This is a Trip Report from the Upper Class cabin
Ground Staff
Food & Drink
Entertainment
Seat
Cabin Crew
This trip to the megalopolis of Tokyo started the day before. Although I was hoping to get the converted seq 1&2 we went out for brunch and by the time we got home at 12:15 ish we only managed seq13&14. I know I know, lol I have been on V-Flyer long enough to know lol
Anyway so after brunch we loaded the car and headed for our hotel at LHR which for the last two times has been the Radisson as it offers parking for 21 days even though we needed 24 but still the extra payment wasn’t too bad I think.
I reckon like most this season is so busy that the work load up to Christmas was so crazy so by the time I got to the hotel I was totally exhausted and after a good freshen up we chilled out with music and a read.
On our last visit we made a trip to the spa for a massage and facial but as we would be in the CH the next day decided to just chill out till dinner which was a nice steak (flat iron and rib eye 10oz each to share).
For the past two nights I hadn't had any good sleep so was hoping to get some good sleep alas it wasn't to be. Excitement? Simply too tired to sleep? Probably excitement knowing me.
Anyway next morning we checked out at 7:25 and our Tristar driver was already waiting. Quick breeze to DTCI which went smoothly. Bit of a queue at security but only a few mins, seems like I got a bit carried away with electrical for the flight (at that point in time I was assuming we would get one of the 343s with VERA REEL, more on that later).
Quick pit stop at smiths to get water and almost got distracted at Harrods lol but managed to press on to the lounge.
First time for me and one word Wow! Dropped bags off and headed straight to spa to book facial. The guy at the cloakroom loved my v-flyer luggage tags "do I look I fly economy?"
Then breakfast! Which was smoked salmon and scrambled eggs followed by peanut butter brioche French toast. I know, diet! But heck diet starts on jan 21st lol.
After breakfast dropped shoes off for a polish and headed to spa and 30mins later my face was almost as soft as my missus lol ok maybe not that soft but you know what I mean.
Then headed over to play pool and charge mobile. The staff were really attentative and we never had an empty glass.
Just before boarding I was about to have a quick glass at the VA app to see if I could check with of the 343s we would be on and I got a text from an eminent v-flyer to inform me that a certain sungod was shining on me (ok that’s not a great pun I know).
Boarding was called at 11.10 so we slowly got things sorted and headed over to G-VSUN.
On board the crew took our coats to hang and we got changed in to our pjs and got settled in to 4&5K.
We recognised one of the CC from our previous flight too and she came over and said hi.
Usual announcements were made and todays flight had 217 pax and 14 crew.
Push back delayed due to a PAX having dropped either boarding pass or passport. Finally pushed back at 12:10 flight time given of 11hrs36mins.
After take off menus were handed out and the usual drink runs too! I had an espresso based coffee :-) and watched some tv.
I have to apologise as I forgot to write down the menu at this point however I had the Japanese starter (which was really nice) followed by the beef fillet. During dinner the turbulence (as previously advised by the pilot) was so bad that the only way to avoid spilling the wine was to drink it really quickly, bummer!! LOL!!! We ate together at my missus suite and the view from the window was awesome!! Half the sky was almost pitch black the other half was a bright orange!!! Nice.
After dinner I settled in to watch a Japanese movie called Midsummers murder which was pretty good. After that tried to get some sleep but just couldn’t somehow!! So went and hanged out at the bar and chatted to a few of the crew including the one we had talked to on a previous flight earlier in the year.
Finally managed to get a good 4 or 5 hours sleep which was great!! And woke up not that long before breakfast was served.
After breakfast the usual scrambles to get freshened up and changed in to the clothing that was still nicely hanging in the closet so after a long haul flight I think I can say I looked pretty good lol!!!
Landed at 8:45am local time. There were no queues at immigration at all :-0 so straight through to baggage claim where our bags were off really quickly, no problems at customs and straight out to arrivals where our driver was there to greet us. While he brought the car round we took the opportunity to get some drinks and use the loo then by 9:30am we were on our way to Shinjuku.
We arrived at our hotel in record time (no traffic!!) and when we were taking the lift back down to the street to go for an early lunch I saw the N’EX arriving at the station!!! Amazing that we beat it!!
Anyway first day involved lots of shopping in Omotesando and finished with a fantastic sushi dinner (including fugu – that’s pufferfish to the uninitiated).
What followed were three amazing weeks in Japan! Including my first ever experience of Disneyland and my first mini rollercoaster!! The food in Japan was as always simply amazing too! My japanese is still not great but I managed to go shopping for a shirt all by myself lol although somehow I did struggle with ordering hazelnut syrup in my coffee lol!! So now that I am back its about saving the next trip back.
Until this flight I had never really looked forward to long haul flights but with flying UC and being able to lie back in a nice comfy pair of PJs with cashmere socks lol I KNOW lol!!! And a couple of good magazines etc plus no mobile phone or email interruption I actually really enjoyed being able to sit down and rest. Something that I rarely get to do. Im sure others have the same feeling.
but sleep / relaxation does elude some of us! Lol
