In-flight meals packed with California specialities and classic flavors
Once everyone had boarded, all that was left was to wait for the flight to begin. The cabin was filled with excitement and a little tension, when MIYAVI made a surprise announcement.
"The flight to Los Angeles is scheduled to take 45 hours (laughs). It's a short time, but please enjoy the wonderful journey and the beautiful scenery," he said, weaving in some unique jokes as he sent us off. By the way, the actual flight time for the "Enjoy a Chartered Overseas Trip! ~California~" is three and a half hours.
The plane takes off at 12:20. The plane I boarded is a Boeing 767-300ER, designed for international flights. This type of aircraft is not available for domestic travel, and each seat is equipped with its own monitor.
It was starting to rain lightly on the ground, but just as Dewey had said, once we cleared the clouds we were greeted by a clear, blue sky that brightened our moods.
Then it was time for the long-awaited in-flight meal. A special menu was prepared for this tour, allowing you to enjoy California with all your senses.
The appetizer was a Caesar salad with a subtle herb-scented dressing, followed by guacamole, a popular dish in California, a region famous for its avocados. The main course was grilled chicken topped with plenty of chili con carne, a national dish of America. The tomato flavor was concentrated and the spiciness was mild, making it a dish that even children could enjoy.
For dessert, we had a mousse made with oranges, a specialty of California. The refreshing sweetness and sourness of the oranges left a clean feeling in the mouth.
While you eat, images of California's majestic scenery and popular spots are displayed on the monitor, making you feel like you are really there.
There will also be a fun raffle in the sky with special prizes
The flight continues with Captain Nakatani making a joke, "I can see California outside the window. It looks like there's snow on the ground now (it's actually Cape Erimo in Hokkaido)."
The main event on board, the raffle, began around 2 p.m. A total of 40 people will win prizes, including a set of California wine and an American Airlines original wine opener, a California Tourism Board T-shirt and towel set, 5,000 e JAL points, and a stuffed toy of JAL's original character Shirotan.
Every time the flight attendant announced the winning seat number, the cabin erupted in applause. The winning passengers were then given a voucher.
After flying from Tokyo to the Tohoku region and then turning around in Hokkaido, we landed at Narita Airport at 3:30 p.m. After disembarking, we had our passports stamped again at the immigration counter reserved for tour passengers.
The customers who won the lottery exchanged their vouchers for prizes as they left the arrival lobby. When the staff congratulated them, everyone looked a little embarrassed.
The air trip that made me think, "I want to go to California"
Participants were also given souvenirs to commemorate their flight. In addition to original goods such as a Japan Airlines x American Airlines flight tag, a tote bag, and a California Tourism Board coaster set, the gift also included American Airlines mileage points (5,000 miles), California craft beer, and California almonds. It looks like you'll be able to enjoy the feeling of traveling even after you return home.
When we spoke to Kutsuna and his son, who were also on the tour, they revealed that they were enchanted by California, saying, "MIYAVI's talk was friendly and fun, and it made me want to actually go there when I'm able to travel abroad again."
Kojima, who had tried to enter the charter flight lottery several times in the past, was finally able to participate this time. He expressed his joy, saying, "It's been a while since I've had an in-flight meal, and it was fun to fly on a route that I don't usually fly. If there's another charter flight tour, I'd definitely like to participate."
In the current climate where it is difficult to travel abroad, JAL is planning to continue planning charter flights with a country or region theme to give customers a taste of being overseas. Whether you love airplanes or travel, we are sure that all of our customers will have a special day that will remain in their memories. We look forward to your participation.
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The contents published are accurate at the time of publication and are subject to change.
