It was time to leave Siem Reap. Cambodia was a very interesting adventure. I was lucky with the weather but it still was very hot and humid. I did not mind moving to Japan where the weather would be cooler. I got a late check out from the hotel and their car took me to the airport 2 hours before the flight. I did not have any status on VN and I was traveling economy so no lounge this time. VN does have quite a nice lounge at the REP airport. I tried but could not talk myself in there. I will post some pictures of the airport instead.
People are very friendly and relaxed here. Want to take a group picture on the tarmac? Sure!
The flight to SGN will be on an Airbus 321. VN is more or less the carrier for Cambodia as well. Although the two countries do not like each other they are highly interdependent. Here some pictures of 'my' aircraft. There was one other A321 there.
Besides VN there was this colorful bird at the airport. Any thoughts?
We boarded via the stairs. The flight was only 50% full this time in Y and maybe 20% in J. I had chosen the exit seat again but since that one has no window I moved to seat 10A before take off. A Korean couple behind me decided to each take three seats and lie down.
The cabin
Row10
The airport taxiway
The in flight safety video
Halfway during the flight we were in between thunderstorms but taking pictures of it failed completely. The plane got tossed around quite a bit and the captain put on the fasten seatbelt sign. The Korean dude behind me kept lying down without his belt on. I told him that he should and he said he was not worried. “No dude, but if you get hurled to the sealing and fall on me it is my ass!” (he was sort of heavy). All of a sudden he spoke no more English. I called the FA and had her sort it out.
The flight remained bumpy to the very end but I am confident that the pilots are used to this weather over there. We landed safely at SGN and were taxied to a remote stand. Even though there were only 4 J pax on board VN showed a greater understanding than BA (for instance) by having a separate bus for them enabling them to get to customs early.
By now it was 7:20pm and my JL flight was not scheduled for another 6,5 hours. I had (surprisingly since I was traveling on a paper ticket!) checked in online for this flight. That could not be right... When I reached the transit desk there was a VN employee holding a sign with my name.
“Yes sir, we could not find your reservation for your JL flight!”
“But how did you know I would be here then?” I asked pointing at the sign
“...”
“So what do we do next?”
“We wait for JL employee to check you in”
I was a bit taken aback by the apparent illogic of the situation. In the end I was checked in to the same seat I had checked in for online and handed a boarding pass by a very non communicative JL employee and escorted to the lounge by the charming VN employee. I first had to make a round past the flue check camera though.
The VN employee was rather new to her job. I knew where the lounge was but she didn't. She walked me and my luggage all around the airport steadily refusing to follow my lead. When we finally ended up where I said we would she was very apologetic and we laughed it off.
SGN-NRT
JL750
B767-300
Business
Seat 3K
Flight time: 5:45
I had about 5,5 hours to spend in the lounge and I had no idea what to expect. I must say: not bad. The food was reasonable but certainly not great.
Vietnamese spring rolls: bland and cold.
My seat
The lounge does have a view of part of the airport. Nothing major though.
I also spend about 1 hour in the massage chair
Several movies and spring rolls later I boarded my flight to NRT. It was an overnight flight that left at 23:45 and landed at 07:30. Due to the time difference the actual flying time is 5:45. Way too short to get a good night sleep. I could only hope that my hotel in Tokyo would allow an early check in.
The flight is operated by JALways, meaning that you fly the old business class: the Skybed Deluxe or something. Not the nicest seat in the world.
My seat. I once again managed to convince the check in to keep the seat next to me empty. I have a great success rate with that. About 100%
The ancient seat controls
The cabin was pretty full. Except for the seat next to me there was just one other seat empty.
I don't even know if they served dinner (don't believe they did) but I immediately tried to get into sleep mode with limited success. I slept for about 4 hours. Sleeping is done like this.
Not much of a recline. When I woke up most people had the blinds already open and breakfast was being served. I liked the breakfast. Catering on JALways has been positive so far.
Their amenity kit is a joke however. A plastic bag with few goodies.
Cabin before landing
Descent into Tokyo
JALways has nose cams. Interesting to watch. Here is the view just before touchdown.
We got through customs pretty quickly. It was not busy and the process was efficient like expected. I booked a room at the Tokyo Hilton and the best way to get there (or any hotel) is by bus from the airport.
When I got to my hotel they had a room ready. It was on the lowest floor and had no view. I was moved per my request to the 33rd floor a couple of hours later. This is the view from my room.
The room itself
Japan was a unique experience. I am still debating whether I love it or not. It is hard to understand the society. I will refrain from comment just yet. I did decide I needed to get out the city too so the next day I took a train ride to Kami-Suwa, about 2,5 hours west of Tokyo Shinjuku.
The train (I bought a green car ticket – First Class)
The interior
The seats
View from the train
The train leaving me at Kami-Suwa station
It took about an hour before we left Tokyo and the suburbs and saw anything remotely resembling countryside. Kami-Suwa is a nice small town by a lake. It has birds too...
Actually this is the head of a tourist boat. They all looked like this. It felt typically Japanese. Don't ask me why.
The also had an old locomotive I thought some of you might appreciate
I spend about 4 hours in Kami-Suwa. That was 2 hours too much but I had tea in a nice Starbucks ripoff. The waitresses (none of whom spoke English) found it all very amusing. The ride back was less interesting since it was dark by now.
Lady waiting at Kami-Suwa station
Back in Tokyo I went out and took some pictures of Tokyo by night.
Two days was not enough time to get to know anything about Japan but I doubt if any time would be enough. I am hesitant to go back.
Airbuseric From Netherlands, joined Jan 2005, 4015 posts, RR: 52 Reply 2, posted (3 years 11 months 2 weeks 3 days 22 hours ago) and read 8399 times:
Hi Henkybaby,
another wonderful report! Thanks for that...
Quoting Henkybaby (Thread starter): Besides VN there was this colorful bird at the airport. Any thoughts?
Bangkok Airways, ATR72. This airline also operates B717 and A320.
Quoting Henkybaby (Thread starter): The flight is operated by JALways, meaning that you fly the old business class: the Skybed Deluxe or something. Not the nicest seat in the world.
JALways does not mean that you get this seat. You actually fly on a normal JL aircraft. But, JALways is a group company with staff working for lower salaries etc. Also cabin supplies are cheaper, as well might catering be. Mainline JL cabincrew will not work on JALways flights. But, cockpitcrew is normal JL.
This type of seat can also still be found on several B744's (e.g. the ones serving NRT-FCO and NRT-MXP, also NRT-YVR, as well random other routes).
That's a suite for Tokyo terms. I never got a room that big, even not in 4* hotels.
May I ask your hotel in Tokyo? Might be an idea for my next visit.
btw, when you visit Japan again, you might consider JL AMS-NRT nonstop. Some interesting fares are currently put on the market. The B772's operate in 3-class layout (C/Y+/Y).
Regards,
Eric
"The whole world steps aside for the man who knows where he is going"
Burj From United States of America, joined Nov 2007, 838 posts, RR: 4 Reply 3, posted (3 years 11 months 2 weeks 3 days 21 hours ago) and read 8240 times:
Henkybaby From Netherlands, joined May 2008, 593 posts, RR: 4 Reply 4, posted (3 years 11 months 2 weeks 3 days 14 hours ago) and read 7667 times:
Thanks guys!
Quoting Ardian (Reply 1): I love the picture where the train officer is looking outside the window
It my favorite too.
Quoting Airbuseric (Reply 2): JALways does not mean that you get this seat.
I understood that JALways always flies the old style J class and not the newer cabins. It is however not so that only JALways has the old style J seat. You can be unlucky with JL too. I could be wrong of course.
You may. It was the Tokyo Hilton. It is a Jr Suite I booked for around E100 per night in a Hilton sale. You really have to keep an eye on the hotel section of Flyertalk. That saves me thousands a year.
JRadier From Netherlands, joined Sep 2004, 4598 posts, RR: 51 Reply 5, posted (3 years 11 months 2 weeks 3 days 13 hours ago) and read 7619 times:
Quoting Henkybaby (Thread starter): Two days was not enough time to get to know anything about Japan but I doubt if any time would be enough. I am hesitant to go back.
That's a shame, although understandable. I spend a little over a week there and I fell in love with the country. It's all so different it's nice to see . However, I guess that if you are there alone (I was with 2 others) it would be a 'lost in translation thing. Actually, I recommend watching that movie as I think it portrays Japan quite well.
For once you have tasted flight you will walk the earth with your eyes turned skywards, for there you have been and ther
BA319-131 From United Kingdom, joined Jan 2001, 8267 posts, RR: 56 Reply 6, posted (3 years 11 months 2 weeks 3 days 13 hours ago) and read 7618 times:
Hi Mr H,
Great report and pictures as always.
Liked the story about the VN agent who did not know where the lounge was, very amusing
The Hilton room is huge, never had a room that big in Tokyo.
I like Japan, though I need to see more of it, too much time spent at airports!
Triple7man From Thailand, joined May 2005, 681 posts, RR: 0 Reply 7, posted (3 years 11 months 2 weeks 3 days 12 hours ago) and read 7463 times:
I enjoyed the pics of your TR in Tokyo namely because I lived there for 4 years. It does take you a while to get used to it, but once you get accustomed to the way things are done, you'll like it. I loved living there....except I didn't like the earthquakes.
Henkybaby From Netherlands, joined May 2008, 593 posts, RR: 4 Reply 8, posted (3 years 11 months 2 weeks 3 days 7 hours ago) and read 7074 times:
Quoting JRadier (Reply 5): That's a shame, although understandable
Mind you, I am not sure yet. I will be back in Japan in March (KIX this time) and am still in doubt if I should just transit (to Hawaii by the way) or spend a week or so there. Not quite sure where to go and what to see. Not much of a city person but outside of the city Japanese seems almost mandatory if you want to get anything done.
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