So it's about 5:30am in Tokyo, a little restless in bed so figure a good time to start this before breakfast and planning my first day in Tokyo.
This has been a MUCH anticipated trip, part in due to FlyerTalk. I didn't really realize the capabilities of award travel. I thought for the most part you got FF status for some perks and using miles as part of an existing ticket to upgrade. I didn't think I could plug in dates, book across partner airlines and get $14,000+ in airline tickets for $121 (as is the case here). I had booked this trip last July...I wanted to go as far as I could & where I've never been and in as nice of a luxury I could find. That would end up being this 12 day trip to Tokyo. I also then decided that since I had the time after it I wanted to surprise my Mom so that's where the United stuff comes in.
As with my other TRs if you've read them there is a mix of haphazard cellphone shots and then things a bit more thought out & higher quality that I've shot with any of my several cameras I have on me. In this case I packed "light" as I don't have a specific job I am shooting here it's my Leica X2 point & shoot, Canon 5D with Zeiss 85mm & medium format Fuji 6x9 (those photos I'll post when I'm back in NY & have developed them).
Run of show:
1) British Airways Terraces Lounge JFK
2) ANA Business Staggered JFK-NRT
3) The Tokyo Station Hotel
4) Tokyo & Misc
5) ANA Suite Lounge NRT
6) ANA First Square NRT-ORD
7) United ORD-LAX-MRY Y
8) Monterey Bay & Misc
9) United MRY-SFO-JFK p.s. Business
I had been biting my nails all week watching the weather hoping that any snow and things would get pushed back a day...earlier in the week it was showing snow on Sunday but as it progressed it got later and later. Very happy to have got out! Quicker trip than I thought getting to JFK...left the East Village at 1:15 and upon arrival the check-in doesn't open until 3 hours before the flight. So at 1:52 all the agents were sitting and waiting until 1:55.
The premium line (and for that matter PreCheck line) at Terminal 7 is a joke. I had watched someone go in the standard line at the same time as I did and I noticed I was putting my stuff on the belt as I saw them walking up the steps through and done with screening.
Here's Hillary Swank being escorted by a UA rep to cut the line...is she carrying her Oscar's dress?? That plane better fly fast!
As you circle back through security and up the stairs as a Business or First passenger you are invited to use the British Airways Lounge...if you keep walking down the hall past that you arrive at the United Club. What a difference 100 feet makes!
The times I've used the United Club before p.s. flights and now seeing this I am going to cry next trip when I have to bypass the BA lounge for the UC. As you walk in there is an ANA rep who takes your invitation, gives you the WiFi password and says she'll make announcements for boarding. To the right is the Terraces lounge & to the left is First Class.
As I was in pretty early there were plenty of seats, soon it began filling up closer to departure times but still was never crowded, plenty of places for a single or double group to sit without having to share a seating area. A fair selection of drinks, beer, wine. Rotating options of sandwiches put out (ham, cheese, garlic mayo / salmon, creme fraice, onions / vegetable wrap), there was a soup station but I never saw anything in there. There is also another glass door with podium section for Supper but that is restricted to BA pax and even then it wasn't open by the time I left the lounge at 4:40.
At check-in I was told the flight would be a little delayed and that boarding would be at 4:55 (whereas that was the original flight time). With a few Japanese announcements in the lounge close to that time I was getting anxious and wanted to stretch my legs. I saw plenty of Japanese pax who I saw at check-in still in the lounge so I wasn't too worried about the lounge agent having told everyone to get their butts on board we were taking off early.
Eventually they started having F & J pax line up and announced we may board at 5:00...then a bit after that they made an announcement saying another 10 min and 20 sec later on the walkie talkie you could hear the plane say to let us on and we were on our way in.
I was giddy beyond belief! After plenty of bows and welcome on board I got to my seat, sat down, worked all the controls and headphone jack to make sure everything worked and at once point I caught myself sort of bouncing up and down sitting in the seat.
Good thing I had a drink to calm me down a bit.
The FAs were all smiling and very gracious and came around and picked up the plastic wrap from everyone's slippers, amenity kit and mattress pad. While several worked each aisle and section (split in half) the main FA for my section came and introduced herself.
The view from a K seat.
I was excited for the Business Staggered product as I like aisle access (I get up a lot to pee from all the drinks) and it's always nice resting when you know someone may not be straddling you in the middle of the night to get out. This was taken pretty much at eye level sitting back in the seat, great privacy. The seat itself was pretty comfortable sitting up right, as I'm fairly tall I could comfortably sit with my arm on the blue table as well. The seat cushions you really don't sink into, they are a bit firm...for the times sitting it was fine, sleeping I see why they give you the mattress pad. The pillow was a bit on the small side and when I eventually laid down (got 6.5 hours total) it was a bit small so I ended up squishing up the blanket as well for a pillow and draped my cardigan over me.
So cool! As we were pushed back there was a small ANA car that drove out, someone got out, bowed to the plane as it started to move and then continued waving us off. I actually was surprised how fast we boarded, I was shocked when I saw we were moving...surely they couldn't have loaded the entire plane! They informed us with the late departure that we should land at NRT by 10:10...looking at the flight time that seemed a bit off, were we going around some weather, lots of wind? 1 minute later the FA came back on and said she made a mistake and it was going to be around 9:10 more or less our scheduled arrival as it originally was. Could I make the 9:44 Narita Express? Nail Biter Pt. 2!
This little tucker is a long way from home! (fitting the plane was named "Longreach"
Once we got above the cloud cover at JFK we had quite the treat.
The FA came around and then distributed menus...which is rather extensive not only having everything listed in dual languages but also it includes both legs of the IOJ flight...so from Japan & to Japan listings. I didn't realize that at first, and I thought they had switched up what we were getting because I had previously checked it out online:
Food
Drinks
But as I was flipping through I noticed my mistake.
Throughout the flight I enjoyed several glasses of the Saika Junmai Gingo...it was also nice that each time she brought me a new glass it was a bit more full than the previous.
You can check out the links to the menu but I went with the steak over the fish. The amuse bouche were great, the appetizer while good was a bit mixed and left me neither here nor there, the steak was great (not dry) but I didn't understand the need for the butter so moved it aside to save on the calroies, the yuzu lemon tart was great!
Others have stated that IFE isn't that extensive or great, I can see that. But, it's enough to get you through the flight...since I knew I'd be back on one I didn't want to stay up all night watching movies so after Brave & half of The Hobbit I went to bed and got about 6.5 hours.
I woke up with a few hours left in the flight and decided I wanted to try the Ippudo ramen. I live a few streets away from it in NY but I have never had it...so why not try it somewhere between Alaska and Russia? Woke me up nicely with some green tea, still a bit hungry I asked for some fruit and another tea to finish The Hobbit. The first meal doesn't leave you stuffed which is a nice feeling but as you can see from all the snacks offered you aren't going to starve to death on an ANA flight.
I decided to peek out the window and could catch some of the last sunlight as it was starting to set far off over Russia. Before going to sleep one of the FAs came by and mentioned to look out the window and we could see the aurora. Something I couldn't capture on the camera but that was AMAZING. Seeing this far off whisps of polar lights with the wing partially in view bordered on a surreal experience.
In lieu of the seafood lasagna on the Western side I opted for the Japanese arrival meal. I can't say I have the most keen sense of taste of evaluate the dishes but I liked everything and was great to get me in the mood for the next week & a half. Also more sake!
Overall the flight was great. I had read that some ANA FAs were not that confident with English but I had no trouble. To take orders they also bring a menu with the page open and you can point things out. They were all very attentive when you needed it, ring the call button and within 10-12 seconds they were at your seat. They had some orchids set up around the cabin and in the bathroom. The bar area was set up with water, crackers and cookies and then an open menu indicating to order food/drinks at your seat. Bathrooms also had some nice moisturizing products in them.
We touched down close to 9...I started counting the minutes. I didn't want to end up missing the NEX and then have to head back and figure out the Airport Limo Bus (and for that matter have to take the bus). We got to the gate after 7 or so minutes of taxing (and what a plane parking lot with lots of 747 cargo, A380s from Air France & Singapore). Off it very quick, started heading to CBP...past quarantine where they have a body temp thermometer you pass by. Through passport control in about 10 min and at the baggage claim at about 9:20...okay here we go come on bag come on. Plenty of *A "Priority" bags on this flight. There's mine...15 min to spare! Through customs and out in the terminal found the railway signs headed down. Tried to use an automated machine...FAIL! Bought my ticket from the counter agent and was on the train at 9:37 which pulled out at 9:44. Success!
Got out at Tokyo Station, found the Marunouchi exit and no double finding my way along the beautiful facade to The Tokyo Station Hotel where I was quickly checked in and shown to my room. Going to give it a few days of eating/drinking/using facilities at the hotel before I make any comments. But can't complain about the room!