To Taiwan! How to burn USDM on CX and JL (new) First Class
May 27, 2014, 9:15 am
#32
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A short but fulfilling flight: TPE-NRT on JAL Business Class
LINK TO BLOG POST
JL802, TPE-NRT
May 4th, 2014, B738
Seat 2A, Business Class
A 3 hours flight, a long-haul type of service. I was impressed by JAL regional service – and I mean it in a positive way. The only partial letdown: the food (Western choice). But that was quite to be expected.
Check in at the airport took seconds. The very nice agent printed my boarding passes all the way to LAX and handed me an invitation to the Legend VIP lounge in Taipei (contracted lounge used by JAL).
[IMG]http://airwaysandtravels.files.wordpress.com/2014/05/img_3201.jpg]?w=595&h=297
[/IMG]
Before proceeding to the boarding area, I got myself some breakfast. Beef noodle soup was the (obvious) choice.
Security and immigration was a breeze, and within a few minutes I was inside the departure area of the airport. Boy, Terminal 2 at TPE is surely nice! High end shops, souvenir stores, antique and jewelry stalls… I could have spent easily a couple of hours wandering through the terminal. After buying a traditional pineapple cake (which I would later forget on the plane…), I went to check out the lounge.
Two ladies sat at the front desk and let me in with plenty of smiles upon showing my lounge invitation. The Legend VIP lounge is a typical contracted lounge: no particular décor, rather basic, with essential food and beverage offerings. It did have two massage chairs though, which were a nice addition if anything. I had just the time to have a cappuccino that my flight to Tokyo was boarding.
I proceeded to the gate and then on to the plane. My seat was 2A. The Business Class cabin was completely full, and I was sitting next to a Japanese gentleman. JAL uses a B738 on this route. First class seats look similar to US domestic First Class seats, although the fabric is of superior quality. The seat was very spacious and roomy – definitely comfortable. A pillow was waiting on the seat, and a blanket (of good quality) was packaged as well. Surprisingly, JAL provides slippers on a regional route – a nice touch indeed. The cabin had 12 seats, and I think all of them were occupied. A pre-departure drink was offered, and we took off right on time.
Once airborne, the purser went around the cabin… offering amenities! Toothbrush and eye masks were offered out of a nice basket, to my complete surprise for such a short flight. To top that, the washroom had packaged toothbrushes near the sink. Now, this is my point: I am fairly sure that almost no-one takes these amenities on short flights. But I am sure that many premium customers are very impressed and pleased by JAL offering them – reinforcing the impression in the customer’s mind that this is a true premier airline. Other carriers, please take note.
A few minutes after, one of the flight attendants came to take orders for a pre-lunch drink. I ordered a Campari & soda, which was delivered a few mintues after together with some roasted natto and Japanese crackers. The drink was a bit too watery for my taste – to much soda water in it – but the natto beans were excellent. After that, another FA came around with a menu to take lunch orders. There were two options – Western and Japanese. Since I knew I was going to take the Japanese option on my long haul flight, I opted for the Western one. I know common knowledge is that Western food on JAL isn’t as good as Japanese one, but I needed to judge by myself.
The flight attendant proceeded to set up each table with a white tablecloth, and in about 15 minutes meals were served. They didn’t hand out copies of the menu, but today’s Western feature was a Wagyu beef steak with mashed potatoes and veggies, preceded by three small appetizers and a cup of fruit.
The appetizers were varied (some seafood, some meat, some squid) and rather tasty. They were rather creative – a good union of Japanese and Western cuisine – and I enjoyed them very much.
The main was – as expected – decent but not excellent. The steak was cooked medium well-to-well done, and even if it still was very tender it lacked the proper flavor of a medium-rare steak. The sides were, instead, good. I had my meal with some Bordeaux red wine, which was mostly uninspiring.
Overall, the meal was decent but nothing memorable. Better than a US domestic carrier in terms of quality and creativity, and on par for taste. To be fair, the Japanese option that my neighbor chose looked very appetizing!
After cleaning up, a packaged Haagen-Dasz ice cream was offered, but I politely refused.
Each seat came with a personal TV screen (stored in the central armrest). A good selection of movies and TV shows was offered, but I entertained myself with the excellent in-flight map!
We approached Narita right on time. Japan is “flooded” this time of the year, since rice fields are covered in water to let the plants grow up. I managed to take some decent photos upon landing.
The first part of the journey home was completed. Overall, I had a very good experience on this three hours sector with JAL. F&B weren’t the greatest, but overall the service made up for that very nicely. And now, on to the First Class lounge!
JL802, TPE-NRT
May 4th, 2014, B738
Seat 2A, Business Class
A 3 hours flight, a long-haul type of service. I was impressed by JAL regional service – and I mean it in a positive way. The only partial letdown: the food (Western choice). But that was quite to be expected.
Check in at the airport took seconds. The very nice agent printed my boarding passes all the way to LAX and handed me an invitation to the Legend VIP lounge in Taipei (contracted lounge used by JAL).
[IMG]http://airwaysandtravels.files.wordpress.com/2014/05/img_3201.jpg]?w=595&h=297
[/IMG]
Before proceeding to the boarding area, I got myself some breakfast. Beef noodle soup was the (obvious) choice.
Security and immigration was a breeze, and within a few minutes I was inside the departure area of the airport. Boy, Terminal 2 at TPE is surely nice! High end shops, souvenir stores, antique and jewelry stalls… I could have spent easily a couple of hours wandering through the terminal. After buying a traditional pineapple cake (which I would later forget on the plane…), I went to check out the lounge.
Two ladies sat at the front desk and let me in with plenty of smiles upon showing my lounge invitation. The Legend VIP lounge is a typical contracted lounge: no particular décor, rather basic, with essential food and beverage offerings. It did have two massage chairs though, which were a nice addition if anything. I had just the time to have a cappuccino that my flight to Tokyo was boarding.
I proceeded to the gate and then on to the plane. My seat was 2A. The Business Class cabin was completely full, and I was sitting next to a Japanese gentleman. JAL uses a B738 on this route. First class seats look similar to US domestic First Class seats, although the fabric is of superior quality. The seat was very spacious and roomy – definitely comfortable. A pillow was waiting on the seat, and a blanket (of good quality) was packaged as well. Surprisingly, JAL provides slippers on a regional route – a nice touch indeed. The cabin had 12 seats, and I think all of them were occupied. A pre-departure drink was offered, and we took off right on time.
Once airborne, the purser went around the cabin… offering amenities! Toothbrush and eye masks were offered out of a nice basket, to my complete surprise for such a short flight. To top that, the washroom had packaged toothbrushes near the sink. Now, this is my point: I am fairly sure that almost no-one takes these amenities on short flights. But I am sure that many premium customers are very impressed and pleased by JAL offering them – reinforcing the impression in the customer’s mind that this is a true premier airline. Other carriers, please take note.
A few minutes after, one of the flight attendants came to take orders for a pre-lunch drink. I ordered a Campari & soda, which was delivered a few mintues after together with some roasted natto and Japanese crackers. The drink was a bit too watery for my taste – to much soda water in it – but the natto beans were excellent. After that, another FA came around with a menu to take lunch orders. There were two options – Western and Japanese. Since I knew I was going to take the Japanese option on my long haul flight, I opted for the Western one. I know common knowledge is that Western food on JAL isn’t as good as Japanese one, but I needed to judge by myself.
The flight attendant proceeded to set up each table with a white tablecloth, and in about 15 minutes meals were served. They didn’t hand out copies of the menu, but today’s Western feature was a Wagyu beef steak with mashed potatoes and veggies, preceded by three small appetizers and a cup of fruit.
The appetizers were varied (some seafood, some meat, some squid) and rather tasty. They were rather creative – a good union of Japanese and Western cuisine – and I enjoyed them very much.
The main was – as expected – decent but not excellent. The steak was cooked medium well-to-well done, and even if it still was very tender it lacked the proper flavor of a medium-rare steak. The sides were, instead, good. I had my meal with some Bordeaux red wine, which was mostly uninspiring.
Overall, the meal was decent but nothing memorable. Better than a US domestic carrier in terms of quality and creativity, and on par for taste. To be fair, the Japanese option that my neighbor chose looked very appetizing!
After cleaning up, a packaged Haagen-Dasz ice cream was offered, but I politely refused.
Each seat came with a personal TV screen (stored in the central armrest). A good selection of movies and TV shows was offered, but I entertained myself with the excellent in-flight map!
We approached Narita right on time. Japan is “flooded” this time of the year, since rice fields are covered in water to let the plants grow up. I managed to take some decent photos upon landing.
The first part of the journey home was completed. Overall, I had a very good experience on this three hours sector with JAL. F&B weren’t the greatest, but overall the service made up for that very nicely. And now, on to the First Class lounge!
May 28, 2014, 7:09 am
#33
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Two ladies sat at the front desk and let me in with plenty of smiles upon showing my lounge invitation. The Legend VIP lounge is a typical contracted lounge: no particular décor, rather basic, with essential food and beverage offerings. It did have two massage chairs though, which were a nice addition if anything. I had just the time to have a cappuccino that my flight to Tokyo was boarding.
Jun 10, 2014, 2:53 pm
#34
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JAL Sakura First Class Lounge Tokyo NRT
BLOG POST LINKED HERE
Flagship First Class lounges tend to be oasis of peace and tranquility. At its own hub, an airline will (usually) go above and beyond trying to impress its top-paying (or most loyal) customers, pampering them with good food, good drinks, relaxing amenities, and luxury hotel-style service.
JAL didn’t disappoint in this regard. The Sakura First Class lounge at Narita is a true hallmark of relaxation. Yet, it fell somewhat short of some of the best first class lounges out there.
The design and decor of the lounge is certainly top notch. Dark, wooden panels confer a luxurious, modern and warm feeling to the whole lounge. Three super-elegant ladies were at the main front desk to check customers in. After seeing my First Class boarding pass, they directed me to the First Class section of the Lounge, where other two attendants welcomed me in. As you walk in, you find a luggage area with lockers. That was a nice feature, as it allowed me to safely leave there my camera bag and other valuables I was carrying with me.
As you enter the main area of the lounge, you have a darker, quieter room to your left and a brighter side to the right. The quieter side houses some workstations and the smoking area; the brighter side features the dining part of the lounge.
The quieter area is a great place where to type on your computer while sipping some incredible Yamazaki whisky (that stuff is truly remarkable). The sofa I sat on was very comfortable, and I could have napped on it easily.
The brighter part of the lounge featured a full bar with bartender, a buffet, an a-la-carte dining option, and a nice view over the tarmac. This part was quite busy with people chatting or eating, and I didn’t stay long. The food selection at the buffet was ok – nothing special (it reminded me, comparatively, of a BA Galleries lounge) but nothing bad either. A passenger was enjoying at a table a Japanese curry dish (ordered a-la-carte) that looked very appetizing.
After getting a little snack and some more whisky, I headed to the showers area to take a quick clean-up. The shower room was nicely appointed (although not too large), with decent amenities. The one at the Wing in Hong Kong was larger and – overall – better appointed. A rain shower helped me to get relaxed and ready for the long flight ahead.
One of the cool features of the Sakura First Class lounge is a complimentary 10 minutes massage that you can book with the showers attendant. I booked it as soon as I got in, and I was given an appointment for about 70 minutes later. At my appointed time, I showed up and I was asked which treatment I wanted. I don’t remember all the options, but I went for a back massage. The massage room was a proper little spa room; the masseuse was nice and very skilled, and in only 10 minutes I felt reborn. Right pressure, right technique. A winner!
My two hours at the lounge flew by very quickly; the lounge is definitely very nice, but not the best I have visited so far. If anything, I found the food buffet to be somewhat limited, and the massage (albeit great) to be very short. But overall, this is a solid lounge that provided me with some good relaxation before my long flight back home. Well done, JAL.
Flagship First Class lounges tend to be oasis of peace and tranquility. At its own hub, an airline will (usually) go above and beyond trying to impress its top-paying (or most loyal) customers, pampering them with good food, good drinks, relaxing amenities, and luxury hotel-style service.
JAL didn’t disappoint in this regard. The Sakura First Class lounge at Narita is a true hallmark of relaxation. Yet, it fell somewhat short of some of the best first class lounges out there.
The design and decor of the lounge is certainly top notch. Dark, wooden panels confer a luxurious, modern and warm feeling to the whole lounge. Three super-elegant ladies were at the main front desk to check customers in. After seeing my First Class boarding pass, they directed me to the First Class section of the Lounge, where other two attendants welcomed me in. As you walk in, you find a luggage area with lockers. That was a nice feature, as it allowed me to safely leave there my camera bag and other valuables I was carrying with me.
As you enter the main area of the lounge, you have a darker, quieter room to your left and a brighter side to the right. The quieter side houses some workstations and the smoking area; the brighter side features the dining part of the lounge.
The quieter area is a great place where to type on your computer while sipping some incredible Yamazaki whisky (that stuff is truly remarkable). The sofa I sat on was very comfortable, and I could have napped on it easily.
The brighter part of the lounge featured a full bar with bartender, a buffet, an a-la-carte dining option, and a nice view over the tarmac. This part was quite busy with people chatting or eating, and I didn’t stay long. The food selection at the buffet was ok – nothing special (it reminded me, comparatively, of a BA Galleries lounge) but nothing bad either. A passenger was enjoying at a table a Japanese curry dish (ordered a-la-carte) that looked very appetizing.
After getting a little snack and some more whisky, I headed to the showers area to take a quick clean-up. The shower room was nicely appointed (although not too large), with decent amenities. The one at the Wing in Hong Kong was larger and – overall – better appointed. A rain shower helped me to get relaxed and ready for the long flight ahead.
One of the cool features of the Sakura First Class lounge is a complimentary 10 minutes massage that you can book with the showers attendant. I booked it as soon as I got in, and I was given an appointment for about 70 minutes later. At my appointed time, I showed up and I was asked which treatment I wanted. I don’t remember all the options, but I went for a back massage. The massage room was a proper little spa room; the masseuse was nice and very skilled, and in only 10 minutes I felt reborn. Right pressure, right technique. A winner!
My two hours at the lounge flew by very quickly; the lounge is definitely very nice, but not the best I have visited so far. If anything, I found the food buffet to be somewhat limited, and the massage (albeit great) to be very short. But overall, this is a solid lounge that provided me with some good relaxation before my long flight back home. Well done, JAL.
Jun 10, 2014, 5:40 pm
#35
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: DCA
Posts: 7,769
Also, where did you come across the a-la-carte dining? I'd like to give that a try when I am back there early next year. I found the food options in the lounge to be somewhat limited, but if they're expecting one to order more substantial things off a menu then that suddenly makes sense.
Jun 10, 2014, 7:53 pm
#36
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What time of day were you there? When I passed through (in the AM), there wasn't a manned bar.
Also, where did you come across the a-la-carte dining? I'd like to give that a try when I am back there early next year. I found the food options in the lounge to be somewhat limited, but if they're expecting one to order more substantial things off a menu then that suddenly makes sense.
Also, where did you come across the a-la-carte dining? I'd like to give that a try when I am back there early next year. I found the food options in the lounge to be somewhat limited, but if they're expecting one to order more substantial things off a menu then that suddenly makes sense.
Jun 10, 2014, 9:34 pm
#37
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Los Angeles
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I've not seen any a-la-carte options but there is definitely self-serve curry in the food area - a big pot full of JAL curry along with a ricer cooker to the side.
Jun 10, 2014, 11:20 pm
#38
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Jun 15, 2014, 11:01 am
#39
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JAL First Class NRT-LAX and a gourmet Kaiseki dinner in the Sky
LINK TO BLOG POST
Flight JL62 NRT-LAX, May 4th, 2014
First Class, Seat 1D
B77w, 5:20p – 11:30a
Flying First Class is always a special occasion – no matter how many times you’ve done it before. In my mind it’s like staying at a Four Seasons Hotel – something to savor and cherish. Granted, there is a huge variation among airlines in terms of service quality, hard product, food, and beverages; just like among luxury hotels you have “winners” (Fours Seasons, Ritz-Carlton), excellent “runner-ups” (Mandarin Oriental, Shangri-La), “wannabes” (St. Regis, Conrad), and “failures” (W, Sandals); in the airline world you have Five Stars airlines (ANA, Cathay Pacific), Four Stars (British Airways, Qantas), and so on. JAL – according to Skytrax – features a 4-stars First Class cabin. I was very eager to see for myself whether this assessment was true.
I left the Sakura lounge about 45 minutes before departure time. Sure enough, by the time I got to the gate boarding was about to start. JAL had a separate line for premium and economy passengers; once in line, agents started checking customer passports and, as soon as they realized I was a first class passenger, they put me in front of the line. A very nice touch that Cathay Pacific didn’t do in Hong Kong.
Anyways, once I entered the plane (a brand new Boeing 777-300ER), I was escorted to my seat, 1K. Unfortunately, when I made my booking all window seats had already been taken. Oh well, no big deal. The first impression of the cabin and of my open suite was very positive. It looks as nice as ANA but, overall, it feels a bit less claustrophobic. Seats are made of dark-brown leather – something I had never seen before and that conveyed the cabin a very luxurious (and executive) look. The screen dividing my seat from the other seat on the opposite aisle was down when I got in; if traveling with a companion, the two suites would certainly connect well and allow for privacy and intimacy at the same time.
One of the things that pleased me was the good amount of storage space. My weekender Bally bag perfectly fit under the ottoman, and on the side there was plenty of room to store my glasses, books, and camera. In my opinion, a first class cabin should allow you to have all of your necessary items within easy reach (with no need to use the overhead bins frequently), and JAL absolutely delivered here.
The TV screen was another good feature of the JAL suite (again, it resembled ANA’s): wide and of great quality. The remote next to the armrest was very intuitive and allowed for easy control of the in-flight entertainment system.
Chennai Express
A pajama was offered to me before departure: it was a great quality, with nice slippers and eye-mask enclosed. It came on a cool sleeve that makes it easy to pack the pj and carry it around. A stylish touch by JAL here. Yet, no amenity kits were provided – and no headphones either. I had to ask for a set of Bose after take off (the purser promptly apologized and distributed the item to the entire cabin). It was a minor flaw, but something I had not experienced before and that puzzled me a little. The amenity kit, instead, was offered after dinner. Again, quite strange (but worth the wait: a Loewe kit – pretty spacious – was handed out, together with a set of Shiseido products. One of the best amenity kits I have seen so far!).
A pre-departure drink was offered, and I just got some water. Take off happened on time, and as soon as at cruising altitude the meal service began. A first round of drinks was offered; I opted for the Salon – of course – given the exceptional vintage that JAL serves. I must say: all the good things about this wine that you hear are well deserved. It is a smooth, delicately-bubbly, fulfilling champagne that matches (and in my opinion exceeds) Krugs and Dom Perignons usually served aboard other airlines. Together with the drink, an assortment of nuts and Japanese snacks were offered. I found it, to be totally honest, cheap that JAL offered snacks out of a package; while I could still accept that in business class, I don’t think it’s very classy for first class.
The menu of the day read as follows:
JAPANESE
We prepared the menu with the scent of spring
Zatsuki
Clam & Bamboo Shoots with Japanese Pepper Miso Sauce
Japenese Appetizer
Kobachi
Simmered Conger Eel & Eggplant
Steamed Chicken & Yam Julienne with Vinegar Jelly
Steamed Abalone dressed with Liver Simmered Spring Vegetables
Choko
Broad Bean & “Udo” Vegetable dressed with Sesame Cream
Shiizakana
Simmered Prawn Smoked Mullet Roe Grilled Chicken Cake topped with Sea Urchin Skewered Braised Duck
Mukouzuke
Sea-bream & Squid “Sashimi” style
Dainomono
Grilled “Wagyu” Beef Fillet with Green Miso
Steamed Rockfish with “Sakura” Leaf
Soup
Japanese Clear Soup with Prawn Mousse Ball
Hanmono
Steamed Rice with Bamboo Shoots
Or
Steamed Rice
(We are pleased to offer freshly steamed Koshihikari rice)
Japanese Pickles
Sweets
Japanese Wafers with
Soybean Flour Cake, Green Tea Ice Cream & Sesame Sable’
WESTERN
The menu is created by prominent Chef Seiji Yamamoto of “Nihon-ryori Ryugin”
Roppongi Tokyo
Amuse Bouche
Rich Onion Gratin Soup Flan topped with Fresh “Uni” Sea Urchin
Stir to mix “Chilly” & “Warm”
Spring Bamboo Shoots & Bigfin Reef Squid, coated with Spicy Japanese Pepper Sprout Sauce
Foie Gras Mousse Tarte with Framboise Saue
Garnished with Cherry Blossoms
Hors-d’oevre (Choice)
“The Luxury of Caviar”
Indulge in Caviar
Tarte of Favorite
Caviar Condiments topped with Crystal Chips, Cauliflower Bavarois with Consomme Gelee
Warm Tarte – Kaleidoscope of Spring Shellfish “Hamaguri” & Littleneck Clams, Scallops…
Aroma of Dried Sakura Shrimp…
Snifter of “Hamaguri” Soup
“Spring Greens Fair”
Medley of Fresh Spring Vegetables, Fava Bean Cream, Ginger & Orange gelee
Dotted with Vibrant Flower Petals of Every Hue
Main Dish (Choice)
“Kuroge-Wagyu Fillet Consomme’ Style served with Nagaimo Potato Poelee
Beef Cheeks stewed until Tender in Red Wine accompanied by Apple Puree
Poelee of Salmon, Lightly Smoked to be Savored together with Fresh Seasonal Vegetables mingled with Pine Nuts
Assortment of Artisanal Breads
Lemon Grass & Mint
Cherry Blossom
Ginger
Rice Powder
Dessert
Fresh-from-the-oven Warm, Fizzy Strawberry Tarte with an Indulging Scoop of Pistachio Nut Ice Cream
The Snack menu looked as follows:
I had a couple of glasses of Salon 2002 champagne before the main meal. The champagne – chosen among the best champagne vintages in the last 50 years or so – is definitely good: round, smooth, lightly bubbly, not overpowering. An outstanding wine.
I won’t go into too many details regarding dinner, given the big amount of dishes I was offered. I will let the photos speak for themselves. Suffice to say that the food was excellent, although I found it to be a notch below ANA’s. I really enjoyed the Abalone and the Dainomono, as well as the Japanese cheeses (all of which were of high quality). For those of you who don’t know, both JAL and ANA serve a Kaiseki dinner in their first class cabin. That’s the quintessential Japanese high-cuisine dinner, closely associated with tea ceremony and consisting of rare, exclusive, and creative ingredients. If you ever go to Japan, it’s something that you have to try, as it is food at its best.
The main dish was very good: a combination of real Wagyu beef and rockfish is probably something not many Westerners would think of; but that’s where the strength of Kaiseki cuisine is: great ingredients, creative pairings.
Like I said, the Japanese cheeses were outstanding, as was the chocolate offered after dinner.
Anyways, I started watch the Lego movie during dinner (and Chennai Express before that). The service overall lasted above 1 hour, and was definitely leisurely paced. Never I felt rushed or had to wait too long for my next dish to come out. The flight attendants were very attentive and always ready/willing to help with a smile. Attitude makes all the difference in this World.
After dinner I asked the flight attendant to make up my bed while I went to brush my teeth. The bathrooms were a bit disappointing. Just as British Airways’, JAL First Class lavatories are simply standard lavatories with no particular amenities. I wish they had Aesop products like Cathay Pacific!
In any case, when I came back the bed was ready. The mattress pad used was of superior quality and so were the comforter and pillow. I was rather tired, and I fell asleep within minutes. The cabin wasn’t too cold/hot, and I managed to sleep 5 hours. I must say: it was the best rest on a plane I’ve got so far, and the bedding is definitely a winning factor for JAL.
I woke up about 2 hours before landing, and the flight attendant came by asking me if I wanted breakfast. To vary a bit, I opted for the FUMIKO’s Western Set Plate, consisting of Pistachio Curry with Prawn & Zucchini, Orange & Carrot Mousseline and a dessert made of Blanc-manger of Fromage Blanc & Fresh Herb with Acacia Honey Syrup. The cury was decent, but it lacked in flavor a bit. The dessert was very good.
I washed everything down with a couple of glass of 2004 Dom Perignon, which compares pretty well to Salon 2002. After my meal, I asked for some more Japanese cheese. SO good!
After breakfast I went to change back into my clothes and packed up my stuff. We landed in LAX on time and so my short vacation to Taiwan ended. It was a great trip! I had a lot of fun both in the air and on the ground. Hawaii comes next. Hope you’ll still follow my adventures!
———————–
So, how does CX First and JL First compare? Well, I must say that, once again, Skytrax rating is spot on. Cathay Pacific is clearly a 5 stars product both on the ground and in the air; JL is more of a 4 stars in both categories.
Lounge-wise, CX wins. The Wing lounge in Hong Kong is not only stunning but also boasts great service. The food was superb (Do&Co level), and the shower rooms were big and well-appointed. JL’s Sakura lounge was nice, but a bit disappointing in terms of service and food offerings. The complimentary massage was a nice perk, but it was definitely too short. Make it 30 minutes (like Qantas does) and you have a winner (that is, an offering that distinguish JL from the competition). I wish I had the chance to try CX cabanas, which were unfortunately all taken. Perhaps next time.
In the air, CX wins on all fronts but the bed. Cathay Pacific offers tastier food; presentation-wise, JAL wins, but I would pick Cathay’s food any day over JAL’s. Both airlines offer great wines, so no complains there. Pajamas were outstanding on both airlines – the bestI have found so far – but amenity-wise CX wins. Aesop products are simply unbeatable and truly luxurious; plus, CX has nicer bathrooms in First. Bed-wise, JAL wins: I had never slept so well before on a plane! From a IFE standpoint, Studio CX ofered by CX is superior to JAL’s system in terms of quality and variety of offerings, but I liked JAL’s TV screens better.
Overall, while CX wins, I think JL has a solid first class product and I wouldn’t certainly turn it down if it were the only option to cross the Pacific. It is certainly better than any US carrier out there and it is close enough to NH and CX to make the trip fun and very enjoyable.
A little bit off-topic, but this is now my overall ranking of First Class cabins (that I tried):
1. Etihad Airways
2. Cathay Pacific
3. ANA
4. Lufthansa
5. Qantas
6. British Airways
7. American Airlines
I am incredibly fortunate to have flown so many different airlines in First Class, but I hope to add more in the coming future as I realize there are so many products worth trying out there that I haven’t flown yet. So: stay tuned!
Flight JL62 NRT-LAX, May 4th, 2014
First Class, Seat 1D
B77w, 5:20p – 11:30a
Flying First Class is always a special occasion – no matter how many times you’ve done it before. In my mind it’s like staying at a Four Seasons Hotel – something to savor and cherish. Granted, there is a huge variation among airlines in terms of service quality, hard product, food, and beverages; just like among luxury hotels you have “winners” (Fours Seasons, Ritz-Carlton), excellent “runner-ups” (Mandarin Oriental, Shangri-La), “wannabes” (St. Regis, Conrad), and “failures” (W, Sandals); in the airline world you have Five Stars airlines (ANA, Cathay Pacific), Four Stars (British Airways, Qantas), and so on. JAL – according to Skytrax – features a 4-stars First Class cabin. I was very eager to see for myself whether this assessment was true.
I left the Sakura lounge about 45 minutes before departure time. Sure enough, by the time I got to the gate boarding was about to start. JAL had a separate line for premium and economy passengers; once in line, agents started checking customer passports and, as soon as they realized I was a first class passenger, they put me in front of the line. A very nice touch that Cathay Pacific didn’t do in Hong Kong.
Anyways, once I entered the plane (a brand new Boeing 777-300ER), I was escorted to my seat, 1K. Unfortunately, when I made my booking all window seats had already been taken. Oh well, no big deal. The first impression of the cabin and of my open suite was very positive. It looks as nice as ANA but, overall, it feels a bit less claustrophobic. Seats are made of dark-brown leather – something I had never seen before and that conveyed the cabin a very luxurious (and executive) look. The screen dividing my seat from the other seat on the opposite aisle was down when I got in; if traveling with a companion, the two suites would certainly connect well and allow for privacy and intimacy at the same time.
One of the things that pleased me was the good amount of storage space. My weekender Bally bag perfectly fit under the ottoman, and on the side there was plenty of room to store my glasses, books, and camera. In my opinion, a first class cabin should allow you to have all of your necessary items within easy reach (with no need to use the overhead bins frequently), and JAL absolutely delivered here.
The TV screen was another good feature of the JAL suite (again, it resembled ANA’s): wide and of great quality. The remote next to the armrest was very intuitive and allowed for easy control of the in-flight entertainment system.
Chennai Express
A pajama was offered to me before departure: it was a great quality, with nice slippers and eye-mask enclosed. It came on a cool sleeve that makes it easy to pack the pj and carry it around. A stylish touch by JAL here. Yet, no amenity kits were provided – and no headphones either. I had to ask for a set of Bose after take off (the purser promptly apologized and distributed the item to the entire cabin). It was a minor flaw, but something I had not experienced before and that puzzled me a little. The amenity kit, instead, was offered after dinner. Again, quite strange (but worth the wait: a Loewe kit – pretty spacious – was handed out, together with a set of Shiseido products. One of the best amenity kits I have seen so far!).
A pre-departure drink was offered, and I just got some water. Take off happened on time, and as soon as at cruising altitude the meal service began. A first round of drinks was offered; I opted for the Salon – of course – given the exceptional vintage that JAL serves. I must say: all the good things about this wine that you hear are well deserved. It is a smooth, delicately-bubbly, fulfilling champagne that matches (and in my opinion exceeds) Krugs and Dom Perignons usually served aboard other airlines. Together with the drink, an assortment of nuts and Japanese snacks were offered. I found it, to be totally honest, cheap that JAL offered snacks out of a package; while I could still accept that in business class, I don’t think it’s very classy for first class.
The menu of the day read as follows:
JAPANESE
We prepared the menu with the scent of spring
Zatsuki
Clam & Bamboo Shoots with Japanese Pepper Miso Sauce
Japenese Appetizer
Kobachi
Simmered Conger Eel & Eggplant
Steamed Chicken & Yam Julienne with Vinegar Jelly
Steamed Abalone dressed with Liver Simmered Spring Vegetables
Choko
Broad Bean & “Udo” Vegetable dressed with Sesame Cream
Shiizakana
Simmered Prawn Smoked Mullet Roe Grilled Chicken Cake topped with Sea Urchin Skewered Braised Duck
Mukouzuke
Sea-bream & Squid “Sashimi” style
Dainomono
Grilled “Wagyu” Beef Fillet with Green Miso
Steamed Rockfish with “Sakura” Leaf
Soup
Japanese Clear Soup with Prawn Mousse Ball
Hanmono
Steamed Rice with Bamboo Shoots
Or
Steamed Rice
(We are pleased to offer freshly steamed Koshihikari rice)
Japanese Pickles
Sweets
Japanese Wafers with
Soybean Flour Cake, Green Tea Ice Cream & Sesame Sable’
WESTERN
The menu is created by prominent Chef Seiji Yamamoto of “Nihon-ryori Ryugin”
Roppongi Tokyo
Amuse Bouche
Rich Onion Gratin Soup Flan topped with Fresh “Uni” Sea Urchin
Stir to mix “Chilly” & “Warm”
Spring Bamboo Shoots & Bigfin Reef Squid, coated with Spicy Japanese Pepper Sprout Sauce
Foie Gras Mousse Tarte with Framboise Saue
Garnished with Cherry Blossoms
Hors-d’oevre (Choice)
“The Luxury of Caviar”
Indulge in Caviar
Tarte of Favorite
Caviar Condiments topped with Crystal Chips, Cauliflower Bavarois with Consomme Gelee
Warm Tarte – Kaleidoscope of Spring Shellfish “Hamaguri” & Littleneck Clams, Scallops…
Aroma of Dried Sakura Shrimp…
Snifter of “Hamaguri” Soup
“Spring Greens Fair”
Medley of Fresh Spring Vegetables, Fava Bean Cream, Ginger & Orange gelee
Dotted with Vibrant Flower Petals of Every Hue
Main Dish (Choice)
“Kuroge-Wagyu Fillet Consomme’ Style served with Nagaimo Potato Poelee
Beef Cheeks stewed until Tender in Red Wine accompanied by Apple Puree
Poelee of Salmon, Lightly Smoked to be Savored together with Fresh Seasonal Vegetables mingled with Pine Nuts
Assortment of Artisanal Breads
Lemon Grass & Mint
Cherry Blossom
Ginger
Rice Powder
Dessert
Fresh-from-the-oven Warm, Fizzy Strawberry Tarte with an Indulging Scoop of Pistachio Nut Ice Cream
The Snack menu looked as follows:
I had a couple of glasses of Salon 2002 champagne before the main meal. The champagne – chosen among the best champagne vintages in the last 50 years or so – is definitely good: round, smooth, lightly bubbly, not overpowering. An outstanding wine.
I won’t go into too many details regarding dinner, given the big amount of dishes I was offered. I will let the photos speak for themselves. Suffice to say that the food was excellent, although I found it to be a notch below ANA’s. I really enjoyed the Abalone and the Dainomono, as well as the Japanese cheeses (all of which were of high quality). For those of you who don’t know, both JAL and ANA serve a Kaiseki dinner in their first class cabin. That’s the quintessential Japanese high-cuisine dinner, closely associated with tea ceremony and consisting of rare, exclusive, and creative ingredients. If you ever go to Japan, it’s something that you have to try, as it is food at its best.
The main dish was very good: a combination of real Wagyu beef and rockfish is probably something not many Westerners would think of; but that’s where the strength of Kaiseki cuisine is: great ingredients, creative pairings.
Like I said, the Japanese cheeses were outstanding, as was the chocolate offered after dinner.
Anyways, I started watch the Lego movie during dinner (and Chennai Express before that). The service overall lasted above 1 hour, and was definitely leisurely paced. Never I felt rushed or had to wait too long for my next dish to come out. The flight attendants were very attentive and always ready/willing to help with a smile. Attitude makes all the difference in this World.
After dinner I asked the flight attendant to make up my bed while I went to brush my teeth. The bathrooms were a bit disappointing. Just as British Airways’, JAL First Class lavatories are simply standard lavatories with no particular amenities. I wish they had Aesop products like Cathay Pacific!
In any case, when I came back the bed was ready. The mattress pad used was of superior quality and so were the comforter and pillow. I was rather tired, and I fell asleep within minutes. The cabin wasn’t too cold/hot, and I managed to sleep 5 hours. I must say: it was the best rest on a plane I’ve got so far, and the bedding is definitely a winning factor for JAL.
I woke up about 2 hours before landing, and the flight attendant came by asking me if I wanted breakfast. To vary a bit, I opted for the FUMIKO’s Western Set Plate, consisting of Pistachio Curry with Prawn & Zucchini, Orange & Carrot Mousseline and a dessert made of Blanc-manger of Fromage Blanc & Fresh Herb with Acacia Honey Syrup. The cury was decent, but it lacked in flavor a bit. The dessert was very good.
I washed everything down with a couple of glass of 2004 Dom Perignon, which compares pretty well to Salon 2002. After my meal, I asked for some more Japanese cheese. SO good!
After breakfast I went to change back into my clothes and packed up my stuff. We landed in LAX on time and so my short vacation to Taiwan ended. It was a great trip! I had a lot of fun both in the air and on the ground. Hawaii comes next. Hope you’ll still follow my adventures!
———————–
So, how does CX First and JL First compare? Well, I must say that, once again, Skytrax rating is spot on. Cathay Pacific is clearly a 5 stars product both on the ground and in the air; JL is more of a 4 stars in both categories.
Lounge-wise, CX wins. The Wing lounge in Hong Kong is not only stunning but also boasts great service. The food was superb (Do&Co level), and the shower rooms were big and well-appointed. JL’s Sakura lounge was nice, but a bit disappointing in terms of service and food offerings. The complimentary massage was a nice perk, but it was definitely too short. Make it 30 minutes (like Qantas does) and you have a winner (that is, an offering that distinguish JL from the competition). I wish I had the chance to try CX cabanas, which were unfortunately all taken. Perhaps next time.
In the air, CX wins on all fronts but the bed. Cathay Pacific offers tastier food; presentation-wise, JAL wins, but I would pick Cathay’s food any day over JAL’s. Both airlines offer great wines, so no complains there. Pajamas were outstanding on both airlines – the bestI have found so far – but amenity-wise CX wins. Aesop products are simply unbeatable and truly luxurious; plus, CX has nicer bathrooms in First. Bed-wise, JAL wins: I had never slept so well before on a plane! From a IFE standpoint, Studio CX ofered by CX is superior to JAL’s system in terms of quality and variety of offerings, but I liked JAL’s TV screens better.
Overall, while CX wins, I think JL has a solid first class product and I wouldn’t certainly turn it down if it were the only option to cross the Pacific. It is certainly better than any US carrier out there and it is close enough to NH and CX to make the trip fun and very enjoyable.
A little bit off-topic, but this is now my overall ranking of First Class cabins (that I tried):
1. Etihad Airways
2. Cathay Pacific
3. ANA
4. Lufthansa
5. Qantas
6. British Airways
7. American Airlines
I am incredibly fortunate to have flown so many different airlines in First Class, but I hope to add more in the coming future as I realize there are so many products worth trying out there that I haven’t flown yet. So: stay tuned!
Last edited by oneworld82; Jun 16, 2014 at 8:53 am
Jun 16, 2014, 2:49 am
#40
Ambassador: Japan Airlines
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: LAX
Programs: JAL Mileage Bank, JMB Diamond, oneworld Emerald, Bonvoy Platinum
Posts: 16,396
LINK TO BLOG POST
Flight JL62 NRT-LAX, May 4th, 2014
First Class, Seat 1K
B77w, 5:20p – 11:30a
Anyways, once I entered the plane (a brand new Boeing 777-300ER), I was escorted to my seat, 1K. Unfortunately, when I made my booking all window seats had already been taken.
Flight JL62 NRT-LAX, May 4th, 2014
First Class, Seat 1K
B77w, 5:20p – 11:30a
Anyways, once I entered the plane (a brand new Boeing 777-300ER), I was escorted to my seat, 1K. Unfortunately, when I made my booking all window seats had already been taken.
Jun 16, 2014, 7:27 am
#42
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: DCA
Posts: 7,769
Nice report on the JL leg. I noticed that since I flew JL F a couple months ago the amenity kit was upgraded from an airline-branded one to the designer one. Little things like that make me think that management must have ANA and CX in their sights.
I think that if they made the NRT F lounge into a true F-class lounge, with waiter service, menu ordering, etc., then that would be a big step. I personally think everything else is more or less competitive at this point (within the realm of subjectivity about what kinds of food people like, etc.).
I think that if they made the NRT F lounge into a true F-class lounge, with waiter service, menu ordering, etc., then that would be a big step. I personally think everything else is more or less competitive at this point (within the realm of subjectivity about what kinds of food people like, etc.).
Jun 28, 2014, 4:23 pm
#44
Join Date: Oct 2007
Programs: nwa spg aa ua
Posts: 133
Thanks so much for the report! I just got back from there and will be going back in a few weeks. Due to a family relation I have been there a number of times. As someone else mentioned Taipei has a somewhat different feel from the rest of the island. If you have an opportunity to return there are some great places to check out.
1. Kaohsiung - a hotbed of independence and a large city in the south of the island. You can take the high speed train (an experience in itself) to Zuoing/Kaohsiung (that's the terminal station) and it will get you there in an hour and a half or so. And/Or you could get off one stop before in Guiren/Tainan and enjoy a smaller town but also very unique place with forts, temples, and excellent restaurants. Some trains are express to Zuoing with few stops while others make stops in places like Guiren.
2. Kenting on the southern tip - a beautiful beach with park and places to enjoy the western side, the southern side, and the eastern side of the island and to see the different feel of each part of the ocean. In Pingtung, on the way to Kenting there is a fantastic Aquarium that rivals some of the best ones in the US in my opinion.
3. Hualien and Taroko Gorge. Marble rock shores of an old river gorge and the eastern, much less populated part of Taiwan.
4. A number of others depending on what you like. Up north there is Jiufen, a village with alleys lined with stores and restaurants that resemble the restaurant scene in Spirited Away. Unfortunately very packed with tourists. Yehliu Geopark is also on the north side - a beach area with fascinating eroding sandy formations that include fish, a queen's head, and much more. Nearby Keelung is an old shipping port. In Taipei County there is also Danshui, a beach township with street food, stores, and cruise boats. Roughly in the center of the island there is very scenic Sun Moon Lake including a magnificent Buddhist temple.
1. Kaohsiung - a hotbed of independence and a large city in the south of the island. You can take the high speed train (an experience in itself) to Zuoing/Kaohsiung (that's the terminal station) and it will get you there in an hour and a half or so. And/Or you could get off one stop before in Guiren/Tainan and enjoy a smaller town but also very unique place with forts, temples, and excellent restaurants. Some trains are express to Zuoing with few stops while others make stops in places like Guiren.
2. Kenting on the southern tip - a beautiful beach with park and places to enjoy the western side, the southern side, and the eastern side of the island and to see the different feel of each part of the ocean. In Pingtung, on the way to Kenting there is a fantastic Aquarium that rivals some of the best ones in the US in my opinion.
3. Hualien and Taroko Gorge. Marble rock shores of an old river gorge and the eastern, much less populated part of Taiwan.
4. A number of others depending on what you like. Up north there is Jiufen, a village with alleys lined with stores and restaurants that resemble the restaurant scene in Spirited Away. Unfortunately very packed with tourists. Yehliu Geopark is also on the north side - a beach area with fascinating eroding sandy formations that include fish, a queen's head, and much more. Nearby Keelung is an old shipping port. In Taipei County there is also Danshui, a beach township with street food, stores, and cruise boats. Roughly in the center of the island there is very scenic Sun Moon Lake including a magnificent Buddhist temple.
Last edited by tpeflyer; Jun 28, 2014 at 4:30 pm
Jun 28, 2014, 5:01 pm
#45
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: YYZ
Posts: 1,666
Great report all around! ^ I definitely think Taiwan is one of the more underrated countries in the region. Great food, scenery and friendlier people all around compared to Mainland China or Hong Kong.
I also liked your insights on JL F. It seems like people are pretty much consistently rating CX F as above or equal to JL F. I have CX F booked next year, but I still plan on switching to JL F if it becomes available just for the sake of trying something new.
Exactly my sentiments about CX F catering. Even though I've flown them once, I found their menu boring and very "average" for F. They could learn a thing or two from QF or SQ (SQ's Chinese meal was ten times better than CX's!)
I also liked your insights on JL F. It seems like people are pretty much consistently rating CX F as above or equal to JL F. I have CX F booked next year, but I still plan on switching to JL F if it becomes available just for the sake of trying something new.
Nice report and pics.
CX's F meals seem to be sliding.
Only offering caviar as a lone starter in F is not acceptible. They need at least one other offering. This isn't the standard for international F class.
For the soup - how about something other than mushroom or lobster for a change?
They need to improve their choice of western mains. Always a steak and a (very bland) pasta. The 2 pasta dishes I had in January just were not good. They had no taste.
And the puddings? Best on intra-asia F flights. On ex-EU and US flights they serve a cake-like thing that looks like it's been baked in a fairy-cake (cupcake) pan, then they drizzle some chocolate syrup or fruit liquid over it and serve it with ice-cream. Can they hire a decent pastry chef or at least CHANGE the offering to something different each month? It's always the same thing. Or red bean soup if you fancy that - but they don't add the sweet rice dumplings to it?
As a side note, they apparently don't serve the cappucino in the fanciful cup anymore - noticed this a while back. But they still do the espressos in the same cups.
Snacks are crabcakes and the same noodle soups. For years!
I realise these things may seem trivial but if you fly with them often it becomes quite an issue.
CX's F meals seem to be sliding.
Only offering caviar as a lone starter in F is not acceptible. They need at least one other offering. This isn't the standard for international F class.
For the soup - how about something other than mushroom or lobster for a change?
They need to improve their choice of western mains. Always a steak and a (very bland) pasta. The 2 pasta dishes I had in January just were not good. They had no taste.
And the puddings? Best on intra-asia F flights. On ex-EU and US flights they serve a cake-like thing that looks like it's been baked in a fairy-cake (cupcake) pan, then they drizzle some chocolate syrup or fruit liquid over it and serve it with ice-cream. Can they hire a decent pastry chef or at least CHANGE the offering to something different each month? It's always the same thing. Or red bean soup if you fancy that - but they don't add the sweet rice dumplings to it?
As a side note, they apparently don't serve the cappucino in the fanciful cup anymore - noticed this a while back. But they still do the espressos in the same cups.
Snacks are crabcakes and the same noodle soups. For years!
I realise these things may seem trivial but if you fly with them often it becomes quite an issue.
Last edited by tng11; Jun 28, 2014 at 5:06 pm