A Japanese Christmas and a Thai New year.

[drron]

The menu for dinner.




The Heisdeck was the PDB.




And the pre landing snack.

 

[Flyfrequently]

BA now use the House as their lounge. You would be crazy to go there if in F or OWE. Nowhere near as good as the QF Flounge. We also went to the QF Business lounge first. It was not busy at all despite several delayed QF flights.
View attachment 357610
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Can't beat Flounge but would take The House at Tulla over MEL J lounge anyday @drron
(YMMV)

 

[Seat0B]

Can't beat Flounge but would take The House at Tulla over MEL J lounge anyday @drron
(YMMV)

I think @drron was in SYD though @Flyfrequently?

 

[Flyfrequently]

I think @drron was in SYD though @Flyfrequently?

Yes, @Seat0B, and one day this southerner hope to do Sydney's Flounge!

I was making the observation as we had access to The House MEL prior to our CX flight in September - less food options but better quality offerings and has runway views compared to QFi.
Will be the dungeon again for us in June

 

[Seat0B]

Yes, @Seat0B, and one day this southerner hope to do Sydney's Flounge!

I was making the observation as we had access to The House MEL prior to our CX flight in September - less food options but better quality offerings and has runway views compared to QFi.
Will be the dungeon again for us in June

I have to say that I really enjoy the Sydney F Lounge. For me, it's right up there along with the Emirates First Lounge in DXB. I have never managed to get to F Lounge in MEL - any flights we have taken out of MEL have been on EK and at times of the day when the QF F Lounge was not open. The EK Lounge in MEL is pretty nice, but not as good as SYD F Lounge, and I assume not as good as the MEL F Lounge either.

 

[Flyfrequently]

The EK Lounge in MEL is pretty nice, but not as good as SYD F Lounge, and I assume not as good as the MEL F Lounge either.

Agree @Seat0B !!
1. EK F DXB
2. QF F MEL
3. EK (J/F) MEL

 

[drron]

The food was simple but cooked as desired and very tasty. What made it even better was the service of FA Ruth. A beautuful smile and excellent service. Kept my glass topped up until I said no more thanks. I had champagne as my PDB.
For dinner I started with the seared tuna and then the seared chicken. but I ended with the unseared cheese plate. With the tuna they also served the faro and brown rice salad. Tasted better than I thought it would.




The one real let down in presentation was the bread roll. They could have taken it out of the plastic.




The cheese plate was excellent. 3 very nice cheeses presented simply. Silversea should take lessons from BA on how to do a cheese plate.


Naturally I was having the port at this stage.
An hour or so out of Singapore I had the Mexican chicken and chipotle wrap. Again quite tasty.

 

[drron]

So one of the reasons I decided on J for this flight was to try out the new BA J seat. So here it is.

I was able to lie flat and fully stretch out but if above 182cm in height will have to have a little bend at the back or legs to fit. The bedding which i just laid on top made it very comfortable with no lumps etc impinging on your comfort. A few areas for storage.










And the door which I didn't close.


Really didn't see the point. People walking past still see all of you.
But I was very happy with this seat. definitely one of the most comfortable J seats I have tried and way better than the SQ 350 and 777 seats.
Will be happy to fly it again.

 

[drron]

Now the rest of the flight. One of the best parts was that we left on time and arrived on time.
Haven't really found much on BA's entertainment system though that is probably because they don't make movies for us old grumpy dinosaurs any more. So I did buy a 4 hour wifi package for GBP11.99.

After that I went to the audio selection and listened to Windrush 1 and 2. Each an hour long. They were about the music of West Indian immigrants to the UK after WW2. I found it fascinating. The name Windrush was given as in 1948 the UK let any Commonwealth Citizen to emigrate to the UK. The first West Indians arrived on the ship Windrush. However the term Windrush generation means any Commonwealth citizen arriving in the UK until 1971. With changes to the Immigration act in that year all Commonwealth Citizens living in the UK were given indefinite leave to remain. The problem was no record was taken of those that took advantage of that decision. Consequently with more changes to the Immigration Act this century many were deported.

It is remarkable the influence the West Indians had on English music. Some of my favorite songs were written and recorded by them but I know the cover version. Then there are people like Bob Marley whose career started off in the UK. Also Culture Club which was formed by Mikey Craig of Jamaican Heritage who invited Boy George to be the vocalist Boy George admits a lot of their early work was inspired by Reggae.

After that I just laid back and relaxed.
Once again though we ended up at terminal 1 at the furthest gate from Immigration.
I got straight through the Smart Gates but Mrsdrron was knocked back and was told by the agent there was a mistake in the first 4 numbers of her passport. However both our passports start with the same 4 numbers and I do check. Personally I think the system isn't as smart as they think.

 

[drron]

Just missed a skytrain to T3 but only a 4 minute wait for the next one. At T3 the upper entrance to the CP has reopened even though the renovations are still ongoing. No problems with checkin. As to amenity we didn't need brekkie, the temporary bar had just closed so 600 points it was. No pics as I have shown them several times before.
Slept well and set the alarm for 0530. Showered, dressed and off to the Skytrain for T1. Only 1 other couple on the train.


The flowers at T1 as good as ever with a Christmas theme.




JAL checkin was the first one you come to as you walk from the Skytrain. No one at bag drop. The agent though gave us new BPs with the seat numbers and gate. We were in 1D,G. Boarding was due to commence at 0755 so we would only have an hours lounge time. In the morning Jal uses the Mahaba lounge. We used it 10 weeks ago so and found it underwhelming so went straight to the gate. Had about 15 minutes until the gate opened.
Only a few there at opening so through security quickly. Mrsdrron had no problems with security. I told them of my knee replacement and got the most cursory pat down. However my bag was shunted into the inspection line. A more experienced agent in SIN who looked at the pictures of my bag and said "coins". I had moved them from Mrsdrron's bag to mine.

Boarding began early. Quite a few pre boarders with young children. They then call JAL diamond members and there were a few of those. One was in 1 K and he had 2 people greet him and carry his bag at NRT. Then it was J pax.

 

[drron]

No PDB was offered and fortunately I didn't feel like one. A hot towel was more to my liking this time.
Although boarding began early and we pushed back early there was a long wait in the queue to take off. No problem though as we arrived just 2 minutes late. Though they apologised for the late arrival

So today it was a 763. First the seat.






And with the table set for lunch.


Now the Menu.






And the wine list.

 

[drron]

I had the Japanese Menu and Mrsdrron the Western. First Mrsdrron's starter which was excellent.


Then she had the beef which was just a little dry.


Now my Japanese meal. Wonderfully presented as usual The food was also very nice.


Then the mains.






The dessert was the same for both menus.


For wines Mrsdrron had the Pilate 2020 and I the Chateau virginie which was quite nice. The other red wine was the South African Pinotage which I have before and whilst nice drinking i didn't really think it was something I really wanted to drink again.
I was going to try the sakes and the Japanese wine but we have another 3 JAL flights this trip so can try them on one of those.

 

[drron]

The rest of the flight was event free. Once again a very good FA. Lots of smiles and conversation. Then I found out that although she is Japanese she was raised in Hawaii.
As usual I watched a couple of documentaries. They were about Soba restaurants in Kyoto and Tokyo. then a couple of movies. Both were some light hearted fun and totally unbelievable. First Off to Paradise with George Cluny and Julia Roberts and meant to be set in Bali.
The second was Red, White and Royal Blue which was way more far fetched as the sons of the American President and a Prince Henry of the British Royal family who called himself the spare fell in love. Both the British PM and the American President were women but they cast Stephen Fry as the King of England.

Then had a 2 hour nap before landing. We were at the gate 2 minutes after advertised arrival time and there were apolohies for the late arrival.

First off but there was already a line at Immigration though it moved quickly and we were through in a little under 20 minutes. Got to the baggage carousel to see our bag disappearing after completing a lap. after a cursory Customs chat we had our Airport Limousine bus tickets and were at the stop just over 30 minutes after getting off the plane. Quite a crowd on the bus so several stops and we were the last off at the IC Tokyo Bay.

 

[drron]

Check in was a bit of a shambles. They had us down as being from Alaska. Took a while to sort everything out. Now when I booked by far the cheapest rate was an advanced Senior rate with Breakfast so I booked it. This meant didn't have to take brekkie as an amenity so they gave us both drinks and 600 points.
Hotel was fully booked the first night so no upgrade. A decent room so no problems. No photos of the room but the view is pretty good.






Outside the hotel several Christmas trees plus the real trees lit up.





Then we went into the bar and had our drinks. It was also decorated for Christmas.

 

[drron]

We had a crabmeat and salmon roe pizza which was excellent.


They also had Christmas trees inside.




Then back to the room and some more of the view.

 

[drron]

The breakfast room has a great view.


Later that morning I went for a walk towards the Rainbow bridge. I hadn't walked that area before. First looking back at the hotel.
and the birds around the water taxi wharves.












then the Harbour cruise wharf.

 

[drron]

The old warehouses. All this area was industrial connected to the port. a lot of redevelopement has taken place.


Just behind the main road is a canal.

 

[drron]

A canal boat.










Even in winter there are flowers. Quite a few camellias.


Some extra parking.




Flood gates.


Water taxis parking in what is left of the river.

 

[drron]

The river.




And why there is nothing much there anymore.






An upmarket restaurant close to the IC.

 

[OZDUCK]

The rest of the flight was event free. Once again a very good FA. Lots of smiles and conversation. Then I found out that although she is Japanese she was raised in Hawaii.
As usual I watched a couple of documentaries. They were about Soba restaurants in Kyoto and Tokyo. then a couple of movies. Both were some light hearted fun and totally unbelievable. First Off to Paradise with George Cluny and Julia Roberts and meant to be set in Bali.
The second was Red, White and Royal Blue which was way more far fetched as the sons of the American President and a Prince Henry of the British Royal family who called himself the spare fell in love. Both the British PM and the American President were women but they cast Stephen Fry as the King of England.

Then had a 2 hour nap before landing. We were at the gate 2 minutes after advertised arrival time and there were apolohies for the late arrival.

First off but there was already a line at Immigration though it moved quickly and we were through in a little under 20 minutes. Got to the baggage carousel to see our bag disappearing after completing a lap. after a cursory Customs chat we had our Airport Limousine bus tickets and were at the stop just over 30 minutes after getting off the plane. Quite a crowd on the bus so several stops and we were the last off at the IC Tokyo Bay.

I think you may know that the George Clooney/Julia Roberts film was shot all over Queensland.