Tips for making a loved one’s first J trip memorable

[smit0847]

Since discovering this site 4 years ago I’ve been taking J and F trips around the world regularly, mainly with my partner and best mate. My cousin, who I am VERY close to has been begging me to take him on one of these trips and said ‘whatever business class you can book cheap, I will come’. So, next month we’re off together to Japan and China on a mix of JL, CX, KA and QF - all J. It’s a pretty complex itinerary because of a number of reasons but he’s just as keen now as he was 10 months ago when he first raised it with me. I’ve done so many J and F flights over the past 3 years that it just seems like the normal way to travel (I haven’t done a long-haul Y flight since) and after recently going SQ F, flying J seems ‘just okay’. We’re mostly going to places I’ve been before (that he has now). I am looking forward to flying JAL for the first time and also my first long-haul QF J flight from HND-SYD.

He said to me the other day ‘I hope you’re still excited about our J trip after flying F because I can’t wait’. He’s had a million questions about what it will be like – what sorts of seats, the meals, the ‘free stuff’ etc. I am excited, more so because I think he’ll love it and I enjoy when my little hobby can help loved ones. I do have a few surprises up my sleeve assuming the scheduled aircraft/seat types stick. I don’t want to be the jaded boring traveller who’s ‘done it all before’ while he’s like a kid in a candy store.

I want to make it as special and memorable for him as possible. I’ve been through the usual pre-trip homework like allocating the best seats, checking the best lounge at each airport etc (I can’t wait to show him the QF lounge in HKG). Yes it would be nice to be able to show him an F lounge but Im only OWS and the chances of finding someone to guest both of us in is pretty remote (I am checking regularly though).

Any other suggestions on how to make it a great trip? Have you been in this situation before travelling with a newbie?

 

[opusman]

I think the best thing you can do is to act excited yourself. It's hard to stay enthused about something when your companion is acting bored and disinterested

I still remember my first J flight even though it was over 20 years ago on KLM in a non-flat seat. It will be memorable for him as long as your nonchalance isn't too obvious

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Since discovering this site 4 years ago I’ve been taking J and F trips around the world regularly, mainly with my partner and best mate. My cousin, who I am VERY close to has been begging me to take him on one of these trips and said ‘whatever business class you can book cheap, I will come’. So, next month we’re off together to Japan and China on a mix of JL, CX, KA and QF - all J. It’s a pretty complex itinerary because of a number of reasons but he’s just as keen now as he was 10 months ago when he first raised it with me. I’ve done so many J and F flights over the past 3 years that it just seems like the normal way to travel (I haven’t done a long-haul Y flight since) and after recently going SQ F, flying J seems ‘just okay’. We’re mostly going to places I’ve been before (that he has now). I am looking forward to flying JAL for the first time and also my first long-haul QF J flight from HND-SYD.

He said to me the other day ‘I hope you’re still excited about our J trip after flying F because I can’t wait’. He’s had a million questions about what it will be like – what sorts of seats, the meals, the ‘free stuff’ etc. I am excited, more so because I think he’ll love it and I enjoy when my little hobby can help loved ones. I do have a few surprises up my sleeve assuming the scheduled aircraft/seat types stick. I don’t want to be the jaded boring traveller who’s ‘done it all before’ while he’s like a kid in a candy store.

I want to make it as special and memorable for him as possible. I’ve been through the usual pre-trip homework like allocating the best seats, checking the best lounge at each airport etc (I can’t wait to show him the QF lounge in HKG). Yes it would be nice to be able to show him an F lounge but Im only OWS and the chances of finding someone to guest both of us in is pretty remote (I am checking regularly though).

Any other suggestions on how to make it a great trip? Have you been in this situation before travelling with a newbie?

The experience will speak for itself. You role is to guide your cousin to the best facilities on the ground (smoothing the airport process and finding the best lounges) and in the air (seats). Everything else will sort itself out. If there is some particular aspect to inflight service that should be sampled, you can also point that out (this wine is good, this cognac is good etc).

But also let your cousin explore the experience for themselves. Over-guide them and they will be living your view on the flight and service, not theirs.

 

[Denali]

If hes on Facebook/whatever, offer to take photos of him so he can share, ask the FAs to join in for pics - silly stuff like that.

For my husband, the trip starts when we leave home as we always use a driver service and he likes to get to the lounge early to enjoy as much as he can.

 

[Denali]

Oh and remember, cousins don't let cousins go to the toilets barefoot or with socks on!

Saw this yesterday (barefoot).... no. Just no!

 

[opusman]

Oh and remember, cousins don't let cousins go to the toilets barefoot or with socks on!

Saw this yesterday (barefoot).... no. Just no!

Unless it's the EK F bathroom that is

 

[vetrade]

But how old is your cousin?

 

[smit0847]

But how old is your cousin?

Im 31 he's 27

 

[vetrade]

Agree with other posters - while the novelty is still high get plenty of pics of him living it up in "luxury" on the plane and in the lounges etc. Probably J is just as foreign to his friends as it is to him so the pics give him "bragging rights". Secondly, show him the ropes as much as possible - you can bet he'll revel in whatever tips he can absorb from you. While he may not travel in J (or with you) again for a while, when he does he'll feel that much better about it if he knows he's not doing things like a newbie novice.

 

[harvyk]

I’ve done so many J and F flights over the past 3 years that it just seems like the normal way to travel (I haven’t done a long-haul Y flight since) and after recently going SQ F, flying J seems ‘just okay’. We’re mostly going to places I’ve been before (that he has now). I am looking forward to flying JAL for the first time and also my first long-haul QF J flight from HND-SYD.


<snip>

Have you been in this situation before travelling with a newbie?

Don't get too worried about not getting excited, most of my trips are solo trips, and there is a very different feel when you take people whom are not normally used to flying (pointy end or even full stop).

What ends up happening is their excitement rubs off on you. Things which you have become a little blasé about will again take on that wonderful feeling.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

What ends up happening is their excitement rubs off on you. Things which you have become a little blasé about will again take on that wonderful feeling.

It does?

I obviously need some happy pills. :-|

 

[robd]

I would suggest you go back and re-read your early posts where it was all new and exciting to you.

As much as it's a great personal experience, there is nothing better than taking a newbie along and enjoying their delight.

MUST HAVE champagne or drink of choice in lounge and pre-departure on board, regardless of time of day/morning/night.

 

[smit0847]

MUST HAVE champagne or drink of choice in lounge and pre-departure on board, regardless of time of day/morning/night.

Even if its at 7am on a Monday?! Its going to be a long flight!!

 

[robd]

Even if its at 7am on a Monday?! Its going to be a long flight!!

Yes, yes! I make a point of doing it every time. I didn't say drink yourself stupid. I just (still) think its such a treat to have the opportunity. It wasn't/wouldn't even be a thought if I was travelling in whY.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Even if its at 7am on a Monday?! Its going to be a long flight!!

~*++

~never too early to start drinking.
*no champagne in Qantas business lounges
++JL doesn't do pre-departure drinks in business class IIRC (or that might be a restriction ex Japan?)

 

[boomy]

Re: Tips for making a loved one’s first J trip memor

Don't get too worried about not getting excited, most of my trips are solo trips, and there is a very different feel when you take people whom are not normally used to flying (pointy end or even full stop).

What ends up happening is their excitement rubs off on you. Things which you have become a little blasé about will again take on that wonderful feeling.

Agree, this is probably the best advise.

I remember my first Int trip with +1 on QF J and how I was thinking meh, just another flight out of god knows how many I've done on QF but when I saw the excitement on her face once entering the F lounge it was contagious and made me feel excited about the whole experience all over again.

 

[Hvr]

Re: Tips for making a loved one’s first J trip memor

Firstly you're a great cousin for doing this. Secondly this is a chance to refresh your enthusiasm for travelling J through him.

You can lead him through various things such as the special check in desks and priority lines and then to the lounge.

When there ask him how he wants to spend his time perhaps guiding if he hasn't been aware of a special feature that he should at least be aware of.

Through sharing and teaching we often gain a new view of something that has previously seemed common place and maybe even mundane yet as you're finding out is very special to some one else.

I look forward to hearing about how it works out.

 

[kevrosmith]

Re: Tips for making a loved one’s first J trip memor

Having experienced some International F and J, and lots of Domestic J now, I'm looking forward to sharing the experience with my brother and his family in September. Due to some of QF's policies, I've had to booked my SIL and 6-YO niece into J and my brother and 2 nephews into Y (all reward seats) on their flight to visit me in CNS. I'll be joining them in J on the BNE-CNS sector from SYD.

Seeing I've done QF Domestic J many times, I'm hoping to let my brother take my seat up the front and I'll sit with the nephews (hopefully, I'll be able to secure row 4). But mostly I think, how fortunate is my niece to be in J and still only 6 years old!

I'm excited about the opportunity to share the experience with them, seeing that, after a while, even Domestic J really does become a bit hum-drum.

It really is First-World Problems when we become accustomed to something quite special, but I'm sure you will enjoy sharing the experience with your cousin.

 

[11sjw]

Re: Tips for making a loved one’s first J trip memor

Good on you for doing this.

Not sure how much time you have on the ground in HKG but why not try one or two of the CX Lounges as well as the QF Lounge. Your cousin may not get a chance to see them again for a while so check them out.

 

[smit0847]

Re: Tips for making a loved one’s first J trip memor

Thanks for all your suggestions and words of encouragement. I am very excited about the trip because I get to show him my world and I do think his enthusiasm will be contagious.

Im not sure if we'll have a glass of sparkling at 7am on a Monday - I guess we'll see how we feel. Its going to be quite a long day and I think I'll be asleep before lunch if I start drinking that early and then be groggy for the rest of the flight! I have heard JL doesnt serve pre-flight drinks so we will probably abstain until they serve lunch (which Im guessing with an 08:10 departure will be about 2 hours into the flight).

We have about 2 hours in HKG and as we're flying HKG-PVG its very likely to be delayed. We'll head to the QF lounge and if there's time prob the Bridge (I liked that more than the Wing J). The QF HKG lounge is probably my 2nd favourite J lounge in the world after TK's IST lounge. I think my cousins only been in a VA dom lounge once so these will be a big step up.

I think the little things like getting express passes, NC headphones and priority boarding will be quite exciting for him.