RTW TP Run in Jan 2026: Day 174 – London Heathrow (LHR) to Tokyo Haneda (HND)

The shuttle took about 5 mins or so to reach T5 and we were dropped off at the north end of BA’s main terminal hub. So, it took a good few mins to walk down to The First Wing.

Even so, I still had to wait a good 5 mins before TFW opened up and then there were only two check-in agents and quite a few passengers ahead of me. I decided to head out to look for an alternative check-in opportunity.

I tried a check-in kiosk, and that worked fine. The flimsy paper boarding pass was rubbish but it was enough to get me airside.

The lounges were not due to open until 5am, so I wandered around the very quiet terminal until closer to the time. By the time we were allowed in, there were a good few passengers waiting to get into the lounge.

I was first into the CCR and I grabbed my normal seat. I caught up with a sleepy wife and picked up a Starbucks, before heading down to Gate C65 for my flight to Tokyo.

It was stifling at the gate on the south-facing side. Why the terminal doesn’t have air con or at least blinds to reduce the effects of the sun, I don’t know.

I had to suggest to the gate staff that they should allow us to go down a level where there was more shade. There was a mother and a new born that seemed to me to be struggling.

Eventually we were allowed on board and on into seat 01A, ready for my flight to Haneda.

The aircraft was an A350-1000 with the latest Club World suite. Nothing desperately special now but nice nonetheless.

I was offered a pre-flight drink and a menu. I settled down and we pushed back on time.

It was a busy queue of aircraft waiting to take off. I was keen to start eating into the almost 13 hour flight to Japan.

Nuts went down nicely, as did another bucks fizz. Early lunch was served which comprised some vaguely Japanese fish dishes, and nice enough.

I was already looking forward to my first Starbucks at Ariake Gardens, near to the Doubletree where I would be staying overnight.

I tried sleeping but struggled to distract my mind from the bad taste left in my mouth from the planning inquiry.

It just beggars belief how the LPA can keep avoiding being held accountable for its poor lack of judgement and poor advice from its legal counsel.

I watched Zodiac and after another failed attempt at sleeping I watched Charlie Wilson’s War.

Both truly historic films in many senses. Thoroughly enjoyable films.

As a result of not being able to sleep, I decided I may as well write up my closing statement for the Inquiry. That was a little cathartic in some respects.

I don’t often fly eastwards, and certainly not as far east as this! I started monitoring the IFE map and noticed that as the sun rose, we flew directly above Seoul.

That’s going to be one of our destinations next year when our family heads out to Australia for an outback tour of Western Australia.

The captain kept the seat belt signs on for long periods, as we flew threw some extended turbulence. He seemed to be overly cautious, especially compared to some airlines I’ve flown on recently.

We flew past Mount Fuji as we approached Tokyo Haneda. I overheard some entertaining discussion from a family behind me as they struggled to get their kids to take photos as we flew past.

It was a little cloudy and the relatively small size of the windows was a noticeable factor, especially when trying to take photos at a slight angle. I guess that’s a minor advantage of the 787 over the A350.

A series of left hand turns allowed us to land on a westerly runway at Haneda Airport, Tokyo.

Taxiing was very quick and we parked up at Gate 149.