Details

Written by Darren Ho

Created: 01 November 2014

I received business class lounge access in terminal 3 of the Tokyo Narita airport. The lounge is called “Sakura”. The lounge is located near the entry of customs.

When entering there is a counter where you provide you ticket to validated you of your access. For first class passengers – they were on the top level while business class was an elevator that goes downstairs.

I arrived downstairs and the lounge is actually quite large.

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Details

Written by Darren Ho

Created: 27 October 2014

Date: 29^th September, 2014

Route: Chicago to Tokyo

Class: First

Duration of Flight: 12 hours

Check-In

At the Chicago O’Hare International Airport Terminal 3 – I went to the Japan Airlines (JAL) check-in. There was no one there on any classes even though there was a separate class for First. As I was flying to Sydney via Tokyo all on Japan Airlines my check-in luggage would be going through all the way to Sydney.

The departure gate for Japan Airlines is K19 for today. It is right next to the American Flagship Lounge for First Class. I have written in a previous post about this lounge. This disappointing lounge does not reflect the excellence of Japan Airlines itself.

The departure ended up being an hour late due to a malfunction with the check-in system. As a first class passenger – I boarded after the kids/special needs entered the aircraft first.…

Details

Written by Darren Ho

Created: 25 October 2014

Date: 29/9/2014

The American Airlines Flagship lounge is located next to gate K19 in Terminal 3 in O’Hare Airport. I am provided this First Class lounge access as I was flying Japan Airlines First Class from Chicago to Tokyo.

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Details

Written by Darren Ho

Created: 25 October 2014

Date: 25^th to 29^th September, 2014

Cost: $240 AUD per night

I was searching for a hotel near the O’Hare Airport in Chicago as I had a seminar in the Marriott O’Hare hotel. After researching some hotels in the O’Hare/Rosemont area in Chicago – I finally decide to go with Loewes O’Hare hotel. Why you may ask? Well one of my pet-hates is an old hotel with old furnishings. There were 16 hotels on Tripadvisor in the Rosemont area – with none of the Hilton or Hyatts that were ranked as high as Loewes hotel. The Hilton and Hyatts usually near the hotels in the States are old and below-par. That is usually why they are very cheap – you can get them at $100 per night.…

Details

Written by Darren Ho

Created: 25 October 2014

I am probably biased because I was born in Hong Kong but have lived in Sydney all my life – I can’t get enough of the city. I have probably been there 10 times in the last 10 years. Every time I leave the city – I feel a bit sad – but know that I will be back.

I’ve been to many countries and cities around the world – but if there was one place I could live apart from Sydney with my family – then it would be hands down Hong Kong.

When you walk the streets and the shopping malls you can feel an instant energy. Hong Kong is always changing with the times and trends so every time I go back there is always something new to see and do. There is no other city in the world that compares.

My second favourite city is Tokyo with the futuristic buildings and cultural heritage and incredible Japanese food. But why Hong Kong I think tops Tokyo is the food. There is just so much more variety in Hong Kong than Tokyo. Tokyo is incredible for of course the Japanese food – but Hong Kong does all cuisines around the world just as good in my opinion.

The chinese food is great, the western choices fantastic and even does Japanese food really well. I love my congee and wonton noodles so will eat that at every chance I get. The buffets in the hotels are out of this world – try the Shangri-la Island buffet – simply incredible. Sydney hotel buffets could learn a thing or two from the buffet choice offered in Hong Kong.…

Details

Written by Darren Ho

Created: 19 October 2014

Date 25/9/2014

Duration: 15 hours

Departure Time: 6:25pm

My flight from Hong Kong to Chicago was 15 hours which made it my longest flight on a plane yet. This gives a person definitely enough time to experience what Business Class has to offer you.

Seat

The seat is similar to the Sydney to Hong flight I had earlier – it was spacious and had enough room for me to pull out my laptop and work. Since this was a longer flight – I was able to turn the seat into a flat bed to experience sleeping on this product.…