JAL First Class Tokyo to Los Angeles
Gate 61 is a short two minute walk from the First Class and Sakura Lounges.
A seemingly chaotic boarding process as boarding was call a couple of times before the real deal. I had identified ourselves as F pax, so we were boarding right after four wheelchairs. A good sign is First Class pax boarding thru 1L with every one else thru 2L. At least on paper. There was no one to police the the jet bridges so at least 30-40 pax boarded thru 1L and the F cabin. Even when it was obvious, no one stopped it. Not a good start.
Nice cabin 1-2-1 cabin. The calm before J and Y pax stormed 1L.
Comfy seat and nice big armrests.
A reasonable amount of personal storage space. But the vanity mirror is useless as it doesn't tilt. The only way to use it is if you kneel on the floor. LOL.
Strange open door to the J cabin. It was closed after take-off when the curtains were drawn.
AC power although not enough juice to consistently handle my new MacBook Pro.
Yay, WiFi on board today. It worked pretty well and at only $18 was a bargain.
Just a little tacky to have this hanging at the front of the F cabin.
With no one else on the GK side, I moved over the 2K for taxi and take-off.
And yet another airline that can't figure our what to do with the space between the seat and the wall.
And some 77W innards.
A United RJ at Narita?
No, just a domestic 738 for NRT-Asia connections. Yeah, I'm sure that'll go over well.
Someone forgot to repaint this bird.
After take off, hot towel service.
Table cloth and champagne.
And finally a menu...
Quite possibly the dumbest name for inflight service. BEDD? As in Bed, Dining, Delicious and Dream. Huh? But wouldn't that be BDDD? Perhaps it sounds better in Japanese.
Interesting looking menu with some nice options. I did the Japanese menu on NH last year, but there are just too many weird things on this one for my Western palate.
And the wine list. Not bad. Some interesting choices. Clearly better than AA, UA, even LH, LX and SQ although none of the latter have great wine lists after you get past the champagne.
Excellent amuse bouche.
Showtime.
I started with another Amuse Bouche of Onion Purée with Deep-fried Onion, Fried Rice Powder Chips (beet, squid ink and chrysanthemum) and a mini quiche with Duck Raw Ham, Mac nut and Gorgonzola. Very good.
Mrs. SFO enjoyed the Potato & Celeriac Purée with Crabmeat and Japanese ginger salad with Caviar.
My Poricini velouté with Scallop and Iberico Cherizo was delicious.
For her main, Mrs. SFO had the Roasted Lobster with Spice Crust, Saffron Risotto & Short-neck Clam jus. The only Lobster loaded today!?!? Indeed, and our FA was aghast when I ordered the Lobster as well. She didn't come out and say it right away but asked "Are you sure you wouldn't like the delicious guinea fowl?" Ugh, no thank you. I'd like the lobster. "Oh, so very sorry, but there was only one lobster today". Really? "Yes, I am so sorry". OK, I'll have the Wagyu beef, please.
I switched from the Puligny to the Chambolle-Musigny just as a little turbulence set it.
Oh yeah. Yes dear, we're going to be fine. It will end soon.
The Poelée of Wagyu Beef was sensational, with Chinese Cabbage wrapped Truffle and Burdock Petit Ragout.
Perfectly medium rare, as I requested. Wow, cooked to order.
For dessert, the yummy Chocolate & Red Fruit Compote with Banana Ice Cream.
After dinner, our FAs handed out the amenity kit. Meh.
With no one next door, I asked our FA to make up 2K for me.
This was one of the most comfortable beds in the sky, other than the real bed on the LH 744. Indeed, I slept solidly for more than 4 hours.
Although JAL could have done a better job keeping J light out of the F cabin.
About 90 minutes out, I had a snack of Japanese Udon noodles. Uh, don't think I'll order that one again. Oh well.
Green tea was delicious.
And back over to 2K for our descent into LAX.
We arrived early, bid a fond farewell to our wonderful cabin crew and headed to customs.
