United Airlines First NRT-BKK

UA881
Tokyo - Bangkok
Boeing 777-200ER
N226UA
United Global First, Seat 2K
Flight time: 6.35h
Distance: 4'654km
Date: 12/09/12

"Planes change, values don't." And service remains mediocre as well.

Sayonara Japan! We'll meet again!

2 thumbs up for UA's modern seats (and 2 thumbs down for my photography skills)

A chilled appetizer consisting of garlic shrimp, smoked duck, a vegetable roll and edamame

Fresh seasonal greens with radish, bell pepper and crouton on a sesame vinaigrette

Main course with a glass of Californian Alexander Valley Vineyards Syrah 2008 and inedible garlic bread

Tasty braised short rib of beef with sweet and sour sauce, garlic mashed potatoes, peas and carrots

The only (big) con of the new seats: due to its inward-facing alignment the seats clearly lack of privacy. Why in the world would they do that?!

A scoop of vanilla ice cream with chocolate sauce for dessert. In first class? Seriously?

Full house on this flight

Bang Pu, Thailand. One of the many reasons for this trip :-) Smile high!

Asiana Airlines First ICN-NRT

OZ102
Seoul - Tokyo
Boeing 747-400
HL7418
Asiana First, Seat 2K
Flight time: 2.10h
Distance: 1'258km
Date: 12/09/12

Breakfast at Asiana First Class Lounge

Taittinger Comtes de Champagne 2000 with warm nuts to start the trip

My seat 2K

ICN airport is quite close to the North Korean coastline - a reason to worry for future flights with Asiana?

:-)

:-)

I was the only passenger in the first class cabin

Appetizer with a glass of red

Green salad with shrimps, sun-dried tomatoes, olives and a bit of Parmesan

Weird black sesame soup with nuts

A rather mediocre main course: Braised beef with ratatouille

And a fruity finish

Gotta love that Jackson-Triggs Vidal VQA Ice Wine 2007

The empty first class cabin felt like a giant private jet

Komatsu airport, Ishikawa Prefecture

:-)

Noto Peninsula, Ishikawa

1A

Oyabe River and the city of Takaoka

Toyama Bay

Gotta love the 747's nose

View from seats 4E & 4F

View from 4K

Oh the good life...

Nagano

:-)

Getting closer to Japan

Naka River and the city of Mito, Ibaraki Prefecture

On descent into Narita airport

Narita-san Shinsho-ji, Japan. One of the many reasons for this trip :-) Smile high!

Asiana Airlines First FRA-ICN

OZ542
Frankfurt - Seoul
Boeing 747-400
HL7423
Asiana First, Seat 1A
Flight time: 10.20h
Distance: 8'552km
Date: 10/09/12

Lufthansa Senator Lounge

Asiana amenity kit & pyjama

Main river and city of Wiesbaden (?) shortly after takeoff

:-)

Beautiful

Menu

<3

A bit outdated seat but still comfortable for relaxing

Gotta love Asiana's gold-striped pyjamas

:-)

Starter with a glass of Robert Keenan Winery Cabernet Sauvignon 2006

Potato cup and feta cheese with red and yellow pepper sauce

Salt & Pepper

Ossetra caviar

Caviar with garnishes

Actually it's only fish eggs

Way to go

Marinated salmon and halibut, poached scallops with saffron

Mushroom cream soup with croutons

Beef tenderloin steak served with peppercorn sauce and mushroom cream sauce, broccoli, carrot and potatoes

Passionfruit cake with raspberry sauce and a glass of the exceptional Jackson-Triggs Vidal VQA Ice Wine 2007 on the far right

Getting closer

After the massive dinner treat I opted for a rather light version of breakfast

Light load in first class (3/10)

The complete left hand side was mine

Incheon airport

Weird landing

Incheon airport once again

Actual route flown

Bukchon Hanok Village, Seoul, South Korea. One of the many reasons for this trip :-) Smile high!