For the next segment of my quick trip to Japan & Korea, I flew Japan Airlines’ Airbus A350-900 first class on the 1hr30min flight from Sapporo (CTS) to Tokyo Haneda (HND). It’s not often that I look forward to domestic flights, but this was an exception.
Continue reading: Review: Japan Airlines Domestic First Class Airbus A350 (CTS-HND)
Share your questions, experiences, and thoughts below.
A few thoughts on this: JAL F is very good and solidly outdoes ANA's Premium Class on competing routes, both in terms of ground and inflight experience (especially as their A350s are much nicer than ANA's very old domestic 767/777/787s)
However, JAL's domestic F footprint is much smaller. ANA offers Premium Class with a full drink/meal service on many more routes, including narrowbodies, which JAL does not.
JAL F also has fewer total seats than ANA Premium Class, so JAL will sell out quite often, making upgrades an unreliable way to confirm an F seat.
Another note about the IFE, @Ben, it sounds like you didn't actually go in and watch much of it since the majority of the content is actually all Japanese dubbed/subbed, even if it's originally Western content, this makes it pretty difficult to consume any movies/shows inflight, for non-Japanese speakers. The free wifi does more than compensate for that though.
Flying in First Class is a big part of my lifestyle—paid fares only, no points. For me, it’s all about the experience, and Japan Airlines consistently delivers the best. From the impeccable service to the exquisite in-flight dining, every detail feels curated for true luxury. Their attention to comfort and hospitality sets them apart from every other airline I’ve flown.
Same here, fly First class all the time. Always paid and wouldn’t be caught dead paying anything other than full fare. Points and miles mean nothing to me. In fact, I don’t even have an FF account - just let the points evaporate into the ether.
Agree with you on all points, though what I’m saying here applies to JAL generally and not the A350 in particular, Service- and product-wise, domestic or international, I agree JAL is quickly becoming the benchmark for all other airlines. Entertainment-wise, however, there’s a lot to catch up (no pun intended) especially with the MAGIC-VI system on other aircraft, which forces you to scroll endlessly on a tiny handset.
And the menu looks laughably simplistic, as if someone trotted it out in Word using Times New Roman. Then again, Northeast Asian airlines (with the exception of the outstanding Cathay Pacific, which is highly Westernised) were never known for their typography and branding compared to Western or Gulf airlines.
In that sense, JAL is a bit like Muji: unbranded, understated luxury. And I fully mean that as a compliment for JAL. You don’t need to speak English as casually as KLM or even SQ to achieve excellence, which is what JP and TW airlines have mastered even with the language barrier:
Accidentally posted twice. Please disregard the other comment.
Agree with you on all points, though what I’m saying here applies to JAL generally and not the A350 in particular, Service- and product-wise, domestic or international, I agree JAL is quickly becoming the benchmark for all other airlines. Entertainment-wise, however, there’s a lot to catch up (no pun intended) especially with the MAGIC-VI system on other aircraft, which forces you to scroll endlessly on a tiny handset.
And the menu looks laughably simplistic, as if someone trotted it out in Word using Times New Roman. Then again, Northeast Asian airlines (with the exception of the outstanding Cathay Pacific, which is highly Westernised) were never known for their typography and branding compared to Western or Gulf airlines.
In that sense, JAL is a bit like Muji: unbranded, understated luxury. And I fully mean that as a compliment for JAL. You don’t need to speak English as casually as KLM or even SQ to achieve excellence, which is what JP and TW airlines have mastered even with the language barrier.
In what way? Profits to the airline?
Delta’s domestic service is pitiful—and I have flown nearly 2.5 million miles and am currently a Diamond Medallion on that airline. If there was a product like JAL domestic first class within the U.S., I would fly it all the time.
Delta needs to send their flight leaders and senior ticket agents to Japan to study how JAL trains and their staff performs those duties. That level of attention to detail and service is sorely needed at Delta (the airline who dreams of being a bank).
What an embarrassing comment from Mason. Muji is unbranded, understated luxury… the exact opposite of a brand-focused product like, yes, Gucci
@Proximanova - I've gotta disagree with your comment on the menu booklet. It doesn't seem to be Times New Roman, and I don't think it looks terribly bad either, just not great.
A real 2018 throwback… haven’t seen the Gets On The Miles & Points Blog To Brag About Flying F But Never Using Points guy in what feels like years, but it used to be seemingly a daily occurrence way back when
"A luxury good is a good fot which demand increases more than what is proportional as income rises, so that expenditures on the good becomes a more significant proportion of overall spending."
What an embrassing comment from quorumcall.
Please re-attend high school, take economics class and then reply.
The seat had more scratches than what I would expect from a Japanese airline. To be fair, it's flying way more flights a day than usual... so the maintenance might be tricky.
That's just a troll. For the REAL Tim Dunn look for "Diamond" after his name, not "Guest". Do not engage Guest postings under his perceived name to hopefully eliminate these "jokesters" one day.
@NS: I appreciate that you respectfully disagree with me, and that it’s just not great. However, at the risk of nitpicking, the menu font (except for the headers) really is Times New Roman. Still, your opinion is welcomed.
Not that it matters anyway, because JAL has made it clear that intends to excel in all the important metrics there are (hard product, soft product, service flow, food) and not in minor things like fonts — though I do admire those airlines, like CX and SQ, that care for their brand.
An external source suggests that both @Proximanova and @quorumcall is just going through a denial against me.
No, Muji is not a luxury brand. Here's why:
Price Point: Muji's products are known for their affordability and value. Luxury brands, on the other hand, command premium prices due to their exclusivity, craftsmanship, and brand heritage.
Focus on Simplicity: Muji's philosophy emphasizes functional design, minimalism, and quality materials without excessive branding or embellishments. This is the opposite of the opulent and often logo-centric approach of luxury brands.
Accessibility: Muji has a global presence with numerous stores, making their products readily available to a wide range of consumers. Luxury brands often limit distribution to create a sense of exclusivity.
While Muji products are well-designed and durable, their focus on everyday practicality and accessible pricing positions them as a more affordable alternative to luxury brands.
Happy travel in these holiday times.
The highlight for me was the 'sober curious' heading of the non alcoholic drinks section of the drinks list.
Not as tiresome as the real Tim Dunn, to whom the no-engagement rule also applies.
This looks amazing, much better than anything within North America. It's too bad you don't eat pork - Kurobuta pork is really, really good pork, better than Iberico even.
Will Endre go the way of the dinosaurs too as First class cabins everywhere careens down that path?
Is this debate really worth getting one's knickers in a twist, boys and girls?
You can find JAL domestic F service on HND-CTS, ITM, HIJ, FUK, KOJ, OKA and ITM-OKA flown by 359 and select 767 with F seats. I think F service on HND-ITM would be limited due to its short duration.
Unlike 359 F seat which was reviewed in this article, 767 F seat is apparently passed its prime and lacking basic amenities such as in-seat power.
If you are super lucky, sometimes JAL deploys 77W on these routes and you can enjoy real F seats for a fraction of price.
@A_Japanese - do you know on which routes do JAL deploy their domestic B788s with first class?
@Glenn T, yes. It does address those curious about being sober, or who are sober. Not drinking doesn’t always have to mean drinking just pop, water, juice, coffee, or tea anymore. There are getting to be a huge variety of mocktails and NA beers out there. As an alcoholic who has recovered, I appreciate having beverage options that are a little unique whether I’m on the ground or in the air.
Oops, I forgot small subfleet of domestic 788s… They are mostly deployed to HND- CTS, ITM and FUK on regular basis. This August, 788s are also deployed on HND-ISG to cater seasonal demand.