Japan Airlines Tokyo to Nagoya to Bangkok and Thai Airways to Phuket

Our flight left the Tokyo Haneda airport early around 8am. We took a taxi from the Conrad and it only took about 20 minutes if that. Our flight left the domestic terminal because we had to connect in Nagoya first. But we had to use a special "international connections" check-in desk and it was so incredibly slow. Most of the people in the line were going to Bangkok just like us. There was no business class line or anything separate. It was a joke and it was a good thing we arrived a little early. 

We were very hungry and bought some quick food snacks and coffee at some shop near our gate. Even though we were in the business class section, there was really no different service on this very short flight. The didn't serve anything. The flight time was around 40 minutes. 

view from seat 1A

Tokyo to Nagoya on a 737-800

the very busy international terminal at Haneda

arrival at Nagoya

We had about a 1:15 layover in Nagoya. We headed straight to the Sakura Lounge and I was able to get some real food for breakfast. They had curry and I was so happy. The lounge had great views of the international gates. Our 787-8 to Bangkok was sitting right out front. The business class seats were arranged 2x2x2 and they were actually very comfortable for a 5.5 hour flight.

tons of legroom

view from row 2

pushback

Of course I ordered the Japanese meal

The food was very good

The dessert was just ok. 

At Haneda, JAL was not able to tag our bags all the way to Phuket, so we had to collect our bags in Bangkok. Then we had to walk back upstairs and check in at the domestic area. I planned for this in case JAL couldn't or wouldn't check our bags all the way, so we had several hours before our flight to Phuket. We went to the domestic Royal Silk Lounge and had some food. I wasn't too thrilled about being on yet another Thai Airways A330-300, but at least we weren't at a bus gate. We were 2 for 2 for actual gates and not bus gates at BKK. That's never happened to me before. Then I walked on the plane to a very pleasant surprise. A brand new business class seat and configuration that I've never seen before was on this plane. We had seats in the center section and the seats are really neat. They are a staggered 1x2x1 followed by 1x2x2. It's kind of odd, but so much better than their really old A330 seats. 

The seats were very comfortable for a flight that was just over an hour long. They had a complete meal service, with no choice of entree. It was actually quite tasty and that was our dinner that day. The dessert was this delicious rambutans on a coconut milk ice cream. They even had coffee and tea after the meal. All this on a flight that was just over an hour long.