Hilton Narita Airport

This is very much a flying visit and thus in theory a very short element of the trip report to write (we shall see how that pans out). To say this is “at” the airport is a little misleading – it is roughly a fifteen minute bus ride – which I know is better than the train to the city but it still isn’t that close. It is pitch black as we approach the hotel but do have an overwhelming feeling of size and space as we walk in.

Check in is very, very slow and there is no obvious signs of recognition of status other than a breakfast voucher. I am given a 10th floor room but nothing much else. The room is again surprisingly large but very simple. I certainly don’t mind simple in hotels. I jump online immediately and try to call home but I think it is a little late for mrssimongr to be awake. The broadband speed in the hotel is great so I grab a couple of beers and catch up with AFF and some more laptop TV. By about 11Pm I am starting to crash so I set the alarm and hit the hay. Remembering just as I fall asleep that 4 beers and a bag of potato chips does not a dinner make.

I am awake before the alarm and open the curtains on to a truly fantastic view of Japanese forests. Quite breathtaking and I can even imagine Ninjas from Tenchu Stealth Assassins crawling through those forests…

I have a nice but slightly strange shower – sort of like a tripod alien from War of the Worlds. Knowing I will be fed at the lounge or on board or both I skip breakfast and head straight down to the bus. It is again a slow process checking out – I seem to be behind a heap of Swissair cabin/air crew. It is a reasonable ride to the airport on the bus – although there is a slightly weird passport control security checkpoint that I have not experienced before. The passport check is almost cursory so I am unsure what purpose this check point serves other than “busy work”

At the airport itself F check in is very slow but I can certainly tell that this is an AA flight with the number of people talking about “upgrades clearing”…