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    Blood-brain barrier

    With a bunch of college friends in NJ, and probably going down to DC overnight before heading up to the City.



    My poor friends in Dallas are wondering whether I’m actually planning to see them (still am!) or it was all just a scam. Someday I’ll tell you about trying to use my JAL mileage club/credit card to get a ticket through JAL America. (See, it’s a foreign-issued credit card–no, I’m not joking; I can’t use my JAL card to order a JAL ticket on-line or over the phone if the flight originates outside Japan. You know, you think you have all the dumb-ass rules figured out after eight years of no-you-can’t-do-that, but there’s always one lying in wait somewhere. Luckily, there’s a JAL office in New York, so I plan to stand in the middle of it and scream until someone issues me a ticket–with miles, honey–on the card issued by his own airline.)



    28 November 11:30 EST

    8 Responses to “Blood-brain barrier”

    1. John says:

      Dang. My company just switched from ANA to JAL as the preferred carrier, and I for a moment there I was hoping that JAL would be an improvement. What, was I brain dead?

    2. Sean Kinsell says:

      Well, if it’s any consolation, once JAL decides you’re cool enough for it to take your money and you actually get on the plane, the experience is as good as commercial airlines get. Well, few cute guys in the cabin crew, but I’m guessing that’s not high on your list of priorities, anyway.

    3. Dean Esmay says:

      Too bad you won’t be anywhere near Michigan. :-/

    4. John says:

      “Well, few cute guys in the cabin crew, but I’m guessing that’s not high on your list of priorities, anyway.”
      Hah. Nor cute girls neither. One of the first dates I took my wife on was to the pistol range.
      ANA has one of the best experiences as well, plus 180 degree reclines in 1st class. I suspect JAL and ANA don’t differ much in that regard, in fact they used to be the same airline, didn’t they?
      When are you in NYC? Might have to travel there for business soon.

    5. Sean Kinsell says:

      Was your wife a flight attendant? Or did you just want her to be a gun fan as opposed to cute?
      JAL has the capsule seats now, too, as you surmised. Very nice. And I’m in NY right now, until Thursday-ish. But after this coming weekend, I’ll be back in Tokyo.

    6. Mrs. du Toit says:

      We’re waiting patiently. Excited, but patient.

    7. John says:

      She wasn’t a flight attendant. That question might irritate her more than the “are you Thai?” she usually gets from strangers (she looks SE Asian). She always replies: “you’re half right, Taiwanese”.
      As for the guns, it’s just that she’s likely to wing me if I ogle the flight attendants too much.
      Unfortunately trip to NY is cancelled. Might see you in Tokyo, though.

    8. Sean Kinsell says:

      Ah. It was these sentences that got me:
      “Nor cute girls neither. One of the first dates I took my wife on was to the pistol range.”
      So the meaning was something like, “My wife has a gun, so I’m not allowed to ogle flight attendants.” Got it. I was a little confused at first. :)