Newb here and my first post, found site by accident and am impressed with some of the advice that has been freely given out.
Ok,
Me and my GF booked 2 weeks to Tokyo way back in Feb, at local Travel Agent (my GF has a thing about getting Hols on the net and thinks it safer at a TA) managed to change her mind now though.
August 24th arrived and we were of to the H-row Novatel for a night and park the car up till 9th Sep, nice hotel etc had a nice comfy night, The 25th arrived had brekkers and awaited the taxi, arrived very promptly and we were away, got to the terminal and joined the queue for the bag drop (checked in online day before), after a few minutes a Virgin gent was calling out 'anyone interested in upgrades', when we got a bit closer we asked what was available for our flight, as it was a TA booking we were told we had to do it at the Airport, thinking PE would be nice, he went to the ticket counter and came back no-go, what about UC he said my GF said OK and we were taken out of the line and to the ticket desk paid ( how much !!) and was then told how to get to the lounge via fast track, thats when it all changed for us, very first time we have gone anything other than economy, wow, didnt have to join a big queue for security etc, and the lounge made it a pleasure to be at the Airport early, onto the plane and wow again couldnt believe the difference seats food service, GF had a manicure, wish we could do it every time !!.
After a brill flight we got to Narita and it was empty only our flight got baggage and was off through immigration and get transport to hotel, was met by lady holding sign up with our names and taken to the bus stop for our hotel, bags checked onto busses same as airline, big sticker through handle and stub retained by us, at hotel (Tokyo Hilton) bell boys took stub and got our bags and we never saw them until we got to our room, checked in and got free upgrade to exec floors 2 weeks before we left I received a complimentary HHonours gold card, no idea why (we stayed at the gatwick hilton once for one night and I filled in the honours form) but it was worth using it, had access to the exec lounge with free soft drinks tea coffee snacks cocktails during cocktail hour use of laptops, had a fantastic holiday absolutely love Tokyo and Japan.
9th Sep very quickly arrived and time to go home same superb bus service to airport, and was through bag drop very quickly, checked in online at hotel day before, but this time we were flying Economy, still was a very good flight back as we had bulkhead seats so some decent legroom and no seatback in front etc, arrived at H-row got taxi to novatel collected car got home 2 hours later and it was all over.
plus side off to St Lucia and Hong Kong next year, week in each booked days after getting back with VH online, massive difference too, impressed with how easy you can change things, upgraded to PE both ways this time :-), signed up for Frequent holiday club, although since read about changes dont know how we will fair, and frequent flyer, allready 20000 miles each and 7 tier points away from silver.
Well thats it, hope I have not bored you
Thanks for reading
Best Wishes
Mark
