A Boyhood Dream Fulfilled: Space-Geek Tour of the USA

[Human]

Did you do any shopping? AUD/USD under the thumb....

I mainly did my shopping at Houston, Kennedy and Washington. I bought plenty of souvenirs for me and my family (obviously my wife deserved whatever she asked for!). My suitcase weighed 15kg at Melbourne Airport, and 25kg when it was weighed here at JFK a few minutes ago. I bought one or two very small things in NYC -- mainly at the Met. One of my regrets about my injury today is that I didn't have the chance to venture into Central Park and find out if there were any nice sketchings or art for sale.

But yes, with the AUD/USD the way it is at the moment, I probably bought too much anyway!

 

[Human]

After a day full of drama of the sort I did not want, and still in some pain, it was time for my final Uber (but not my final rideshare) of the trip – to JFK, Terminal 8. It took about 50 minutes to get there.


I haven’t seen this in a while. But that’s not where I was heading.


I was heading here.



There was a “Priority” passport control line, but not a Priority security line. No matter: I was through in about 15 minutes.


I headed for the Soho lounge. I was more crowded than I would have liked, but it emptied out substantially after a British Airways flight was called for boarding.





I had a gin and lemonade from the bar.


It was very warm in the Lounge. Too warm for me, in fact – I went into a shower room and got out of my thermals and my merino top, and into a cotton shirt.



I really like it when lounges have tarmac views!


At 11pm it was announced that the Lounge would be closing at 11:30pm, and we were redirected to the Greenwich Lounge. More photos from the Soho Lounge:

 

[Human]

The Greenwich Lounge is noticeably larger, but noticeably more down-market. I didn’t partake of any food or drink here (I’m obviously becoming a lounge snob in my old age!). It’s a typical Business class lounge; having said that, it also has great tarmac views!

 

[Human]

A teaser… hopefully my hip will allow me to enjoy it!

 

[I love to travel]

A teaser… hopefully my hip will allow me to enjoy it!
View attachment 426839

A few drinks might help!!

 

[RooFlyer]

I’m not sure how far behind you are in the TR but if I were you, I’d be looking at Quickstats’ solution of asking for a wheelchair to board and probably especially to de-board to where you need to go within the terminal at Tokyo.

I had to do it once and it was a big step to ask, but when my backside was in that chair, I was so very relieved.

 

[Quickstatus]

A teaser… hopefully my hip will allow me to enjoy it!

Did you fill the Wheelchair prescription .?
Note that the steroi_ inj takes a few days to fully kick in.

 

[Human]

Thanks @RooFlyer and @Quickstatus for your concern and suggestion about the wheelchair. Yes, I've asked for one in Haneda. I was told that because the flight is arriving at 5am-ish they might not be fully staffed but they'll do their best!

 

[Human]

JL 3, JFK-HND First class. I booked this as part of a longer itinerary but on its own it costs 149,000 Qantas points plus about $300. Because I am only transiting through Haneda, I paid $198 in carrier charges. Go figure.

There’s a story behind this booking. Soon after I started planning this trip, I noticed that Qatar had availability JFK-DOH-MEL for 120,000 Avios plus about US$300. I immediately snaffled it. But a few days later I noticed on the Qantas website that JAL had First class availability JFK-HND. At that point it was still listed as being on a 777, and there was no connection to Australia available. But I’d also just been reading about JAL’s new A350-1000 First class, and it looked stunning. Knowing that JAL planned to introduce the A350-1000 on this route as soon as they had enough planes, I booked it speculatively.

I was very pleased to see, about six months later, that JAL put the A350 on this route! I also sort-of managed to cobble together a more-than-acceptable itinerary to get home from HND. Not perfect, but more than acceptable.

I only finally decided which route to take a few days ago, and I duly cancelled my Qatar booking (because I booked it before Qatar introduced its new charges, I only paid US$25 to cancel). But given the opportunity to fly for 14 hours on one of the world’s very best and most cutting-edge First class products, I didn’t want to let it slip.

Having said that, the itinerary I’m taking is longer and more convoluted, and it will be harder on my body. If I’d known that I would be flying with painful tendonitis, I would probably have gone the Qatar route. But it’s too late for that now and despite my pain I’ll do my very best to enjoy this while I can!

Some pics of my “seat” … though it’s probably more a couch than a seat … in fact I’m really in a little room! First class on the A350 is in a 1-1-1 configuration; this is most definitely the widest aeroplane seat I've ever encountered!





They don’t have the Salon champagne, since it’s a flight to rather than from Tokyo … but the Royal Blue tea is the next best thing, right?


We ended up departing just after 1am. I had the Japanese curry as a late-night snack/supper. It was delicious and a little more spicy than most Japanese curries (which I like).


I opted for the “soft” mattress. There was plenty of room, obviously!



All things considered, I didn’t sleep badly. Because of my hip I had to sleep on my back, which I don’t normally do, but when I wasn’t moving there was not much pain. Getting up to go to the toilet, however, was another story and at one point a Flight Attendant had to help me back to my suite. She then offered to take my slippers off for me and help me to lift my leg back on to the bed.

So the pain has detracted from the experience somewhat, but it’s great being able to stretch and lie flat. It’s just about time for me to have some more of that famous JAL First class food!

 

[NoName]

JL 3, JFK-HND First class. I booked this as part of a longer itinerary but on its own it costs 149,000 Qantas points plus about $300. Because I am only transiting through Haneda, I paid $198 in carrier charges. Go figure.

There’s a story behind this booking. Soon after I started planning this trip, I noticed that Qatar had availability JFK-DOH-MEL for 120,000 Avios plus about US$300. I immediately snaffled it. But a few days later I noticed on the Qantas website that JAL had First class availability JFK-HND. At that point it was still listed as being on a 777, and there was no connection to Australia available. But I’d also just been reading about JAL’s new A350-1000 First class, and it looked stunning. Knowing that JAL planned to introduce the A350-1000 on this route as soon as they had enough planes, I booked it speculatively.

I was very pleased to see, about six months later, that JAL put the A350 on this route! I also sort-of managed to cobble together a more-than-acceptable itinerary to get home from HND. Not perfect, but more than acceptable.

I only finally decided which route to take a few days ago, and I duly cancelled my Qatar booking (because I booked it before Qatar introduced its new charges, I only paid US$25 to cancel). But given the opportunity to fly for 14 hours on one of the world’s very best and most cutting-edge First class products, I didn’t want to let it slip.

Having said that, the itinerary I’m taking is longer and more convoluted, and it will be harder on my body. If I’d known that I would be flying with painful tendonitis, I would probably have gone the Qatar route. But it’s too late for that now and despite my pain I’ll do my very best to enjoy this while I can!

Some pics of my “seat” … though it’s probably more a couch than a seat … in fact I’m really in a little room! First class on the A350 is in a 1-1-1 configuration; this is most definitely the widest aeroplane seat I've ever encountered!
View attachment 426864
View attachment 426870
View attachment 426866
View attachment 426867View attachment 426868View attachment 426869

They don’t have the Salon champagne, since it’s a flight to rather than from Tokyo … but the Royal Blue tea is the next best thing, right?
View attachment 426871

We ended up departing just after 1am. I had the Japanese curry as a late-night snack/supper. It was delicious and a little more spicy than most Japanese curries (which I like).
View attachment 426872

I opted for the “soft” mattress. There was plenty of room, obviously!
View attachment 426873
View attachment 426874View attachment 426875

All things considered, I didn’t sleep badly. Because of my hip I had to sleep on my back, which I don’t normally do, but when I wasn’t moving there was not much pain. Getting up to go to the toilet, however, was another story and at one point a Flight Attendant had to help me back to my suite. She then offered to take my slippers off for me and help me to lift my leg back on to the bed.

So the pain has detracted from the experience somewhat, but it’s great being able to stretch and lie flat. It’s just about time for me to have some more of that famous JAL First class food!

How good is it! I flew the other direction just before Xmas and was amazing. Will be doing my own review in coming weeks.

 

[Pushka]

JL 3, JFK-HND First class. I booked this as part of a longer itinerary but on its own it costs 149,000 Qantas points plus about $300. Because I am only transiting through Haneda, I paid $198 in carrier charges. Go figure.

There’s a story behind this booking. Soon after I started planning this trip, I noticed that Qatar had availability JFK-DOH-MEL for 120,000 Avios plus about US$300. I immediately snaffled it. But a few days later I noticed on the Qantas website that JAL had First class availability JFK-HND. At that point it was still listed as being on a 777, and there was no connection to Australia available. But I’d also just been reading about JAL’s new A350-1000 First class, and it looked stunning. Knowing that JAL planned to introduce the A350-1000 on this route as soon as they had enough planes, I booked it speculatively.

I was very pleased to see, about six months later, that JAL put the A350 on this route! I also sort-of managed to cobble together a more-than-acceptable itinerary to get home from HND. Not perfect, but more than acceptable.

I only finally decided which route to take a few days ago, and I duly cancelled my Qatar booking (because I booked it before Qatar introduced its new charges, I only paid US$25 to cancel). But given the opportunity to fly for 14 hours on one of the world’s very best and most cutting-edge First class products, I didn’t want to let it slip.

Having said that, the itinerary I’m taking is longer and more convoluted, and it will be harder on my body. If I’d known that I would be flying with painful tendonitis, I would probably have gone the Qatar route. But it’s too late for that now and despite my pain I’ll do my very best to enjoy this while I can!

Some pics of my “seat” … though it’s probably more a couch than a seat … in fact I’m really in a little room! First class on the A350 is in a 1-1-1 configuration; this is most definitely the widest aeroplane seat I've ever encountered!
View attachment 426864
View attachment 426870
View attachment 426866
View attachment 426867View attachment 426868View attachment 426869

They don’t have the Salon champagne, since it’s a flight to rather than from Tokyo … but the Royal Blue tea is the next best thing, right?
View attachment 426871

We ended up departing just after 1am. I had the Japanese curry as a late-night snack/supper. It was delicious and a little more spicy than most Japanese curries (which I like).
View attachment 426872

I opted for the “soft” mattress. There was plenty of room, obviously!
View attachment 426873
View attachment 426874View attachment 426875

All things considered, I didn’t sleep badly. Because of my hip I had to sleep on my back, which I don’t normally do, but when I wasn’t moving there was not much pain. Getting up to go to the toilet, however, was another story and at one point a Flight Attendant had to help me back to my suite. She then offered to take my slippers off for me and help me to lift my leg back on to the bed.

So the pain has detracted from the experience somewhat, but it’s great being able to stretch and lie flat. It’s just about time for me to have some more of that famous JAL First class food!

I'm thinking if you were flying Y then travel would have to have been deferred.

 

[Human]

On JAL First class they give the option of either a multi-course Japanese, or Western, meal. I’d always been intending to order the Japanese meal but at the last minute I decided that I didn’t feel like leaving my comfort zone any more than I already had, so I ordered the Western meal. In any case I now have a new definition of the phrase “over the top”! The whole thing took about an hour and a half. And no, I don't know what half of these things are either.

Amuse bouche: Spiced Kaboucha Veloute; Lump crab, Pumpkin Seed Oil, Pumpkin Seeds.



Assorted gourmet breads:


First Hors-d’ourvre: Seafood coughtail Salad with Lobster; Chipotle & Horseradish Salsa, Green Goddess Aioli.


Second Hors-D’oeuvre: Prosciutto Wrapped Sea Scallops; Radicchio, Pine Nuts, Cream Cheese Lemon Risoni Pasta.


First Main Dish: Seared Chilean Sea Bass; Cauliflower Bagna Cauda; Black Truffle Butter.


Second Main Dish: USDA Prime Beef Tenderloin; Shallot Confit Perigueux Sauce; Wild Mushroom Flan. (This was probably the only slightly-disappointing dish: the meat was a little dry, and not particularly tender).


Dessert: Apple Tart a la Mode.


All very nice, but are we allowed to talk about the elephant in the room? According to my body clock, this was meant to be breakfast!! At least I resisted the temptation to have alcohol with it and instead I just finished the bottle of the Royal Blue Tea. I reckon I ate, on average, about half of each course and I was still totally full by the end of it (… I might possibly have eaten more than half of the Apple Tart…).

Two more things which have definitely left me with positive feelings towards JAL at this point. First, they confirmed that I’ll be able to use the First Class Lounge at Haneda, even though my next flight is not in First. Second, there was a wheelchair waiting for me when we landed and I was wheeled all the way to the Lounge entrance, where as I write this I’m waiting for it to open in 4 minutes, at 6am.

 

[Human]

I'm thinking if you were flying Y then travel would have to have been deferred

Either that or I'd have been in agony for the whole flight. When my leg is supported, or horizontal, there's little-to-no pain at all. But when there's nothing to support it, it becomes very painful very quickly. My next flight is in JAL 777 Premium Economy; I've never flown in that seat before but it has legrests and footrests so I'm hopeful that it'll do the trick!

 

[Human]

My take on the JAL A350-1000 First experience? What’s not to like? It’s a private couch in the sky – I don’t think I’ve even mentioned the privacy doors yet – with an incredibly comfortable bed, a huge high definition (actually 4K, if I recall) screen, and food and beverages that are over the top, but why not? I’m very happy that I got the opportunity to use this product even though it probably won’t come to Australia for another couple of years at least. I was in the right place at the right time, literally and metaphorically: when I booked the flight it was listed as a 777 (8 First class seats), with relatively easier F availability (there’s 6 seats on the A350). Oh, and the A350 is so quiet. When I slept I used earplugs, as is my habit, but I probably didn’t need to. And F lounge access on arrival is the icing on the cake.

I only have two slight quibbles (not so much quibbles, but things that would take the experience from a 9.8 to a 10 out of 10): First a couple of actual breakfast options would have been nice. Second, the cabin crew, while very, very good, were not quite up to the same standard as the Singapore Airlines crews I’d had in Business class a couple of weeks ago. Don’t get me wrong: they were excellent. But they weren’t quite as attentive, or proactive, as what you’d expect from the best of the best. Possibly I’m being unfair because English is not an official language in Japan as it is in Singapore, so maybe there were communication issues which were not their fault.