Two servings of Japanese hospitality - OZ C, NH F, LH C

[s7r0ng3r]

Arguably, the next day was also a strong contender to that title, as you will see soon...

The NH segment will take ages to write, judging by the notebook I took notes on! It will be at least three times as long as the OZ segment...

I'll have to quote kchika. Can't wait!

[9V-JKL]

Was it a 2-class flight? In any case, I don't remember getting it on any of my previous OZ C flights... maybe OZ doesn't love me so much

No, it was a 3-class. I can only presume the greeting was due to the low load.

[stargold]

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Flight 2: NH209 NRT-FRA 17APR (FR), B747-400, Seat 2K
STD: 1130 (On Time) STA: 1635 (8h30m delay - see report)


A morning of sheer anticipation

Despite only managing to fall asleep at around 1am, I opened my eyes at 6am - way before the morning call. It could have been because I felt like a kid on Christmas morning - or, more likely, because I was absolutely terrified of oversleeping and missing my flight, which would have been completely tragic for so many reasons! (A few years ago, I managed to oversleep and found myself still in bed when the Eurostar that I was supposed to take to meet my parents at Paris was in fact pulling into Gare du Nord (without me) - my parents have never forgiven me for that.) Either way, I found myself awake two hours before I had planned to wake up, but decided to leave the hotel early and give myself more time at the airport.

I decided to skip the shower and (extra-cost) breakfast at the hotel, preferring to do both at the lounge, and went down to take the shuttle bus after a short check-out process. The queue looked rather long, but thankfully there were two separate buses for each terminal so I didn't have to worry about not getting on.

The bus left at 7am and arrived quite soon after - I had no luggage to check-in so I just needed to go to the check-in desk in order to get my boarding pass. It had been quite a while since I last departed NRT - the last time I departed NRT on NH, I left from Terminal 2. I was therefore looking forward to seeing the nice "new" (for me, anyway!) South Wing departures hall dedicated to Star Alliance with its unusual division of check-in islands into F/C/*G/Y, rather than by airlines. First Class check-in was Island B, with no-one waiting to check in at the NH desk.




My first time at the NRT T1 South Wing!


A nice and airy check-in area


First Class check-in at Island B


A warm and courteous check-in agent issued my boarding pass and recorded details of my connecting baggage coming from ICN. With my boarding pass for seat 2K in hand, I made my way excitedly to the Priority Security Lane, only to find that the door was closed. Rather confused, and also a bit concerned since the normal queue was full of people departing on the morning European flights, I went back to the check-in counter to ask why it was still closed. She told me that the priority lane opens at 7:30am so I had to wait another 10 minutes or so before I could use it.

Rather than wait idly for 10 minutes, I decided to find the outdoor observation deck to check out the view from there. Unfortunately there was metal mesh fencing all around so it didn't allow for any serious photography, but with my compact camera I could put the lens thruogh the gap in the mesh and take unobstructed photos.


I guess this is an early morning KE flight back to ICN... View from the observation deck


The observation deck didn't keep me particularly occupied for long, and I made my way back into the terminal to use the priority lane to go through to the lounge this time. As expected, since very few passengers can use the priority lane, it was deserted when I arrived - definitely an advantage compared to what looked like huge queues at the normal lane. Also, it was very cool to be the only person going through the lane with only 1 x-ray scanner - this part almost felt like some sort of a private jet terminal!




Of course, the "private jet terminal" feeling faded very quickly as I descended the escalators towards the immigration desks which are notorious for long lines at peak times as well. However, I was in luck on this occasion and there were no more than about 3 people waiting before me. After an uneventful exit stamp, I was now in the airside area.

One thing that I can definitely say about the T1 South Wing is that it is truly a widebody aircraft lover's paradise. Just about every aircraft that I walked past was a widebody, and due to the flight timing where all the European flights leave early in the morning from Tokyo, I walked past all the different Star airlines' Europe-bound aircraft (as well as many others) as I walked towards the lounge in Satellite 4. Here are all the Star widebody aircraft I saw that morning:




I think only TK is missing from the European Star members that fly to NRT... Notice the anaemic hair-dryers under the A343 wings

[stargold]

Panda-theme Air Japan 767, and the Star Alliance livery ANA 777-300ER. Are Pokemon jets still around, I wonder?


It was a pretty long walk to the ANA First lounge at Satellite 4, and it would have been very boring if it wasn't for all the aircraft to take photos of! I arrived at the lounge at around 7:55 and handed in my lounge invitation to the attendant who warmly welcomed me inside.



Once inside, I found a completely empty lounge - I was the only one in the lounge for the first 10 minutes or so. First impressions of the lounge (other than the very strange feeling of being alone) was great - bathed in natural light, airy and spacious feeling, a nice and modern colour scheme all worked together to create a lounge that felt very "now". Naturally, I settled down next to the huge full-height window with a great view of the SQ A380 which was waiting to leave around the same time as my flight to FRA.


A rather large whale of an aircraft! It really is miles away from the graceful looks of the 747-400...


Once I sat down at one of the sofas, another lounge attendant came to my seat and offered me my choice of drink. It was really too early for anything alcoholic (especially on an empty stomach!) and I also needed to eat a few things for breakfast, so I just asked her for my favourite Japanese soft drink, cold Oolong-tea. If it wouldn't seem so crazy to do so, I would actually carry back a whole box of that stuff back to England - that's how much I love it. It's also one of the things that - like SQ's satay - remind me that I'm flying NH, as it was always my drink of choice on my many NH flights in Y between Seoul and London. The Oolong tea (pronounced "ooron-cha") was brought to my seat alongside a packet of Otsumami (Japanese rice crackers) and some sort of a cake. But my breakfast had to be something more substantial - my family in Korea can probably eat a whole cow for breakfast - so I made my way to the snack counter to see what was available.


Small plates of canape-type food, clingfilm-wrapped sandwiches and a sushi platter on the right with a variety of rolls and nigiri


Two different types of soup


Different bread, some fruit, cream cheese and crackers


Drinks selection


Neuhaus chocolate - a nice touch


Previous reports of the NRT NH F lounge mentioned that the food selection was not the best in the world, and I have to agree with that assessment. Other F lounges that I have used (especially at SIN T3, despite all its faults) had a much better food selection including some hot food rather than just cold items. Having to unwrap the clingfilm to eat the sandwiches is arguably not a very F experience. On the other hand, I knew that a flying gourmand's dream meal was awaiting on my flight so I knew not to overindulge in the lounge anyway - it would be such a tragic waste to eat too much in the lounge and find that I can't eat all the food onboard!

[stargold]

Previous reports of the NRT NH F lounge mentioned that the food selection was not the best in the world, and I have to agree with that assessment. Other F lounges that I have used (especially at SIN T3, despite all its faults) had a much better food selection including some hot food rather than just cold items. Having to unwrap the clingfilm to eat the sandwiches is arguably not a very F experience. On the other hand, I knew that a flying gourmand's dream meal was awaiting on my flight so I knew not to overindulge in the lounge anyway - it would be such a tragic waste to eat too much in the lounge and find that I can't eat all the food onboard!






I came back to my seat with a few plates of the canapes and sushi, as well as a hot chocolate. They all tasted pretty decent, although nothing too exciting - it's good that I was saving space for food onboard because if I was flying UA F, I would have wanted a much better food selection in the lounge


One of the USA-bound NH 777-300ERs (can't remember where it was going exactly - maybe JFK)


After that, I went to check out the shower. The reason I wanted to take the shower in the lounge rather than at the hotel was two-fold: firstly, I wanted to see what the lounge shower was like, and secondly, the shower back at the hotel really wasn't that nice. When I approached the shower attendant's desk, she asked me for my boarding pass and also gave me the L'Occitane amenity kit. The shower room was nicely done and I was quite glad I waited till then.






After the refreshing shower, I gave my carry-on laptop bag and the shopping bag to the lounge attendant to keep behind the desk, and decided to walk around the terminal to see what else was there. The first thing I did was go to the Business lounge which was two floors below, and took a picture of the huge 787 model. I wonder when Boeing will eventually deliver the aircraft - I'm looking forward to checking it out when it is finally in ANA's hands!






Then I went down some more escalators and walked across the underground passageway that links Satellite 4 with Satellite 5, saving a huge amount of time compared to walking all the way back to the central area and then walking to the other Satellite. Even the underground walkway looked quite nice! It was a 5-minute walk at most thanks to the moving walkways.


It's a pretty long tunnel!


When you emerge at Satellite 5, you get a nice ground-level view of the aircraft parked at the gate

[stargold]

After the stroll from Satellite 5 to the central area, I then walked to the United lounges that are located relatively nearby. The lounge attendant there asked me for my lounge invitation, but when I told her that I already used the ANA First lounge, she said "No problem. I just have to fill out a new invitation for this lounge" (for charging NH, I guess) and escorted me to the elevator which took me up to the second level where the Internationl First Lounge was situated.

I know that they have a sizeable operation at NRT, but to be frank I'm not entirely sure why UA wanted to have its own lounge at NRT because various aspects of the lounge was quite disappointing. Firstly, the food service was even less impressive than ANA First lounge - I think the only "real" food I saw was some inari sushi. Secondly, I found the decor a little too dated, and thought all the Asian elements (such as various pieces of furniture and antique-looking objects) sat at odds with the rest of the lounge. No matter, I only came to the lounge to take a few photos of it and just see what it was like. Here are the photos:


The bar counter area | Rather disappointing food and beverage section nearby


The corner window that gave a view towards the North Wing (non-Star) section of Terminal 1 | Some more sitting areas


Really not a great fan of the decor | Departure information screens - no UA flight till much later in the day.


Window with nice flowers | Private laptop cubicles


Massage chairs - probably the only advantage over the ANA First lounge | The open work area

What it did have that the ANA First lounge didn't have, was a great view of the runway. It had a sweeping view of 34L that almost all the large aircraft took off from, so I had fun taking photos and videos of various aircraft landing and taking off.


The seats next to the windows that gave the great view of the runway

[stargold]

It's truly the Star Alliance terminal! | Star, Oneworld and a loner


After much time spent entertaining myself at the UA IFL, I came back out into the main area and bought a few souvenirs from one of the shops. (Again - had I been more organised, I would have saved lots of money! But there was not a lot of choice by the time I had cleared immigration and gone to the airside area... ) Then I walked back to Satellite 4 where I found the 747-400 that was to take me to FRA today, as well as the boarding process nearly underway for the SQ A380 flight back to Tokyo.


The star of today's main event - it will be sad to see the 747 leave the ANA fleet


I could almost see my seat!


Not quite ready yet...


Drive safely!


Back at the ANA First lounge


After arriving at the lounge again, I walked around taking some more photos of the different areas. Unlike the earlier morning when I was the only one in the lounge for 10 minutes, the lounge was now pretty full due to 4-5 flights to Europe and USA all leaving at once. It was getting quite close to the boarding time for my flight so I didn't really have time to sit down and relax, but I did make sure that I had a cup of the famous Fauchon ice-cream. There was a number of different flavours and the Assam Tea and Apple Pulp sounded the most appetising so I asked the attendant for one of those, which she brought to my seat from the kitchen. It really was good ice cream - in fact, probably one of the nicest flavours I've ever tried. It was a perfect balance of the sweet apple and the faintly bitter yet refreshing flavour of the tea. But that was all I had time for, since the boarding was announced for my flight as soon as I put the spoon down.

[stargold]

What I wouldn't give, for a desk with a view like this! I'd never get any work done, though...


Entrance to the work/rest area | Relaxation and work area combined into one cubicle


More photos of the seating area


The famous (well, as far as NRT lounges are concerned) Noodle counter | Noodles made to order with different toppings


Tables near the noodle bar - more great views | Departure information screens


Seating area - notice the nice big windows | Corridor back to the reception desk

[stargold]

The Fauchon ice cream and a great view of the 77W - now it's time to go to the gate!


By the time I retrieved my belongings from the lounge reception desk and reached the gate area, Economy boarding had already started. Fortunately, there were two separate queues and I was able to walk straight past the priority boarding line. Then, at the window I saw it again - the 747-400 that was going to take me to FRA. It was probably the last time I will fly on an NH 747 - at least I was in a good seat to enjoy my "personal farewell" experience!






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I know, I know - I still haven't gotten to the main event. But the next instalment will really be the flight - I promise!

[stargold]

Well done stargold!

Now, I'm really looking forward to this...

I'll have to quote kchika. Can't wait!

Sorry that my latest instalment didn't quite reach the flight itself, but you know what they say - good things come to those who wait

Um...NO!

Well, not when you're flying to LAX of course! It must be really quite hideous to travel on such an ancient seat all the way to LAX...

So did I, but if you look carefully, they are indeed different on the regional flights vs. the long hauls. Long haul seats are a bit nicer.

I thought the 747 that I was on also goes to JFK and LAX... but I defer to your extensive experience!

No, it was a 3-class. I can only presume the greeting was due to the low load.

That may be - I can't really think of any airline that has ISM greetings for all C pax!

[HUGE AL]

Massage chairs - probably the only advantage over the ANA First lounge...

Dude, what are you talking about??? The NH F massage chairs are WAY better!

[stargold]

Dude, what are you talking about??? The NH F massage chairs are WAY better!

Strange - I didn't see any in the Satellite 4 lounge (and I'm pretty sure I photographed every section)... I must have missed it!

[kchika]

Sorry that my latest instalment didn't quite reach the flight itself, but you know what they say - good things come to those who wait

We're still waiting, stargold !

[Nick C]

The NH segment will take ages to write, judging by the notebook I took notes on! It will be at least three times as long as the OZ segment...

Must be a really long & in-depth report

Still waiting for the next evolution

[stargold]

We're still waiting, stargold !

Must be a really long & in-depth report

Still waiting for the next evolution

This is what happens when you start a looooong TR in the middle of revision period for exams!!!

I just finished my exams yesterday so there is now plenty of time to finish my TR very soon. I'm beginning to fear that after such a long time of "coming soon", nothing will meet the expectations