This is a Trip Report from the Upper Class cabin
Ground Staff
Food & Drink
Entertainment
Seat
Cabin Crew
Early start walking from my hotel to Shinjuku station (worlds busiest station), then the Yamanote line to Nippori and then back on the Skyliner to NRT. The fare was 2100 Yen, but it's fast and no traffic to worry about. At the far end, your passport is checked before you get to the terminal.
Quickly popped to the shopping area to drop of the Mi-Fi and last minute bits of tat. Check-in was as efficient as any other process in Japan and I was allocated seat 3K. The CH in Narita is small, but one of the warmest greetings I've had at any CH over the years. Despite having already had breakfast at the hotel, a bacon and sausage butty was ordered with brown sauce. I suspect the bacon is flown in as it's not the same as I've seen elsewhere in Japan.
Now, someone had clearly had a little peak at my details, as the next thing I know, they brought me an improvised birthday cake, even thought my birthday was 4 days before.
To say I was overwhelmed is an understatement. An amazing little touch that meant so much and truly show why VS can show flair. A letter will be on it's way to Crawley in the next few days with a print.
With lots of bows and thank you's it was off to the gate for boarding. A quick security check and I was settled in with a Bucks Fizz in hand. Upper was nearly full this leg and you can spot the Brits easily on this flight as some decided to wear a hachimaki which looked rather odd and almost, IMHO, crass. Pushed back on time with the ground crew bowing in unison and quickly took off. Just after the seatbelt sigh went off, the flight deck announced that you could see Mount Fuji to the left. After lots of looking, I could just about make it out but the snow cap was just above the cloud top, making it very hard to spot. Before I could get a photo, the seatbelt sign was on again as it got bumpy. That set the tone for the first couple of hours.
Inbound menu.
DINE
Starters
Tomato and basil soup - topped with pan-fried croutons
Japanese appetiser - Minced duck with egg cake, boiled shrimp and grilled chicken skewer with negi leek sauce.
Main course
Grilled breast of chicken - served with sun-dried tomato butter and demi-glace cream sauce, mashed potatoes, sautéed spinach and carrot batons.
Fillet of beef with teriyaki sauce, Japanese seasonal vegetables and rice served with miso soup.
Mixed mushroom and ricotta cannelloni - topped with tomato basil sauce and italian hard cheese.
Warm breads
Dessert
Warm bread and butter pudding - serves with chocolate sauce
Chocolate mousse cake - with mixed berry coulis
Cheese and Port
Danish Blue
Brie
English Red Cheddar
Graze
Bacon butty
Yaki udon noodles with vegetables
mini sushi selection
High Tea
A selection of freshly prepared sandwiches - smoked salmon, chicken with coleslaw and tomato with camembert.
Warm sultana scone - with clotted cream and strawberry jam
Cakes from cake stand - mini cheese cake, opera cake and fruit tartlet.
Again, the food was delicious and there is a clear upping of the game now with the Upper catering.
Managed to get some sleep until a sneezing fit woke me up, followed by a streaming nose. Dozed for a little while longer before hitting iPad again. Landed a little ahead of schedule but pretty grim weather meant we didn't see the ground until we were on finals, going over the QM reservoir.
Off via L2 and the long walk to Immigration. Pretty busy but we did beat the Lagos, Accra and Nairobi flights so only a 10 minute wait. Priority baggage was a bit hit/miss with PE cases off first and mine sometime later.
Overall, again an excellent flight home and the cake from the CH made it all the more special.
Thanks
Darren
Darren
