F configuration I know, similar to LH F in the eighties. Since it was a short flight and we were the only passengers in F this was not a particular hardship. Service was usual SQ top notch.

The connection in BKK was complicated. This is an extract of a comment in the TG forum I posted a few days ago:

A few days before we had the opportunity to experience the lack of organisation at the airport which almost made us lose our connection.

We arrived in F on SQ and connected in C to HKT. SQ was not able to issue the connecting Boarding pass, apparently the IT systems don´t cooperate, *A notwithstanding. Luggage was checked through however. SQ arrived at one of the main gates (C/D?). As the first passengers off the plane we asked an SQ reception agent where to connect to HKT on TG and were directed to the right. When we arrived at the passport counter we were refused transit because we had no boarding pass and were told to get it at the nearby transit counter. There we were refused the BP because we had arrived on SQ, they were only willing to issue BPs for TG/TG transfers. The instructions were to go through normal immigration and recheck at the outside TG counter. By this time 20 of our 50 mins transit time had gone. When we did make it to check in, we were told that the check-in deadline had passed, and every other flight that day to HKT was fully booked and did not even accept waitlist. My complaints were successful however, and we were issued BPs ("at your own risk"). We made it as last passengers on a fully booked flight, albeit without all of our luggage.

If the procedure is correct, 50 mins should not be a legal connection, and staff should be informed in order to avoid such an odyssey. My suspicion is however that the transit counter agent just made it up.

March 15th
BKK-HKT, TG209

The flight was operated on a 777, and we had separate aisle seats. Seats can apparently not be reserved on domestic flights, even in Business Class. At arrival it took us some time to understand the separate international/domestic baggage delivery system. Long after the domestic belt stood still the international side went into operation. One of our four bags did not make it, but was delivered later in the evening to our hotel.

We arranged a car at the Meridien Khao Lak welcome desk and were taken to the hotel without delay.

Since I am a difficult customer

You don´t say. :rolleyes:

Quote: "The room was run down and adequate in size. Only later, when I looked up the thread on the Hotel in the Starwood Forum, did I find out that adequate size rooms are actually a major upgrade at this Hotel, and that quality of service was not a key success factor either."

I've often gotten the impression that when staying at New York's W Hotel, you're supposed to be overwhelmed/impressed by the trendiness of the place and its "hip and with it" patrons. And being thusly overwhelmed/impressed by these important factors, you'll overlook incidental considerations like room condition, size or service.

Quote: "LGA was however an easygoing, uncrowded airport, security had no queues, boarding was quick, and departure was on time."

What time did your flight depart LGA? 3:00am?

Since I am a difficult customer
You don´t say. :rolleyes:Other than expecting to smoke cigars in hotel rooms and rental cars, which is something that I, as someone who loves a fine cigar now and then, don't even expect to do, I can't see what makes Zorro such a demanding customer. At the W New York and the TG transfer desk he encountered service levels unacceptable for travel service providers and products that bill themselves as crème de la crème. You pay first class prices, you expect first class service. :td:

Quote: "LGA was however an easygoing, uncrowded airport, security had no queues, boarding was quick, and departure was on time."

What time did your flight depart LGA? 3:00am?[/QUOTE]

2.41pm

Sometimes surprises are pleasant ones!

If the procedure is correct, 50 mins should not be a legal connection, and staff should be informed in order to avoid such an odyssey. My suspicion is however that the transit counter agent just made it up.


I had to go through the same odyssey earlier this year, its a long trek, and the premium counters are all the way at the other end once you get up those 2 (or was it 3) levels.


We arranged a car at the Meridien Khao Lak welcome desk and were taken to the hotel without delay.

It seems we had similar plans, I really enjoyed the Meridien Khao Lak, having the entire bay to yourself. The restaurant up the beach is pretty good if you get a chance, but watch out of the insects.

Part 5

Le Meridien Khao Lak

We arrived at about 3 pm and were told that the suite to which we had been upgraded would only be ready in about half an hour, but meanwhile we could use a day room to freshen up. Given the humidity in the open air reception area we gladly accepted.

It did not even take 15 minutes until we were shown to the suite at the far end of the Family wing. It was very spacious, large bedroom and large living room separated by two sliding rooms and kitchenette. The bathroom was behind the dressing room separating it from the bedroom. Bathroom and dressing room alone probably had the size of the day room we had used.

I had booked the room only one week before on Cash and Points and therefore assumed that it was not fully booked. Indeed except for the beach area it never made a crowded impression. Service was excellent, if one allows for the limited language skills typical for the Thai hospitality industry.

We were booked to fly to HKG on TG on the 18th, changing planes at BKK. When I found out that an old friend was in BKK during that week we tried to catch an earlier flight to Bangkok in order to have lunch with him. Seatcounter.com showed all flights to BKK booked for that day, so we settled for Don Muang. Since we had to get into town for lunch anyhow, this was no problem. I saw plenty of availability for the 9.30am flight.
I asked the concierge to make a reservation in C for us, but was not convinced that she had fully understood my rather straightforward request. Surprisingly, I received a note on Hotel letterhead confirming our flights with a Reservation Code.

March 18th
HKT-DMK, TG1204

Presenting our tickets and the note from the hotel with the changed reservation details we checked in at the empty Silk class counter in HKT. However, our reservation could not be found by the helpful check in agent. Fortunately the flight was not full, and we could get to Bangkok in time. We later found out that TG only maintains reservations up to 24h, even in C and F, unless the ticket is presented and revalidated. It would have been helpful if the concierge would have informed us of such minor details. In the busy holiday week with all flights through BKK virtually sold out this was not a minor issue.

A pleasant Silk Lounge on the domestic side made the waiting time bearable.

The plane was an ancient AB3, with C seating similar to the old European F Class on LH and IB.

The domestic flights in DMK appear to arrive still in the old domestic terminal, no use of the old international terminal appears to be made. Is it completely closed down, or has some other use been found?

Luggage was delivered very quickly, and completely this time. Our driver took us to lunch in town and dropped us at Suvarnabhumi 90 minutes before our connecting flight to HKG . This is what I wrote in the TG forum about the check in experience:

The Departure experience in F is excellent, although last week I found that the kerbside reception is clearly below par (this was mentioned in another thread recently).

We arrived by private car, only to be waved on about 20m to the business check in by some guys in uniform who blocked the F space. A business class porter came to take our luggage, while I walked back to an idle group of F porters. I asked for their assistance, only to be directed back to the business class area. My claims to be a F class passenger were obviously not taken at face value.

The C class porter insisted on taking us to the Silk class check-in. Only after becoming rather forceful were we taken to the F check-in, admittedly accompanied by several apologies.

When I asked about the confusion the check in agent added insult to injury by saying that I should have made it clear that we were flying F! After that however everything went fine, the whole F experience as described many times.

It seems we had similar plans, I really enjoyed the Meridien Khao Lak, having the entire bay to yourself. The restaurant up the beach is pretty good if you get a chance, but watch out of the insects.[/QUOTE]

We did not have the entire bay to ourselves, never managed to get a beach chair before the Germans put their towels down in the morning. We stayed by one of the pools mostly.

The food at the beach bar in the hotel was indeed good, and not expensive, even with wine. Or did you mean a place outside the hotel?

You don´t say. :rolleyes:

Demanding Customer may have been a more charitable expression, and probably more in the spirit of FT!

We did not have the entire bay to ourselves, never managed to get a beach chair before the Germans put their towels down in the morning. We stayed by one of the pools mostly.

The food at the beach bar in the hotel was indeed good, and not expensive, even with wine. Or did you mean a place outside the hotel?

I meant a place a short walk up the beach. Shame about the other tourists, In January the place was deserted.

March 18th
BKK-HKG, TG606

Although all ten seats in the new F cabin were taken, only one other passenger was escorted with us from the F lounge. We had the rear middle seats, and pre departure service left nothing to be desired. The plane must have come from Europe since it was full of very recent German and English newspapers and magazines.

The first take-off attempted was aborted due to an engine malfunction. As it turned out, the warning system malfunctioned, nothing was wrong with the engine. The pilot parked the plane somewhere far from the terminal, and we had the opportunity to admire the cabling underneath the cockpit, when the mechanics removed the panelling over our heads. The door was open for about an hour with people coming and going, and the Bangkok heat easily overpowered the aircondition, at least in F. Fortunately generous offerings of Champagne made the wait bearable.

Once we were on our way a very good dinner was served and we arrived in HKG just in time to connect without haste to the Macao ferry. I understand that this service has only been operative for a few months, but it is very efficient. The Golf cart taking the F passengers dropped us at the Ferry transit desk a few metres to the left of Immigration. We bought tickets in Superclass for a very reasonable HK$ 280 (US$ 36), handed our luggage tags from BKK, and went downstairs to the ferry Gate. From there a bus took us through a long barbed wire enclosed transit path to a very basic boat terminal, and after about another 10-15 minutes our speedboat was ready to board. Superclass has wider seats than normal class, and is upstairs. Our cabin was not even half full, and a small tray of food was served. Perfectly adequate for a fourty minute trip.

We cleared immigration in Macao. There is no luggage belt, a porter pulls a trolley down the narrow aisle between immigration and customs, and leaves the passengers to fight for what they believe is theirs. All our bags had made the transit in HKG.

We had planned to take a taxi to the Westin, which is on Coalane, an island maybe twenty minutes away by car. Upon leaving the customs area we saw someone with a jacket displaying the Westin logo, and asked him whether he had transport to the Hotel. He was happy to take us on the Westin bus that apparently commutes regularly free of charge between the Ferry terminal and the Hotel. He took charge of our bags, and delivered them safely to our room later.

Westin Macao

The hotel is located in a nature reserve at the far end of Coloane, and maybe a ten minute drive from the Venetian. It has no casino or gambling facilities, and appears an oasis of calm in bustling Macao. We were given a large suite for both nights of our stay. The Hotel does not have an Executive Club, but Platinum guests are given a free breakfast. The place was clearly not fully booked, and service and the attitude could not have been better. A disadvantage of the location is without doubt that a taxi is necessary every time you want to leave the Hotel. Several times the bell desk had to inform us that no taxis were available. We were instead offered to join the shuttle bus to Macao, and were dropped at a place of our choice.

We did not use the pool, but the entire pool area looked very nice. I would definitely return to this Hotel, in spite of its location.

The return trip to HKG is a bit more inconvenient. One can check luggage at the ferry terminal, but it is only transported as far as the boat shed where the ferry arrives in HKG. It has then to be rechecked with the transporting airline. Again, there is no luggage delivery belt, a porter dumps all the bags from his trolley onto the floor in the middle of the check in area. Several ferries had arrived from other parts of the Pearl River Delta, and the space was simply too small to have an orderly check in process. Something should be done to get this part of HKG airport up to the level of the main airport.

After going through security we stopped at a special desk where we could exchange a voucher for overpaid taxes that the check in agent for NH had given us. We then proceeded to a waiting line for the bus which took us to the main building.

March 20th
HKG-NRT, NH910

No F was offered on this flight, so we were given vouchers for the AF lounge which was rather crowded with plenty of guests from other airlines, probably Skyteam. I was about to look for the other nearby *A lounges when we found two seats, and decided to stay the short time until departure. Very little choice of drinks, but quite a variety of Asian food items (noodles, rice, chicken) that Mrs Zorro proclaimed to be very good.

There were two boarding lines at the gate, one for economy and one for business. The business line was at least as long as the economy one, if not longer. Although there were some Y passengers in that line, most actually had a C BP. When we entered the plane, we had to pass through the F cabin, that must have been sold as C and reserved by loyal NH passengers. Quite annoying though to have paid for an F ticket and still have to go to the last row of C seats (16A & B). It was strange and not pleasant to sit behind the wing when having paid for the highest possible class.

The seats were very nice though for such a short flight (3.30h), and I remembered them from an earlier flight from NRT to SFO. The meal was not up to the same standard and was better left alone. Wine and champagne in small 187ml bottles was at room temperature, but the red wine was quite drinkable.

The walk from the plane at arrival in NRT was VERY long. Immigration was pretty fast as few non Japanese passengers had been on our flight. We had to wait about an hour until the Limousine bus taking us to the Westin left, and were exhausted by the time of our arrival after 11pm.

Thanks for the informative report!

About ANA check-in at TBIT at LAX, yes, your bags have to go through X-ray at the terminal (unlike other airports, the X-ray took place underground or somewhere away from you). The procedures have changed numerous times, but now you drag your bags over to the X-ray machines after checking in.

But for most premium passengers, there is a complimentary porter service for first class passengers at the minimal, so I am surprised ANA has no such service. My last flight with Malaysia is pretty good and a porter pretty much takes the bags away right after I checked in and got my boarding passes.

LAX TBIT is just such as mess...

Carfield