Beijing, Xi'an and Chengdu

At around T-45, we headed for our Gate 130.

When the gate agent announced pre-boarding for families with children, we figured general boarding would follow promptly.  So we joined the queue.

Then boarding stopped due to "time for additional fueling".   Pity those poor familes with children that are apparently now at risk on board a plane being fueled.

At last, we had taken on enough fuel and another agent starting boarding First Class.   OK, this is nice... A jetbridge just for First Class, or so it seemed until it became the jetbridge for the entire plane.

Our comfortable 8 seat First Class cabin.

It soon became apparent that 1L was being used for everyone.  During a break in the herd, I asked one of the FAs why everyone was boarding thru the F cabin.  She apologized and said that there was a problem with the 2L jetbridge and they decided to board everyone thru 1L rather than wait for maintenance.  

JAL cost cutting became more evident with pre-departure champagne.   Our flight attendant came around with a tray of half glasses or champagne or juice.  The half glass was all that was offered.  When I inquired as to whether the champagne was Salon, our FA confessed and apologized that it was not Salon, but they will be serving Salon once we're in the air.   I inquire as to what champagne is was only to get this amusing "It is a less expensive champagne... but from the same region"  LOL.

All First Class passengers were given Complimentary wifi passes, although speed was terrible and wifi pretty much useless.

The JAL amenity kit.

Meh.

Am I the only one that thinks that this perennial JAL feature is a little tacky?

The lav although to be fair, it was pre-departure and the towels, flower and toothbrush kit and mouthwash had not been set up.

Today's Wine List and still one of the strangest acronyms in the airline business.  BEDD.  Apparently it stands for something like Bed, Entertainment, Dining. Delight.   Yikes.

All in all, reasonably respectable.

Showtime, JAL style.

And as promised, the good stuff.

And today's amuse bouche, cream cheese on mushroom and chicken.

And a pass of the JL snack basket.

Our neighboor in 2K.  Whoa, TMI.

We both decided on the western menu today since the menu sounded more interesting than the Japanese option.   The Green Pistachio (is there any other color?) and Black Truffle Mousse.  Very strange.

The Tuna Pastrami with Tapenade Cream tasted as bad as it looked.

Mrs. SFO777 started with the Lamb Salad with Sautéed Portobello Mushroom, Goat Cheese and Raspberry Vinaigrette.  She reported "strange" and not very good.

I opted for the Sautéed Foie Gras & Brioche French Toast in Port Wine Sauce.

It was actually quite good with a beautiful presentation.  It could have been a little warmer.  Also, a Sauterne might have been nice. Just saying. 

For my main, I went with the Sautéed Sea Bass with Cashew Nuts and Brown Butter.

It was a little dry and not that good.   Love the Sharpie stripes on the lemon though.  :)

Mrs. SFO777 chose the US Prime Beef Tenderloin with Spinach Flan and Périgueux Sauce.

It looked pretty perfectly done but she thought it was something less than Prime.

On the other hand, I thought it was delicious.

After my main(s), I went with the cheese course which were served pre-plated from the galley.  

The Graham's Tawny 30 year old port was delicious.

Mrs. SFO777 enjoyed the Royal Blue Tea which I had tasted a few months ago.

My dessert trio of which the Pear Tart was the tastiest.

I slept off and on for roughly 4 hours, although it was better after I asked the cabin crew to lower the cabin temp a few degrees.  Strange bedding as if was just the duvet on top of the foam mattress pad.  Now mattress pad cover which I thought they used before and certainly would have been more comfortable.

With 2 hours to go and Mrs. SFO777 still sleeping, I tried the Fajitas snack.

It was really dry and not very good.

As we prepared for landing, the Shiseido Men's kit had some nice products.

Despite the late LAX departure, we landing at Narita pretty much on time with an hour and 45 minutes to connect to Seoul.   In flight cabin service was excellent as always and with my previous exceptional in flight food experience had always kept JAL in the mid tier of my overall First Class rankings despite weak ground service.   Food wasn't as good and the general impression of cost cutting probably lowers them a couple of notches in my ranking.

For our overnight in Seoul, I had booked rooms at the Incheon Transit Hotel.  I'd never been there before and had no idea how to find the place since the hotel's directions are inaccruate and sorely lacking.  But I knew not to enter Korea, and Transfer was the only other option.    And now for the long, long, long trek to Transfer or Customs.

Amazing in the everyone politely queues for the train in line at premarked spots. 

And right on cue, the once a trip evil eye.  LOL.

OK, this looks promising...

Without a connecting boarding pass, our eticket confirmation was sufficient for us to go thru security and into the departures concourse.

Now close to 10:30pm, this place is pretty much shut down for the night.  Fortunately, the Information Desk was still manned and we headed for Gate 42, the apparent location of the Transit Hotel.  It is actually Gate 43, but close enough. 

Up the escaltor at Gate 42 and a long, long walk down a corridor.

Success, finally and mercifully.   Transit hotels can be hit or miss and this one was the latter.

Please staff at the front desk and I checked in both our room and SFO777jr's room for his arrival an hour later on SQ from LAX.  Interesting that the Transit Hotel is a Priority Pass affiliate which meant complimentary breakfast in the lounge.

Not exactly the most elegant walk to our room.

Not exactly luxurious but it was clean and saved a ton of time but not having to enter Korea and shuttle back and forth.

The Business Centre which is similar sized room converted with computers, a printer and work space.  Wifi worked much better in here than in our room.

While Mrs. SFO77 and I were on Korean SkyPass award tickets, I bought tickets for SFO777Jr and the future Mrs. SFO777Jr.   Unbenounced to me, paid Korean FIrst tickets entitles paid F passengers a personal escort service from the lounge to the gate.  We tagged along for the ride.

Apparently, the entire gate staff was aware of our arrival.

Despite the equipment swap from the 77W Kosmos suites to the ancient 2-2-2 regional First Class, Mrs. SFO777 is ready for Beijing.

A peek into the business Class cabin, which features the exact same seat as in First.  Bizarre.

Pre-departure drinks and mac nuts.

Today's menu...

And wine list, which a systemwide wine list where one must read the fine print to find out the wines served on today's flight.

And a Johnny Blue sighting. 

Our taxi out on a beautiful sunny day at Incheon.

In the air, my usual G&T albeit a first for me... a cherry garnich.

While Mrs. SFO777 decided on Johnny Blue.

Showtime, Korean regional First style.

The Scallop and green apple remoulade was very good.

For our main, we all went with the King prawn with sweet chili sauce and Chinese egg noodle and vegetables.

At Beijing, the long trek to customs.

Where there were absolutely no customs agents.  Welcome to China.  LOL.

Eventually, break time was over and agents processed our entry.

Our guide Michael as we waited for our driver.

Our first morning brought remarkably good visibilty for Beijing.   Apparently, we have the upcoming Party Congress to thank as the government most likely shut down the heavy polluters for a few weeks.  LOL. 

This morning, we're off to Tiananmen Square and The Forbidden City, with our guide Michael.

Lots of folks from the countryside in town this weekend.  Apparently westerners are a novelty as we were stopped numerous times for photos.   Our newest BFFs from western China. 

And another new BFF.  

A couple hours later, we exited the Forbidden City and walked to our rendezvous point with our wonderful driver, Mr. Ma, no relation to Jack.