Champagne choices included Cristal 2009 and Bollinger Rose 2006. Everything from the tables to the decor looked positively untouched. (Any readers have flown both of these cabins, please feel free to chime in. Yeah, I wasn’t kidding when I said it’s a throne. Thrifty Tip: Not sure which Tokyo airport to fly int… Drool. She explained that the hard one is good for sleeping and the soft one is good for relaxation. This site is for entertainment purposes only. Please view our advertising policy page for additional details about our partners. The 777-300ER is a fixture of JAL’s long-haul fleet — the airline currently has 13 of them, and 4 of the non-ER 777-300. There are two lavatories, one larger than the other in the front of the cabin by the galley and flight deck. 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Responses have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the bank advertiser. Ben, you truly missed out by not having the Japanese meal option. Japan Airlines has reasonable Wi-Fi pricing to begin with (it’s $20 for the entire flight with no data caps), but on top of that first class passengers receive complimentary Wi-Fi. No variety, just exquisitely pretty women and no eye candy, no flirting for the bent! Why, you ask? Even above British Airways and American?!?! Japan Airlines offers everything from the latest pop tunes to traditional Japanese comic monologues (rakugo) OnDemand. Just got off JL F from JFK, RyuGin is gone. I first drank Cristal and then later had the Bollinger. Editorial Note: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities. Basically, it was a spa and restaurant in the sky. Oh please please please tell me you didn’t place your pajamas on the toilet lid for that photo unless those were a sacrificial pair. What really made the flight special was the meal service and the crew. 2X points on dining at restaurants including eligible delivery services, takeout and dining out and travel & 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases. Word spread I had the dorky solar eclipse glasses and met pretty much the whole crew on that flight including a co-pilot who came out to chat with me. The only options for US-Australia are CX and QF. I, being the neurotic person I am, already knew this, as I had researched extensively, but alas. Of course, I took my time to stretch out, get settled and explore all of the goodies. First Class. I then ordered a glass of Comtes, which according to the menu, was the gold winner in the International Wine Challenge in 2019. What is the rule of thumb for reward availability on JAL F? I was miserable the entire plane ride. I had a delicious Wagyu steak on the same route 10 months ago. If you aren’t an adventurous eater or from a similar culture, many of the dishes are pretty challenging. JAL is great and they release lots of award space last minute (unlike Cathay which has become much less predictable). In its inevitable, fully deflated position, your back arches deeply into the uncushioned seat. I asked the flight attendant which one she preferred, to which she said, “I prefer the ginger, but I’ll bring both for you!” First class has its perks — and yes, she was right about the ginger rice. The Wi-Fi was complimentary, although it kept cutting out — which was fine by me, since I really wanted to enjoy the flight without being glued to my phone. I’ll check tomorrow. And while I’ll talk about service below, I just have to point out in this context how good service was. CX has amazing lounges, and I like the 6-seat cabin on CX. Japan Airlines’ 777-300ER first class cabin. Note: Please see my Advertiser Disclosure. TOP; Service outline; Seats; Meals and beverages; Other services; Seats. Lucky I would love to have seen what the Japanese food selection was like the western looked good enough. There was a small case of gate lice, as to be expected, but everyone was orderly and waited in the appropriate lines. @Burg Nobu is Peruvian Japanese not American. Privacy dividers do slide up in the center section if you are traveling alone. I’ve always though JL F was superior to CX F, although it is admittedly close. We hope this will help you choose once we’re all ready to start booking trips again. This Review of Japan Airlines First Class, 777-300ER is from my recent 2017 flight from Tokyo to Los Angeles LAX.I had never flown JAL First Class, and I had pretty high expectations of the service and accommodations. There are a handful of ways to book, thanks to its partnerships and spot in the Oneworld alliance. “Please wait a moment. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). Absolutely loved it. I usually do ANA, but reading this review I am glad I made the choice I did. I hear it’s very regularly warm. Japan Airlines’ 777 first class cabin consists of a total of eight seats, spread across two rows in a 1-2-1 configuration. The bar didn’t open until 10. I didn’t want to fill up too much, either, since I knew I’d be eating nonstop for the next week. This also affects sleeping. You can see the details of which partners can be used for which regions on AS site. The movie and TV selections also struggled a bit. The cabin indeed warmer a bit. The first class seat aboard Japan Airlines is a massive upgrade over its business class seat. During the COVID-19 crisis, our team has temporarily ceased taking review trips. Flew LAX-NRT last year, had few glasses of Salon and it was delicious. maybe it’s my phone? Limited Time Offer: Earn 100,000 Marriott Bonvoy points | Terms Apply. As a first-class passenger, I had access to both sections, but I stayed in the first-class section. As you said spectacular food, service, and drinks. Japan Airlines First Class Lounge Narita. I’ve flown Japan Airlines first class several times before, though most recently in early 2015, so it has been a while. There are a few things in life I know to be true: I probably wouldn’t exist without coffee, any pizza is a personal pizza if you believe in yourself, and flying Japan Airlines in first class was one of the most amazing things to ever happen to me. Fast, free Wi-Fi. And, better pyjama. Typically, we don’t advise buying miles, since the value you get out of them isn’t worth it, but if you have a specific redemption in mind, like we did, then go for it. Speaking of TV, though, the IFE system could use a little work. The 777-300ER is a fixture of JAL’s long-haul fleet — the airline currently has 13 of them, and 4 of the non-ER 777-300. Big deal. even ANA / CX / LH / SQ i rate as A. QF/OZ/EY/CA are A-. (s8plus) but am curious how others have experienced…, @DenB “The problem with CX is the WiFi and the caviar spoon.”. JAL also has choice two mattress pads: hard and soft. The JAL Business Class Amenity Kits are quite different from other airlines. Earn 85,000 Membership Reward® points | Terms Apply. While it wasn’t 100% perfect, nothing is, and I couldn’t have asked for a better way to kick off my weeklong solo trip to Japan. Ok, the Royal Blue Tea is awesome. You thought the western food was good? The JL seat doesn’t suffer from this problem, in my experience. In Japanese, these small dishes are known as kozara. JAL and ANA have service that is truly extraordinary without having a product that is groundbreaking. How’d I do, Nicky Kelvin? Lucky, you should have asked Tiffany to review this, because JL offers the top notch Cle de Peau amenity kits for ladies, instead of the Shiseido for gentlemen. While we do try to list all the best miles and points deals, the site does not include all card companies or credit card offers available in the marketplace. 14h in JL F, a 2.5h turnaround time at CGK, a 3000 JPY dining voucher at NRT because the outbound flight NRT-CGK was delayed… One of my best value redemptions, beats the old 40k United TG F SYD-BKK any day. Outside of banner ads published through the Boarding Area network, this compensation does not impact how and where products appear on this site. They have the best service. Required fields are marked *. All in all, they weren’t kidding about being a restaurant in the sky. https://onemileatatime.com/best-first-class/. I’d been wanting to fly JAL first for years now, so when I was pondering ways to get back to the US, finding an award on the airline was top in my mind. They have nice mattress pads and let you choose whether you prefer a firm or soft one. Perhaps next time! The new color palette includes muted tones of gray and cream. For me between JL and CX, I do prefer JL. That's $750 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®. None of the other international FC (to list a few: Etihad, Emirates, Cathay, Korean, Asiana, BA, etc) I tried offers a soft mattress pad. Advertiser Disclosure: Some links to credit cards and other products on this website will earn an affiliate commission. According to JAL, the sky suite is the world’s largest relaxing space onboard. Usually, seats 1A and 1K are blocked off for seat selection online, as they are reserved for JAL elite members. I completely disagree with your assessment of mediocre but believe it or not Ben is entitled to have a different opinion than yours. This review has been edited from the original to reflect that Japan Airlines no longer serves Tokyo’s Narita airport from New York, but only Haneda — and that the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo have been postponed to 2021. Come prepared with a book … and also probably some melatonin. The seats have multiple reclining options and go completely flat when you want to sleep. I have flown them 5 times the last three years, each time catering and service were exceptional. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). I usually bring my own on long-haul flights — the stale air does wonders for your skin, let me tell you — so it was exciting to see such a thoughtful amenity here. Back then when JL was still routing their 77Ws to CGK, I hacked out a 30k AS routing for NRT-CGK-NRT-TPE. I have to say, this was the star of the show — I wasn’t expecting it to be amazing, but it was one of the best dishes I’ve ever had on a plane. The problem with CX is the WiFi and the caviar spoon. I like it more than CX. Reminder: OMAAT comments are changing soon. Food in Japan never disappoints. You just can’t train this sort of stuff. Japanese menu is the way to go and still get the caviar!!! Dessert, or kanmi, was black sesame pudding and black tea. The hot bar had scrambled and hard-boiled eggs, turkey bacon and lo mein. Travel in the Time of COVID: The news, resources, & information you need. Off topic, I just flew etihad apartments for the first time last night from auh to Sydney. Japan Airlines offered three types of Champagne on this flight: Champagne Salon 2007, Louis Roederer Cristal 2009 and Comtes de Champagne Grands Crus Blanc de Blancs 2007. This will probably be our only chance to fly either of these products, so we want to know if the food/service on ANA is superior enough, to make up for not being able to see each other for our trans-Pacific leg? JAL is indeed fantastic but ANA BLOWS them out of the water, Never flown the two big Japanese carriers, but all the trip reports I’ve read seem to say they’re a reflection of their home country -I.e. The seats have been redesigned to be slimmer, providing about 3.9 in (10 cm) of extra legroom and 0.8 in (2 cm) of extra seat width. Lovely service. To help keep you entertained — and maybe inspire you — we are also republishing a selection of our most popular reviews from 2019 and 2020, including the one below, which was originally published in August 2019. From the second I got on the plane, the flight attendants had a genuine smile on their faces and attended to my every need. I agree he’s totally missing out, but I’m pretty sure it’s a set matter of personal preference. Solo travelers will likely prefer a window seat such as 2A or 2K, while couples can sit together by … I actually think Japan Airlines has my favorite oneworld first class product (yes, even above Cathay Pacific and Qatar Airways). My seat, 2A, was very private, even without sliding doors. To me JAL food and service is step blow ANA. What’s the point of traveling if you never want to try anything out of your comfort zone, even once? As you might imagine, booking the cash price was out of the question — and that’s exactly where Alaska Airlines came into play. You get amazing service even at a fast food joint. JAL First Class. @Lucky, you specifically point out that JAL First is your favorite OneWorld First over Cathay and Qatar… did you mean Qantas? Last year, JAL unveiled an entirely new 777-300ER cabin configuration it calls JAL Sky Suite 777. The smaller lavatory is used by the flight crew, but open to passengers as well. After I ate, the flight attendant came around to ask if I would prefer a soft or firm mattress for turndown service. I’m also a fan of Japan Airlines’ bedding. In some ways I wish that US carriers would send people to Japan for training but, as I said, you can’t train this perfection. for how much more? JAL is an airline we have wanted to fly for some time, so when we found space on the direct Frankfurt to Narita 777-300ER flight in first class whilst planning our last US Airways redemption hurrah, we were delighted. . British Airways | Executive Club - First time on BA Business Class.. or go First? But, still good. JAL First Class Seat. It was accompanied by prosciutto, melon and a delicious little mushroom with cheese. How many seats do the release and at what stage? The lounge situation at JFK, IFE and bedding could have been improved. CARD HIGHLIGHTS: 2X points on all travel and dining, points transferrable to over a dozen travel partners. Minus some minor delays with some of the food, the service was nothing less than stellar. pretty damn amazing:-), “I actually think Japan Airlines has my favorite oneworld first class product (yes, even above Cathay Pacific and Qatar Airways).” We may receive compensation when you click on links to those products. By 1:20pm, I only had my appetizers … and of course, Champagne. Unrelated – check out AirlineRoute, Etihad is using their 330 for Air Serbia’s JFK route! In addition to the inflight supervisor and a first class flight attendant, there was also a trainee first class flight attendant. And this is coming from someone who doesn’t really care much for oneworld. They also offered Bose noise-cancelling headphones, which are some of the best you can find in the sky (and on the ground). It is probably the best catering of any airlines. I’m a huge JAL F fan. Qatar isn’t really known for an amazing First Class. The first appetizer had some kind of pepper in it that made my mouth extremely tingly and weird feeling for the remainder of the flight and ruined the taste of all the food. The difference is not big enough to influence me. LAX to FCO this summer and using AA miles on BA. Dainomono was sukiyaki-style beefsteak. Cloth towels in bathroom. I flew from San Francisco to Melbourne in Qantas’ 787 business class, from Melbourne to Singapore in Singapore’s 777 first class, from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur in Singapore’s A350 business class, and then from Kuala Lumpur to Tokyo Narita in Malaysia’s A350 Business Suite. There were a ton of storage compartments, including an ottoman where I could store two of my many bags (I have a lot of stuff, OK?). They will devote their attention to you like you are rich and famous. And after this flight, I’m more convinced than ever that it’s one of the best uses of American AAdvantage miles. Awesome amenities. Seat Comfort: ︎One of my favorite first class seats and bed. Owan, or the bowl dish, was a clear broth with grilled sea bass and winter melon. The other one is even better. I thanked them both, and in particular noted to the inflight service manager how good the trainee was, and it was cute to see how much she appreciated that. This isn’t the most spectacular hard product, and personally I … Found cx to be more private with the smaller cabin. AS has partner specific award charts. The first class cabin is composed of 2 rows in a 1-2-1 configuration. Flew JL F ORD-NRT last month. Whilst both can be used by first class passengers, the 1 on the port is slightly larger than the 1 in the center, which is predominantly used by the crew. JAL first class catering really is in a class above all else. If you’ve flown JAL first class, what was your experience like? And the first lounge at HND is next world. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Breeze Airways Wants To Pay Pilots How Much?! On the B777-300ER, Japan Airlines offers 8 open suites in their first class cabin, arranged in an all-aisle access 1-2-1 configuration. The inflight entertainment otherwise is pretty lackluster, as the selection of movies isn’t huge. The seats in First Class on the Boeing 777-300ER are extremely luxurious, spacious and comfortable. So you press the magic button, thye cushion inflates behind your back and when you release the button, it slowly deflates. I’ve never see hibiki in the JAL first lounge. No comparison. There was a nice amenity kit, which also came with a separate Shiseido skincare kit. I just wrapped up a really fun review trip. For hanmono, they offered a choice of ginger rice or steamed rice. About 90 minutes before landing, flight attendants came around with breakfast options. Since CX has a really nice first class product. No matter which of the many Japan Airlines’ gateways you’re flying from, it costs just 60,000 AAdvantage miles for the one-way flight to Tokyo-Narita (NRT) or Tokyo-Haneda (HND). everything else was decent but caviar, it was warm and very fishy….. 2days later flew HND-FRA with ANA and it was text book of how first class food and service should be. The seat itself measured 23 inches across and 79 inches when fully reclined. She tagged my luggage to Tokyo and told me that I had access to the Lufthansa first-class lounge a few steps from security. Please view our advertising policy page for more information. Fourth Time this year, love them. @mjonis I have always had the opposite complaint from Lucky: often a cabin is too cold for me, but never is it too hot for me. The Japanese don’t mess around with skincare. It was pretty empty when I got there around 9am, and stayed that way until around 10:30am. I can use a metal spoon, or read instead of WhatsApp for 14 hours. To begin the process I first had to locate the WiFi voucher located inside the menu booklet when I … On the 777-300ER, there are just 8 first class seats, compared to 49 business class seats. The product is very comfortable and the service hospitable, but mediocre dining is not comparable to Nobu. Between that and my comfortable pajamas and slippers, well, I had my own little spa in the sky. I was surprised by the CX comparison. This site does not include all credit card companies or all available credit card offers. But Enough!!! As much as service is usually so precise, gentle, and attentive, this trainee was clearly so nervous yet tried to keep her cool, so watching the pride and purpose with which she did everything was ridiculously adorable. The screen was large but was not responsive at all. And it was the cutest thing I’ve ever seen. less theatrically servile…hard to describe) slightly better. “I actually think Japan Airlines has my favorite oneworld first class product (yes, even above Cathay Pacific and Qatar Airways).”. JAL had a pretty substantial à la carte dining menu. Japan Airlines’ 777-300ER first class cabin. So when you fly first class on a Japanese airline, it’s that times a thousand. According to our latest valuations, Alaska miles are worth 1.8 cents a pop, making those 70,000 miles worth about $1,260. ︎With only 8 seats in first class this is an exclusive first class cabin. Please view our advertising policy page for more information. I had searched the forum but did not really find any answers I was looking for so I thought I would ask. But even so I was surprised at the high quality of this product. It will be a nicer picture if I also get the bottle of Cristal, and you can place them next to one another.”. Inside, there were plenty of (you guessed it) amenities, including two different types of eye masks, earplugs, mouthwash, a brush, moisturizer, lip balm, tissues and a toothbrush. That’s because ANA’s seats are “boxed in” without being fully private, so even if you take the center seats and are seated next to someone, you can’t actually see them without leaning way forward. For the main course I had the grilled rosy seabass “saikyo miso” flavor, which tasted like something I’d expect at Nobu. Measuring 33 inches wide, the Japan Airlines 777 first class seat will give you more space than you know what to do with! Japan Airlines really has it (almost) all. I’m not a fan of jelly, so it wasn’t for me, but if you like jelly, you’d probably enjoy this quite a bit. I would have done so anyway so I didn’t end up having to do sit ups every time I wanted to change the channel or adjust the volume, but it’s the thought that counts. Which means you could spend $13,000 or you could, you know, not. Let me start off by saying that booking JAL F using miles is a steal. Personally, I like having a little opening in the divider, otherwise I get claustrophobic. 777 / 767. In short, I felt like royalty, and 12 and a half hours weren’t enough. The amenity kit has changed since January but the toiletries remain the same. to start. They can definitely make improvements to the ground experience, IFE, and bed, but the service was truly exceptional, and you’ll eat so much food you’ll swear you won’t be able to eat all the ramen, sushi and udon waiting for you when you land. Alaska Airlines MileagePlan miles are some of the most valuable miles you can earn. For example, 60,000 points are worth $750 toward travel. The credit card offers that appear on the website are from credit card companies from which ThePointsGuy.com receives compensation. Japan Airlines has excellent amenities in first class. Bottom Line. The flight attendants don’t have to take care of many other guests so have plenty of time to tend to your every need. JAL is by far my favourite carrier, not had the opportunity to try F but J is pretty good by any standards. Really looking forward to getting the proper experience next time. Ha.. a couple of weeks ago I flew in First between HND-LHR and the western menu was exactly the same. The JAL airweave mattress and bedding is outstanding. *Bonus value is an estimated value calculated by TPG and not the card issuer. Interesting choices, huh? When the bottle of Bollinger arrived I asked if I could take a picture. Also have you changed your mind since writing this detailed article if so should you change it? Though we ended up taking off three minutes after noon, the rest of the service was on the slow side. How would you compare ANA and JAL? This lounge opened just in April 2019, and it definitely still has that new lounge smell. The Supervisor on my last flight genuinely engaged me and I was well taken care of. My wife and I were a bit let down this summer on ANA in first class. The owner of this site is not an investment advisor, financial planner, nor legal or tax professional and articles here are of an opinion and general nature and should not be relied upon for individual circumstances. I found the JL seat very comfortable. While JAL’s first class seats are on the older side, first class travelers are in for a treat departing Narita – a brand new lounge. Can’t wait to read the full review. Ben has never ordered a Kaiseki meal on any trip report I’ve read regardless the airline. We are in Biz Class (777 there, 747back) Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater. An interesting nugget, by the way: I was the only woman flying in first class. Haven’t any of you noticed that actually they only have one type, which has a soft side and if you flip it over, it’s the hard side. JL lounges even at their homeports are meh while CX lounges at Hong Kong and in Europe are head and shoulders above many other airlines, incl QF F in SYD and MEL. I also really appreciated how easy it was to move the tray table back and forth, making it far less complicated to get up to stretch or use the bathroom without feeling like you have to deconstruct the entire seat. I flew them NRT-JFK this past summer and they were just just amazing… because of scheduling, I am unfortunately booked in Cathay F next summer . JAL’s first class cabin on the 777-300ER consists of 8 seats, spread out in 2 rows in a 1-2-1 configuration. On my return the FAs suggested I could eat at my seat (1A) and when I was done they asked if I mind sleeping in 1C as they could make my bed now for whenever I wanted to go to sleep. The cabin on this flight was half full, with the four window seats being occupied, and the four center seats being empty, which is pretty ideal. Next up was azukebachi, which consisted of broiled eggplant and somen noodles in Japanese broth jelly. My spring trip is GMP-HND (stop)-JFK in J for 60K or F for 70K in AS miles. But I think I like the CX service style (more “subtle”? Once you go to Japan, you’ll understand, but the hospitality in this country is truly top-notch. Like I said, a steal. JAL First Class Seat. There was no cover sheet, and the mattress pad would move around, since it wasn’t secured in any way. Japan Airlines first class is one of the best ways to fly, period, not to mention a life highlight that I’ll treasure for a long time. Class J. It features four entirely new cabins, first class, business class, premium economy, and economy. Yup, free wifi, impeccable service… Salon champagne, and the ability to send Whatsapp locations to friends while being up 30000 ft in the air. ), Grilled Spanish mackerel “Saikyo Miso” flavor, Kobachi, or specially selected fermented soybeans, Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.