1回目の機内食は和食を選びました。
見た目も美しく、バランスよくまとまった内容で、どの料理も美味しくいただけました。特に印象的だったのは、量がちょうど良かったことです。
これまでJALのファーストクラスを利用した際は、どの料理も美味しい反面、食事の量が多く、60歳を過ぎた今では食べ切るのが大変でした。その点、今回の機内食は最後まで無理なく楽しめる量で、とても満足できました。
For the first in-flight meal, I chose the Japanese meal. It was beautifully presented, well balanced, and every dish was delicious. I especially appreciated that the portion size was just right—not too much, not too little.On my previous flights in JAL First Class, every dish was delicious, but the portions were always quite generous, and now that I’m over 60, it has become difficult to finish everything. This time, however, the meal was perfectly portioned, allowing me to enjoy every course comfortably from start to finish. I was very satisfied with the dining experience.
2回目の食事は、アラカルトメニューから「鯖とうなぎの押し寿司」、漬物、味噌汁を注文しました。
押し寿司と漬物はどちらも美味しく、軽食としてちょうど良い内容でした。ただ、味噌汁は少し味噌の風味が薄く感じました。決して美味しくないわけではありませんが、もう少し出汁の旨みが効いていれば、さらに満足度が高くなったと思います。
特に海外生活が長い人や外国人には、少し味が物足りなく感じるかもしれません。
For my second meal, I chose the Pressed Mackerel and Eel Sushi, accompanied by Japanese pickles and miso soup from the à la carte menu.
The pressed sushi and pickles were both excellent and just the right amount for a light meal. The only area that could be improved was the miso soup. While it was certainly enjoyable, I felt that the miso flavor was slightly understated. A richer dashi broth would have enhanced the overall taste and made it even more satisfying.
Guests who have spent many years living overseas, as well as international travelers who may be less familiar with delicate Japanese flavors, might find the soup a little too mild.
他のアラカルトメニューも試してみたかったのですが、年齢のせいか思った以上にお腹がいっぱいになり、今回は断念しました。
I would have loved to try more of the à la carte offerings, but I felt surprisingly full, perhaps because of my age, so I decided to leave them for a future flight.
あと3時間弱で成田に到着です。機内も少しずつ明るくなり始めたので、そろそろ身支度を始めようと思います。
余談ですが、今回も機内販売で森伊蔵を購入しました。本来は1人1本までですが、今回は内緒で2本購入することができました（笑）。本当は3本欲しかったのですが、さすがにビジネスクラスはファーストクラスのようにはいきませんでした。
さて、シートについてですが、正直かなり狭く感じました。リクライニングしてフラットにはなるものの、体格の大きい私には寝返りを打つのも一苦労です。
さらに困ったのが収納スペースの少なさ。財布やスマートフォン、イヤホンなど、バッグから取り出した小物を置く場所がほとんどなく、使い勝手の面では少し不便に感じました。
一方で、客室乗務員のサービスはとても丁寧で、細かな気配りが印象的でした。「感動するほど」というわけではありませんが、終始安心して過ごせる心地よいサービスだったと思います。これはANAにも共通して言えることですが、日本の航空会社は乗っているだけで自然と気持ちが落ち着きます。
We have just under three hours left before arriving at Narita. The cabin is gradually getting brighter, so it’s probably time to freshen up and get ready for landing.
On a side note, I bought another bottle of Mori Izo from the duty-free selection, just as I did on my previous flight. Although the official limit is one bottle per passenger, I somehow managed to buy two this time—our little secret! (LOL) I was actually hoping to get three, but unlike First Class, Business Class apparently has its limits.
As for the seat, I have to admit that it felt quite cramped. Although it reclines into a fully flat bed, it was difficult for someone of my build to even turn over comfortably while sleeping.
On the other hand, the cabin crew provided consistently warm and attentive service throughout the flight. While it wasn’t the kind of service that leaves you absolutely amazed, it was thoughtful, professional, and made me feel comfortable from beginning to end.
The same can be said of ANA as well—there’s something about flying with Japanese airlines that naturally puts me at ease.
Another drawback was the lack of storage space. There was hardly anywhere to place small personal items such as my wallet, smartphone, and earbuds after taking them out of my bag, which made the seat feel a little less practical than I had hoped.
ちなみに私には、ビジネスクラスやファーストクラスに搭乗する際の小さな習慣があります。搭乗前や機内販売でチョコレートや簡単なお菓子を購入し、担当してくださるCAさんへ感謝の気持ちとしてお渡ししています。そして、できるだけ担当CAさんのお名前を覚え、名前でお呼びするようにしています。ちょっとしたことですが、お互いに気持ちよく過ごせるよう心掛けています。
By the way, I have a small tradition whenever I fly in Business or First Class. Before boarding, or sometimes through the onboard duty-free service, I buy a box of chocolates or a few small snacks as a token of appreciation for the cabin crew looking after me.
I also make an effort to remember the name of the flight attendant assigned to my seat and address them by name whenever possible. It may seem like a small gesture, but I believe these little acts of kindness help create a more pleasant and comfortable experience for both the passengers and the crew.
そして今、このブログを書いているのはJAL国内線のサクララウンジです。国内線ラウンジなので、ドリンクと簡単なスナック程度のサービスですが、利用者が少なく、ほとんど貸し切り状態。制限エリア内で周囲に店舗も少ないこともあり、とても静かで落ち着いた空間です。
And now, as I write this blog, I’m relaxing in the JAL Sakura Lounge for domestic flights.
Since it’s a domestic lounge, the amenities are fairly simple, with complimentary drinks and a selection of light snacks. However, there are very few passengers here at the moment, so it almost feels as if I have the lounge to myself.
Another reason I enjoy spending time here is its peaceful atmosphere. Because it’s located inside the secure area and there are only a few shops nearby, it’s remarkably quiet and makes for a perfect place to relax, catch up on some writing, or simply unwind before the next flight.
今回、7年ぶりにJALのビジネスクラスを利用しましたが、シートの狭さや収納スペースの少なさは気になったものの、機内食やサービスの質は十分満足できる内容でした。快適な空の旅を支えてくれたJALの皆さんに感謝しながら、日本での滞在を楽しみたいと思います。
This was my first time flying JAL Business Class in seven years. Although I found the seat a bit narrow and the lack of storage space somewhat inconvenient, I was very satisfied with both the quality of the meals and the excellent service throughout the flight.
As I begin my stay in Japan, I’d like to express my sincere appreciation to everyone at JAL for making this journey such a comfortable and enjoyable one. I’m now looking forward to making the most of my time back in Japan.
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