British Airways

1136 Reviews

Star Travel Rating

4/5

Review type

Airline

Location

Date of travel

February, 2016

Product name

Product country

Product city

Travelled with

Partner

Reasons for trip

We chose our favourite airline, British Airways, to fly from London Heathrow to Toyko Haneda.

The business class section we were in had only six rows and a 2 – 4 – 2 configuration so it was an intimate affair. I personally like to sit in the pairs and so reluctantly paid £75 each to choose seats in advance, which I do balk at having paid out for business class tickets. Roy still doesn’t know I do this: he just thinks we’re lucky!

We had champagne or juice before take off and were told our flight time to Tokyo Haneda would be 11 hours 25 minutes. Unfortunately two passengers failed to turn up and so had to wait until their baggage was unloaded. Consequently we lost our slot and left 30 minutes late.

We’d pre-booked meals for our outward journey and I had a delicious goat’s cheese salad with blood orange dressing whilst Roy got into the mood with a selection of Japanese appetisers. He then went back to traditional cuisine with a tender seared fillet of British beef and I settled for a light, cold main of roasted prawns and various dips. Wines were excellent and it took a paragraph to describe each one in the menu.

The in flight entertainment had a good choice of new films and whilst Roy watched Spectre (again), I enjoyed Steve Jobs with Kate Winslet.

However we wanted to hit the ground running when we arrived in Tokyo and tried to sleep as much as possible which was pretty easy as the flat beds are surprisingly long and comfortable even for a 6’2” man.

As usual, the Elemis wash bag with a range of goodies was quickly snaffled for use on weekend breaks.

We both declined breakfast just prior to landing as it’s the one meal I really detest on a flight. We arrived promptly at 7.45am having made up the time we’d lost.

The return journey was equally comfortable and, because we flew back in a different month, the films had been updated and I was able to enjoy Eddie Redmayne in The Danish Girl and a couple of other films as I wasn’t so obsessed about trying to sleep.

The food was delicious once again, and as we flew at 9.45am (Tokyo time) and landed at 12.45pm (London time and an hour early), we were served two three course meals. Once was described as lunch and the other a ‘light meal’ but basically both consisted of three courses.

Once again, BA served us well: I just wish they’d have the decency to allocate seats free of charge.

Helen Jackson

Join the club

Become a member to receive exclusive benefits

Our community is the heart of Silver Travel Advisor, we love nothing more than sharing ideas, inspiration, hints and tips between us.

Come feel the love on a Princess cruise. You’ll enjoy the MedallionClass experience others simply can’t, and it’s exclusively for everyone. Visit incredible destinations and be involved in the best experiences around each one of them.

Experience more with Princess and connect effortlessly with the world around you, spend time away with loved ones, take a moment for yourself, and fall in love with your holiday of a lifetime, every time.

With over 20 years of experience, Wendy Wu Tours has mastered the art of creating exceptional, fully inclusive tours which showcase the very best of each destination.

Each tour is led by a world-class guide, who will highlight the very best of their homeland, and includes authentic cultural experiences so you are not just seeing the sights, but truly immersing yourself in local life.

Say hello to ease at sea. Ambassador’s purpose is simple: they want to inspire every guest to experience authentic cruising, effortlessly and sustainably. Passionate about protecting our oceans and destinations, their ships comply with the highest industry emission standards and there is no single-use plastic on board.

On your voyage, you will receive the warmest of welcomes from the Ambassador community as you sail upon the friendliest ships afloat.

This is a global co-operative co-owned by local partners using real local experts and guides, which supports local communities, environments and wildlife. It offers travellers quirky places to stay, activity holidays and learning experiences. Not In The Guidebooks gets travellers off the beaten track into local culture with day experiences and longer, immersive adventures.

From wild wellness breaks in Wales to painting in Portugal, sustainable adventures in Mauritius to food safaris in Brazil, this is immersive, exciting travel.

Seabourn’s five intimate ships carry guests to the heart of great cities, exclusive yacht harbours and secluded coves around the world, while two new purpose-built expedition ships will combine exhilarating adventures in remote destinations with the sophisticated amenities of the world’s finest resorts at sea.

From the luxury of all suite accommodations to complimentary fine wines and spirits, and a no tipping policy, Seabourn exemplifies the definition of travelling well.