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Trip Report: Excellent Way to Fly – JAL CGK-NRT-JFK in First
Photo album:
http://s1213.photobucket.com/user/Ca...ebruary%202016
As many of you know, American Airlines is going to devalue its award charts and many mileage awards especially those in first class will increase significantly. For transpacific routes from USA to Asian Region 2, the price will increase from 67.5K to 110K one way, which is about double the previous prices. Plus earning will be based on revenue soon beginning in Fall 2015. Even flying first and business, your earning rate will suffer. I have thought of many ways to use these miles and ended up using it on first class from Jakarta to JFK via Tokyo. I can get two JAL first class flights, which both feature long haul services. Despite being under the weather and not being able to drink more than a glass of Salon S Champagne, I still think I get really good values. While JAL First suites are not the most fancy first class suites out there, the service is impeccable and the F/As are nothing but efficient, graceful, polite, and warm. The food is excellent (but as a disclosure, I love Japanese food). All the amenities are nice and I have nothing but praise for JAL First Class.
February 17, 2016
JL 726 CGK-NRT Lv2125 Arr0635 Next Day Boeing 777-300ER JA739J
Check-in:
JAL uses Terminal 2D at CGK’s rather outdated terminal, and please be reminded that there is a passport & ticket check, along with security check before you are permitted to enter the check-in area. Please remember to print out your e-ticket receipt or have your e-tickets handy on your smart phone.
Check-in desks are not too busy, as I arrived three hours prior to departure. There is a dedicated first class/Emerald lane, and the agent was very efficient and friendly. My bag was checked through to JFK, and I also received a lounge invitation to the Pura Indah lounge. There are actually two sections – one first class and one business class. As a first class passenger, I have access to the first class section, which I have not visited before.
This lounge experience is the weakest part of the whole journey. When I first arrived at the lounge, the place was so crowded that I could not even find a seat till some other flights departed. While I don’t expect JAL to have its own lounge at Jakarta, I hope all these non-GA airlines can get their acts together before the new terminal will open. Oneworld carriers should get together and open a larger lounge with more natural light, more amenities, more seating, and fast working WIFI.
Since passengers have to go through security before approaching the gate area, I left the sad looking lounge about an hour prior to departure. The boarding area, D7, was divided into two sections: one for first/business class/priority passengers, and a second one for economy class passengers. While the premium cabin looked fairly busy, economy class cabin looked not too full this evening. Boarding finally began at 9pm, and first class was three quarter full (6 out of 8 seats were occupied). JAL First Class cabin looked very smart and stylish, and I love the brown fabric seats. There were two F/As assigned to first class, along with the purser, and three of them immediately introduced themselves to each passenger, distributed pajamas, took order of pre-takeoff beverages, and passed out menus. Many first class passengers chose to change into pajama immediately, but I chose to do so after takeoff. Since it was an overnight flight with a relatively short flying time, the F/As worked efficiently. But while being efficient, they maintained their friendliness and nothing was ever too much to ask. That service attitude is something that I find lacking with the new Cathay Pacific, Singapore Airlines, and most Middle East and European airlines.
My seat this evening: 2K
Cabin shot:
Pre-takeoff beverage:
Door was closed early at 9:13pm and it continued to amaze me how the Japanese airlines can board a full load of Boeing 777 in thirteen minutes. What it takes in reality is consideration (such as moving into aisles to let other passengers passed by you), and high organization. We pushed back five minutes early, and we took off from R/W25R at 9:37pm.
Tonight’s flying time is six hours and thirty-three minutes and the routing took us towards Maja at 35,000feet, and then cities of Tangit, Kapit, Belaga, and Long Lama, before descending towards 31,000ft. Then we passed Membakut, Pulau Gaya, Narra, Puerto Princesa, Boayan Island, and Busuanga, and then climbed to 37,000feet before passing Manila and Illagan City, and then climbed to 39,000ft after leaving the Philippines. Because of turbulence, the pilots descended towards 37,000ft before flying back to 39,000 feet again. Due to favorable tail wind, we took quite a huge detour around the coast of Japan, as there is a curfew at Narita, as no arrivals are permitted before 6am.
Seat belt sign was turned off five minutes after takeoff. The F/As immediately swung into action and I was immediately invited to the bathroom with a fresh pair of pajama, and as soon as I stepped out from the lavatory, a F/A immediately got my clothes and hang them up. Beverage and meal orders were immediately taken, and the F/As emphasized that I could order as many items from the a la carte menu as possible. Given the poor array of food in the lounge, most passengers actually chose to eat. I was fairly hungry, so I chose to start with the sushi plate and caviar, and then a bowl of noodles. The food was delicious and the F/As served them with a smile and just the right speed.
Hot towel to start
Photo album:
http://s1213.photobucket.com/user/Ca...ebruary%202016
As many of you know, American Airlines is going to devalue its award charts and many mileage awards especially those in first class will increase significantly. For transpacific routes from USA to Asian Region 2, the price will increase from 67.5K to 110K one way, which is about double the previous prices. Plus earning will be based on revenue soon beginning in Fall 2015. Even flying first and business, your earning rate will suffer. I have thought of many ways to use these miles and ended up using it on first class from Jakarta to JFK via Tokyo. I can get two JAL first class flights, which both feature long haul services. Despite being under the weather and not being able to drink more than a glass of Salon S Champagne, I still think I get really good values. While JAL First suites are not the most fancy first class suites out there, the service is impeccable and the F/As are nothing but efficient, graceful, polite, and warm. The food is excellent (but as a disclosure, I love Japanese food). All the amenities are nice and I have nothing but praise for JAL First Class.
February 17, 2016
JL 726 CGK-NRT Lv2125 Arr0635 Next Day Boeing 777-300ER JA739J
Check-in:
JAL uses Terminal 2D at CGK’s rather outdated terminal, and please be reminded that there is a passport & ticket check, along with security check before you are permitted to enter the check-in area. Please remember to print out your e-ticket receipt or have your e-tickets handy on your smart phone.
Check-in desks are not too busy, as I arrived three hours prior to departure. There is a dedicated first class/Emerald lane, and the agent was very efficient and friendly. My bag was checked through to JFK, and I also received a lounge invitation to the Pura Indah lounge. There are actually two sections – one first class and one business class. As a first class passenger, I have access to the first class section, which I have not visited before.
This lounge experience is the weakest part of the whole journey. When I first arrived at the lounge, the place was so crowded that I could not even find a seat till some other flights departed. While I don’t expect JAL to have its own lounge at Jakarta, I hope all these non-GA airlines can get their acts together before the new terminal will open. Oneworld carriers should get together and open a larger lounge with more natural light, more amenities, more seating, and fast working WIFI.
Since passengers have to go through security before approaching the gate area, I left the sad looking lounge about an hour prior to departure. The boarding area, D7, was divided into two sections: one for first/business class/priority passengers, and a second one for economy class passengers. While the premium cabin looked fairly busy, economy class cabin looked not too full this evening. Boarding finally began at 9pm, and first class was three quarter full (6 out of 8 seats were occupied). JAL First Class cabin looked very smart and stylish, and I love the brown fabric seats. There were two F/As assigned to first class, along with the purser, and three of them immediately introduced themselves to each passenger, distributed pajamas, took order of pre-takeoff beverages, and passed out menus. Many first class passengers chose to change into pajama immediately, but I chose to do so after takeoff. Since it was an overnight flight with a relatively short flying time, the F/As worked efficiently. But while being efficient, they maintained their friendliness and nothing was ever too much to ask. That service attitude is something that I find lacking with the new Cathay Pacific, Singapore Airlines, and most Middle East and European airlines.
My seat this evening: 2K
Cabin shot:
Pre-takeoff beverage:
Door was closed early at 9:13pm and it continued to amaze me how the Japanese airlines can board a full load of Boeing 777 in thirteen minutes. What it takes in reality is consideration (such as moving into aisles to let other passengers passed by you), and high organization. We pushed back five minutes early, and we took off from R/W25R at 9:37pm.
Tonight’s flying time is six hours and thirty-three minutes and the routing took us towards Maja at 35,000feet, and then cities of Tangit, Kapit, Belaga, and Long Lama, before descending towards 31,000ft. Then we passed Membakut, Pulau Gaya, Narra, Puerto Princesa, Boayan Island, and Busuanga, and then climbed to 37,000feet before passing Manila and Illagan City, and then climbed to 39,000ft after leaving the Philippines. Because of turbulence, the pilots descended towards 37,000ft before flying back to 39,000 feet again. Due to favorable tail wind, we took quite a huge detour around the coast of Japan, as there is a curfew at Narita, as no arrivals are permitted before 6am.
Seat belt sign was turned off five minutes after takeoff. The F/As immediately swung into action and I was immediately invited to the bathroom with a fresh pair of pajama, and as soon as I stepped out from the lavatory, a F/A immediately got my clothes and hang them up. Beverage and meal orders were immediately taken, and the F/As emphasized that I could order as many items from the a la carte menu as possible. Given the poor array of food in the lounge, most passengers actually chose to eat. I was fairly hungry, so I chose to start with the sushi plate and caviar, and then a bowl of noodles. The food was delicious and the F/As served them with a smile and just the right speed.
Hot towel to start
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