Flights booked on Expedia through OneWorld Airlines
Narita International, Tokyo, Japan – Hong Kong International, Hong Kong
25th March, 14:20 – 18:55 (5hr 35m), Cathay Pacific
Hong Kong International, Hong Kong – London Heathrow, UK
25th March – 26th March, 22:40 – 06:15 (14hr 35m), Cathay Pacific
London Heathrow, UK – Dublin, Ireland
26th March 2023 08:55 – 10:20 (1hr 25m) British Airlines
We said a sad goodbye to a rainy Tokyo on our final day and hopped on our last train of our adventure – back on the Narita Express to Narita International Airport. We left enough time to have a good gander around the gift shops after security and picked up a few extra presents for friends and family.
Vegan Keema Curry, Cafe & Bar Avion, Terminal 1, 3rd Floor Narita International Airport
We were delighted to find some vegan lunch too, in Café & Bar Avion (Terminal 1, 3rd Floor). With great view of the planes taking off, and a fantastic 70s rock soundtrack, we enjoyed the soy meat vegan keema curry, as we soaked up our last moments in Japan.
Little did we know, our flight from Tokyo to Hong Kong was to be delayed. At least there were announcements keeping us updated, informing us that it was ‘due to aircraft maintenance’. It ended up delayed for a number of hours, they put out complementary drinks and snacks for us at the gate, which happened to be vegan friendly, so that was very welcome.
Finally on our first flight, delayed by a couple of ours, we were a little anxious about making our connection (again!). Settled into our seats, our meal on the first flight was quinoa and vegetables, with a side salad of chickpeas, cucumber and peppers and a bread roll too. It was okay. As anticipated, our connection was very tight. However, announcements on the flight reassured us that arrangements would be made for people with connections. As we stepped off the flight, there were ground staff with lists of people for each connecting flight, and we were escorted (very quickly!), to our flight. It was a massive relief and a huge contrast to our experience with Turkish Airlines when our flight from Dublin to Istanbul was delayed and as a result we missed our connecting flight. Due to the OneWorld arrangement, this time, we were looked after.
Boiled vegetables, salad and fruit salad; beans, tomatoes, wedges, fruit salad, Hong Kong – London Heathrow, Cathay Pacific
We got settled on our flight from Hong Kong to London Heathrow which set off on time. We had two meals on this flight, and both were a bit bland, first was boiled vegetables and potatoes with a lemon, salad and fruit salad, the second which was breakfast, was tomatoes, aubergine, haricot beans, mushrooms and potato wedges, with a fruit salad.
Beyond Meat Breakfast Sandwich, Starbucks, London Heathrow
We arrived in London Heathrow on time and got through their disorganised security system. First hurdle was getting through the electronic passport gates, with very few staff around, they didn’t realise when someone needed assistance, and as signs were unclear as to whether boarding cards or passports were to be scanned where, there was a delay as people waited a while for someone to be on hand to help. Once through that part, they had an experimental security system in place which was causing further queues – instead of removing liquids and electronics etc they were to be left in the bags and went through the Xray machine. Every single bag was then getting flagged to then be physically gone through. It was inefficient.
When we were finally through, we were able to relax as we were on our last leg of our journey and I, in particular, didn’t have to be back for anything. Poor Oliver had to go back to work the next day. After our strange bland breakfast on the plane we went to find some food. I would normally frequent Starbuck’s but we made an exception here. At least they can be relied upon to have vegan options. We enjoyed a Beyond Meat Breakfast Sandwich as well as a hot coffee, before our final flight.
After a quick flight from London to rainy Dublin, and hopping in a taxi, as we passed the Convention Centre in Dublin, we could see cherry blossom trees in bloom through the smeared raindrops making their tracks down the taxi window. Reminding us of the cherry blossom we’d seen around Japan.
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The Greedy Herbivore 