gabrielchew From United Kingdom, joined Aug 2005, 2512 posts, RR: 13 Posted (3 months 2 weeks 2 days 15 hours ago) and read 4494 times:
La Dolce Vita with Alitalia, Pt 2: MXP-NRT-FCO-BRI
Hi!
Thanks for clicking on the next instalment of my Alitalia Extravaganza! The flights:
AZ 303 London LHR – Rome FCO, A321
AZ 1391 Rome FCO – Genoa GOA, A320
AZ 786 Milan MXP – Tokyo NRT, B772
AZ 785 Tokyo NRT – Rome FCO, B772
AZ 1603 Rome FCO – Bari BRI, A320
AZ 7108 Brindisi BDS – Milan LIN, A319
AZ 230 Milan LIN – London LHR, A320
My route with all seven flights, courtesy of GC Mapper, of these reports:
And the European detail:
I’ll be splitting the report into 3 parts:
Part 1, LHR-FCO-GOA
Part 2, MXP-NRT-FCO-BRI
Part 3, BDS-LIN-LHR
Picking up from part 1, I took the train from Genoa to Milano Centrale.
I’d met an old friend the previous night who used to commute on this line and guaranteed me a delay….and true to his word we were delayed. I had a 25 minute transfer window in Centrale to make the Malpensa train…in the end I made it with about 1 minute to spare.
**Money saving tip! Rather than buy a direct ticket from Milan to Malpensa (EUR 11), buy two tickets, one Milan to Ferno (4.55 EUR) and then one Ferno to Malpensa (2 EUR)….same train, but much cheaper. They like to gouge the airport travellers!**
Thankfully, the next train was more or less on time. I made my way up to the check in level, printed my boarding pass from a SSCI machine, then headed into the basement to join the long and slow security queue.
Interestingly, when I first booked, the 777 was in the old 3x3x3 configuration. I reserved seat 19L, supposedly a good seat. However, before long, AZ finished updating all their aircraft into the 3x4x3 configuration. 19L doesn’t exist on the new config, but my reservation stayed. I was also unable to move away from the phantom seat online. Thankfully, the flight wasn’t full so I could get a decent seat at OLCI.
Today was foggy. Very foggy. This is our chariot to Tokyo.
FIDS. Prize for most interesting movement is the Neos flight to DXB via Catania. Who knew there was a direct flight from Sicily to the Middle East?!
Today’s Tokyo flight would be full of a.netters. I was scheduled to meet FlyingFinn76, Sultanils, Tobry and airbuseric in the Sala Clementi, one of the two Priority Pass lounges in the Schengen area.
I was the last to arrive, and everyone else was well into a bottle of Rose prosecco. Still, the lounge was well stocked, so I joined the others for a few glasses.
With about 20 minutes to go before boarding, I headed down to the other Piroirty Pass lounge with The Finn, just to check it out. It was a lot busier, and lacked any views. Time for a quite G&T
Before long it was time to head down to the gate, where we were joined by LXM83. Of course, with the majority of passengers being Japanese, boarding was quick and efficient…very un-Italian.
January 2013
Milan Malpensa (MXP) – Tokyo Narita (NRT)
Alitalia AZ 786
Scheduled: 1435-1040 (12h05m)
Actual: 1445-1029 (11h44m)
Boeing 777-243 ER, EI-DBM “Argentario”
Economy
Thankfully, the load was light enough for most people to end up with at least two seats to themselves – I got a row of three.
Our route today
IFE interface
Safety demo
Russian and Algerian neighbours on one side
Turkish and Emirati on the other
A Swiss Jumbolino
Er, lovely day for flying?
We take off into the murk, and a shortly (about 15 seconds after take-off) we are above the thick cloud line.
My windows are a bit scratched, so it’s hard to get a good photos of the Alps….quite gorgeous. It also interesting to see how localised the fog is.
Off to Japan!
It doesn’t take long for everyone to drift to the back few rows, where the chat is mostly aviation, and the service from the great FAs is excellent. We’re offered beers and snacks before anyone else.
In winter, dusk comes early.
About 90 minutes after take off, dinner is served. I go with the Japanese option. I can’t remember if it’s pork or chicken. Either way, it wasn’t great. The rice was burnt and dry.
The crew warmed up to us very quickly. I’m delighted to see some post-dinner limoncello handed out.
As the cabin is now dark and quiet, I drift back to my seat. Not a lot going on, so I watch a few films.
Day dawning
Airbuseric takes a walk over to my row mid flight, complete with the Italian option from dinner. Thanks Eric! The lasagne is welcome at that time of the flight, but isn’t really a marvel either.
A few shots of a frozen pre-dawn Siberia
With about 90 minutes left to run, breakfast is handed out. I’m not really in the mood for this, so don’t eat much. I’m planning on filling myself up in the NRT lounges.
Nearly over Japan
Stunning views of the Japanese Alps
And Mount Fuji in the distance. Sadly, this was the best picture I could get.
Slightly ahead of schedule, we land are the not overly busy Narita Airport.
Welcome to Japan! 日本!
A MEX-TIJ-NRT flight
And a DL
AF Whalejet
VS
Disembarkation was swift. Bye Argentario!
GA next door
Our plane
The flight from FCO is being moved somewhere. Hopefully this will be our plane home.
With just a few hours between flights, The Finn elected to stay airside, whilst the rest of us cleared immigration, and headed to the viewing deck and shopping area.
Thankfully, it wasn’t too cold outside, so we hung out on the free deck for half an hour or so.
The Korean Queen of the Skies
JAL
NH
MU
LX, ZRH bound
JL
LH, inbound from MUC
I’m always amazed these things can get into the air
gabrielchew From United Kingdom, joined Aug 2005, 2512 posts, RR: 13 Reply 1, posted (3 months 2 weeks 2 days 15 hours ago) and read 4494 times:
With some good spotting done, we head inside via the shops for a few souvenirs, then down to pick up our boarding passes.
Check in queues
The old style FIDS in Japanese
And English. I really hate the Japanese style when it comes to spacing of foreign words. It looks so awkward and messy.
This would be the Milan flight. The Rome flight sadly would be aboard the same aircraft that took us from Milan, and is parked around the back.
The first stop on the lounge hop was the Delta lounge. I made a beeline for the shower rooms, which were very nicely laid out.
After a pretty decent shower, and a change of clothes, I went to meet the others. Drinks choices in the DL lounge were fairly good, but there was way too little food on offer. The staff were putting the food out way too slowly to deal with the appetite of the lounge occupants. I got the last two sushi rolls.
View from the DL lounge
With about an hour to go before departure, I headed off to the Korean Air lounge with The Finn. This lounge was much smaller, but did, at least, have a plentiful supply of onigiri. Tasty.
Time to head onto Rome? I guess so. Despite the very full load (+95% in economy at least), boarding was fairly effortless. The Japanese are just so organised and efficient.
January 2013
Tokyo Narita (NRT) – Rome Fuimicino (FCO)
Alitalia AZ 785
Scheduled: 1410-1900 (12h50m)
Actual: 1420-1826 (12h06m)
Boeing 777-243 ER, EI-DBM “Argentario”
Economy
Thankfully, I arrived before my seat mates, so could get a photo or two. I was booked on the aisle for this flight (to avoid the massive IFE box by the window). As leg space was still at a premium, I took most of these inflight photos on my phone.
With the plane fully loaded, and a honeymooning Japanese couple installed in the middle and window seats, we were off back to Italy.
Given the high load factor, this flight was a lot less comfortable and enjoyable compared to the previous flight. I was also really quite tired, having not slept on the previous flight.
A pre lunch drinks service was done…white wine and water
It was interesting to see that all the honeymooners (of which there were a lot were given special meals. I’m not sure if these were requested by them, or by their travel agents. They looked to be an upgraded Japanese style meal, along with a heat shaped congratulatory cake.…not really to my liking!
The main trolley came down the aisle about 20 minutes later.
I asked what the choices were. “Italian or Japanese”. Er, helpful. “What’s in them?”. “Pasta or chicken”. Oh, whatever. “Japanese please”.
The main course. This was actually pretty tasty, although it took me a bite or two to realise that this was NOT chicken…it was fish. This wasn’t an issue for me, but I’m sure it would be a major issue for others. Given all that the FAs need to remember is “pasta or fish”, you would have thought they’d get it right.
I’m not sure what these little appetisers were, but they were quite tasty.
Once the trays were finished, I sunk into a fairly peaceful sleep for some five hours. I watched a few films, but can’t recall what they were.
The IFE
Mid flight, snacks were handed out. I went for an onigiri. Pickled plum flavour. Eugh. Not nice! Thankfully I’d brought a few much nicer salmon ones from the KE lounge. The crew were quite good in coming round at regualr intervals with trays of water and juice.
The map…we’re taking a very northerly route back to Europe today
After a bit of an a.netter meeting by the rear galley, some more shots from the map:
Now, unlike the outbound, this flight just wasn’t very enjoyable. The flight was full, so we couldn’t spread out, we weren’t sitting next to each other either (bad planning on our part), and because it was so busy, it was hard to chat. The crew were also far less friendly. And to top it all off, they ran out of beer and white wine. Terrible! What might make you enjoy a long uncomfortable flight a little more was the thought that either you are going to somewhere interesting and exotic, or going home. In this case, neither applied. I was just taking a particularly laborious +12,000 mile route from Milan to Rome. I thought about pretending to myself that I was doing the Kangaroo route (i.e. 26 hours in the same plane from London to Sydney)….sadly my imagination wasn’t that good.
One interesting thing about this flight, despite being a “day” flight, because of the northerly routing, plus being in January, about 2 hours after take off, we had a nice sunset, then were flying in darkness. Gradually towards the end of the flight, we got a bit of a sunrise, before another sunset. Quite cool. Sadly, the Japanese lady by the window decided to keep her shade down nearly the entire flight.
About 90 minutes before arrival, the second meal service was started. Sorry, the photo isn’t very good…basically cold cuts, bread and a cake.
Getting closer to Rome
Connection details were shown on the screens. We’re on the Bari flight.
We joked about getting on the EZE flight after this…probably on the same aircraft to see how long we could deal with AZ catering.
Nearly there!
We finally touched down over half an hour early. Phew, I was so ready to get off this plane! The four (airbuseric, sultanils & The Finn) of us that took the return flight (a few decided to stay in Tokyo) met up in the terminal. After clearing security and immigration headed over to the Schengen area to get some food from the food court.
It was here that we bid adieu to Nils, who was staying the night in Rome. So we were left as just three weary travellers heading down to Bari. First stop was the Alitalia lounge, curiously located in the pier that AZ doesn’t fly out of.
Of course, my first stop in the lounge was the shower. After the DL shower room earlier, this was a lot smaller.
However, it did come with a nice box of goodies.
The slippers were a bit small for me, but made a nice souvenir!
The manned bar
An espresso, water and a vodka tonic
Nice lighting
I wanted to check out one of the Priority Pass lounges opposite the AZ one, but they all close quite early. We headed down to the gate when it popped up as boarding. Another bus gate this evening, along with a host of other Italian destinations.
gabrielchew From United Kingdom, joined Aug 2005, 2512 posts, RR: 13 Reply 2, posted (3 months 2 weeks 2 days 15 hours ago) and read 4494 times:
January 2013
Rome Fuimicino (FCO) – Bari (BRI)
Alitalia AZ 1603
Scheduled: 2130-2235 (1h05m)
Actual: 2143-2219 (0h36m)
Airbus A320-216, EI-DKT “Giovanni Verga”
Economy
Welcome onboard !
This flight went out nearly full as well. I was sat next to airbuseric at the front, whilst the Finn was down the back. Service was standard Alitalia domestic….tea or coffee, water or juice, plus a snack. No photos I’m afraid. We landed early into the deserted Bari airport.
A few photo of Bari arrivals hall whilst Eric and The Finn when to check in for their flight the next morning.
Well, I’ll leave this part here. Hopefully I’ll get round to uploading the final part in the next day or two before I head off for Zimbabwe.
As always, all comments and questions welcome, and thanks for reading about my latest trip!
Apart from those, I’ve got a few trips to come in the next few months:
Late Jan/early Feb will see me complete my Star Alliance lounge tour of Europe (i.e. do the lounges I want to see before my LH Silver card finally gives way to Blue) with LH, LO & OS routing LHR-DUS-WAW-VIE-LHR
A rather hastily and still as of yet poorly planned trip to Zimbabwe has been booked for mid-February. Routing is a bit eclectic, on a combination of Aer Lingus, Etihad and Comair (British Airways). BHX-DUB-MAN-AUH-JNB-HRE,LVI-JNB-AUH-LHR
And Easter will herald another inaugural, Cityjet’s new LCY-DRS route, along with a return NUE-LCY.
jwhite9185 From United Kingdom, joined May 2007, 722 posts, RR: 0 Reply 3, posted (3 months 2 weeks 2 days 14 hours ago) and read 4380 times:
Hi Gabriel, good to see the same flight from another perspective. The legroom on the outbound (and I guess the inbound) sector doesn't look all that great from the picture. And the Japanese dinner options don't look too appealing either, although Eric's lasagne looks ok to me.
From an outsiders view, AZ long haul looks a complete contrast to your outbound flights you posted previously.
Looking forward to the final part, and indeed your trip to Poland.
gabrielchew From United Kingdom, joined Aug 2005, 2512 posts, RR: 13 Reply 4, posted (3 months 2 weeks 2 days 14 hours ago) and read 4346 times:
Hi James
Quoting jwhite9185 (Reply 3): The legroom on the outbound (and I guess the inbound) sector doesn't look all that great from the picture.
Well, the legroom was acceptable. The lack of an empty middle seat does make a difference though
Quoting jwhite9185 (Reply 3): And the Japanese dinner options don't look too appealing either, although Eric's lasagne looks ok to me.
No, the catering wasn't great. The lasgane was a bit elasticy, but tasty enough
Quoting jwhite9185 (Reply 3): From an outsiders view, AZ long haul looks a complete contrast to your outbound flights you posted previously.
I guess my enthusiasm fir the trip was wearing thin?! I think my previous trip was better than this one (although, of course, I preferred the company this time!)
Tomskii From Belgium, joined May 2011, 453 posts, RR: 0 Reply 5, posted (3 months 2 weeks 2 days 13 hours ago) and read 4308 times:
Aaah I remember BRI from my school trip 2 years ago to Vieste (2 hours drive with a bus from BRI). I remember coming into that airport (it was warm outside) and thinking I was in the Bahamas or something haha.
PlaneHunter From Germany, joined Mar 2006, 6191 posts, RR: 79 Reply 6, posted (3 months 2 weeks 2 days 13 hours ago) and read 4298 times:
Hi Gabriel,
interesting report about your short trip to Japan. AZ's product looks okay, just too bad about the switch to 3-4-3 configuration. The large IFE boxes are indeed a major annoyance. How was the coffee on board?
gabrielchew From United Kingdom, joined Aug 2005, 2512 posts, RR: 13 Reply 7, posted (3 months 2 weeks 2 days 11 hours ago) and read 4086 times:
Thanks for the comments guys!
Quoting Tomskii (Reply 5): Aaah I remember BRI from my school trip 2 years ago to Vieste (2 hours drive with a bus from BRI). I remember coming into that airport (it was warm outside) and thinking I was in the Bahamas or something haha.
Ha, well it certainely wasn't tropical temperatures when we landed!
Quoting PlaneHunter (Reply 6):
interesting report about your short trip to Japan
Thanks Udo
Quoting PlaneHunter (Reply 6): AZ's product looks okay, just too bad about the switch to 3-4-3 configuration. The large IFE boxes are indeed a major annoyance
Well, the seat width isn't so bad. The IFE box is a pain though
MSS658 From Belgium, joined Oct 2010, 2212 posts, RR: 14 Reply 8, posted (3 months 2 weeks 2 days 4 hours ago) and read 3542 times:
Hi Gab
Interesting to see another report of one of the highest meetings in A.net history probably. It's a bit of a long way to get from MXP to FCO. Too bad you guys scored the same reg twice, but suppose you can't have it all in life right?
I'm really starting to feel bad I missed out on that one, however 14 hours in 10 abreast configuration would not be so inviting.
gabrielchew From United Kingdom, joined Aug 2005, 2512 posts, RR: 13 Reply 9, posted (3 months 2 weeks 2 days 4 hours ago) and read 3512 times:
Quoting MSS658 (Reply 8):
Interesting to see another report of one of the highest meetings in A.net history probably
Thanks! Shame you weren't here.
Quoting MSS658 (Reply 8): It's a bit of a long way to get from MXP to FCO. Too bad you guys scored the same reg twice, but suppose you can't have it all in life right?
Yes, we took the long way round
Quoting MSS658 (Reply 8): I'm really starting to feel bad I missed out on that one, however 14 hours in 10 abreast configuration would not be so inviting.
airbuseric From Netherlands, joined Jan 2005, 4015 posts, RR: 52 Reply 10, posted (3 months 2 weeks 2 days 3 hours ago) and read 3479 times:
Hi Gab, you beat me... I'm in progress to posting mine, but busy with other things, you can imagine
No problem to fed you midnight with the pasta snack, everything better then always the same snack bag they had on these longhauls. The forgot to stock up the chocolate cookies lol.
Sure, an exhausting, but nice to experience trip I think. And a good rest in BRI for sure with delicious pizza and beer around midnight!
Regards
Eric
"The whole world steps aside for the man who knows where he is going"
gabrielchew From United Kingdom, joined Aug 2005, 2512 posts, RR: 13 Reply 11, posted (3 months 2 weeks 2 days 3 hours ago) and read 3451 times:
Quoting airbuseric (Reply 10): Hi Gab, you beat me... I'm in progress to posting mine, but busy with other things, you can imagine
Yes, I had a busy day at it. Out partying tomorrow night though! KTV!
Quoting airbuseric (Reply 10): No problem to fed you midnight with the pasta snack, everything better then always the same snack bag they had on these longhauls. The forgot to stock up the chocolate cookies lol.
Yes, the midnight pasta was a wonderful surpise from FA Eric! Quite fancy one right now...tasty! I preferred it over the cookies!
Quoting airbuseric (Reply 10): Sure, an exhausting, but nice to experience trip I think. And a good rest in BRI for sure with delicious pizza and beer around midnight!
Yes, it was a nice end of a very long day. Shame Mr Finn was already tucked up in bed.
The777Man From United States of America, joined Jul 1999, 6088 posts, RR: 56 Reply 13, posted (3 months 2 weeks 1 day 23 hours ago) and read 3249 times:
Hi Gabriel !
Thanks for another great report with great pictures !
I'm glad you had that you had some empty seats next to you in one direction but it probably would have been better if that had been on the return.
No surprise that the return wasn't so great; you are very tired, the flight is full and the F/As are more busy because the flight is full.
Food looks okay but not much more than that.
Pretty crazy for you guys to go to NRT and back right away!
Looking forward to your next set of reports! Africa should be very interesting!
The777Man
Need a Boeing 777 Firing Order....Further to fly....GA, T5, CI and LX 777s
sultanils From Belgium, joined Mar 2010, 1188 posts, RR: 29 Reply 14, posted (3 months 2 weeks 1 day 20 hours ago) and read 3135 times:
Hi G&C,
Good to see your version of the facts here. Very much the same opinion here: a very good outbound flight and a mediocre and tiring return flight. Had a lot of fun though and if the oppurtunity rises again some day, count me in!
You can say that again. It’s even worse in BRU where all deprating an arriving train pax are subject to a surplus charge of € 4,4 oneway, no matter what destination you have. A real disgrace.
Quoting The777Man (Reply 13): Thanks for another great report with great pictures !
No problem, glad you liked it
Quoting The777Man (Reply 13): I'm glad you had that you had some empty seats next to you in one direction but it probably would have been better if that had been on the return.
Yes, although there were more of us on the way out
Quoting The777Man (Reply 13): Pretty crazy for you guys to go to NRT and back right away!
Very crazy
Quoting The777Man (Reply 13): Looking forward to your next set of reports! Africa should be very interesting!
Yes, I'm really loking forward to it
Quoting sultanils (Reply 14):
Good to see your version of the facts here
CARST From Germany, joined Jul 2006, 706 posts, RR: 1 Reply 16, posted (3 months 2 weeks 1 day 14 hours ago) and read 2900 times:
Nice report Gabriel!
So many AZ fuel-dump reports popping up currently, I am already getting confused. ^^ And everyone of them is a deja-vu for me, have been there, done that. Great you had such a large group of a.netters on that flight.
Always good to hear, too, that AZ crew performed well (at least on the outbound) and did not disappoint. I think AZ is getting too much negative news considering how cheap they get us to SIN, NRT etc. Hehehe...
Do you always stay awake on long flights? I always try to sleep.
And sorry for not commenting on part 1, was a good report, too. Excellent photos from Genoa. Very italian, renting a boat there and staying around the runway could make a nice relaxing spotting day. A.net-meet at Genoa with a hired boat? ^^
Quoting gabrielchew (Thread starter): I was booked on the aisle for this flight (to avoid the massive IFE box by the window). As leg space was still at a premium, I took most of these inflight photos on my phone.
Smart choice. I had a row for myself, but I have to agree, 12 hours in the AZ 777 window seat would have been too much! The problem is not the IFE box per se, it is the tight seat pitch / small legroom, which basicly forces you to to spread your knees further apart, what is not really possible in a very tight 3-4-3 layout.
Quoting gabrielchew (Thread starter): With just a few hours between flights, The Finn elected to stay airside, whilst the rest of us cleared immigration, and headed to the viewing deck and shopping area.
How could he? ^^ Great viewing deck there, just a little bit far away from take-offs and landings, but excellent apron views.
ROGERBCN From Andorra, joined Sep 2006, 1136 posts, RR: 19 Reply 18, posted (3 months 1 week 6 days 10 hours ago) and read 2163 times:
Hola Gabriel!
Interesting to see your point of view after Sultanils' TR on this particular flight.
Great to see you survived the exhausting experience of flying those two long segments.
Did the border officers ask you many questions when getting into Japan just to exit a few hours later?
AZ seems to live up to its expectations, depending on the crew mood you have a more or less pleasant flight, that is very common to Southern European standards. I guess the sunny Med plays its role here.
Nice to see Mount Fuji on your pictures.
Salut!
Roger
"At reise er at leve" H.C. Andersen (Travelling is Living)
airbuseric From Netherlands, joined Jan 2005, 4015 posts, RR: 52 Reply 19, posted (3 months 1 week 5 days 18 hours ago) and read 1971 times:
Quoting CARST (Reply 16): Great viewing deck there, just a little bit far away from take-offs and landings, but excellent apron views.
How much closer would you wanna be? There are just 2 taxiways seperating the viewing deck from the active runway. That's one of the closest locations possible. And you can make great pictures from the viewing deck also, with the holes provided in the fence.
"The whole world steps aside for the man who knows where he is going"
gabrielchew From United Kingdom, joined Aug 2005, 2512 posts, RR: 13 Reply 20, posted (3 months 1 week 5 days 8 hours ago) and read 1772 times:
Quoting CARST (Reply 16):
So many AZ fuel-dump reports popping up currently, I am already getting confused
Ha, yes, plenty to come still!
Quoting CARST (Reply 16):
Always good to hear, too, that AZ crew performed well (at least on the outbound) and did not disappoint
yes, some good staff there
Quoting CARST (Reply 16): Do you always stay awake on long flights? I always try to sleep.
I try to sleep, but normally just can't
Quoting CARST (Reply 16): Excellent photos from Genoa.
Thanks!
Quoting CARST (Reply 16): Very italian, renting a boat there and staying around the runway could make a nice relaxing spotting day. A.net-meet at Genoa with a hired boat? ^^
Nice idea, but not much in the way of variety
Quoting roberts87 (Reply 17): Nice report, great to read your side of the story. AZ looks okay, but hey, you can't complain for the price you paid right
Thanks
Quoting ROGERBCN (Reply 18): Interesting to see your point of view after Sultanils' TR on this particular flight.
Thanks
Quoting ROGERBCN (Reply 18): Did the border officers ask you many questions when getting into Japan just to exit a few hours later?
No, no questions at all. They have a lot of short stayers I think enroute from the US to Asia
CaptainRed From Germany, joined Oct 2010, 578 posts, RR: 19 Reply 21, posted (3 months 1 week 3 days 7 hours ago) and read 1485 times:
Hi Gabriel,
finally I got around to read your version of this crazy trip, and an enjoyable read it was. I think it was a cool idea to actually clear immigration and officially be in Japan for only a few hours. And of course a nice opportunity to do some spotting.
A shame that the return flight was so much less comfortable. But well, there's nothing you can do against the load. And that chicken-fish mix-up by the crew was really bad, I would have been quite annoyed, since I really don't like to have fish on board of a plane.
gabrielchew From United Kingdom, joined Aug 2005, 2512 posts, RR: 13 Reply 22, posted (3 months 1 week 2 days 22 hours ago) and read 1422 times:
Quoting CaptainRed (Reply 21):
finally I got around to read your version of this crazy trip, and an enjoyable read it was
Thanks!
Quoting CaptainRed (Reply 21): I think it was a cool idea to actually clear immigration and officially be in Japan for only a few hours. And of course a nice opportunity to do some spotting.
And of course, the Japanese make everything so easy
Quoting CaptainRed (Reply 21):
A shame that the return flight was so much less comfortable. But well, there's nothing you can do against the load.
No, was just bad luck
Quoting CaptainRed (Reply 21): And that chicken-fish mix-up by the crew was really bad, I would have been quite annoyed, since I really don't like to have fish on board of a plane.
Thankfully it wasn't an issue for me, but quite a bad error
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