Lufthansa A380 First Class to Tokyo
Jan 1, 2013 | 6:02 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 322
Lufthansa A380 First Class to Tokyo
Happy New Year to you all. I wish you a successfully and happy 2013 with many interesting and joyful journeys!
INTRODUCTION
This is the first part in a series of four trip reports detailing a trip I did to Japan between Christmas and New Year. This first part covers the journey from Basel to Frankfurt in Lufthansa Business Class and then on in Lufthansa First Class on the A380 to Narita.
You can find the photo link here.
The other parts will cover:
Its Boxing Day. Another six days left before 2012 draws to an end and Im down to my last five flights of the year, which will bring be to 112 flights by the time I arrive back in Frankfurt on 31 December 2012.
Im travelling from Basel via Frankfurt to Narita and then on to Sapporo with Lufthansa and ANA. From Sapporo I will return via JAL to Haneda and then from Narita to Frankfurt on ANA.
From: Basel
To: Frankfurt
Airline: Lufthansa
Aircraft: Canadair CRJ-700
Cabin: Business Class
Seat: 2D, window, right side
THE LOUNGE
The beginning of this report finds yours truly sitting yet again in the Swissport Skyview contractor lounge at Basel airport. There arent many people about the usual state of affairs here. In fact, the place is so quiet that the buffet on the lower level has been closed down over the Christmas period and only the top floor of the lounge is open for customers.
Since the lounge was taken over, the food options have improved considerably and now also include a small selection of warm items throughout the day.
My breakfast: beans, scrambled egg and a veal sausage.
BOARDING
Boarding for my flight starts on time from gate 35. I am the last passenger to board the flight. Much to my surprise the flight is showing quite a healthy load, despite the holiday. There are two and a half rows of Business Class (row 1 only has the A and C seats as the toilet is located across the aisle where 1D and F would be), with a total of five passengers in the premium cabin this morning.
SERVICE
The crew consists of two German females. One in her late twenties I would say and not overly friendly, and the other, the purserette I believe, in her forties and very amicable and attentive. As soon as I reach my seat on 2F she approaches me and offers to hang my jacket.
THE CABIN
The cabin on this aircraft has been recently refurbished. Those horrible light grey seats have made way for a much darker grey and I think they must have redone the upholstering as well while they were at it. The bulkhead has that funky chrome-like appearance that I must say I find rather cool.
DEPARTURE
Departure is to the south towards the city of Basel. As soon as we get airborne we bank right to execute a 270 degree turn, which brings us back over the airfield before crossing the Rhine into Germany.
THE MEAL
The meal served on this flight is something in between breakfast and lunch. There is a bowl with some sort of yoghurt and fruit, a small dish with cheese, ham and a few slices of bell pepper and a bun. To drink I have a cup of coffee and a glass of mineral water. The meal is perfectly adequate for a 10h40 departure. My only grippe is that the presentation of the meal is somewhat unappealing, particularly the coffee served in a cardboard cup, surely a real mug or a cup wont break the bank!
Instead of the usual chocolate at the end of the flight, today we get a special box with seasons greetings and two pralins in it.
ARRIVAL
Our flight time is only 40 minutes and before long were descending through the murk towards Frankfurt. As we break through the clouds its snowing and raining simultaneously. What horrible weather!
We pull onto our stand and I am pleasantly surprised to find a black Porsche Cayenne expecting me. Lufthansas First Class pick up service is somewhat unpredictable in Frankfurt and does not always work. Im guessing theyre not so busy today due to the Christmas holiday.
TRANSFER
Transferring in Frankfurt is never fun and todays experience is certainly not going down in history as one of Lufthansas finest moments. The driver drops me off at the Terminal B arrivals. From there I follow the signs to the Z concourse, which is the non-Schengen area of the newly opened A + dock a trek of some 15 minutes. I go through immigration and even manage to find the Business Class and Senator lounges. I inquire at the desk about the whereabouts of the First Class lounge and the friendly lady there informs me that the First Class lounge is one floor down in the Schengen area. I will have to go through immigration again. Im not really sure what the point of all this is, after all, as far as I know, Lufthansa does not offer First Class on any of its European routes. So why put the First Class lounge in that sector?
By this time Ive had enough and I have no desire to spend the rest of my time in Frankfurt wandering about trying to find this new lounge. So instead I head for arrivals in Terminal A, from where it is just a short walk to the First Class Terminal.
From: Frankfurt
To: Tokyo Narita
Airline: Lufthansa
Aircraft: A 380-800
Cabin: First Class
Seat: 2A, window, left side
THE TERMINAL
As soon as I arrive at the First Class Terminal I am assigned my own personal assistant and guided through security. My boots trigger the scanners alarm. Its moments like this that make you understand the benefits of flying First Class: without any hassle or hurry the guy doing the screening kindly asks me to step aside and take a seat on a plump leather sofa. There I remove my boots and wait while they are rescanned.
The process is a swift and pleasant one. Even the security staff are friendly, all smiles and even wish me a happy holiday and a safe journey. My assistant takes my passport and informs me that he will come to pick me up when its time for boarding.
Lufthansa has obviously done its homework with the First Class terminal in that it really makes a very pleasant change from the hustle and bustle of the main terminal complex, which is not very user friendly for the customer. Its just a pity its so complicated to get to the First Class terminal if youre transiting through Frankfurt which is a bit unfortunate given that transfer passengers are likely to spend more time at the airport than those whose journey starts in Frankfurt.
The terminal is not really very busy when I arrive but it looks quite untidy there are empty glasses and used plates standing around. But never underestimate German efficiency: shortly after I find a place to settle down, the cleaning crew launch an efficient and merciless offensive and have the place tidied up in no time.
BOARDING
At around 13h00 my assistant comes to pick me up. There are two other gentlemen in the lift with me as we head one floor down to immigration. From there we head outside where some enormous looking thing with a Mercedes star on it is waiting to take us to our aircraft.
It just a short ride before eventually we pull up at the aircrafts stand, the driver opens the door for me and I step outside and I come face to face with the beast carrying me to Japan today. The A380 is of course always a sight to behold, but it is even more impressive when youre actually standing in front of it at ground level.
From the car we are ushered into a lift and taken up to the third floor, from where we have direct access to the upper level of the aircraft. Our driver leads the way to the aircrafts door, where the crew is already expecting us. She introduces every passenger to the crew by name and we are then individually escorted to our seats. There is a fourth passenger who is already on board when we arrive. This means that the load in First Class on this flight will be 50%, with all the window seats occupied.
THE CABIN
The cabin on this aircraft is really beautifully appointed and the beige and brown colours are worlds apart from older First Class cabin with all that blue and grey. The designers of the cabin have paid a lot of attention to detail. The walls of the cabin for example are covered in some material that has the look and feel of soft suede leather.
The first thing that strikes me is how well conceived the cabin is: it is as attractive as it is functional: there are no overhead bins, which gives the cabin a very airy and light feel. Instead of the bins every passenger has his own personal full size locker. Each locker contains hangars and a suit cover. Additional storage space can be found under the ottoman.
The seat itself is comfortable and offers a lot of space and privacy: there are screens in the shell of the seat that can be raised automatically.
Another nice touch is the red rose at every seat even at those unoccupied during the flight for which there is a purpose built holder. A small lamp right above the rose gives quite a dramatic effect when the cabin lights are dimmed.
The windows have these really funky automatic blinds that you could play with for hours I know, little things please little minds
And finally, the toilets: there are two up front on each side of the stairs, and here too I am quite impressed by the functionality and clean design. Rarely have I come across a First Class toilet on a plane that provides such ample space and is evidently also intended as a changing room. On most carriers you more or less have to be a contortionist to be able to change your clothes!
The toilet is well stocked with shaving kits, combs and toothbrushes and toothpaste, all of which are neatly stowed in their respective drawers.
SERVICE
There are two young women working the First Class cabin today. They have the usual stereotypical German efficiency about them and yet they are both very charming in their manner and endearing in their handling of the passengers. As they pass through the cabin on different errands they make a point of stopping regularly to have a chat about this, that and the other, which makes for a very personalised service.
Once I am settled in my seat I am handed the amenity kit, slippers and pyjama. The new pyjama is another vast improvement over the previous one in that it is made of thinner material and thus doesnt make you seat so much while you sleep.
I am also brought a glass of sparkling water and some warm nuts. Then the purser comes by to introduce himself personally and hands out the menus.
DEPARTURE
As we depart, we get a good view of a substantial part of the Lufthansa fleet that has been parked up for the holidays, including eight MD-11s stored behind each other.
THE MEAL
Immediately after take-off, one the seatbelt sign goes off I am handed a scented hot towel. To drink I order an Apfelschorle: apple juice with sparkling water.
We begin with an Amuse Bouche of warm smoked salmon with Dijon mustard and cucumber. It takes a while for it to arrive and the purser explains that for some reason or other the food was still frozen solid when catering delivered it to the aircraft. Subsequently it had to be warmed in the oven first (and tasted accordingly). To be honest I think I wouldnt even have bothered.
Next the table is set up for the meal: despite the fact that I have chosen the Japanese menu, my table is decked out with a small bowl of First Class embossed butter, a side plate and salt and pepper shakers. There are also some rather cheap looking chopsticks.
Contrary to what it says on the menu, the first course is not the caviar service but a selection of cold Japanese dishes, which include:
After that comes the caviar service. At the risk of sounding like a snob, I really do think Lufthansa would be doing itself a favour to get rid of the caviar as long as they are unwilling or unable to provide a larger portion and all trimmings. As it is, the small plate looks quite forlorn on the large table.
After that all the dishes are cleared away and I am brought the main course: the beef in a Japanese sauce with steamed vegetables, which comes with miso soup, mixed pickles and Gohan Japanese sticky rice.
To end the meal my intention had been to just have a bit of cheese. But when the trolley appears, the flight attendant talks me into also trying the sweet chocolate and raspberry dessert. And indeed, it really is very tasty and very rich to the extent that I am unable to finish it.
And then, finally, comes the coffee, which is served with two small pralins and a Father Christmas. After the meal the crew distribute water bottles and Christmas cookies. And then the lights go out.
SECOND SERVICE
I manage a good five hours of sleep, although Im rather unsettled I suspect Im suffering with indigestion.
About 80 minutes out of Tokyo the lights go on again somewhat abruptly theres no mood lighting on Lufthansa and the blinds on the left side of the aircraft are raised automatically to reveal a beautiful sunrise. The crew bring me another refreshing warm scented towel and a large glass of freshly squeezed orange juice.
For breakfast there is a warm and a cold option, although the warm option on offer is not the one that is on the menu. Apparently, as one of the flight attendants explains, Lufthansa is having problems with one of its kitchenware suppliers. But it does not matter as I opt for the cold breakfast anyway. It includes:
During breakfast there are no refills for the orange juice and it is a bit unusual that no preserves are offered with the breadbasket. I have to ask the crew, who bring me a selection of jams and marmalade straight away.
ARRIVAL
Once the meal is over were already nearing Tokyo. The mighty A380 gently dips its nose and we start our descent. The cabin crew pass through the cabin distributing landing cards for Japan and take the opportunity to say goodbye to every passenger individually.
Outside its one of those typical lovely winter days you get around this time of the year in the Tokyo area. Its only minus 6 degrees Celsius and the sky is cloudless and clear.
We arrive at the terminal and squeeze into what looks like an amazingly tight stand for an aircraft the size of the A380, with an ANA B767 on one side and a Singapore Airlines B777 on the other. I bid the crew farewell and thank them for their service. And with that I disembark. Its nice to be back!
The only real draw back with flying the A380 to Tokyo allow me to do some nit-picking is that the only stands equipped with three airbridges are located at the very end of the concourse. As a result its quite a trek from the aircraft to immigration.
Next stop: Sapporo with ANA.
CONCLUSION
The Lufthansa First Class experience is a mixed bag. On the positive side, the hardware on the A380 is simply amazing. I still think the A380 is undoubtedly one of the ugliest aircraft ever built but even so I cannot help but be impressed by the level of comfort its size allows for the passenger and what Lufthansa has managed to do with the available cabin space.
On the negative side, the transfer in Frankfurt is a messy and a tedious affair. From the Porsche Cayenne pick up service, which sometimes is there to meet you and sometimes not, to the unsatisfactory lounge situation for transfer passengers.
The service on the flight was good in that it was very personable and friendly. The crew took good care of me. Even so, I also think their service lacks polish and attention to detail in many areas. Its little things: because I ordered the Japanese meal, I was given chopsticks but no cutlery, which then also meant that I did not receive a napkin because that is wrapped around the cutlery. Of course when I asked for a napkin the crew were apologetic and promptly brought me a nicely folded one. But should I really have to ask? The absence of preserves during the breakfast service I have already mentioned. Its the same thing really: when asked the crew were more than willing to oblige, but when travelling in First Class I think these are basics that one should not have to ask for.
The meal was okay but certainly not outstanding. First of all, the quality of the food was rather average and tasted a bit bland. More importantly, the sequence in which the meal was served was unorganised and chaotic. It would have made more sense for example, to serve the caviar first, which, incidentally, is also how it had been intended according to the menu.
INTRODUCTION
This is the first part in a series of four trip reports detailing a trip I did to Japan between Christmas and New Year. This first part covers the journey from Basel to Frankfurt in Lufthansa Business Class and then on in Lufthansa First Class on the A380 to Narita.
You can find the photo link here.
The other parts will cover:
- Narita to Sapporo in ANA Economy Class
- Sapporo to Haneda in Japan Airlines First Class
- Narita to Frankfurt in ANA Business Class
Its Boxing Day. Another six days left before 2012 draws to an end and Im down to my last five flights of the year, which will bring be to 112 flights by the time I arrive back in Frankfurt on 31 December 2012.
Im travelling from Basel via Frankfurt to Narita and then on to Sapporo with Lufthansa and ANA. From Sapporo I will return via JAL to Haneda and then from Narita to Frankfurt on ANA.
From: Basel
To: Frankfurt
Airline: Lufthansa
Aircraft: Canadair CRJ-700
Cabin: Business Class
Seat: 2D, window, right side
THE LOUNGE
The beginning of this report finds yours truly sitting yet again in the Swissport Skyview contractor lounge at Basel airport. There arent many people about the usual state of affairs here. In fact, the place is so quiet that the buffet on the lower level has been closed down over the Christmas period and only the top floor of the lounge is open for customers.
Since the lounge was taken over, the food options have improved considerably and now also include a small selection of warm items throughout the day.
My breakfast: beans, scrambled egg and a veal sausage.
BOARDING
Boarding for my flight starts on time from gate 35. I am the last passenger to board the flight. Much to my surprise the flight is showing quite a healthy load, despite the holiday. There are two and a half rows of Business Class (row 1 only has the A and C seats as the toilet is located across the aisle where 1D and F would be), with a total of five passengers in the premium cabin this morning.
SERVICE
The crew consists of two German females. One in her late twenties I would say and not overly friendly, and the other, the purserette I believe, in her forties and very amicable and attentive. As soon as I reach my seat on 2F she approaches me and offers to hang my jacket.
THE CABIN
The cabin on this aircraft has been recently refurbished. Those horrible light grey seats have made way for a much darker grey and I think they must have redone the upholstering as well while they were at it. The bulkhead has that funky chrome-like appearance that I must say I find rather cool.
DEPARTURE
Departure is to the south towards the city of Basel. As soon as we get airborne we bank right to execute a 270 degree turn, which brings us back over the airfield before crossing the Rhine into Germany.
THE MEAL
The meal served on this flight is something in between breakfast and lunch. There is a bowl with some sort of yoghurt and fruit, a small dish with cheese, ham and a few slices of bell pepper and a bun. To drink I have a cup of coffee and a glass of mineral water. The meal is perfectly adequate for a 10h40 departure. My only grippe is that the presentation of the meal is somewhat unappealing, particularly the coffee served in a cardboard cup, surely a real mug or a cup wont break the bank!
Instead of the usual chocolate at the end of the flight, today we get a special box with seasons greetings and two pralins in it.
ARRIVAL
Our flight time is only 40 minutes and before long were descending through the murk towards Frankfurt. As we break through the clouds its snowing and raining simultaneously. What horrible weather!
We pull onto our stand and I am pleasantly surprised to find a black Porsche Cayenne expecting me. Lufthansas First Class pick up service is somewhat unpredictable in Frankfurt and does not always work. Im guessing theyre not so busy today due to the Christmas holiday.
TRANSFER
Transferring in Frankfurt is never fun and todays experience is certainly not going down in history as one of Lufthansas finest moments. The driver drops me off at the Terminal B arrivals. From there I follow the signs to the Z concourse, which is the non-Schengen area of the newly opened A + dock a trek of some 15 minutes. I go through immigration and even manage to find the Business Class and Senator lounges. I inquire at the desk about the whereabouts of the First Class lounge and the friendly lady there informs me that the First Class lounge is one floor down in the Schengen area. I will have to go through immigration again. Im not really sure what the point of all this is, after all, as far as I know, Lufthansa does not offer First Class on any of its European routes. So why put the First Class lounge in that sector?
By this time Ive had enough and I have no desire to spend the rest of my time in Frankfurt wandering about trying to find this new lounge. So instead I head for arrivals in Terminal A, from where it is just a short walk to the First Class Terminal.
From: Frankfurt
To: Tokyo Narita
Airline: Lufthansa
Aircraft: A 380-800
Cabin: First Class
Seat: 2A, window, left side
THE TERMINAL
As soon as I arrive at the First Class Terminal I am assigned my own personal assistant and guided through security. My boots trigger the scanners alarm. Its moments like this that make you understand the benefits of flying First Class: without any hassle or hurry the guy doing the screening kindly asks me to step aside and take a seat on a plump leather sofa. There I remove my boots and wait while they are rescanned.
The process is a swift and pleasant one. Even the security staff are friendly, all smiles and even wish me a happy holiday and a safe journey. My assistant takes my passport and informs me that he will come to pick me up when its time for boarding.
Lufthansa has obviously done its homework with the First Class terminal in that it really makes a very pleasant change from the hustle and bustle of the main terminal complex, which is not very user friendly for the customer. Its just a pity its so complicated to get to the First Class terminal if youre transiting through Frankfurt which is a bit unfortunate given that transfer passengers are likely to spend more time at the airport than those whose journey starts in Frankfurt.
The terminal is not really very busy when I arrive but it looks quite untidy there are empty glasses and used plates standing around. But never underestimate German efficiency: shortly after I find a place to settle down, the cleaning crew launch an efficient and merciless offensive and have the place tidied up in no time.
BOARDING
At around 13h00 my assistant comes to pick me up. There are two other gentlemen in the lift with me as we head one floor down to immigration. From there we head outside where some enormous looking thing with a Mercedes star on it is waiting to take us to our aircraft.
It just a short ride before eventually we pull up at the aircrafts stand, the driver opens the door for me and I step outside and I come face to face with the beast carrying me to Japan today. The A380 is of course always a sight to behold, but it is even more impressive when youre actually standing in front of it at ground level.
From the car we are ushered into a lift and taken up to the third floor, from where we have direct access to the upper level of the aircraft. Our driver leads the way to the aircrafts door, where the crew is already expecting us. She introduces every passenger to the crew by name and we are then individually escorted to our seats. There is a fourth passenger who is already on board when we arrive. This means that the load in First Class on this flight will be 50%, with all the window seats occupied.
THE CABIN
The cabin on this aircraft is really beautifully appointed and the beige and brown colours are worlds apart from older First Class cabin with all that blue and grey. The designers of the cabin have paid a lot of attention to detail. The walls of the cabin for example are covered in some material that has the look and feel of soft suede leather.
The first thing that strikes me is how well conceived the cabin is: it is as attractive as it is functional: there are no overhead bins, which gives the cabin a very airy and light feel. Instead of the bins every passenger has his own personal full size locker. Each locker contains hangars and a suit cover. Additional storage space can be found under the ottoman.
The seat itself is comfortable and offers a lot of space and privacy: there are screens in the shell of the seat that can be raised automatically.
Another nice touch is the red rose at every seat even at those unoccupied during the flight for which there is a purpose built holder. A small lamp right above the rose gives quite a dramatic effect when the cabin lights are dimmed.
The windows have these really funky automatic blinds that you could play with for hours I know, little things please little minds
And finally, the toilets: there are two up front on each side of the stairs, and here too I am quite impressed by the functionality and clean design. Rarely have I come across a First Class toilet on a plane that provides such ample space and is evidently also intended as a changing room. On most carriers you more or less have to be a contortionist to be able to change your clothes!
The toilet is well stocked with shaving kits, combs and toothbrushes and toothpaste, all of which are neatly stowed in their respective drawers.
SERVICE
There are two young women working the First Class cabin today. They have the usual stereotypical German efficiency about them and yet they are both very charming in their manner and endearing in their handling of the passengers. As they pass through the cabin on different errands they make a point of stopping regularly to have a chat about this, that and the other, which makes for a very personalised service.
Once I am settled in my seat I am handed the amenity kit, slippers and pyjama. The new pyjama is another vast improvement over the previous one in that it is made of thinner material and thus doesnt make you seat so much while you sleep.
I am also brought a glass of sparkling water and some warm nuts. Then the purser comes by to introduce himself personally and hands out the menus.
DEPARTURE
As we depart, we get a good view of a substantial part of the Lufthansa fleet that has been parked up for the holidays, including eight MD-11s stored behind each other.
THE MEAL
Immediately after take-off, one the seatbelt sign goes off I am handed a scented hot towel. To drink I order an Apfelschorle: apple juice with sparkling water.
We begin with an Amuse Bouche of warm smoked salmon with Dijon mustard and cucumber. It takes a while for it to arrive and the purser explains that for some reason or other the food was still frozen solid when catering delivered it to the aircraft. Subsequently it had to be warmed in the oven first (and tasted accordingly). To be honest I think I wouldnt even have bothered.
Next the table is set up for the meal: despite the fact that I have chosen the Japanese menu, my table is decked out with a small bowl of First Class embossed butter, a side plate and salt and pepper shakers. There are also some rather cheap looking chopsticks.
Contrary to what it says on the menu, the first course is not the caviar service but a selection of cold Japanese dishes, which include:
- Soba noodles with soy sauce and Wasabi,
- A salad of mussels, greens and shitake mushrooms.
- Smoked Salmon with an egg vinaigrette and asparagus.
- Miso soup
- A selection of sushi.
- Green tea to drink.
After that comes the caviar service. At the risk of sounding like a snob, I really do think Lufthansa would be doing itself a favour to get rid of the caviar as long as they are unwilling or unable to provide a larger portion and all trimmings. As it is, the small plate looks quite forlorn on the large table.
After that all the dishes are cleared away and I am brought the main course: the beef in a Japanese sauce with steamed vegetables, which comes with miso soup, mixed pickles and Gohan Japanese sticky rice.
To end the meal my intention had been to just have a bit of cheese. But when the trolley appears, the flight attendant talks me into also trying the sweet chocolate and raspberry dessert. And indeed, it really is very tasty and very rich to the extent that I am unable to finish it.
And then, finally, comes the coffee, which is served with two small pralins and a Father Christmas. After the meal the crew distribute water bottles and Christmas cookies. And then the lights go out.
SECOND SERVICE
I manage a good five hours of sleep, although Im rather unsettled I suspect Im suffering with indigestion.
About 80 minutes out of Tokyo the lights go on again somewhat abruptly theres no mood lighting on Lufthansa and the blinds on the left side of the aircraft are raised automatically to reveal a beautiful sunrise. The crew bring me another refreshing warm scented towel and a large glass of freshly squeezed orange juice.
For breakfast there is a warm and a cold option, although the warm option on offer is not the one that is on the menu. Apparently, as one of the flight attendants explains, Lufthansa is having problems with one of its kitchenware suppliers. But it does not matter as I opt for the cold breakfast anyway. It includes:
- A selection from the breadbasket
- Fruit salad.
- yoghurt.
- birchermsli with toasted Pumpernickel.
- Cold cuts and cheese.
During breakfast there are no refills for the orange juice and it is a bit unusual that no preserves are offered with the breadbasket. I have to ask the crew, who bring me a selection of jams and marmalade straight away.
ARRIVAL
Once the meal is over were already nearing Tokyo. The mighty A380 gently dips its nose and we start our descent. The cabin crew pass through the cabin distributing landing cards for Japan and take the opportunity to say goodbye to every passenger individually.
Outside its one of those typical lovely winter days you get around this time of the year in the Tokyo area. Its only minus 6 degrees Celsius and the sky is cloudless and clear.
We arrive at the terminal and squeeze into what looks like an amazingly tight stand for an aircraft the size of the A380, with an ANA B767 on one side and a Singapore Airlines B777 on the other. I bid the crew farewell and thank them for their service. And with that I disembark. Its nice to be back!
The only real draw back with flying the A380 to Tokyo allow me to do some nit-picking is that the only stands equipped with three airbridges are located at the very end of the concourse. As a result its quite a trek from the aircraft to immigration.
Next stop: Sapporo with ANA.
CONCLUSION
The Lufthansa First Class experience is a mixed bag. On the positive side, the hardware on the A380 is simply amazing. I still think the A380 is undoubtedly one of the ugliest aircraft ever built but even so I cannot help but be impressed by the level of comfort its size allows for the passenger and what Lufthansa has managed to do with the available cabin space.
On the negative side, the transfer in Frankfurt is a messy and a tedious affair. From the Porsche Cayenne pick up service, which sometimes is there to meet you and sometimes not, to the unsatisfactory lounge situation for transfer passengers.
The service on the flight was good in that it was very personable and friendly. The crew took good care of me. Even so, I also think their service lacks polish and attention to detail in many areas. Its little things: because I ordered the Japanese meal, I was given chopsticks but no cutlery, which then also meant that I did not receive a napkin because that is wrapped around the cutlery. Of course when I asked for a napkin the crew were apologetic and promptly brought me a nicely folded one. But should I really have to ask? The absence of preserves during the breakfast service I have already mentioned. Its the same thing really: when asked the crew were more than willing to oblige, but when travelling in First Class I think these are basics that one should not have to ask for.
The meal was okay but certainly not outstanding. First of all, the quality of the food was rather average and tasted a bit bland. More importantly, the sequence in which the meal was served was unorganised and chaotic. It would have made more sense for example, to serve the caviar first, which, incidentally, is also how it had been intended according to the menu.
Jan 1, 2013 | 12:17 pm
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 322
Hi all
Thanks for your comments so far, much appreciated!
God you made me laugh with that! I'm not that well acquainted with cetaceans but I think I understand what you mean!
Sure, I' m a linguist.
Cheers,
William
Thanks for your comments so far, much appreciated!
Cheers,
William
Jan 2, 2013 | 5:55 am
#8
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 322
ANA - All Nippon Airways, B 737-800: Tokyo Narita to Sapporo Chitose
INTRODUCTION
Hello and welcome to the second part of my recent trip to Japan.
You can find the photo link here.
Ive just arrived in Japan on the Lufthansa A380 service from Frankfurt. Im the first passenger to reach immigration and find the place completely deserted. As a result, Im through passport control in no time. I head one floor down, go through customs and quickly find myself landside again. I am connecting to a domestic ANA flight in Narita and the process could hardly be easier.
From: Tokyo Narita
To: Sapporo Chitose
Airline: ANA All Nippon Airways
Aircraft: B737-800
Cabin: Economy Class
Seat: 24A, window, left side
CHECK-IN
Check-in for ANA domestic flights at Narita is on the same level as international arrivals, just a short distance from where passengers exit customs. There is a dedicated counter for ANAs top tier and Star Alliance Gold members and the young lady working the counter is, as usual, polite and efficient.
THE LOUNGE
A bit further on from the check-in counters is the ANA International Arrivals Lounge, which doubles as the domestic departure lounge. The lounge is functional more than anything else. It has wifi, shower facilities and a quiet zone with day rooms. Food wise however, its a bit of a wasteland. There are close to no food options and all drinks, cold and warm, are only available from one of those instant machines.
BOARDING
The gates in the domestic part of the terminal have letters, rather than numbers. My flight is boarding from gate A, which appears to be one of the few domestic gates that is a hard stand. The boarding process is a neat and orderly manner. Our flight is delayed by only 15 minutes and the ground crew cannot stop apologizing for any inconvenience. The flight is nearly completely full, with only individual seats empty here and there.
THE CABIN
The cabin on this bird is Economy Class only. The aircraft looks very well kept and neat. More over, I am amazed by how clean the windows are. Do they actually clean these every day? Leg space is surprisingly good and the seat is comfortable enough for the 85 minutes hop to Hokkaido.
SERVICE
The cabin crew is made up of four female attendants. Its fascinating to see how much more seriously this crew take their jobs compared to the flight attendants Im used to in Europe. First of all, when they pass through the cabin doing the safety check, these ladies even make sure that every overhead locker is properly closed, checking each one individually. Later on during the flight it is interesting to see that the crew remain in the cabin even once the drinks service is over, chatting to passengers or playing with the many children on board todays flight.
DEPARTURE
Departure is from the same runway on which I landed a few hours previously with the A380. On our way to the runway I even spot my first ever live B787 and I am quite surprised by how small the bird is in real life.
Take-off is the complete opposite of what the A380 treated me to the day before. Our little B737 demonstrates some impressive acceleration as we go thundering down the runway. Once were airborne we continue on more or less the same heading for about 15 minutes. Our routing and the clear sky provide some excellent views of mount Fuji, visible right behind our left aileron.
THE MEAL
Strictly speaking, there is none. Catering on this flight consists of just a drink, with a small selection of tea, coffee and a few soft drinks. I have a cup of apple juice and then, for the rest of the flight I just sit back and watch the beautiful winter scenery down below.
ARRIVAL
Our arrival route into Chitose airport is a circuitous one, with many left and right turns before we are finally lined up with the runway. As we taxi off the active runway I am surprised to find that the taxiways have only been partially cleared of snow and in fact we are rolling over large surfaces of ice. There is snow everywhere, and heaps of the stuff!
My flight arrives at 12h15. I still have about two hours to wait before my transfer picks me up to take me to the Niseko Ski Resort. Jet lag always makes me hungry, so I head up to the third floor where there is a large food court and treat myself to a large bowl of nice, warm and chewy Udon noodles and an Onigiri.
By the time Im in the car on my way to Niseko Im exhausted. The journey from the airport to Niseko is slightly more than two hours. I nod off to sleep as we leave the terminal and only wake up as we come to a halt outside my hotel, the Kimamaya.
CONCLUSION
ANA gave a solid performance on this flight today. Given the short duration of the flight, there was hardly any opportunity for the airline to excel really. Even so, the professionalism displayed by the crew leaves you with a feeling of a great experience and having been well taken care of. I like!
Hello and welcome to the second part of my recent trip to Japan.
You can find the photo link here.
Ive just arrived in Japan on the Lufthansa A380 service from Frankfurt. Im the first passenger to reach immigration and find the place completely deserted. As a result, Im through passport control in no time. I head one floor down, go through customs and quickly find myself landside again. I am connecting to a domestic ANA flight in Narita and the process could hardly be easier.
From: Tokyo Narita
To: Sapporo Chitose
Airline: ANA All Nippon Airways
Aircraft: B737-800
Cabin: Economy Class
Seat: 24A, window, left side
CHECK-IN
Check-in for ANA domestic flights at Narita is on the same level as international arrivals, just a short distance from where passengers exit customs. There is a dedicated counter for ANAs top tier and Star Alliance Gold members and the young lady working the counter is, as usual, polite and efficient.
THE LOUNGE
A bit further on from the check-in counters is the ANA International Arrivals Lounge, which doubles as the domestic departure lounge. The lounge is functional more than anything else. It has wifi, shower facilities and a quiet zone with day rooms. Food wise however, its a bit of a wasteland. There are close to no food options and all drinks, cold and warm, are only available from one of those instant machines.
BOARDING
The gates in the domestic part of the terminal have letters, rather than numbers. My flight is boarding from gate A, which appears to be one of the few domestic gates that is a hard stand. The boarding process is a neat and orderly manner. Our flight is delayed by only 15 minutes and the ground crew cannot stop apologizing for any inconvenience. The flight is nearly completely full, with only individual seats empty here and there.
THE CABIN
The cabin on this bird is Economy Class only. The aircraft looks very well kept and neat. More over, I am amazed by how clean the windows are. Do they actually clean these every day? Leg space is surprisingly good and the seat is comfortable enough for the 85 minutes hop to Hokkaido.
SERVICE
The cabin crew is made up of four female attendants. Its fascinating to see how much more seriously this crew take their jobs compared to the flight attendants Im used to in Europe. First of all, when they pass through the cabin doing the safety check, these ladies even make sure that every overhead locker is properly closed, checking each one individually. Later on during the flight it is interesting to see that the crew remain in the cabin even once the drinks service is over, chatting to passengers or playing with the many children on board todays flight.
DEPARTURE
Departure is from the same runway on which I landed a few hours previously with the A380. On our way to the runway I even spot my first ever live B787 and I am quite surprised by how small the bird is in real life.
Take-off is the complete opposite of what the A380 treated me to the day before. Our little B737 demonstrates some impressive acceleration as we go thundering down the runway. Once were airborne we continue on more or less the same heading for about 15 minutes. Our routing and the clear sky provide some excellent views of mount Fuji, visible right behind our left aileron.
THE MEAL
Strictly speaking, there is none. Catering on this flight consists of just a drink, with a small selection of tea, coffee and a few soft drinks. I have a cup of apple juice and then, for the rest of the flight I just sit back and watch the beautiful winter scenery down below.
ARRIVAL
Our arrival route into Chitose airport is a circuitous one, with many left and right turns before we are finally lined up with the runway. As we taxi off the active runway I am surprised to find that the taxiways have only been partially cleared of snow and in fact we are rolling over large surfaces of ice. There is snow everywhere, and heaps of the stuff!
My flight arrives at 12h15. I still have about two hours to wait before my transfer picks me up to take me to the Niseko Ski Resort. Jet lag always makes me hungry, so I head up to the third floor where there is a large food court and treat myself to a large bowl of nice, warm and chewy Udon noodles and an Onigiri.
By the time Im in the car on my way to Niseko Im exhausted. The journey from the airport to Niseko is slightly more than two hours. I nod off to sleep as we leave the terminal and only wake up as we come to a halt outside my hotel, the Kimamaya.
CONCLUSION
ANA gave a solid performance on this flight today. Given the short duration of the flight, there was hardly any opportunity for the airline to excel really. Even so, the professionalism displayed by the crew leaves you with a feeling of a great experience and having been well taken care of. I like!
Jan 3, 2013 | 1:36 am
#12
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 322
Japan Airlines, First Class - B 777-200: Sapporo to Haneda
INTRODUCTION
I spend four blissful days in the Niseko-Hirafu region of Hokkaido. The area is well known for its excellent winter sports facilities. And indeed, the place really is lovely and I even manage to get some skiing done in truly excellent conditions. But alas, all good things must come to an end and so its time for me to start the long journey home. Today I will travel by train from Niseko to Sapporos New Chitose Airport and then from there with Japan Airlines to Haneda. The day after I will be flying on from Narita to Frankfurt with ANA and then eventually to Basel with Lufthansa on 1 January 2013 my first flight in the new year!
Here is the link to the photos.
From: Sapporo New Chitose Airport
To: Tokyo Haneda
Airlines: Japan Airlines
Aircraft: B777-200
Cabin: First Class
Seat: 2H, aisle
GETTING TO THE AIRPORT
I leave the Kimamaya Hotel in Niseko at 10:15. The journey by taxi to the railway station at Kutchan takes roughly 10 minutes to complete. From Kutchan I catch the 11:00 local train to Otaru. The journey takes one hour and 19 minutes to complete and unfortunately its standing room only all the way to Otaru.
From Otaru I catch the rapid train that runs via the city of Sapporo to the airport. I have a reserved seat, but only until Sapporo. Between there and the airport there were already no more reserved seats to be had by the time I purchased my ticket in Kutchan. Fortunately, a lot of passengers leave the train at Sapporo and I quickly find a seat in one of the non-reserved carriages. The journey from the city to the airport is 36 minutes by rapid train.
CHECK-IN
I arrive at the airport at 13:46, just over three hours before my departure to Haneda. I have a booking in Business Class today. Check-in at the self-service machine wont work because I didnt book the ticket through Japan Airlines directly. So I head for one of the many counters marked ticketing & check-in.
I dont read Japanese at all, but from one of the roll-up posters near the row of counters it looks as though I may upgrade to domestic First Class for as little as 8000 Yen. I ask at the counter and indeed the young lady confirms that seats are available for an upgrade to First for the afore mentioned amount. Excellent!
After all that Im feeling peckish, its been a while since breakfast, so I head upstairs to the third floor again and treat myself to another Onigiri and a bowl of excellent Udon noodles with radish and ginger.
THE LOUNGE
With that taken care of, its time to go downstairs again to the departures level and head through security. Passengers in First Class have their own dedicated security lane, which they share with JALs top tier frequent flyers. From security there is a direct access to the Sakura Lounge. Essentially its a Business Class lounge. However there is a separate room that is dedicated to First Class and Premier members. But its rather small and so I decide to stay in the general Business Class section of the lounge.
The lounge is moderately stocked, like most Japanese lounges, and includes another one of those soft drink dispenser machines.
BOARDING
Boarding for my flight starts at 16:50, 10 minutes before departure and Im thinking this will never work. But I underestimate Japanese efficiency and team spirit and indeed, within 10 minutes Japan Airlines manages to board an entire B777-200 and make sure everybody is seated with their belongings stowed away properly.
THE CABIN
Perhaps just to explain: if Im not mistaken, in a normal domestic configuration Japan Airlines has a 3 3 3 seating arrangement in Economy and a 2 4 2 arrangement in Business Class. Apart from the slightly wider seat and marginally better pitch, service in Business Class is not really much different to Economy. In domestic First Class however, seating is in a 2 2 2 configuration with wide leather seats in cream coloured leather. The cabin looks well maintained. The interior design is perhaps more a question of personal gusto. Japan Airlines went with a style that Im not too partial of personally. For some reason it reminds me a lot of the style you find in the States in many of the larger hotel chains.
Nonetheless, the seat is comfortable enough and certainly beats the Business Class alternative. On a side note, the controls of the seat work mechanically, rather than electrically.
SERVICE
The cabin crew up front consists of three females. One of them notices that I speak German and strikes up a conversation. Apparently shes studying German at University to become a teacher. She says shes spent two months in Tbingen in Germany and I am amazed by just how good her German is! After all, its not the easiest language to learn, with its complex system of declensions etc.
When I arrive at the seat, I find a menu has already been placed at my seat. As it turns out though, the menu is only available in Japanese. But the crew go out of their way to translate and explain to me what the individual items are. And even once the tray arrives, they repeatedly stop to ask if Im okay with the Japanese food and if Im enjoying my meal. I do actually!
There is also a little gift bag at my seat. Inside it is something wrapped in foil that goes by the name of Bonbon Fromage. There is also some sort of drink that turns into jelly when you shake it. Both sound absolutely revolting actually and I manage to resist the temptation of trying them out of curiosity.
Other than that, there are also earphones and a pair of slippers and even a blanket in every seat all this for a flight of eighty minutes!
As we start to push back, one of the crew comes by distributing warm towels.
THE MEAL
When the meal arrives I am really quite impressed by the variety and quality of the food. More importantly, it strikes me that the chopsticks Japan Airlines use up front are of much better quality than the ones I was given in First Class on Lufthansa, which looked as though theyd come straight from a cheap Chinese take away.
The meal itself contains a selection of cold and warm dishes, some of which I can't identify at first but which tastes rather good nonetheless.
After the meal my tray is removed immediately and I am asked if I would like a tea or coffee. I ask for a coffee, which is brought to me straight away, just as the aircraft starts shaking violently with the turbulence. I end up spilling half the coffee before even having had the chance to have a sip. One of the flight attendant sees this and immediately whisks away my cup only to bring me a fresh one with a paper doily on the saucer in case of further turbulence.
A short while later we start our descent into Haneda. By now its started raining heavily and the violent shaking increases. Its so bad you can actually hear the wind outside over the sound of the engines. Fortunately as we start our final approach the wind dies down and we land in the middle of a severe downpour. Such weather is really quite unusual for this time of the year in the Tokyo area, and in the many years Ive been coming here, I dont think Ive ever seen anything like it.
Once were at the gate I bid the crew good bye. The German student flight attendant thanks me for having been able to have a chat in German and wishes me a safe onward journey.
From Haneda I catch the monorail to Hamamatsucho, the terminus station. From here I connect onto the Yamanote Line which takes me to Shinjuku where my hotel is. I like Shinjuku because its lively and the hotel is rather central. Shinjuku is also one of the stops at which the Narita Express stops, so I wont have to wake up too early the next morning for my 12h00 departure to Frankfurt.
CONCLUSION
The Japanese transport system is excellent and truly integrates all sorts of transport vehicle! I think JAL has a very good product with its domestic First Class that certainly sets them apart from the competition. Im just not quite sure how sound it is as a business proposition but time will tell.
EPILOGUE
Niseko was a lot of fun and the skiing there is really excellent. Its also interesting to note that the place has a very international feel to it but still manages to retain its obviously very Japanese roots. I think Ill end here with a few images from Niseko.
I spend four blissful days in the Niseko-Hirafu region of Hokkaido. The area is well known for its excellent winter sports facilities. And indeed, the place really is lovely and I even manage to get some skiing done in truly excellent conditions. But alas, all good things must come to an end and so its time for me to start the long journey home. Today I will travel by train from Niseko to Sapporos New Chitose Airport and then from there with Japan Airlines to Haneda. The day after I will be flying on from Narita to Frankfurt with ANA and then eventually to Basel with Lufthansa on 1 January 2013 my first flight in the new year!
Here is the link to the photos.
From: Sapporo New Chitose Airport
To: Tokyo Haneda
Airlines: Japan Airlines
Aircraft: B777-200
Cabin: First Class
Seat: 2H, aisle
GETTING TO THE AIRPORT
I leave the Kimamaya Hotel in Niseko at 10:15. The journey by taxi to the railway station at Kutchan takes roughly 10 minutes to complete. From Kutchan I catch the 11:00 local train to Otaru. The journey takes one hour and 19 minutes to complete and unfortunately its standing room only all the way to Otaru.
From Otaru I catch the rapid train that runs via the city of Sapporo to the airport. I have a reserved seat, but only until Sapporo. Between there and the airport there were already no more reserved seats to be had by the time I purchased my ticket in Kutchan. Fortunately, a lot of passengers leave the train at Sapporo and I quickly find a seat in one of the non-reserved carriages. The journey from the city to the airport is 36 minutes by rapid train.
CHECK-IN
I arrive at the airport at 13:46, just over three hours before my departure to Haneda. I have a booking in Business Class today. Check-in at the self-service machine wont work because I didnt book the ticket through Japan Airlines directly. So I head for one of the many counters marked ticketing & check-in.
I dont read Japanese at all, but from one of the roll-up posters near the row of counters it looks as though I may upgrade to domestic First Class for as little as 8000 Yen. I ask at the counter and indeed the young lady confirms that seats are available for an upgrade to First for the afore mentioned amount. Excellent!
After all that Im feeling peckish, its been a while since breakfast, so I head upstairs to the third floor again and treat myself to another Onigiri and a bowl of excellent Udon noodles with radish and ginger.
THE LOUNGE
With that taken care of, its time to go downstairs again to the departures level and head through security. Passengers in First Class have their own dedicated security lane, which they share with JALs top tier frequent flyers. From security there is a direct access to the Sakura Lounge. Essentially its a Business Class lounge. However there is a separate room that is dedicated to First Class and Premier members. But its rather small and so I decide to stay in the general Business Class section of the lounge.
The lounge is moderately stocked, like most Japanese lounges, and includes another one of those soft drink dispenser machines.
BOARDING
Boarding for my flight starts at 16:50, 10 minutes before departure and Im thinking this will never work. But I underestimate Japanese efficiency and team spirit and indeed, within 10 minutes Japan Airlines manages to board an entire B777-200 and make sure everybody is seated with their belongings stowed away properly.
THE CABIN
Perhaps just to explain: if Im not mistaken, in a normal domestic configuration Japan Airlines has a 3 3 3 seating arrangement in Economy and a 2 4 2 arrangement in Business Class. Apart from the slightly wider seat and marginally better pitch, service in Business Class is not really much different to Economy. In domestic First Class however, seating is in a 2 2 2 configuration with wide leather seats in cream coloured leather. The cabin looks well maintained. The interior design is perhaps more a question of personal gusto. Japan Airlines went with a style that Im not too partial of personally. For some reason it reminds me a lot of the style you find in the States in many of the larger hotel chains.
Nonetheless, the seat is comfortable enough and certainly beats the Business Class alternative. On a side note, the controls of the seat work mechanically, rather than electrically.
SERVICE
The cabin crew up front consists of three females. One of them notices that I speak German and strikes up a conversation. Apparently shes studying German at University to become a teacher. She says shes spent two months in Tbingen in Germany and I am amazed by just how good her German is! After all, its not the easiest language to learn, with its complex system of declensions etc.
When I arrive at the seat, I find a menu has already been placed at my seat. As it turns out though, the menu is only available in Japanese. But the crew go out of their way to translate and explain to me what the individual items are. And even once the tray arrives, they repeatedly stop to ask if Im okay with the Japanese food and if Im enjoying my meal. I do actually!
There is also a little gift bag at my seat. Inside it is something wrapped in foil that goes by the name of Bonbon Fromage. There is also some sort of drink that turns into jelly when you shake it. Both sound absolutely revolting actually and I manage to resist the temptation of trying them out of curiosity.
Other than that, there are also earphones and a pair of slippers and even a blanket in every seat all this for a flight of eighty minutes!
As we start to push back, one of the crew comes by distributing warm towels.
THE MEAL
When the meal arrives I am really quite impressed by the variety and quality of the food. More importantly, it strikes me that the chopsticks Japan Airlines use up front are of much better quality than the ones I was given in First Class on Lufthansa, which looked as though theyd come straight from a cheap Chinese take away.
The meal itself contains a selection of cold and warm dishes, some of which I can't identify at first but which tastes rather good nonetheless.
After the meal my tray is removed immediately and I am asked if I would like a tea or coffee. I ask for a coffee, which is brought to me straight away, just as the aircraft starts shaking violently with the turbulence. I end up spilling half the coffee before even having had the chance to have a sip. One of the flight attendant sees this and immediately whisks away my cup only to bring me a fresh one with a paper doily on the saucer in case of further turbulence.
A short while later we start our descent into Haneda. By now its started raining heavily and the violent shaking increases. Its so bad you can actually hear the wind outside over the sound of the engines. Fortunately as we start our final approach the wind dies down and we land in the middle of a severe downpour. Such weather is really quite unusual for this time of the year in the Tokyo area, and in the many years Ive been coming here, I dont think Ive ever seen anything like it.
Once were at the gate I bid the crew good bye. The German student flight attendant thanks me for having been able to have a chat in German and wishes me a safe onward journey.
From Haneda I catch the monorail to Hamamatsucho, the terminus station. From here I connect onto the Yamanote Line which takes me to Shinjuku where my hotel is. I like Shinjuku because its lively and the hotel is rather central. Shinjuku is also one of the stops at which the Narita Express stops, so I wont have to wake up too early the next morning for my 12h00 departure to Frankfurt.
CONCLUSION
The Japanese transport system is excellent and truly integrates all sorts of transport vehicle! I think JAL has a very good product with its domestic First Class that certainly sets them apart from the competition. Im just not quite sure how sound it is as a business proposition but time will tell.
EPILOGUE
Niseko was a lot of fun and the skiing there is really excellent. Its also interesting to note that the place has a very international feel to it but still manages to retain its obviously very Japanese roots. I think Ill end here with a few images from Niseko.
Jan 3, 2013 | 7:57 am
#13
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Left
Programs: FT
Posts: 7,281
Another great TR...
With respect to the JAL segment, given that J Class, as you note, does not have meals and is really only a larger seat, the upgrade from J to F for only 8000 en is very nice indeed. In fact, I think although the upgrade to J is only 3000 en, I would probably not bother with the same on such short flights. Some can correct me but I recall F is only available between CTS and HND and FUK and HND.
I have also been very surprised about efficiency of boarding and also security on the domestic side at Japanese airports. I thought that it was irresponsible to be leaving to the airport from my hotel right near Hakata Station to get to FUK at 55 minutes before departure, only to find out that we were too early to clear security. The efficiency also works since Japanese people LISTEN to the instructions and board according to those instructions. Sadly, this is not the case at airports I have been to outside of Japan.
With respect to the JAL segment, given that J Class, as you note, does not have meals and is really only a larger seat, the upgrade from J to F for only 8000 en is very nice indeed. In fact, I think although the upgrade to J is only 3000 en, I would probably not bother with the same on such short flights. Some can correct me but I recall F is only available between CTS and HND and FUK and HND.
I have also been very surprised about efficiency of boarding and also security on the domestic side at Japanese airports. I thought that it was irresponsible to be leaving to the airport from my hotel right near Hakata Station to get to FUK at 55 minutes before departure, only to find out that we were too early to clear security. The efficiency also works since Japanese people LISTEN to the instructions and board according to those instructions. Sadly, this is not the case at airports I have been to outside of Japan.
