Where we stayed, how we got there.

Chase Sapphire Lounge at PHX: 2-hour Priority Pass wait, heated buffet plates, and food that beats Centurion. Worth it if you have time.

Singapore Airlines First Class dining from Narita: Book the Cook lobster, green tea Mont Blanc, sukiyaki, and $300 champagne before takeoff.

Singapore Airlines First Class from Narita to LAX: 4-seat cabin, Lalique amenity kits, thick bed pad, honeymoon cake with dry ice, and LAX escort.

ANA Suite Lounge at Narita: quieter than the regular lounge, good a la carte menu, same showers. Honest verdict: good, not groundbreaking.

Singapore Airlines Business Class on the Singapore-Narita red-eye: SilverKris Lounge pre-flight, Penhaligon's kit, Bak Chor Mee, and Beef Rendang.

SilverKris Lounge at Changi T3: a massive bar, lemongrass chicken satay, Mala chicken, and the best lounge food we have eaten anywhere.

SilverKris Lounge T2 at Changi: impeccably clean, quiet atmosphere, a great pork noodle station, and only 3 shower booths.

ANA Business Class from Narita to Singapore: older seat product, fresh sashimi Japanese meal vs. dry Western, and DIY mimosas to start.

ANA Lounge at Narita: turn left for the quiet zone with a second buffet, skip the crowds, order ramen by QR code, and use the Dyson shower rooms.

ANA The Room dining from SFO to Narita: Japanese vs. Western taste test. Japanese wins every time: fresh sashimi, perfect rockfish, mackerel breakfast.

ANA The Room Business Class: backwards-facing seat, Globe-Trotter amenity kit, Suite doors, painfully slow Wi-Fi, and 10 hours that flew by.

United Polaris Lounge at SFO: massive space with an escalator, skip the buffet, put your name on the dining room list the moment you arrive.