TomCat's Suite Adventure

[blackcat20]

Back to JAL.

Wine list:




Japanese and Western set menus:

 

[blackcat20]

To start, Salon:

We sat together for the appetiser, then retired to our respective seats for the meal.


Appetiser:


Second course:

 

[blackcat20]

Third course:


Fourth course:


Time to change champagnes (the bottle of Salon had gone flat based on my last glass of it)


Main course:

This was by far my favourite; dip the steak in the egg, collect some rice and pickle and shove it in your mouth

Cheese plate from the Al La Carte menu was slotted in (without me asking for it). They bring around a sheet (in Japanese) that explains each of the cheeses and its accompaniment.

 

[blackcat20]

Then of course the dessert plate.


After all that food I reclined my seat a little and nodded off before I could even have my bed made up. An hour or so later I woke up and they sprang into action, making up my bed for me. It was so comfortable that I promptly fell back asleep again. When I finally woke, I ducked off to the bathroom and returned to find that Eeyore had a little note and flower for me.


The view was pretty stunning; I even spotted some snow. The furthest north I've ever been.


I'd barely opened the menu to see if I might like a snack when another dessert appeared in front of me. From the al la Carte menu, it's meant to be a choice of the three. They seemed to think I'd like all three and they were right

 

[TomVexille]

I'd barely opened the menu to see if I might like a snack when another dessert appeared in front of me. From the al la Carte menu, it's meant to be a choice of the three. They seemed to think I'd like all three and they were right
View attachment 73540

TKWYA

I was offered all three extra desserts, or my choice of them, I didn't have them land in front of me

 

[blackcat20]

Another movie and I thought I might sneak in a pre-arrival snack (this is a 12.5 hour flight after all). My seat was still in bed mode so I put the back upright and sat cross legged while I enjoyed a simple soy style ramen (and some more champagne of course).


The flight attendant came around to top up my glass and advised me that it was the very last of the F champagne, so if I wanted more I would need to move to the J bubbles. I had succeeded in drinking F dry.

As a final gift, we were each given a little box of macarons, and our PJs were packed up in a bag to take with us.

 

[TomVexille]

I did try the Royal Blue Tea with dessert.



Of course I had to try the Hibiki 17 year old, which turned into multiple glasses.



I had the bed made up with the soft mattress and changed into the comfy pyjamas. I eventually had a nap after I finished my movie.



I found the bed to be rather comfortable and had a decent mid afternoon nap. My recommendation is for the soft side of the mattress pad, because it was still rather firm, and I like a firm mattress.


My second dessert. I asked for a coffee to go with it, and they bring out a French press. The coffee was rather good by my standards.

 

[TomVexille]

Later on I decided that the Cajun chicken sandwich sounded like a good idea



As did the yakitori



Both were yum, but especially the yakitori.

I had some of the Taittinger with the chicken before switching back to the Hibiki before landing.

Wembley is down there... I promise



Our overall route



And final approach over Windsor Castle





Overall JL were amazing. The seat is really good. Lots of storage space, comfortable, good bed, works really well. The tray table is excellent IMO. The crew couldn't possibly do enough.

The JL bed probably shades SQ R. It's certainly better than SQ F. Suites probably shades JL based on overall ambiance and IFE offering. Service is pretty line ball, both SQ (F&R) and JL were absolutely exceptional.

 

[JessicaTam]

<snip>

The flight attendant came around to top up my glass and advised me that it was the very last of the F champagne, so if I wanted more I would need to move to the J bubbles. I had succeeded in drinking F dry.

That sounds familiar!

 

[Pushka]

Its like a tag team here.

 

[24601]

Just got around to reading this great TR, thanks! Your livers may need a holiday after this, though..

 

[njba]

The flight attendant came around to top up my glass and advised me that it was the very last of the F champagne, so if I wanted more I would need to move to the J bubbles. I had succeeded in drinking F dry.

I like the subtle dis on the J beverage as merely being "bubbles."

Well done, Sir.

 

[boomy]

A bit unusual for JL to run out of both F champagnes.
I did see them run out of Salon which makes sense given that it's JL exclusive and the best in the air.
Nice to see Comtes added to the list although I do like the Grand Annee as well.

Just shows the calibre of an airline which not only serves amazing food but also champagnes that top the list of leading airlines like LH F, EY F and QF F as only their 2nd best choice!

Out of curiosity, what was the J champagne selection?

 

[blackcat20]

I like the subtle dis on the J beverage as merely being "bubbles."

Well done, Sir.

I call all champagne bubbles. No dis. And I ain't no sir.

A bit unusual for JL to run out of both F champagnes.
I did see them run out of Salon which makes sense given that it's JL exclusive and the best in the air.
Nice to see Comtes added to the list although I do like the Grand Annee as well.

Just shows the calibre of an airline which not only serves amazing food but also champagnes that top the list of leading airlines like LH F, EY F and QF F as only their 2nd best choice!

Out of curiosity, what was the J champagne selection?

Delamotte. Drinkable but not one I'm really fond of.
There were quite a few people in F drinking champers so not surprised it ran out.

 

[ellen10]

Oh wow loving all the food pictures and beverages to go with it.

What an amazing experience that you both are enjoying to the max.

BTW we stayed 4 nights in Manarola loved it especially when the crowds went home. And stayed 4 nights in Bellagio, Lake Como, bellissimo!!

Not jealous much!!

Thanks for sharing.

 

[boomy]

Delamotte. Drinkable but not one I'm really fond of.
There were quite a few people in F drinking champers so not surprised it ran out.

Make sense. Delamotte in J, Salon in F. Same family

Champagne should never run out in F, no matter how many pax in the cabin or how much they are drinking.

 

[blackcat20]

Oh wow loving all the food pictures and beverages to go with it.

What an amazing experience that you both are enjoying to the max.

BTW we stayed 4 nights in Manarola loved it especially when the crowds went home. And stayed 4 nights in Bellagio, Lake Como, bellissimo!!

Not jealous much!!

Thanks for sharing.

I'd love to stay in Manrola next time though I've love Corniglia as its so quiet all the time. It's those stairs!

 

[blackcat20]

All too soon we were touching down in London. Because you disembark through door 2, they held back the J pax in their seats so they we could go before them. The terminal transit process was easy (security don't seem to care about amenity kit liquids not bagged up) and we beelined for the BA F lounge.

That's where things got interesting: we were prepared to argue for arrivals access based on incoming F flight. However, on handing over both boarding passes, the lounge Angel told us we could use the F lounge or Concorde room. Not needing to be told twice, we headed to the other door, handed over boarding passes with a 'she told us to come over here', and we were in!


Very happy to try the LP, a new champagne for both of us.


An hour before boarding we hit the dining room for a BA burger. With five chips.


Then it was time to head to the gate and the shamozzle that is BA's version of priority boarding. The line was so long we assumed it was the general line. And even then, they started boarding the general line before the PB line had been cleared. The flight itself is not even worth discussing...

 

[blackcat20]

Arriving in Rome couldn't come soon enough. Except the air bridge malfunctioned so they hauled in some stairs for the back door. So from being first off (in J) to last. However it meant we were last in the bus to the terminal and therefore first in the door and on our way to be processed. It was all pretty painless and soon enough we had checked into the FCO Hilton.


The shower of a million knobs.


We got an exec upgrade, though the lounge was full at breakfast so we headed to the restaurant. What a spread! There were eggs, bacon, fruit, yoghurt, pastries, cake and even a waffle machine. I love Italian hotel breakfast.

 

[AnnaB]

Great trip report so far I just come around to read it and now I am hooked... and I want to go on a holiday Have some bubbles for me as well while you are at it