Flying JAL J class next week and am slightly nervous about it

[blu]

The Sakura Lounge has a good beef curry, so no seafood concern there also.

 

[samiam]

I'm off from SYD- NRT with JAL in the morning - depending on when your flight is (may have been and gone) will let you know how it is

 

[Berlin]

I'm off from SYD- NRT with JAL in the morning - depending on when your flight is (may have been and gone) will let you know how it is

that would be great, yes! I'm off in exactly a week so Saturday in a week...

 

[Isochronous]

I wish JAL would get a decent website so it was easier to book with them!

 

[Julesmac]

How about requesting vegetarian options? Sure to be safe then - there would be nothing worse than spending hours chucking in the loo. A plane is not the place to have an upset stomach

 

[Berlin]

Hmm, that's exactly what I don't want. I'm paying for a J class fare so the least I want is some nice meat dishes. Not really into the vegetable stuff

How about requesting vegetarian options? Sure to be safe then - there would be nothing worse than spending hours chucking in the loo. A plane is not the place to have an upset stomach

 

[grussellt]

I look forward to hearing your comments on the trip. I'll be on JL772 in September (and I'll gladly have your share of the seafood!).

 

[Berlin]

I look forward to hearing your comments on the trip. I'll be on JL772 in September (and I'll gladly have your share of the seafood!).

I'll ask them to keep it in the freezer for you! Will post about my experiences from somewhere on route in Europe!

 

[Flashback]

that would be great, yes! I'm off in exactly a week so Saturday in a week...

Be prepared for some very humid/warm weather. I thought Disneyland was great when I went there (like some of the other posters though, it's the only one I've been to) and expected I'd get bored quickly and only spend 4 hours or so. Well, my mate & I ended up arriving when it opened, and left about 1 hour after closing time. We too, like above, found the parade quite good fun (I presume the show in front of the castle is the one that's being referred to). Not sure on the comments about not being able to get everything done.... by 5pm we had more than enough time to get everything done, multiple times. That was without fastpass, too.

 

[Berlin]

If you do not eat seafood or fish then you should call JAL and request a SPML: no fish (special meal, no fish)

Thanks again for this advice. I had to call them up to ask but it's all confirmed now for the entire trip. Funny them, ten minutes after I had called them, they gave me a call as well to confirm. Was the same lady on the phone and seemed to have no idea that she had just spoken to me on the same matter just 10 minutes or so before

Can't wait- something tells me they are a funny bunch, those Japanese!

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Thanks again for this advice. I had to call them up to ask but it's all confirmed now for the entire trip. Funny them, ten minutes after I had called them, they gave me a call as well to confirm. Was the same lady on the phone and seemed to have no idea that she had just spoken to me on the same matter just 10 minutes or so before

Can't wait- something tells me they are a funny bunch, those Japanese!

while I guess it's not fool-proof, 10 times out of 10 the no seafood meal has been a steak. and quite yummy too. the appetiser will vary, but can be a selection of chicken and vegetarian to mimic a bento box type thing, or could be a single course of something like duck salad.

 

[Berlin]

while I guess it's not fool-proof, 10 times out of 10 the no seafood meal has been a steak. and quite yummy too. the appetiser will vary, but can be a selection of chicken and vegetarian to mimic a bento box type thing, or could be a single course of something like duck salad.

Sounds like I made the right choice then! Steak would be perfect and both a duck salad or a japanese-style appetizer that I can actually eat without worrying about seafood would be great as well!

Will post about my experiences on here when I get a second (and an internet connection!) during my road trip through Europe!

 

[docjames]

JAL pilots are fine by any standard.

I'd love to know jb's list of "ok" and "not ok" but maybe that's for the pilot thread (or PM).....

 

[Berlin]

I'd love to know jb's list of "ok" and "not ok" but maybe that's for the pilot thread (or PM).....

That were exactly my thoughts- wonder what the "not okay" ones are :shock:

 

[Berlin]

Just about to board my flight to Narita- so far, so good. Friendly checkin, opened at 5:15 so had a great time in the QF Flounge. Isn't that place alone worth all the status runs and occasional hardship with staying loyal to the roo? I absolutely love it here!

 

[grussellt]

Bon Voyage!

 

[flyingfan]

Just about to board my flight to Narita- so far, so good. Friendly checkin, opened at 5:15 so had a great time in the QF Flounge. Isn't that place alone worth all the status runs and occasional hardship with staying loyal to the roo? I absolutely love it here!

You'd get few disagreements here - we're very lucky to have such a great lounge. Enjoy your trip!

 

[Kolo]

Travelled J in JAL last year. Prior to my recent NZ J trip to LAX, JAL FAs provided the best service I've ever had. They have a mix of British and Japanese FAs into and out of LHR and CDG. Seats are angled flat so not great but still better than whY. Food was fine, I had the Western menu, not the best ever, but still better than whY. Partner had the Japanese menu and still says that was his best ever airline meal (beating the Lobster Thermidore had in Gulf F once). Highlight was the ground staff in NRT who take such pride in their work that they bow and wave goodbye as plane departs the gate.

Its really only the angled flat bed that makes JAL not as good as others, but price usually compensates this.

 

[pshepvic]

Highlight was the ground staff in NRT who take such pride in their work that they bow and wave goodbye as plane departs the gate.

That's a reflection of Japanese culture overall, something we could take some lessons from. They are the most polite and respectful people on earth. Even on the trains, the attendants bow when they enter a carriage, and bow again before they leave. I also like on JAL that when the crew all stand at the front of the cabin and bow at both the start and end of the safety demonstration, and also a certain other times during the flight.

 

[Berlin]

Just a little interim update sitting in the First lounge at Narita airport just about to board my flight to Paris. As others have said- staff service is excellent but just part of Japan- the ride attendants at Tokyo Disneyland bow and wave just as much as the flight crew on JAL. I personally love those little cultural differences but it's certainly different to Western countries.
Negatives were the slopy (and narrow!) seat, no pre-flight drinks (odd) and the rather spartanic amenities (e.g. simple Why-style paper towels in bathrooms and no face moisturiser or similar). My no fish meal was rather disappointing, a bland dry piece of chicken with mashed pumpkin and beans- I could have sworn it was exactly the same as that dry chicken with pumpkin that I had at least three times before on QF domestic J... Pluses: Staff attention and service, drink selection (I love both Sake and Whisky so bring it on!) and the F lounge I'm currently in is lovely- not quite QF First but close: Lovely buffet style food, comfy seats and a relaxing ten mins massage. Oh- and I simply love those toilet seats here! ;-)
One two things caused me real trouble in Japan and it was neither the seafood nor the language: Their love for cash (sorry, no credit cards...) combined with an astonishing lack of ATMs and/or acceptance of anything but Japan-issued cards which was a real hassle. Secondly, the stigma of tattoes- I was on several occassions politely but firmly told that with the tattoo on my arm, I'm not allowed to use the hotel pool, wear a T-shirt only and so on. Sorry- I can't strip my skin off! Oh well, otherwise it was all fine!