Category: Japan

B777: UA vs AC smackdown, I mean, comparison

Last week I flew AC1 YYZ-NRT and UA803 NRT-SIN (and vice versa on UA804 and AC2)
Flights on each airline were on similar 777 aircraft.
All my notes below (except the obvious) are for Economy/Plus.

Air Canada

  • 777-300ER, 2 class config: a double Excecutive First lie-flat, then Economy
  • Economy is 3-3-3 seating
  • 18AB and 18JK are great seats because there is no 3rd seat and the bulkhead gives lots of leg room
  • Tight legroom in economy
  • Power ports at 2 out of 3 seats, inc. a USB port
  • Personal TV/IFE
  • All alcohol free
  • Food was better than expected
  • Friendly flight attendants

United Airlines

  • 777-200 premium, 3 class config: lie flat in Global First, lie flat in Business First, then Economy Plus and Economy
  • Economy is 3-3-3 seating
  • 20AB and 20JK are great seats because there is no 3rd seat and the bulkhead gives lots of leg room
  • Good legroom in Economy Plus (but tight in regular Economy, also known as E-Minus :-)
  • Power ports, but no USB port
  • Personal TV/IFE
  • Beer/wine free, but not hard liquor/liqueur
  • So-so food
  • Pleasant flight attendants

Overall, the experience on Air Canada was better, though if I didn’t have the bulkhead row, I’d prefer Economy Plus on United for the extra legroom.

Let the insanity begin: 2 day mileage run YYZ-NRT-SIN-NRT-YYZ

Won’t even be leaving the airport, as I have a 6 hour room booked inside SIN airport (S$47/US$38 for budget single, i.e. shared bathroom)

19,448 miles round trip.

Interestingly, YYZ now has a Nexus security lane even at the international (non-US) departures, at least in T1 from where AC flies.
The Maple Leaf lounge puts out lunch (and alcohol) at 11am, so I’ll have 15-30 minutes to enjoy that before heading to the gate.

map

in NRT – in the ANA lounge

Wow, the United service (in economy plus) was pretty marginal on this 6.5 hour flight from SIN-NRT. I think my flight attendant was having a bad day :-)

Skipped the lesser United Club (big lineup to get in) which is right after the international transfer security checkpoint, and went straight to the ANA (*A Gold) lounge, which is much nicer, less crowded and with better food and drink selection (although no windows). I should have done this on my way back from Seoul last fall!

I have about an hour and a half to kill in here before I need to board the next leg to SFO.

Fast internet connection in here.

I’m going to upload some photos from Singapore – I was organizing and reducing resolution on the best ones during the flight (an ongoing process – I did that on the MRT and bus yesterday too). At least until I depleted my netbook battery, that is.

Tokyo airport lounges

I experienced 2 very different airport lounges in Tokyo, one in each direction, as a Star Alliance gold member).

  • Going east, I used the Asiana lounge, which was modern (apparently renovated after the earthquake earlier this year), and full of surprises: self-sever sake bar, cooked-to-order noodle resto, a good variety of food and drinks (alcoholic and non)
  • Going west, I used the United Club, which, while large, wasn’t much different than a United Club on American soil: a small selection of self-serve alcohol, limited food selection (some maki sushi, soup, cheese and crackers)

Frankly, I was disappointed that I didn’t get to go back to the Asiana lounge on my 6 hour layover coming back westbound.