HND-LHR
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2004
Programs: Meh
Posts: 2,582
HND-LHR
I normally get the NRT-LHR flight but the price has spiked the day I travel. Looking at the HND flight and the Indian-esque departure time of 6.30am. Has anybody got this flight in CW? What meals are served? What time does one have to leave for the airport - I will be staying in Shinjuku and plan to get the bus.
#2
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Dorset
Programs: BAEC Blue, VS Red, IHG Platinum
Posts: 594
I normally get the NRT-LHR flight but the price has spiked the day I travel. Looking at the HND flight and the Indian-esque departure time of 6.30am. Has anybody got this flight in CW? What meals are served? What time does one have to leave for the airport - I will be staying in Shinjuku and plan to get the bus.
http://www.limousinebus.co.jp/en/pla...es/index/3/214
You may be able to get a bus from where you are staying details here: http://www.limousinebus.co.jp/en/bus.../shinjuku.html
For the life of me I can't remember what the food or drink service was! There was minimal food in the lounge, they were only starting to bring it out when we had to leave.
Not much help on the service on board but hope bus works for you.
Ed
#3
Join Date: Dec 2009
Programs: BA Gold Guest List, Concorde Room Card, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 726
I would recommend staying up late, not going to bed, and going straight to the plane. Financial Times columnist Tyler Brl is a fan of the HND flight:
"While I normally make my way between Europe and Japan on ANA, Finnair or Swiss, it’s hard to beat the 6am departure on BA from Tokyo Haneda (much closer to the city centre) to Heathrow. You are almost guaranteed to pass out before the aircraft gains altitude over Tokyo Bay and, with a bit of luck, not to wake up until you’re over the English Channel.
Armed with 11 hours of solid sleep, a day of meetings wasn’t a problem until the 3pm dip, when I was struggling to pay attention to a presentation from colleagues. A flat white and small sugar hit from our caf down the street soon put things right and by 5pm I was back in the game."
- http://www.ft.com/cms/s/2/d2b66b66-2...44feab7de.html
"While I normally make my way between Europe and Japan on ANA, Finnair or Swiss, it’s hard to beat the 6am departure on BA from Tokyo Haneda (much closer to the city centre) to Heathrow. You are almost guaranteed to pass out before the aircraft gains altitude over Tokyo Bay and, with a bit of luck, not to wake up until you’re over the English Channel.
Armed with 11 hours of solid sleep, a day of meetings wasn’t a problem until the 3pm dip, when I was struggling to pay attention to a presentation from colleagues. A flat white and small sugar hit from our caf down the street soon put things right and by 5pm I was back in the game."
- http://www.ft.com/cms/s/2/d2b66b66-2...44feab7de.html
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: From ORK, live LCY
Programs: BA Silver, EI Silver, HH Gold, BW Gold, ABP, Seigneur des Horaires des Mucci
Posts: 14,177
I normally get the NRT-LHR flight but the price has spiked the day I travel. Looking at the HND flight and the Indian-esque departure time of 6.30am. Has anybody got this flight in CW? What meals are served? What time does one have to leave for the airport - I will be staying in Shinjuku and plan to get the bus.
Meal service from memory is breakfast shortly after departure and lunch around two-thirds of the way through.
LTN Phobia might also be able to help as she travels on this quite a bit.
#5
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Provincie Antwerpen, Vlaanderen, Belgi
Programs: MUCCI Gold
Posts: 2,511
Mrs V10 and I did this trip last year, but actually moved down to one of the hotels close to the airport for the night prior to the departure as we didn't think the earliest bus departure left enough leeway in the event of any unforeseen problems. We'd also been staying in Shinjuku for a couple of nights whilst in Tokyo.
Strangely I can't really recall the meal service either. I blame the early start.
Strangely I can't really recall the meal service either. I blame the early start.
#8
Join Date: May 2013
Programs: BA Gold, HHonors Silver, Accor Silver, FB Ivory, Miles&More
Posts: 12
Have done the HND-LHR run a couple of times in the last 6 months in CW: breakfast immediately after take off, and lunch around 2 and a half hours before arrival. On the plus side: the lounge is very quiet at that time & actually quite roomy. Was staying in Ginza, and took a taxi at 4:30; the drive to the airport is a breeze: 15 to 20 minutes. In Korea & Japan at the moment, and booked on the NRT-LHR next Wednesday!!
#9
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: 64K or 2A
Programs: BA LT Gold, HH Diamond
Posts: 785
#10
Moderator: British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Jan 2009
Programs: Battleaxe Alliance
Posts: 22,126
You should catch a taxi, although it isn't exactly cheap.
#11
Join Date: May 2009
Location: UK
Programs: BA Gold, LH *S
Posts: 45
HND-LHR
I used this service last summer and stayed the night before at the Tokyu hotel at Domestic T2. Although the HND website says the free shuttle bus to the international terminal doesn't start until 04:54 (a bit close for comfort) the hotel were advertising two earlier departures (sorry don't recall the exact time!) the second of which was more than adequate to arrive in good time for the flight.
I echo the sentiments that the food was only just being put out in the lounge, and the JAL FCL doesn't open until around boarding time!
I echo the sentiments that the food was only just being put out in the lounge, and the JAL FCL doesn't open until around boarding time!
#12
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: London
Programs: Mucci Petit Four de Pucci, RedVee's Navigator Badge, BA Gold, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 3,123
I have only caught this flight once, but it was great! Stay up all night - thus avoiding a night's cost in a hotel, especially if paying yourself - shower in the JAL lounge (this may require talking nicely to the staff there) - and then sleep on the plane, which is European overnight. ^
#13
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: HEL
Programs: lots of shiny metal cards
Posts: 14,083
I like this flight and prefer HND over NRT anytime. Usually staying at the IC Tokyo Bay or somewhere in Yokohama - gets me within a 30 mins taxi ride, allowing for a short night sleep, too.
#14
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: From ORK, live LCY
Programs: BA Silver, EI Silver, HH Gold, BW Gold, ABP, Seigneur des Horaires des Mucci
Posts: 14,177
#15
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: London
Programs: BAEC Gold
Posts: 692
We got a cab from our hotel at Shinbashi to the monorail station at Hamamatsucho. First train is 0458 and no traffic issues to worry about. If you're the sort of person that likes to get to the airport hours earlier it is cutting it a little tight but if you're more laid back it is perfectly do-able. The airport is very quiet at that time of the morning so no queues or crowds.