Hello from Tokyo, as I continue my review trip to South Korea and Japan. I just flew Japan Airlines’ Airbus A350-900 first class, on the short 85-minute domestic flight from New Chitose Airport (CTS) to Tokyo Haneda Airport (HND).
I was actually booked in business class (well, Class J, as it’s called), but I upgraded to first class for 8,000 JPY (~53 USD). Japan Airlines offers amazing value upgrades for cash on the day of departure for domestic flights, which I’ll talk more about in a separate post.
I absolutely adored this flight. Heck, maybe I’m too enthusiastic, but I almost enjoyed this more than a long haul first class flight. From Japan Airlines’ adorable Diamond Premier Lounge Sapporo, to the friendly and attentive crew, to a top notch soft product, to maybe drinking a little too much champagne and sake while watching the tail camera on a stormy evening, this experience was just flawless.
In this post I wanted to share some initial thoughts, and then soon I’ll have a full trip report.
In this post:
Japan Airlines’ fascinating domestic A350-900 fleet
Japan Airlines has a dedicated fleet of domestic aircraft. These planes aren’t necessarily smaller than the international aircraft, but rather are just configured more densely, given that they operate short flights in busy markets. Japan Airlines’ “flagship” domestic aircraft is the Airbus A350-900, featuring 369 seats.
There are 12 first class seats, in a 2-2-2 configuration. This is the only cabin featuring a truly differentiated soft product, with attentive service, meals, alcohol, lounge access, etc. More on that in a bit.
Then there are 94 “Class J” seats. While “J” ordinarily stands for business class, note that this isn’t actually business class. They’re comparable to premium economy seats on long haul flights, but don’t have any enhanced services. So it’s like a more spacious economy cabin (which is why the airline is careful to not market it as business class).
Then there are 263 economy class seats, in a 3-3-3 configuration, which are exactly as you’d expect.
I think another thing worth emphasizing right away is how reasonably priced the more premium cabins are. For example, on the Sapporo to Tokyo route, you’ll find that economy starts at $96, Class J starts at $111, and first class starts at $178. Like, those are surprisingly reasonable premiums for a better experience, no?
Just to put the cabin density into perspective, Japan Airlines’ flagship long haul aircraft is the Airbus A350-1000 (where you’ll find the carrier’s amazing long haul first class). That plane is significantly larger, and features just 239 seats (it’s the least dense A350-1000 in service).
Japan Airlines’ A350-900 first class cabin is unique & cool
As a passenger experience and product geek, I love trying new products where I don’t really know what to expect, and this definitely fit into this category. OMG, Japan Airlines’ A350-900 first class is kind of amazingly cool, I must say.
It honestly feels like the perfect setup when you consider this plane operates flights that are anywhere between 30 and 90 minutes, on average. The 12 seats are spread across two rows, featuring around 53″ of pitch and around 20″ of width.
Two things stood out to me most about the product. First of all, the seat padding is unlike anything I’ve experienced on an airline before. These are the most well padded seats in service, and I could’ve sat in them for a long haul flight without being uncomfortable.
I also appreciated the option of either enjoying the flight with a companion or having privacy, thanks to a pretty substantial privacy shield.
Another nice thing about being in a small cabin is having a dedicated, clean bathroom. Admittedly bathrooms are cleaner in Japan than most other places in general, but the first class bathroom was pristine, down to the toilet paper being folded into perfect triangles.
Japan Airlines’ A350-900s have free Wi-Fi, seat back entertainment
Japan Airlines offers free Wi-Fi for all passengers on domestic A350 flights. It’s easy to connect on as many devices as you’d like with the push of a button, and I found speeds to be quite good.
There’s also seat back entertainment throughout the plane. The entertainment selection isn’t that exciting, with the exception of the map feature and tail camera, which are always my preferred inflight entertainment anyway.
That tail camera never gets old…
Japan Airlines’ domestic first class soft product is pure perfection
I found Japan Airlines’ first class soft product to be phenomenal, even though I didn’t fully eat the meal.
For one, Japan Airlines’ domestic first class staffing is amazing. For the 12 first class seats there are two flight attendants, plus the cabin chief. Working my aisle was Kikuchi, and she shouldn’t have been lovelier — she was friendly, attentive, and fun. Her and the cabin chief, Arai, came around to each passenger during boarding to introduce themselves, and they worked every second of the flight that they could.
Japan Airlines has impressive amenities in first class, from pillows and blankets, to slippers, to menus.
There’s not a choice of meals, but rather the selection rotates every so often. On this flight, a western(ish) meal was served. This consisted of two mini-appetizers of a barley and seafood salad plus a vegetable salad, a main course of pork saltimbocca, a bread roll, and a dessert of coffee panna cotta.
I don’t eat pork, so I decided to primarily enjoy a liquid meal. 😉 I had some champagne with the meal — the airline serves Pannier Brut. However, after the meal, I decided to switch to some tasty sake. I was brought some snacks to go along with that.
When I finished that round of snacks (due to not having really eaten the meal), Kikuchi proactively brought me another round of snacks, a bit different this time around.
The crew had to prepare the cabin for landing early due to turbulence. I had just finished my glass of sake, though a moment before having to sit down, Kikuchi stopped by my seat to apologize for having to suspend the service, and handed me a plastic cup of sake, saying “maybe you can enjoy this until we land.”
Honestly, the anticipatory and attentive level of service was such a contrast to my two Korean Air flights I had just gotten off of (on the 787-10 and A321neo), which probably made me enjoy the whole Japan Airlines experience even more.
Bottom line
My Japan Airlines domestic A350-900 first class flight was exceptional. This product is so reasonably priced (under $200 one-way, or you can upgrade for a little over $50), and you get a super cozy and unique cabin, incredibly attentive service, solid food and drinks, free Wi-Fi, an A350 with a tail camera, lounge access, etc.
Every time I go to Japan — whether to actually visit the country, or just passing through on a Japanese airline — I fall more in love. Japan Airlines is a stellar carrier, and is quickly becoming one of my favorite in the world.
That actually brings me to another topic that I should probably address in a separate post — I’ve long been indifferent as to whether All Nippon Airways or Japan Airlines were better, and I think I’m starting to develop a preference.
Anyone else enjoy Japan Airlines’ domestic first class as much as I do?
I've had phenomenal experiences as well on domestic F routes. It almost seems like they are even better trained than intl F FAs. Their english is also better which I find odd.
This is an annoying review! I planned to take the Shinkansen between Tokyo and Osaka next year, however now I think I need to fly JAL F instead.
The shinkansen route between Tokyo and Osaka has a lot of tunnels, so you won't see much outside of Mt. Fuji for a few minutes. And wouldn't you rather see Mt. Fuji from a plane window anyway?
Just a single menu without any other choice.. How can it be perceived as "premium"?
Who is offering multiple meal choices for a 1.5 hour flight??
ICN-KIX has similar distance as CTS-HND, but both Korean Air and Asiana offer two meal choices in business class in this route.
Ben would still prefer JAL that serves only pork that he doesn't eat though..
JAL doesn't offer multiple menu on HND-GMP as well. It's international and is a bit longer than 2 hours, but JAL is the only carrier in this route that doesn't offer a choice in business class.
Comparing a domestic flight with international ones is a bit unfair.
Neither KE/OZ offer any meal on their domestic premium cabin, only a single round of drink service instead. Might argue due to short distances, but HND-ITM is still shorter than GMP-CJU and still both JL/NH offer a hot meal service along with unlimited drinks refill including various alcoholic beverages.
I agree though, that on Japan-Korea route KE and OZ offer more substantial meal than...
Comparing a domestic flight with international ones is a bit unfair.
Neither KE/OZ offer any meal on their domestic premium cabin, only a single round of drink service instead. Might argue due to short distances, but HND-ITM is still shorter than GMP-CJU and still both JL/NH offer a hot meal service along with unlimited drinks refill including various alcoholic beverages.
I agree though, that on Japan-Korea route KE and OZ offer more substantial meal than JL/NH. Especially OZ serving a full portion of ssambap in business class on Tokyo route is quite impressive.
I don't know the whole history behind it. But Japan seems to not care about running service to Taiwan or Korea.
JAL prefers to codeshares with CI and KE for most of their TPE and ICN services. Same with ANA for BR and OZ.
I guess it's a function of Japan being far larger and not needing to poach connecting traffic the same way Taiwan and Korea need to.
That because JAL and ANA focus on TSA and GMP, not TPE and ICN.
Virgin Australia - e.g. BNE-SYD (50-60 minutes) - two choices in J.
What a lovely review. I can "hear" your excitement.
I was there in May and flew JAL domestic and "I approve this message"! I've also flow ANA domestic, HND>OKA and HND>AXT in the past few years. ANA hard product is, well... hard. JAL is far superior.
@Ben do tickets in this cabin post as Business or First to frequent flyer schemes?
I can't speak for every single program out there, but generally posts as a first class flight.
Liquid lunch in first class? Works for me!
Ben, when will there be blog functionality to block or mute certain commenters?
Just curious, no special reason.
Have to agree with you here, and the reporting process should also allow a comment to be added beyond a generic reason, so that specific details can be provided. There have been a lot of unfair accusations and false statements that some members have made against others. As an insightful commenter and enthusiast, I feel it is the management’s duty to take action against those who continuously level false allegations and make misleading comments.
Lol are you really big mad about Eskimo popping off on you?
Learn to stop taking things on the internet so personally. You sound ridiculous when you levy claims about "false accusations" and it being "management's responsibility" to do something.
@VT-CIE
Stop playing victim here, at this point you should be ashamed of yourself.
You keep lie to yourself and to everyone else that you're the innocent one here.
Sure, shaming and putting pressure on Ben for covering the airlines you don't give a damn about, as well as mocking him after he changed the itinerary and had a terrible experience on Copa, "visualise yourself flying Qsuites or Air France or JAL or something...
@VT-CIE
Stop playing victim here, at this point you should be ashamed of yourself.
You keep lie to yourself and to everyone else that you're the innocent one here.
Sure, shaming and putting pressure on Ben for covering the airlines you don't give a damn about, as well as mocking him after he changed the itinerary and had a terrible experience on Copa, "visualise yourself flying Qsuites or Air France or JAL or something of that kind! ;)", is totally innocent and me and Eskimo is just being an a*shole to you.
The level of absurdity is insane here, or insane on you.
I'd like to know where you booked a sub $200 ticket on this route. Google Flights has it at $239 at the cheapest.
"I’ve long been indifferent as to whether All Nippon Airways or Japan Airlines were better"
I have a feeling you'll be voting for JAL.
Until 2023 his answer would have been ANA, no questions asked. Not any more!
Despite ANA having two classes of Premium and Ordinary in their domestic network, the former is still considered as first class. The issue with Premium Class is the inconsistency in their meal service. For non-competing route, their meal consists of cold plated bento box, while routes like HND-CTS/ITM/FUK/OKA where JAL operates A350s, they serve a hot main dish along with various sides that I find is more elaborate than JAL’s.
However, it’s pity that the...
Despite ANA having two classes of Premium and Ordinary in their domestic network, the former is still considered as first class. The issue with Premium Class is the inconsistency in their meal service. For non-competing route, their meal consists of cold plated bento box, while routes like HND-CTS/ITM/FUK/OKA where JAL operates A350s, they serve a hot main dish along with various sides that I find is more elaborate than JAL’s.
However, it’s pity that the passengers on ANA Premium Class still get no access to their highest tier lounge, but only to ANA Lounge equivalent to JAL’s Sakura Lounge where the experience is less premium, where as in JAL the F passengers are invited to their highest tier lounge with slightly improved food and beverage offerings.
Small correction, Ben: when you write about Kikuchi, you say
That should read:
JAL has some real rockstars as crew, as does ANA, and I’d love to see more people like her on board.
Always love it when you mention the names of the cabin crew, as it signifies how special the flight has been. It’s telling that you didn’t name the crew...
Small correction, Ben: when you write about Kikuchi, you say
That should read:
JAL has some real rockstars as crew, as does ANA, and I’d love to see more people like her on board.
Always love it when you mention the names of the cabin crew, as it signifies how special the flight has been. It’s telling that you didn’t name the crew on your Korean Air flights, since they were so dull and forgettable. Though very little can match the handwritten postcards handed out by CX first-class crew back in the day!
Also I remember the crew on your Starlux A330-900neo flight to Osaka some time back (Bobo and Anne), as well as the two Graces serving your first Starlux flight at the start of the pandemic. Airlines like JAL, JX and SQ really make a difference with their lovely crew, as do BR and CX. Hope you fly CX’s new J too in the coming months to find out whether it’s kept pace with JAL in the service department.
You already wrecked a review trip.
Are you going to wreck English too?
At least cookie dough Tim doesn't post 20 paragraphs back to back.
Maybe do it in one post?
Or too busy "visualise yourself flying Qsuites or Air France or JAL or something of that kind! ;)"
Unlike you, @Eskimo, I’m actually passionate about all of Ben’s trips, be they on Copa on JAL, or Etihad or Air France.
Right on.
So passionate of all his trip you pressure him to change his trip.
Now that's passion.
Then you even mock him by telling him to "visualise yourself flying Qsuites or Air France or JAL or something of that kind! ;)".
If being passionate means abusive and manipulative.
No, I don't have passion like you at all.
I have no view on VT-CIE per se, but he's certainly not wrecking English; he's 100% correct about using 'she' here. It's the subject of the sentence so use the subject pronoun, 'she', not the object pronoun 'her'. In the same way that it wouldn't make sense to say, "I love she." you can't say "Her provided good service."
My apologies, I shouldn't have presumed that VT-CIE is male! Whoever you are, let's keep vouching for good grammar!
I just feel like 2024 is JAL’s year. It’s been covered like no other airline from Asia. Granted, a lot of it was due to the crash at the very beginning of the year, but the A350-1000, its superlative First product and the repeated coverage has ensured that JAL has taken a massive lead over ANA, at least here at OMAAT. I won’t be surprised if JAL’s A350-1000 business class beats ANA’s ‘THE Room’ to...
I just feel like 2024 is JAL’s year. It’s been covered like no other airline from Asia. Granted, a lot of it was due to the crash at the very beginning of the year, but the A350-1000, its superlative First product and the repeated coverage has ensured that JAL has taken a massive lead over ANA, at least here at OMAAT. I won’t be surprised if JAL’s A350-1000 business class beats ANA’s ‘THE Room’ to the punch, at least as far as food and service is concerned, if not the hard product. At this rate it’s very difficult for even Qatar Airways to beat JAL.
Dine on demand and also no having those atrocious HAECO seats on the B789 will ensure that QR is still way ahead of JL. Until JL get rid of those seats and their intention B763s it’s all about the halo product on the 351 that flies to 2 destination and 1 more to come.
I'm so glad you got that upgrade. JAL only offers domestic first class on select routes, but I'm based in Tokyo, so I think you can see why I only fly JAL.
Same day upgrades even get you the bumps in miles and status points (called Fly On Points or FOP in JAL's system) as though you had booked first class to begin with, so I will plan flights around how likely they are to have open seats at a particular time of day.
Flew on their 787-8 in first between Haneda en Osaka Itami last year. While the flight was super short, the service and seat were simply amazing!
Japan is unique in the world in that it has so little airport capacity relative to the demand for domestic travel so there is a market for high density widebodies as exists in few other parts of the world.
As a percentage of passengers, there will always be a few that want first class travel on such a short sector and the fact that the pricing differential is so low says that there really...
Japan is unique in the world in that it has so little airport capacity relative to the demand for domestic travel so there is a market for high density widebodies as exists in few other parts of the world.
As a percentage of passengers, there will always be a few that want first class travel on such a short sector and the fact that the pricing differential is so low says that there really isn't that much demand if it has to be stimulated to this degree.
and the cost of all that domestic air capacity is the inability to grow international travel from HND so international travel is heavily forced out to NRT where there is little domestic connectivity and far less international connectivity than from other hubs such as ICN, TPE and HKG where there is a more unified airport policy.
Tokyo is a no-growth international market because NRT is less desirable than HND and high value traffic is increasingly shifting from NRT to HND while HND has no ability to grow because of the size of the Japanese carriers' domestic operations.
This review highlights the blatant subjectivity of Ben's reviews - which might sway some people but others are capable of seeing through.
You are served pork as the only entree choice? Considering that pork has got to be the single most rejected meat food choice in the world, it is stunning that JL served that as the ONLY choice.
and the justification is that pigs are smart - but chickens and cows are dumb? really?
there are lots of things to like about air travel but giving a pass to no entree choice on the basis of one's personal hierarchy of animals is beyond stunning.
- high density wide-bodies fly Tokyo Sapporo because there is no bullet train connecting the two
- Tokyo is a no growth international market?
I think all the JNTO data and the 10Qs from Japan Air Terminal might beg to differ
NRT exists because of choices by the government, nobody wanted it, you can still see banners opposing the construction when you land, it's also why you have access to shrines in...
- high density wide-bodies fly Tokyo Sapporo because there is no bullet train connecting the two
- Tokyo is a no growth international market?
I think all the JNTO data and the 10Qs from Japan Air Terminal might beg to differ
NRT exists because of choices by the government, nobody wanted it, you can still see banners opposing the construction when you land, it's also why you have access to shrines in the middle of NRT airport because people refused to sell out
- HND cannot grow because of deliberate government choices to constrain international slots and rules around the flight path through Tokyo, not because of the size of domestic carriers
- NRT would not be such an awful place to access if there was a bullet train, but again out government choices
JM
feel free to list the new NRT longhaul routes that have been added over the past 5 years... there aren't many.
HND is no-growth for international flights because the airport is at max capacity and the Japanese government won't force any more flights into it - which is fine.
They just allow such a high percentage of such an otherwise large airport be used for domestic services.
and, yes, Japan has made...
JM
feel free to list the new NRT longhaul routes that have been added over the past 5 years... there aren't many.
HND is no-growth for international flights because the airport is at max capacity and the Japanese government won't force any more flights into it - which is fine.
They just allow such a high percentage of such an otherwise large airport be used for domestic services.
and, yes, Japan has made some incredibly poor airport management choices but they also refuse to seize the land that hinders NRT from being fully developed - so they commendably allow personal land choice in a country that is very community-based - and are now ditching a half century goal of developing NRT into a large global hub because it can't be large enough - so now they have two airports in Tokyo, neither of which are capable of being fully developed to rival other Asian hubs.
the lack of investment in a bullet train is related to NRT's inability to be the sole premium international airports for one of the world's great cities... again, everything about Japanese aviation policy has been marginalized.
He doesn't even eat pork and he still loved the flight.
TD loves to whine about this site, but like a good troll, he just keeps coming back. Gotta dump his word salads somewhere, I guess.
in contrast to you, Ms. J., that just whines for the sake of whining instead of engaging w/ the topic.
I engage with the topic, but your myopic ego doesn't notice or care for any opinions beyond your own. But hey, nice try this time.
I am happy to hear other people's opinions.
I have no time for people that parade their opinions as facts.
specific to this thread, Tokyo is a no-growth market at least from the US due to Japanese government policy.
Some people don't want to hear that esp. since carriers without Tokyo hubs or JV partners are growing elsewhere in Asia
Japan is one of the largest aviation markets in the world, much bigger than Korea. Delta has limited access to it. They tried to partner with JL bit JL rejected them.
So now you minimize the importance of Japan as a way to try and make Korea more significant, which we all know is your attempt to make DL more significant.
As if any of us don’t see right through you.
"I have no time for people that parade their opinions as facts."
The irony of your own statement just pole vaulted over your own head.
"specific to this thread, Tokyo is a no-growth market at least from the US due to Japanese government policy."
And here I thought we were here to post on a domestic flight Lucky was taking within Japan on JAL...
The widebodies on the domestic routes are not due to airport constraints. Both ANA and JAL operate 16 daily rotations on Haneda Sapporo. How many flights would they need if not using wide bodies?
Haneda could handle more flights than it does presently, but it is being blocked by none other than the US government. The DOD controls a lot of airspace around Tokyo, meaning the approaches to Haneda are limited. The latest expansion was...
The widebodies on the domestic routes are not due to airport constraints. Both ANA and JAL operate 16 daily rotations on Haneda Sapporo. How many flights would they need if not using wide bodies?
Haneda could handle more flights than it does presently, but it is being blocked by none other than the US government. The DOD controls a lot of airspace around Tokyo, meaning the approaches to Haneda are limited. The latest expansion was only possible because Pentagon released some of their airspace to civilian use. Though with the current level of protests over noise for from the 3pm to 7pm use of corridors over Tokyo, it will be a while before the government of Japan will start nagging the US to get more airspace in to Haneda's control.
It's just amazing just how undeveloped the USA is. On a similarly 500 miles flight from LGA to DTW you get some vending machine snacks and that's it, and if you make the mistake of traveling American Airlines you don't even get a screen.
A few things come to mind. Culturally,Japan is miles ahead of the US. They have pride in being polite and offering stellar service. The US is extremely poor in that regard and people have very low expectations for service here. Then there is demand which US passengers don’t demand quality and great service. They don’t care so when there is no demand for better service, US airlines are more than happy to offer the basics....
A few things come to mind. Culturally,Japan is miles ahead of the US. They have pride in being polite and offering stellar service. The US is extremely poor in that regard and people have very low expectations for service here. Then there is demand which US passengers don’t demand quality and great service. They don’t care so when there is no demand for better service, US airlines are more than happy to offer the basics. If people demanded better service and complained with their wallets by not giving their money to crappy airlines maybe we would see an improvement. Even in Europe you get better service and quality in shorter flights than here. Supply and demand never gets old.
Japan also has greater competition on short travel options than in the US. It has a far superior high speed rail network that can compete against short haul flights. Domestic flights have to compete against the convenience of a fast and regular rail service by providing a high quality customer experience in order to stay in the game.
It's actually worse. I flew AA domestic F on a six hour flight from coast to coast and got served a partially frozen sandwich in a wrapper. Then I got gaslit by the FA saying the sandwiches were have never been frozen when there were literal ice crystals.
@yoloswag420
It's not frozen per se. The fridge onboard is just too cold that frosts appear.
That's because customer service is a commodity in the United States. Often you're paying for the privilege of someone being fake nice to you. I flew in United Polaris and the senior FA barely lifted a finger to make my trip special.
I am just glad that Flight Attendant in the US does not start to demand tipping as is the whole shenanigans with the service and hospitality industry in the US in general.
This reminds me of my last BA flight Heathrow to Glasgow. Lol
You are obviously biased to many airlines preferring most Asian Carriers but highly critical of most US domestic and International flights being an American citizen.its the same for us brits who mainly hate British Airways where as most people from overseas love them.Its a question of choice but as you nearly always fly business or First Class and are reviewing the cabins and hardly ever pay full price for a ticket or generally heavily subsidised...
You are obviously biased to many airlines preferring most Asian Carriers but highly critical of most US domestic and International flights being an American citizen.its the same for us brits who mainly hate British Airways where as most people from overseas love them.Its a question of choice but as you nearly always fly business or First Class and are reviewing the cabins and hardly ever pay full price for a ticket or generally heavily subsidised using your air miles you are extremely privileged being an airline geek to travel around the world and fly airline cabins and stay in luxury hotels which very few of us will ever be able to do.
Do you realise that when people use miles those are mostly accrued by making financial transactions, therefore award tickets are earned on the basis of money spent.
@ Jules0760 -- I'm not sure I fully understand your point. I prefer Asian carriers to US carriers because they offer an infinitely better experience. That's fair enough, no? And as I said in this post, this experience would cost under $200 if paying cash, and I upgraded for $50. That's something anyone can do.
You're right, I'm definitely very lucky, though part of the goal of this blog is to show people how they...
@ Jules0760 -- I'm not sure I fully understand your point. I prefer Asian carriers to US carriers because they offer an infinitely better experience. That's fair enough, no? And as I said in this post, this experience would cost under $200 if paying cash, and I upgraded for $50. That's something anyone can do.
You're right, I'm definitely very lucky, though part of the goal of this blog is to show people how they can use miles & points for these experiences. I booked this entire trip with miles, and that's something others could do as well, if they put in the effort.
Yes but have you actually ever paid full price for a ticket.The airlines are fools to themselves by letting you fly Business and First class and take your family because you are reviewing their services and have millions of air miles.Many people fly discounted business and first class tickets because they are travelling on business and the company they work for is paying and has a deal through their travel agent but miles should only...
Yes but have you actually ever paid full price for a ticket.The airlines are fools to themselves by letting you fly Business and First class and take your family because you are reviewing their services and have millions of air miles.Many people fly discounted business and first class tickets because they are travelling on business and the company they work for is paying and has a deal through their travel agent but miles should only be offered to full fare paying passengers and then the airlines would be able to invest more money in their premium products etc.
the commitment to defending far worse experiences goes wild. fly AA domestic First and then JAL domestic First back to back and see which one you like better ;) and...
the commitment to defending far worse experiences goes wild. fly AA domestic First and then JAL domestic First back to back and see which one you like better ;) and i can guarantee that most people from overseas do not love the old Club World 7- or 8-across J
Domestic aa first is 10-15x more expensive lol and the food is worse. He is saying it's an incredibly good value for the price.
@Jules0760
I'm not a Brit and I still think BA sucks.
They shamelessly still fly yin yang and don't even try to maintain it.
And I'm certain no Japanese would like any US carrier over JL or NH.
There is always some bias. But this isn't one of them.
Thanks for wasting the pork for whatever reason you don't eat pork for.
You could've also just not eaten.
It's weird how when most people travel to non-pork eating countries, they're willing to adapt and not eat or ask for pork, but switch that around to places like Japan where they eat pretty much anything (but focus on less wastage), people are happy to just have food thrown away.
Because he is Jewish.lol.
@ Jules0760 -- For me, not eating pork has nothing to do with religion. It's that pigs are really smart, similar to dogs. I don't judge others for eating pork, but that's where I've decided to draw the line for myself.
How did you like the dry natto? I'm surprised they served even the dry one. On the other hand, it is a domestic flight, so presumably there were lots of natto lovers (like myself). Also wanted to ask, is the upgrade with cash available when you check in, or at the gate?
So if he hadn’t eaten the meal at all it would still most likely have been disposed of. Nothing to stop him consuming anything else. Pointless argument.
@ Flcl -- So I hear you, and I do hate wasting pork, and would almost never do this. However, literally the reason I took this flight was to review it, and pork was the only option (which I've never experienced before on an airline).
So my option was either to accept the meal to photograph it, or for it to go to waste. The airline caters enough for each first class passenger, and presumably...
@ Flcl -- So I hear you, and I do hate wasting pork, and would almost never do this. However, literally the reason I took this flight was to review it, and pork was the only option (which I've never experienced before on an airline).
So my option was either to accept the meal to photograph it, or for it to go to waste. The airline caters enough for each first class passenger, and presumably it's thrown away at the end of the flight while not consumed.
I understand if you'd do it differently, but hopefully you can see where I'm coming from. Like I said, in my many years of flying, this is the first time something like this has happened.
"It's that pigs are really smart, similar to dogs."
That's speciesism.
But because one specie is smarter?
Are you calling cow & chicken stupid?
“Personality goes a long way……”
Ben, I’m not judging your choices at all but I have to admit I’m curious: we can all agree that the pig is not going to come back to life if you don’t eat it. So my question is this: why do you feel better about its meat being wasted completely than eating it? I know you had no choice of meal so I really can’t see the benefit to not eating it. As I say, not a judgement, simply curious. :)
I understand that if there's a chance to opt out knowing there's pork, then you may have, for me, I would rather opt out (prior to flight - some JAL flights offer that) if I was that concerned about eating or getting something I'd just throw away.
It's more of a cultural thing than anything that Japanese generally don't a lot of "things that they don't eat" out of preferences that are widely followed,...
I understand that if there's a chance to opt out knowing there's pork, then you may have, for me, I would rather opt out (prior to flight - some JAL flights offer that) if I was that concerned about eating or getting something I'd just throw away.
It's more of a cultural thing than anything that Japanese generally don't a lot of "things that they don't eat" out of preferences that are widely followed, this is somewhat a product of their upbringing though, given that their attitude to treasuring the ingredients and food is different from the excesses of places like America, China etc.
It is also your job, and I appreciate your view, I guess if it was my job, I'd also be eating the pork so that I can make a judgement call.
Opting out of the meal in advance is not offered for domestic F. And where it is, it has to be done 24 hours in advance, so for a day of departure upgrade such as Ben had it would not be possible.
My last few flights on Ana have felt very meh. Loved them in 2015 when I flew them the first time. But nothing much has changed unfortunately.
Mind you jal far from perfect. Last year in the Osaka lounge there were no drinks and crackers the only snack. No storage at their long haul seats.
I guess you can say they're competing with the Shinkansen. Even though flight is faster, you have to take into account going through security, any ground delays, etc. But the trade off is you get TVs in all classes!
You can't take the train to Sapporo. (well I guess you can, but it would be train, ferry, train. much longer.)
no ferry necessary, but the first leg from Sapporo to Shin-Hakodate takes as long as the leg from there to Tokyo
You can travel non-stop by shinkansen from Tokyo to Sapporo - see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seikan_Tunnel
I'm assuming you meant it would be necessary to catch a ferry across the Tsugaru Strait, apologies if I've misunderstood your post
@JDee The Seikan Tunnel gets you to Hokkaido, but as of 2024 the Shinkansen only gets you as far as Hakodate. To get to Sapporo it's another 3.5 hours on a limited express train.
@Mike O. It's only a real competition between Tokyo and Osaka and maybe Hiroshima. As others have pointed out it's about 8 hours by train to Sapporo going north from Tokyo, and it's 5 hours to Fukuoka going south.
No ferry necessary, there's a tunnel to Hokkaido!
on this route not really. The train takes 8 hours from Sapporo to Tokyo
No need for ferry for quite some time. Long before Hokkaido Shinkansen debuted in 2016, there are sleeper limited express that cross the Tsugaru Strait using the Seikan Tunnel.
As of since 2016, journey from Tokyo to Sapporo comprises of taking a Shinkansen (bullet train) from Tokyo to Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto (take about 4 hours) which passed through the undersea Seikan Tunnel up to Hokkaido. Then, transfer to a limited express train from there to Sapporo...
No need for ferry for quite some time. Long before Hokkaido Shinkansen debuted in 2016, there are sleeper limited express that cross the Tsugaru Strait using the Seikan Tunnel.
As of since 2016, journey from Tokyo to Sapporo comprises of taking a Shinkansen (bullet train) from Tokyo to Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto (take about 4 hours) which passed through the undersea Seikan Tunnel up to Hokkaido. Then, transfer to a limited express train from there to Sapporo (take about 3.5 hours).
So the whole ordeal is 8-9 hours depending on your connection time at Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto.
The extension of Shinkansen line all the way to Sapporo is scheduled to be completed around 2030 by then the whole journey time should be around 6 hours from Tokyo to Sapporo.
Wonder what the G&A overhead is of Japanese airlines vs. US. There must be some reason why this type of service can be offered in Japan but not the US.
I can definitely argue that JAL is more premium than ANA! I may be spoiled because I fly frequently with both airlines for work. After flying with both more often, I noticed how different they actually are! I totally agree with you about the A350 domestic first class. I flew it a couple of weeks ago from Okinawa to Osaka and everything was just perfect. I wished the flight was longer than 2 hours!
That's because JAL has a three cabin domestic configuration on their wide-bodies. ANA only has economy and premium class. Therefore JAL can offer a more elevated product in terms of both hard product and service.
The awkward part is that JAL/ANA seem to have very different capacity and frequencies on different routes. Especially non-HND ones it can vary drastically. ANA will have twice the daily frequencies and have some widebody service but JAL is only...
That's because JAL has a three cabin domestic configuration on their wide-bodies. ANA only has economy and premium class. Therefore JAL can offer a more elevated product in terms of both hard product and service.
The awkward part is that JAL/ANA seem to have very different capacity and frequencies on different routes. Especially non-HND ones it can vary drastically. ANA will have twice the daily frequencies and have some widebody service but JAL is only doing two narrowbodies.