QF009 travels the world on a blast from the past: my first DONE4

[Keith009]

I'm here in Tokyo for the weekend after flying here on an aaward (QF to HKG, CX to NRT) to position myself for the DONE4. So the 7 week international binge drink has officially begun!

- 15 cities
- 8 countries
- 7 airlines

On on a real blast from the past - handwritten paper tickets, a fitting souvenir come mandatory e-ticketing! I had to reissue my DONE4 as I'd added some extra flights after ticketing, taking the segment count up to the max of 20. I wanted to do it prior to departure as that'd mean saving the US$125 re-routing fee. As AA's ancient computer systems can't cope with machine printing tickets greater than 16 segments, here's the result:

It's literally 4 booklets of paper ticket coupons stapled together. AA NRT is super efficient - I'd phoned ahead a few days ago after setting up the PQR with the ATW desk to warn that I'd be rocking up to their NRT ticket desk on the 11th of Jan. And the ticket was already written out when I got there - all they had to do was include my credit card details. So no waiting around and watching an entire ticketing desk shut down. I guess I wasn't Mr Popular by the time they'd finished...

TR to be updated progressively (and hopefully not too slowly...).

 

[drron]

Just arrived back from NRT this morning.The JAL F lounge was very good-wonderful showers and massage service.
Will be keeping an eye on your progress.if everything goes well you may even tempt me to have a go at an ex-NRT DONE.
Have a great time!

 

[BlacKnox]

Just arrived back from NRT this morning.The JAL F lounge was very good-wonderful showers and massage service.
Will be keeping an eye on your progress.if everything goes well you may even tempt me to have a go at an ex-NRT DONE.
Have a great time!

ohhh, memories... Don't forget the excellent CXholidays J fares ex Japan if time is an issue. And good luck QF009 - looking forward to the read.

 

[Reggie]

Have a good flight QF009, and I look forward to your updates.

 

[Keith009]

Sector - MEL-HKG
Flight number - QF29
Class - Business
Seat - 11A
Aircraft - B747-400

Check-in at MEL was shambolic. The agent I got could've been a trainee but then she didn't have a badge indicating that she was one. Either way she clearly needed more training:
- Did not ask any security questions
- Did not know that MEL has an Express Lane for outbound immigration
- Had to ask someone else for help in interlining me across to CX
- Forgot about priority bag tag till I pointed it out
- "Your ticket looks weird." [American Airlines-issued eticket]
- "I don't think that's a correct frequent flyer number because they should not contain letters." [AAdvantage numbers do, QF numbers don't - I had my AA number in there]

She literally had to be prompted the whole way through!

The QP wasn't too busy - had a nightcap or 2 in anticipation of the flight.

The wonderful onboard experience made up for the dire check-in experience. In lieu of the emex row, the bulkhead row on the upper deck was decent and offered plenty of legroom.

Most importantly of all, champers was generously offered with my glass topped up pretty efficiently:

The flight had both Lanson NV and Charles Heidsieck Mis En Cave 03 in J, but due to the way they were loaded upper deck only got Lanson and the main deck got the CH. So if you have a strong preference one way or the other, you'd need to make a request to that effect - or plan to sit in the appropriate deck. I don't mind either but I felt that the CH was more tasty once in the air. I did get to drink the CH even though I was in the upper deck; apparently I'd polished off all the Lanson that was chilled (and since it's an overnight segment not many bottles were chilled) - and the nice FA fetched some chilled CH from the lower deck. Seeing how much I'd enjoyed the CH I was offered a bottle to take off the aircraft ('here's your duty free purchase Sir') but unfortunately I had to decline it as there are LAG restrictions in HKG where I was transferring.

Room service-style breakfast menu

Supper was served right after take off, whilst we completed the room service-style menu for breakfast orders. I like the stylish new serviceware. The main course, beef in red wine jus was simply fresh and succulent.

When you get a good crew on QF you're treated like a rock star. I know QF has less crew members than some other airlines, but with this particular set of crew I didn't notice as they were very efficient and responsive. They were warm and attentive, with that distinctively casual, or 'blokey-matey' as someone called it, style of service which makes QF one of my favourite airlines.

I tried sleeping but I wasn't too tired, even though I found the Skyslope relatively comfy for an angled flat seat. So I ordered some champagne and watched a movie. Mid way through Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, one of the FAs came by with a bottle of left over Dom Perignon 98 from F ("We wouldn't want to waste the good stuff now would we?"). That pretty much meant I had no sleep the entire flight, as discretion was obviously needed and I caught up with the FA in the galley over Dom over some pretty interesting topics like nightlife in Hong Kong, the engineers' industrial action, Kevin07, amongst others.

I skipped the continental breakfast in anticipation of some dim sum at the CX lounge.

Next - CX504 HKG-NRT J

 

[Tooner]

Good work 009. I admire anyone who can write a contemporaneous TR after that much champagne!

 

[Keith009]

Sector - HKG-NRT
Flight number - CX504
Class - Business
Seat - 81K
Aircraft - B747-400

Gate information wasn't published yet for my flight and hence I went to the Pier which was a shorter walk to where I was than the Wing. The flight happened to depart from gate 32 anyway which wasn't too far away.

The lounge was eerily quiet when I arrived - there was only 1 other pax there. The noodle bar wasn't serving noodles till 11ish and so I settled for some dumplings. I also cleaned out the dim sum tray as I was feeling rather peckish.

Due to the late arrival of the incoming aircraft from LAX, the flight was delayed by about 25 minutes. Announcements to that effect were made regularly to keep pax both at the gate and in the lounge well informed. Further announcements and apologies were made onboard by both the captain and the ISM.

It was my first time in the new J cabin, and unfortunately I was not impressed at all by the new seats. One very visible disadvantage of the new seating arrangement is the very narrow cubicle you're now forced to squeeze into. I felt pretty claustrophobic. The seat itself had lots of padding but unfortunately in the upright position it was too short and there wasn't adequate thigh support. And I'm not a very big person. It was better in the lie-flat position but you could feel the gaps in the seat, and the lack of room meant it wasn't easy to find a comfy position without bumping into the walls. On the whole I thought the new product was far inferior to that of NZ's and BA's, and is less comfy than some angled flat products I've experienced.

 

[Keith009]

Other than that I can't remember much of the flight as I was dozing in and out. I was hoping to down a few glasses of champers before taking a nap but Deutz instead of Billecart-Salmon was served and I wasn't too big a fan of Deutz - too citrusy. I planned to have some nibbles before settling into bed - except that the CX meal service was far too slow (and they seemed to have more crew members than QF did on the upper deck!), and I ended up spending much of the flight in the upright position. Maybe they were intending to space out the service across the duration of the flight. The food was underwhelming - main course of beef tasted rather rubbery. View the full menu here.

I didn't know landing cards were not distributed and instead we were meant to help ourselves at the magazine rack and so left it till too late to fill them out; the long immigration queue took care of that.

Next: The Hilton Tokyo

 

[Keith009]

The Hilton Tokyo

Tokyo is a massive city, and as such location is very important. I wanted to stay in Shinjuku and alas none of the Starwood properties were anywhere close. And as I have HH as my secondary hotel program, the Hilton in Shinjuku was a no-brainer.

The hotel is served by the NRT airport bus service which cost JPY3000 each way. They also have a courtesy shuttle to Shinjuku station. It is fairly well located with lots of restaurants and a big department store within a 20 minute walk. The Hyatt across the road is probably better located as it is just outside the MTR station - but the Hilton had double points promo going on so something has to give I guess. Most importantly the hotel is quite close to some of my usual hangouts on ni-chome, about a JPY790-800 taxi ride away.

As HH Gold I was upgraded to an Executive floor room with access to the Executive lounge. Maybe I'm easily pleased but I think this is pretty darn good for a mid tier status! There is also free broadband internet in the Executive floor rooms. Breakfast was served in the lounge 0630-1000 (or 1100 on weekends and public holidays), and happy hour ran from 1800-2000 every night. It was a rather pleasant lounge, though I didn't spend all that much time there.

EDITED TO ADD: Full bar service during happy hour in the lounge, including coughtails and Piper Heidsieck NV.

This seems like a very old hotel as the facade looks rather jaded. However it has been renovated and so feels pretty new. My room was very modern with a good sized plasma tv; the decor fits my desire for something stylish and minimalist. The bed was very comfy, however the quilt was a little on the thin side.

The bathroom was extremely small, with a combined shower/bath. It was well-stocked with amenities from Crabtree & Evelyn, and some Japanese brand.

The service at this hotel is pretty efficient, for example my request for an adapter was responded to literally seconds after I've got off the phone. The staff are very friendly and always eager to assist, with particular kudos for the very resourceful concierge staff. Somehow I felt more at ease with the staff here than at the IC Tokyo Bay where I stayed in Feb - the staff were polite in the usual Japanese manner at the Hilton but it didn't feel like they were being over the top, whereas the IC had lots of surplus staff milling around aimlessly and whose only job is to bow and greet guests.

The rate is also quite reasonable unlike the Conrad, and is extremely good value for what you get. I'm one very satisfied guest thus far and will happily return to the Hilton Tokyo on future visits.

Next: JL719 NRT-SIN J

 

[littl_flier]

QF009, great start to to TR. Enjoy the trip!

And thanks for the report on the new CX J. It looks like I'll miss the new product this year and end up with the old, but maybe that's not such a bad thing from what you say?

 

[Keith009]

It looks like I'll miss the new product this year and end up with the old, but maybe that's not such a bad thing from what you say?

I suppose for long haul travel the flat bed is important. Not so much for a regional flight like HKG-NRT. It's just not as good a flat bed as flat beds on airlines like NZ and BA, and is very uncomfortable when in seat mode.

 

[Evan]

In the last 10 days having done 3 CX flights on regional J aircraft and 1 on international J aircraft i can say if its a daytime flight i find the regional product fine. Comfortable. Its QF J skybed which i think is fantastic but its fine.

On that note i don't think too much of the JL J , older style i guess, its on the 767's that fly KIX-SIN-KUL and back, its is only ok, its only a regional J product.

E

 

[littl_flier]

In the last 10 days having done 3 CX flights on regional J aircraft and 1 on international J aircraft i can say if its a daytime flight i find the regional product fine. Comfortable. Its QF J skybed which i think is fantastic but its fine.

Thanks Evan and QF009. It'll be the A340-600 HKG-JFK (a very long day flight) which has the Old New Business Class. I was really looking forward to the new product but like QF009 mentioned, you can't see out the window and it can be a bit claustrophobic. Maybe forward facing is better for seeing the Arctic. I don't think it's lie flat but maybe sleep is for whimps! :mrgreen:

(and I'm a big one so I'll need to man up)

Cheers guys!

 

[pblackm]

Sorry am new here. What is a DONE4?

 

[Evan]

Hi pblackm,

Welcome to AFF, its a long thread but this should give some idea of the strange speak we all use
http://www.frequentflyer.com.au/community/your-questions/abreviations-and-explanations-5056.html

A DONE4 is a D class (business) ONE world explorer fare for 4 continents
oneworld - oneworld Explorer

E

 

[littl_flier]

Sorry am new here. What is a DONE4?

Hi pblackm. Welcome to AFF!

A DONE4 is a business class around the world airfare.

L- Econ
D- Bus
A- First

ONE- Oneworld Explorer

3/4/5- Number of continents used in the fare.

 

[pblackm]

Thanks Guys! I have done a few of these in the last eight years. I'll look at the link you suggested for the strange-speak.

 

[NYCguy]

Thanks Evan and QF009. It'll be the A340-600 HKG-JFK (a very long day flight) which has the Old New Business Class. : Maybe forward facing is better for seeing the Arctic.

What time of year are you flying? Don't forget that there is little Arctic daylight during the Northern winter.

 

[simongr]

Interesting stuff on the CX product - I too have the CX HKG-JFK flight, but when I checked the EF seat map it seemed to show the new new business class. That is on the 773 though...

 

[Evan]

It is a lucky dip when flying CX as to what config you get a lot of the time.
Generally i have not flown much long haul CX< nearly all regional so when you get a long haul config its just a nice supprise.

E