The Long Way Back From PEI.

[drron]

Boarding commenced soon after we arrived at the gate.One couple preboarded with the lady having a bandaged knee and using a walking stick.Her miracle cure was amazing.No sooner had she had her BP scanned and taken 5-6 steps her limp disappeared and the walking stick didn't touch the ground.
As soon as we were seated-escorted to our seats naturally-champagne was offered.Lanson for the pre departure option.
The things I liked were the amenities bag was already at the seat,the menu and wine list were presented beautifully and for take off and landing you are permitted to put your carry on under the seat in front of you.
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The menu.
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The amenities.Both the same bag and liked by mrsdrron.
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The toiletries were in addition to the amenities pack.
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And as well there was a coupon with code for free wifi for the flight.For others-
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[drron]

So to the alcohol.
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And if departing Japan an extra choice.
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Now mrsdrron isn't in to old whites but she enjoyed the Tyrrells

 

[drron]

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Sakes.
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Shochu.
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[drron]

So to the food.Everyone got an extra plate to start.
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So first the western menu which mrsdrron chose.
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The food.
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And during lunch our photo was taken again.
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[drron]

Now to the Japanese menu which I chose.
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As always great presentation.
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As always beautiful flavours and textures.

 

[drron]

My meal continues.
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Now I had had a couple of glasses of the Cristal but switched to the Matsumoto sake for lunch.
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I do like this sake.
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That is a special steamed rice with seafood.It really was delicious.
I nearly forgot to take a picture of dessert.
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After all of that the FA brought me out another glass of sake with a small salted fish and special rice she said was often had with sake.By itself the fish was way too salty but a little with rice and the sake wasn't too bad.
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A little while later she brought out a glass of a special shochu which wasn't on the list.She did bring out the bottle but it was all japanese to me and no picture as I had just started downloading my photos.
This is how I felt.

 

[drron]

The FA making up mrsdrron's bed.
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Mrsdrron had a good sleep for a few hours.I meanwhile was on the internet,downloading photos or talking to the crew.Their English wasn't the the best,I have forgotten most of my Japanese and being a little deaf all didn't help but we got there.
After boarding the best CSM greeting ever.She bought the 3 FAs who were working the F cabin-one for each aisle and one in the galley and introduced them as well.I had quite a few talks with the CSM and certainly seemed to hit it off.We talked about why we loved Japan and where we had been.Later I got a leg massage lying on the floor outside the galley and using two halves of a bamboo trunk-to help the circulation in my legs.A long way above the expected service.I asked her about the PJs for mrsterryn so as we were leaving the plane she gave me a parcel with the PJs.

The FA serving my aisle was quite young but again we were able to have a few chats.The longest about where we had been in Japan.She was astonished especially when I said we had cruised down the Ogasawara Islands and landed on Chichijima island.She was the one who bought me out the special shochu and the Japanese dish to have with sake.I am sure the CSM gave permission.

Later on was another meal.You could also have snacks.
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So it was 1500 in Tokyo,2300 in LA and the second meal is breakfast!
Mrsdrron had the French toast and i had the mushroom soup-delicious- and the omelette.
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This flight is going down as my best yet.

 

[drron]

We were given Fast Passes for Immigration which is obviously a new thing as there were no signs for it but a fellow with a sign for it and he takes you to the right place.The terminal is being renovated obviously for the Olympics and may not be finished for the Rugby world cup.
Now despite as arriving at the remotest gate at the satellite which meant a very long walk to Immigration then finding the closest Immigration was closed we were still on the shuttle to the ANA Crowne Plaza in less than 30 minutes.But my hip was now killing me.
No upgrade this time but breakfast included as we could not be upgraded.I am beginning to like IHG.The views from our room.
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And there was an example of poor parking technique.
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We both had a long soak in a hot bath and felt a lot better.Went to the restaurant and shared a Margherita pizza.Then asleep before 2000 but of course woke early.
Breakfast was a buffet and wasn't too bad.
Outside the restaurant.
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After brekkie a bit of plane watching.
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[drron]

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[OZDUCK]

This flight is going down as my best yet.

That seems to have been an incredibly good experience with great food and service. If you ever have a better one it would have to be really amazing!

 

[drron]

I have been reading in other threads that people think there is not enough difference between J and F experiences to justify the extra points for an award.Well sorry just try ANA or JAL F longhaul with their J product.Let me tell you that is so wrong.AA miles for JL F LAX-NRT-80K.For J 60K.So now is our flight NRT -SIN on JL 711.The really good part was that it left on time and got into SIN 35 minutes earl which was wonderful as it was due to arrive at 12.20 AM.
But first we need to get to the airport.A nice brekkie at the CP-complimentary as no upgrade.I am really starting to like IHG because of the way we are treated.There was a display on autumn and the festivals.
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The shuttle to the airport was pretty full.No problems checking in-JAL have a new F checkin now at NRT obviously getting ready for the olympics.A quick look at the shops-a stall selling the Rugby World Cup paraphenalia but a bit expensive.Through the Fast track security.Only X ray machine so I got the most extensive patdown I have ever had-checked 3 times back and front.Thought he must have been a masseuse in a previous life.
Soon though seated in the renovated JAL F lounge.Rather nice.Good plane spotting from our seats.
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[drron]

Now the lounge.First some of the downstairs part.
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What would have been the champagne bar previously but seemingly unused at present.A good sign however.
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The bar is downstairs.
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The 2 reds I tried.Both good.
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[drron]

The thing I didn't like was that the dining area was upstairs.There was a small elevator though as well as the magnificent staircase.You could not access the dining area from the entrance to the lounge.You needed to take the escalator down and then proceed up to the dining area.There were in fact 2 basically identical areas.The one immediately at the top of the stairs was very busy.The second was nearly empty.Exactly the same offerings at both.
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The empty area.
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And the zoo.
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We only had a couple of pieces of sushi.We were hoping for some reasonable food on board.

 

[drron]

Now to the seat.The difference between our F experience and this J seat also on a 777 was chalk and cheese.
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Only just long enough for 182cm but a lumpy hard and very uncomfortable seat.Very similiar to the seat on ANA's 787 we experienced on the same route 18 months ago.
To the drinks list.Not too bad.
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Mrsdrron started with the Petit Sav Blanc but didn't like it.Fortunately she enjoyed the Pinot Blanc.I wanted to try the pinot noir and it was damned nice so continued with it.

 

[drron]

The menus.
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I again had the Japanese menu mrsdrron the western.Food next.

 

[drron]

First mrsdrron's food.She found it sub par.
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The appetisers were bland and the salmon way overcooked.She doesn't like green tea anything which both desserts were.She wasn't offered anything else but after a complaint they made sure her wine glass never emptied.
So mine was the Japanese menu.It was pleasant but far below the F menu standards.
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Now I am also not a fan of green tea flavoured desserts.However I had a pro active FA on my side who immediately offered the cheese from the anytime menu.
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It was quite nice.
Otherwise apart from the terrible seat it was an incident free flight.

 

[drron]

Our flight was due to arrive at 0020 into SIN.However we were at the gate at 2345.A long walk to Immigration but no lines there.A bit of a wait for the bags to arrive and ours were among the last of the priority luggage.However there was a lot of priority luggage.When we boarded there were at least 20 in the JMB elite and OWE line with over 30 in the J and OWS line.But being JAL all the OWE line boarded before any one fom the OWS line.

Then to the Skytrain to T3 and a short walk into the CP.Now they call me an important and regular guest so I just have to let them know my flight time in the 48 hours before check in and the keys are waiting.So into our room just before the original arrival time.The same room type as before on top floor so no pics.Any way we were pretty tired so sleep beckoned.
This was the view from the room in the morning-we awoke ~ 0900.
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We checked out ~ 1100-again easy with their express check out.Of course then the long slog to T4.Why did CX have to move there.The one redeeming feature is that security is before Immigration therefore no need to do security at the gate.

 

[drron]

After using the fast track Immigration we headed to the CX lounge.Seems to have been spruced up a bit since our last visit just after CX had moved.I had a nice seafood laksa.Unfortunately for mrsdrron most things were spicy.We headed for the gate a little early.There was a Thai sporting team there.Most preboarded which was very good as it was a team of blind athletes.Sadly CX would only allow 1 sighted person with each athlete so 6 of the team-probably officials- had to wait.

At the other end of the spectrum were 8 older Asians who spoke perfect English telling the gate agents that they were"Very Important People and should be allowed to preboard.They were denied.They then lined up in the F/OWE line but they were told they didn't qualify and to move to the Business queue-they were all in the J cabin.I guess CX DKWTW.
The suit behind me in the J line was eyeing off the 2 of us and his look was of the what are they doing in the F line.So he DKWWA.

Fortunately it was the A350 today.It is the advertised plane but sometimes it does get subbed.The herringbone seats on this aircraft are much better than those on JL or NH.
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But also it is equipped with cameras.I like this feature.
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[drron]

So the menus.
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Mrsdrron naturally went for the Stellenbosch sav blanc which she liked.I really wanted to try the Kangaroo Island wine and it was very good so once again I stuck with my first choice.
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Mrsdrron had the veal cheek and I the chicken dish.both were just OK.We both had an ice cream.

The real problem with this flight was both airports.The plane was ready for departure 5 minutes before time but SIN ATC kept us at the gate for 40 minutes.Approaching BKK it was back on time but BKK ATC kept us in a holding pattern for 30 minutes.That time of course couldn't be made up.However one criticism was when we were put into the holding pattern the Captain put on the seat belt sign and told the FAs to prepare for landing.Although some storms had passed through BKK there was absolutely no turbulence.
Quite a few people after getting off headed straight for the rest rooms.

 

[drron]

After the meal I just laid back and listened to some music.The Doors,Bob Marley and the Ventures with their 60th Anniversary Album.I had 2 thoughts.
First they wouldn't get away with some of the lyrics today.Second the Ventures made me think of Mr.Denali.So this is for him.

But then as we got closer to Bangkok it was worth looking at the cameras again.
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