Bleh: American Airlines Adds Chicago To Tokyo Narita Route, Merely Replacing JAL - American

Bleh: American Airlines Adds Chicago To Tokyo Narita Route, Merely Replacing JAL

Ben Schlappig — Wed, 15 Jul 2026 23:53:51 +0000

Last week, American Airlines revealed plans to launch a new daily flight between Chicago and Tokyo, which is a route resumption, and also represents American’s return of Asia flying out of Chicago.

Continue reading: Bleh: American Airlines Adds Chicago To Tokyo Narita Route, Merely Replacing JAL

Share your questions, experiences, and thoughts below.

PeteAU — Wed, 08 Jul 2026 08:37:34 +0000

Not necessarily. Depends if you’re connecting to regional Japan. Besides, it’s not that far into town.

Joe Jones — Wed, 08 Jul 2026 02:52:45 +0000

If anything I would prefer that JAL imitate the late timing of ANA's ORD-HND flight, which allows me to hang out on the East Coast until ~3pm and still get to Tokyo the following evening.

Joe Jones — Wed, 08 Jul 2026 02:49:10 +0000

9:45 am out of NRT is rough for O&D passengers as you have to get out the door around 7 am and fight Tokyo morning rush hour traffic to get to the airport.

Joe Jones — Wed, 08 Jul 2026 02:46:35 +0000

It turns around immediately at NRT, and then presumably does a TATL turn from Chicago.

Weymar Osborne — Tue, 07 Jul 2026 23:05:58 +0000

ANA has been flying NRT to Chicago for ages, on the NH 11/12 rotation. I've taken it many times.

Ryan R — Tue, 07 Jul 2026 20:39:32 +0000

So is the AA Dreamliner going to sit for 17 hours overnight in Japan every night? Or is there some switcheroo taking place with the aircraft for the Dallas route?

TA — Tue, 07 Jul 2026 15:05:14 +0000

JAL already flies a 787 on this route. Their 777 is to HND, which is not the route being downgraded to AA metal.

David — Tue, 07 Jul 2026 13:56:26 +0000

Do you think JAL will do an equipment swap, aka downgrade to a 787 before they switch with AA? I'm booked on their first class in Feb.

Mick — Tue, 07 Jul 2026 13:04:44 +0000

I actually would rather fly AA in biz than the old JAL (or ANA) seat. More comfortable and more privacy and actually lots of storage. I’ve flown Ana a million times in biz in the last few years and the food is not knock your socks off good, or close to it. Flown JAL a fair bit too. First, biz, prem Econ and economy. On the planes without the new biz it’s really not that great of an airline.