Travelling hopefully to Basel

[andye]

I'm off on my annual trip to Europe for the Stroke Conference. It's in Basel Switzerland but I have a few brief stops along the journey.

It's mostly ticketed in J via JAL which at the time of booking was at least $2k cheaper than anything else that was available

 

[andye]

Prologue
A month after booking the flights my mum suggested she visit us in Sydney from London and it would be nice if I could accompany her on either the outbound or inbound.

This was tricky. She was only after Y but for whatever reason a return on JL was coming up at silly prices. I like to think I can track down a decent fare but was struggling.

Resolved to buy a cash (no award availability) single on JL corresponding to mine ex-Au and get a points single for the ex-UK

I have a reasonable number of points in Avios, AA, AS, VA and QF so checked the options

Would rather not redeem for Y but sometimes it makes sense for a one-way. However was pleased to find Y+ availability on a good date on QF2 and clicked through quickly lest it disappear.

And then..."would you like to upgrade to Business" came up on the screen. I had caught a unicorn: LHR-SIN-SYD Classic Reward in J as a QFNB.

Motherandye has never flown Business and I was a bit worried she'd be cross at the extravagance

 

[andye]

Thankfully she enjoyed her trip over immensely. She couldn't manage all the food on offer. It was only later in the evening we discovered she had smuggled the Qantas cheese plate past border security


Sydney weather was mot on its usual good form as it rained every day of her visit but it was lovely to have her around and we got out to the Botanic Gardens. Museum of Contemporary Art, Dawn French at the Capitol Theatre the Banksy exhibition and the junior rugby fields of Manly

 

[andye]

And so off on the trip. Mrsandye dropped us off at SYD. JL checkin was very quick. Motherandye is sharp as a tack but not quick on her feet so had booked special assistance.

There was a bit of waiting around for the wheelchair pusher but you do have the benefit of a super quick run through security in the crew lane. Dropped off at the lounge.

My QR Plat (VA-status match) had finally dropped to Gold in March so it was my first proper visit to the QF J lounge in a while.

I've bagged it out previously but it was quite good that morning. Not super-busy and the views and coffee are decent.




Motherandye has an uncanny knack of almost missing flights. A strategic loo stop just as we were about to be picked up meant a brisk walk alongside the chair and boarding at final call

 

[kookaburra75]

Thankfully she enjoyed her trip over immensely. She couldn't manage all the food on offer. It was only later in the evening we discovered she had smuggled the Qantas cheese plate past border security
View attachment 384969

That's impressive - to get the cheese and the plate through security.

 

[andye]

JL52 SYD-HND Boeing 787-9

I've never flown JAL J (or at all for nearly 20 years when we first came over to Australia as a family) so was keen to try it out.

The layout is a staggered 2-2-2 all with aisle access-the window seats, where I was, have a mini-corridor.


The footwell is directly in front and a reasonable size

There is a sheet explaining how the seat works which I think is a good idea

The windows don't close rather change to a CuSO4 blue.


My overall impression was that it was a well-designed seat, perhaps a bit plain on the eye.

 

[kelvedon]

….and isn’t the food presentation nice !

 

[andye]

Service was outstanding throughout. One had the impression that you were encouraged to press the call bell whenever you needed and not felt to be a nuisance.

PDB (plastic glass but JAL have a reputation for safety)

Local Suntory beer

I had prebooked the Japanese food option
For the starters the jellyfish was the stand-up followed by the scallops. Impressed by how well the vegetables were cooked.

 

[andye]

For the main I had Black Cod with Plum Sauce, Japanese pickles and miso soup. I was pleased with it

The Honey crunch cake dessert was a little underwhelming

Followed by a chocolate (with brandy)

 

[andye]

Second meal was on demand and I had a decent roast beef sandwich

Full menus below

Overall very happy with flight. The only irritating thing was the controller for IFE was very clunky and hard to use

 

[andye]

And the drinks lists. The sake was good and it was interesting to try shochu for the first time

 

[andye]

That's impressive - to get the cheese and the plate through security.

She has form. She was brought up during WW2 and hates things to go to waste.The actual plate though was ours

 

[andye]

We had a 16 hour layover in Tokyo. Motherandye was last off the plane with special assistance but we both exited customs about the same time.

A short taxi journey through urban Tokyo to the Interconinental Tokyo Bay.

Had booked a 2 Single Classic Bay View. I'm Diamond Ambassador (via an AFF-derived trick) but at desk was told hadn't been upgraded to Exec Lounge access. Received welcome points but no fruit platter etc

Room was good however

View (in morning)

 

[andye]

Still a bit peeved at the Exec Lounge knockback, I did double-check my latest reservation email and there at the bottom it said Nagomi Lounge access

It's on Level 3 and turned out to be a very worthwhile perk (no idea why desk didn't tell me)

A four-course Japanese waitress-served meal for two

Beer , sake, shochu and limited wine were self-pour

 

[andye]

No real time for sightseeing bit did go on a non-stop taxi ride past the Tower and the Shibuya crossing

 

[andye]

Our flights to London were too early for breakfast at the hotel which is a shame as I'd expect it to have been good

Motherandye and I were on separate flights leaving within an hour of each other. I was on BA and she carried on with JL.

We arrived at Haneda and checked her in without baggage. I was expecting the special assistance man to take her directly through but he was very happy to accompany me while I checked in our bags at the BA desk. There was a little bit of discussion about whether she would have lounge access. Apparently not via my J seat but OK with my IB (and QR) OWS

Then we took out now customary whizz through security before experiencing a new priority benefit. Preferential lounge seating!

 

[andye]

The JL HND J lounge is a reasonable affair with a mixture of local and Western dishes. No genuine champagne and the coffee wasn't awesome though

I have been in the NRT lounge several years back which seemed an oasis of tranquillity where there were special (strictly-enforced) booths for using a phone but this was quite hustle-bustle


All in all a good start to the second leg

 

[andye]

BA8 HND-LHR Airbus A350-1000



Having left motherandye in the lounge with strict instructions not to go a-wandering, I boarded. I haven't been on BA J since the roll-out of the new SkySuite

It's definitely a step-up from the old 'step-over someone else who you've been forced to be cheek-to-cheek with' seat of old. (Having said that it was one of the first lie-flat J seats* that we have come to expect and I did always sleep well on them)

The footwell is slightly off-centre but I think it's better-looking than JL. And it's got a door (not that I'm bothered)



*always worth remembering when people talk of the glory days of flying and devaluations over time

 

[Pushka]

I've read that there may be a feeling of being cramped if in a window seat on JAL. Did you find that to be the case?

 

[Telemachus]

BA8 HND-LHR Airbus A350-1000

View attachment 385235

Having left motherandye in the lounge with strict instructions not to go a-wandering, I boarded. I haven't been on BA J since the roll-out of the new SkySuite

It's definitely a step-up from the old 'step-over someone else who you've been forced to be cheek-to-cheek with' seat of old. (Having said that it was one of the first lie-flat J seats* that we have come to expect and I did always sleep well on them)

The footwell is slightly off-centre but I think it's better-looking than JL. And it's got a door (not that I'm bothered)

View attachment 385237

*always worth remembering when people talk of the glory days of flying and devaluations over time

Enjoying this TR for a route I’ve flown several times on JAL in J. Agree with your verdict on the seat layout: unique (I think) but the ‘corridor’ works well to ensure all pax in J have direct aisle access (and no-one has to fly backwards). The seat is criticised for lack of storage but the space under the ottoman means you can have a small bag within easy reach. The Japanese menu is always excellent, in my experience too, and I concur with what you say about service and CC encouragement to press the call button.

The BA HND-LHR flights (BA7/BA8) had serial cancellations this time last year according to a thread on FlyerTalk so glad to hear you had nothing like that. Keen to hear more about the Club Suite seat and your thoughts on the experience, both for sleeping and loafing lounging.