If you’re a frequent flyer in the United States, you’re probably familiar with what a mess boarding a flight can be. It starts 30-50 minutes before departure, there’s a lot of yelling from the gate agent, people crowd around as if it’s a competition to see who gets on first, and then a bunch of bags often have to be gate checked.
Well, I just wanted to contrast that to the boarding process on a recent domestic Japan Airlines flight, which was the opposite extreme.
In this post:
Japan Airlines’ efficient domestic boarding procedures
In a previous installment, I wrote about my Japan Airlines domestic first class flight from Sapporo to Tokyo, on the carrier’s Airbus A350-900, which features 369 seats. This is Japan Airlines’ primary domestic aircraft, and it’s also the carrier’s highest capacity aircraft, as it’s purpose built for domestic flights.
What’s pretty impressive is that Japan Airlines begins boarding these jets 15 minutes before departure. So for my 8:05PM flight, boarding started at 7:50PM. As anyone who has been to Japan knows, punctuality is important. So it’s not that they start boarding 15 minutes before departure and take a delay every time, but instead they do so with the goal of not wasting anyone’s time, and departing right on schedule.
Japan Airlines’ boarding process is quite simple, and consists of four groups:
- The first group is those requiring extra assistance
- The second group is first class passengers, oneworld Emerald members, and oneworld Sapphire members
- The third group is those seated in window seats, in the rear of the aircraft, and in the emergency exit rows
- The fourth group is everyone else; interestingly, Class J passengers without status are in the last boarding group (this is the carrier’s middle cabin, with premium economy-style seats, but it’s not a proper business class)
How does Japan Airlines pull off such efficiency?
Why does boarding in the United States have to feel like entering a store with a great deal on Black Friday, while in Japan it’s calm, and almost feels like a performance? There are often multiple flights per hour between Sapporo and Tokyo, so ahead of my flight, I enjoyed watching the boarding process of some other flights, to see just how efficient it is (since I boarded at the start of the process for the flight I was on).
First of all, you’ve gotta love the precision and politeness of boarding in Japan. You have a bunch of gate agents standing around constantly checking their watches, and then exactly when it’s 15 minutes prior to departure, the boarding process starts, with all the gate agents bowing. Then again, that level of precision and respect is evident across society in Japan.
But how is Japan Airlines able to pull off boarding in 15 minutes, while in the US it often takes 45-50 minutes to board a comparable jet? The way I view it, there are several factors at play:
- Boarding gates are well staffed, so that there’s no shortage of people to help customers
- There are three self boarding lanes, where you scan your boarding pass, so it keeps everyone moving
- Passengers stay seated until it’s their turn to board, follow instructions, and only board when their zone is called
- Boarding isn’t commoditized like in the US, where boarding almost seems as much about stroking the egos of elite passengers and providing benefits to credit card customers as it does about getting everyone on the plane efficiently
- Boarding groups are not only simple, but are logical, with window seat passengers and those in the rear boarding first
- Boarding happens through two jet bridges, and there are limited restrictions regarding which passengers can use which jet bridge; that way you essentially have four pathways to board (two jet bridges and two aisles)
- There are surprisingly few wheelchair passengers; I won’t get into theories here, but there’s no denying that wheelchair boarding is the most time consuming
- While passengers can take carry-ons, they’re much more reasonably sized than in the United States, and people are limited to one item
It’s just amazing how boarding is so much faster, so much more efficient, and also so much more stress free. The process almost works itself out. I also can’t help but feel like US airlines have created the monster that is their boarding process, through a combination of having too many zones, not enforcing carry-on restrictions, constantly threatening that people who board late will have to gate check bags, etc.
Bottom line
Boarding a flight in the United States vs. boarding a flight in Japan is like being on two different planets. One is inefficient, stressful, and almost feels competitive, while the other is efficient, stress-free, and feels collaborative.
While I’ve flown Japanese airlines many times before, this was the first time in years where I’ve flown a wide body on a domestic flight, which is where the boarding starts 15 minutes before departure. It’s also efficient on international flights, but generally starts 30 minutes before departure.
Anyone else as impressed by Japan Airlines’ 15-minute boarding process as I am?
The concept of boarding rear and window seat passengers has been found to expedite the overfall boarding process.
Boarding premium class passengers, seated in the front, first makes sense as long as steps are taken that no earlier boarding passengers snatch their overhead bins.
Making passengers who do not comply with this boarding sequence or carry excessive hand luggage step out of the line too and queue again would help too, but which...
The concept of boarding rear and window seat passengers has been found to expedite the overfall boarding process.
Boarding premium class passengers, seated in the front, first makes sense as long as steps are taken that no earlier boarding passengers snatch their overhead bins.
Making passengers who do not comply with this boarding sequence or carry excessive hand luggage step out of the line too and queue again would help too, but which airline would want to accept such measure if the competition does not?
Instead, staff waives the these passengers through trying to avoid a lengthy altercation.
Which promotes the message that you can get away with breaking the rules.
Japanese passengers may feel embarrassed and humiliated if they would get called out for this.
Oops…
(early morning here, no coffee in sight)
Should read:
… The concept of boarding rear and window seat passengers FIRST has been found to expedite the overfall boarding process.
Boarding premium class passengers, seated in the front, LAST makes sense…
We arrived at Narita last august 2024 on ANA flight from Indonesia. And the immigration line took about 45 minutes. There were 5 layers of queuing line and very narrow, we had to stand in line really close other passengers. There were sick people coughing around us. Unfortunate surprise, something we don't usually experience in japan.
Lots of Japanese people just Takkyubin their stuff home rather than deal with schlepping it to the airport. American boarding would be super chill if people weren't freaking out about having overhead bin space.
Boarding is and will never be efficient on US airlines, and that's because people don't listen and because airlines make boarding so complex with the number of groups.
Take AA for instance, which has 9 boarding groups, and nearly half of those groups are simply for people with status and credit cardholders. While I agree that those people should be thanked for their loyalty, it would be so much easier if the airline just...
Boarding is and will never be efficient on US airlines, and that's because people don't listen and because airlines make boarding so complex with the number of groups.
Take AA for instance, which has 9 boarding groups, and nearly half of those groups are simply for people with status and credit cardholders. While I agree that those people should be thanked for their loyalty, it would be so much easier if the airline just simplified the groups.
There is also the issue of people boarding ahead of their designated group. Airlines should create a policy that they will deny boarding to anyone who attempts to board ahead of their group. People will learn their lesson and won't do it again.
Also, there is the issue with people getting in line way before their group is called, as if they will somehow miss the flight. This leads to people not forming a straight line to scan their boarding pass. People should know to form two, organized single file lines, and to remain seated and only get in line when their boarding group is called. That will solve the issue.
To add to this, US airlines need to have more overhead bin space. Each passenger is entitled to one carry-on in the overhead bin, so they shouldn't have to be worried about running out of overhead bin space and having to gate check their bag. This is partly why people rush to board, and its not even their fault. Airlines exacerbate the situation by saying "we won't have enough overhead bin space" literally every five seconds.
A long, long time ago Alaska Airlines filled their flights from the rear of the plane first. The wait time was much quicker.
I like the idea of window seats first. That eliminates the irritating element of having to get up for those people.
Thank you for sharing this.
The amount of orientalism/Japan exoticisation in these comments is remarkable.
Try living in Japan for close to twenty years like I have and you will experience every situation under the sun, the same as every other country. You will experience ostensibly native-born Japanese "Yamato" citizens doing all sorts of anti-social behaviors.
You will experience the calm, collected, polite, rule-obeying long-term resident visual minority or naturalised citizen who consistently has to deal with the microaggressions...
The amount of orientalism/Japan exoticisation in these comments is remarkable.
Try living in Japan for close to twenty years like I have and you will experience every situation under the sun, the same as every other country. You will experience ostensibly native-born Japanese "Yamato" citizens doing all sorts of anti-social behaviors.
You will experience the calm, collected, polite, rule-obeying long-term resident visual minority or naturalised citizen who consistently has to deal with the microaggressions of being misunderstood as a tourist but never lets it get to them.
You will experience the Indigenous peoples who are Japanese by birth but will call themselves something else first.
You will meet Zainichi Koreans, Chinese, and Taiwanese who play a careful game of "how open am I about my background."
You will meet naturalised citizens who hold political office!
I would love to introduce you to the radical youth activists who hang out in Shinjuku at places like Cafe Lavendaria.
There are rule breakers and subcultures in every society, and Japan is no exception. You are all really telling on yourselves by claiming otherwise.
The issues around this to me, a frequent traveler and long time resident of Japan, is up to the fact that carriers cannot agree on setting a standard set of rule. In Japan a lot of effort for coordination amongst modes of transportation to set expected standards across carriers. This could happen in North America or Europe, but the carriers always want to one up each other and so every plane I get on has a different boarding situation. The boarding on a recent domestic American Airlines flight had boarding groups so complicated no one understood. My mother and I sitting in the seats next to each other had entirely different boarding groups with a large gap, for no apparent reason.
Well said, I wouldn't really chalk it up all to Orientalism fetishes, though. Americans and Brits are just rightly amazed by a place with order and civility in every interaction, even if it's solely because they are tourists/visitors to Japan and that's the expected treatment.
I lived long enough in Tokyo to see some really abysmal behavior and also to get so absolutely sick of formality that there were nights I wished I was...
Well said, I wouldn't really chalk it up all to Orientalism fetishes, though. Americans and Brits are just rightly amazed by a place with order and civility in every interaction, even if it's solely because they are tourists/visitors to Japan and that's the expected treatment.
I lived long enough in Tokyo to see some really abysmal behavior and also to get so absolutely sick of formality that there were nights I wished I was back in NYC where I could kick my feet up on a table at a sports bar, burp loudly and scream "LETS F****IN GO METS" at the top of my lungs.
But Japanese society is unique and I hope that it doesn't change too much as the years go on. The contrast between there and what the US (or even Canada) has become is truly remarkable.
I've never understood why people aren't seated at the boarding gate, while waiting, in the same seats as on the plane.
That would make gates plane dependent.
Maybe holding pens by group. Air France manages that at CDG
I think the answer comes down to carry on baggage. They have free checked bags. So people do not have to stuffed their carry on to the brim and try to fit in the overhead cabin.
Happened in other asian countries. Although boarding times usually 30-45 mins before departure, they’re done a lot earlier.
China, korea, thailand even Indonesia domestic flights board faster than americans.
Size is of course another issue. A...
I think the answer comes down to carry on baggage. They have free checked bags. So people do not have to stuffed their carry on to the brim and try to fit in the overhead cabin.
Happened in other asian countries. Although boarding times usually 30-45 mins before departure, they’re done a lot earlier.
China, korea, thailand even Indonesia domestic flights board faster than americans.
Size is of course another issue. A lean asian 140lbs asian is definitely easier to get into the middle seat stepping over another lean asian on the aisle seat. Compared this to a lean american which is 200lbs trying to get over an obese 300lbs man seating on the aisle. No. The person on the aisle had to step out first.
That's a stereotype that all Asians are lean 140lb individuals.
Japan and has Ta-q-bin luggage forwarding that is crazy cheap and super reliable. Bags from your nearest 7-11 to your hotel or airport and back. It's kinda amazing.
Efficient boarding should not really be a rocket science. Sometimes even an average boarding of average airline is quite good, when the staff REALLY follow the proper procedure that is already in place. However, this implies work...
Hi,
Thanks for the report. I have flown Tokyo -Hiroshima on the domestic 767 ( probably over 200 pax) and compared to the UK was very impressed. Have noted fewer large carry ons ( also notable on the Shinkansens -maybe due to the excellent luggage delivery service in Japan), quick check in and security), . Having Oneworld emerald status ( and also usually in Domestic First ( love the white leather First class seats on...
Hi,
Thanks for the report. I have flown Tokyo -Hiroshima on the domestic 767 ( probably over 200 pax) and compared to the UK was very impressed. Have noted fewer large carry ons ( also notable on the Shinkansens -maybe due to the excellent luggage delivery service in Japan), quick check in and security), . Having Oneworld emerald status ( and also usually in Domestic First ( love the white leather First class seats on the 767), the bags get tagged with priority status and they have always come out first ( unlike on British airways for example) and usually within 5mins of doors opening at Hiroshima so by the time I got to bag reclaim there was minimal wait (and the rest of the bags were coming off very quickly after). There was a few minutes longer wait at Haneda due to the size but still extremely quick, Very impressed with JAL efficiency ( domestic lounges are ok for a few minutes as I assume most people turn up a lot closer to departure than elswhere in the world.
JAL motto is precision is in our culture. That explains everything
I'm Japanese and this article was really interesting. I think actually those who has elite status boarding(group 2) is the key.
we usually have 1/3 passengers has status. those people are seating fast and often doesn't have much carrying items.
Don't forget Baggage is free on Japan Domestic flights so carry ones are minimal.
@Ben, FYI, JAL has adjusted their boarding process in September this year based on an outcome of simulation study in collaboration with Tokyo Institute of Technology.
Here is the press release in Japanese dated September 11, 2024.
(Sorry, I was not able to locate English press release. Probably, JAL has not published English translation.)
https://press.jal.co.jp/ja/release/202409/008307.html
Moving image for the simulation
https://press.jal.co.jp/ja/items/uploads/5e3c34de958cf8e1ae6f4684800b42a14536a491.mp4
@Ben, FYI, JAL has adjusted their boarding process in September this year based on an outcome of simulation study in collaboration with Tokyo Institute of Technology.
Here is the press release in Japanese dated September 11, 2024.
(Sorry, I was not able to locate English press release. Probably, JAL has not published English translation.)
https://press.jal.co.jp/ja/release/202409/008307.html
Moving image for the simulation
https://press.jal.co.jp/ja/items/uploads/5e3c34de958cf8e1ae6f4684800b42a14536a491.mp4
One time when I was flying domestically in Japan. I was in the last boarding group so when the boarding process started I went to bathroom. When I came out they were specifically looking for me as the only passenger who still hasn't boarded. Granted, it was a narrowbody but that's crazy.
Eat more fiber.
@Ben, "While passengers can take carry-ons, they’re much more reasonably sized than in the United States, and people are limited to one item" isn't completely true.
The allowance is the same 1 carry-on + 1 personal item, and the same 45"/115cm linear limit for the larger item. They have a combined weight limit of 10kg (which I don't think is usually enforced). But you're right that people actually bring much smaller carry-ons - around 17-19"...
@Ben, "While passengers can take carry-ons, they’re much more reasonably sized than in the United States, and people are limited to one item" isn't completely true.
The allowance is the same 1 carry-on + 1 personal item, and the same 45"/115cm linear limit for the larger item. They have a combined weight limit of 10kg (which I don't think is usually enforced). But you're right that people actually bring much smaller carry-ons - around 17-19" rollers/spinners instead of 21-22" (or larger).
Hey people!!!
HAVE A NICE DAY
About 20 years ago My wife (who is Japanese) and I were at the gate in Fukuoka about to fly ANA to Tokyo on a full 747-400. The flight was posted as "On Time" for a noon departure despite the fact that the inbound aircraft was just pulling into the gate and the time was 11:30. My wife insisted that it would leave on time but I argued that there was no chance. The plane...
About 20 years ago My wife (who is Japanese) and I were at the gate in Fukuoka about to fly ANA to Tokyo on a full 747-400. The flight was posted as "On Time" for a noon departure despite the fact that the inbound aircraft was just pulling into the gate and the time was 11:30. My wife insisted that it would leave on time but I argued that there was no chance. The plane had to be deplaned, cleaned, catered, refueled and reboarded in under 30 minutes. Her response: "Wanna bet? " I said $20. (I'm cheap)
I handed her the Money when they closed the door with 5 minutes to spare. I said there wasn't any way an American carrier could do this.
She explained that Japanese kids go through training in school to prepare for field trips on trains and planes by setting up folding chairs and practicing over and over to get everyone onboard in a timely manner. This transfers over into adult behavior as well.
Aside from the culture, free checked bags and limitation of carry-ons play a huge part in expedited boarding.
Unlike US carriers, most Asian FSCs inclduing JAL allow at least one free checked bag but limit the weight of carry-ons.
Therefore, the people pack light for carry-ons and check all the rest.
And most airports in Asia are very unlikely to mishandle your checked bags, so they never worry about checking their belongings.
Aside from the culture, free checked bags and limitation of carry-ons play a huge part in expedited boarding.
Unlike US carriers, most Asian FSCs inclduing JAL allow at least one free checked bag but limit the weight of carry-ons.
Therefore, the people pack light for carry-ons and check all the rest.
And most airports in Asia are very unlikely to mishandle your checked bags, so they never worry about checking their belongings.
In the Western world, however, many travelers including my colleagues don't trust the ground service of the airports and carry as much as possible onboard.
Flying Thai airways domestically was similarly amazing when they ran wide bodies domestically. I remember being amazed that a completely full 747-400 was fully boarded in <20 minutes.
Another factor is probably a general expectation that bags arrive in a timely manner so more bags are checked so there are less delays from people trying to carryon there entire lives to avoid a bag check fee
Exactly! Free checked bags and no mishandeled bags is the key. You can trust the baggage handling of the airports in the region, then you don't need large carry-ons.
My wife and I did the JAL ITM-HND flight on a 777. Completely full, and we were in about the third row from the back. I timed the deplaning procedure, and from that back row to the front door, on a completely full domestic 777, took 4m37s. Unbelievable.
I used to fly EVA almost exclusively between Asia and the US but I have been flying with JAL a lot more lately. I find their business class fares to be very reasonable and the FAs to be very polite and attentive. Due to a very poor transit experience I had at TPE airport earlier this year along with an aging 777 fleet and super high priced business class. I also find HND/NRT better airports to transit through as well.
I was going to post on flyertalk today, and I came across this post. I just flew CGK-NRT-HNL roundtrip. Hand to god, on two of those segments, 20 minutes from boarding to pushback. Amazing. Sidenote: JL must be listening to feedback, cabins on all 4 segments were cool, not the sauna they usually are.
Nothing impressive here if you are familiar with the Japanese culture. At least in my experience, they are one of the most polite people in the world and they follow rules by the book and don’t try to find a way around to take advantage. The most impressive thing I saw while visiting Japan was one Sunday afternoon when I was waiting to cross a very large avenue in Tokyo and the lights were red...
Nothing impressive here if you are familiar with the Japanese culture. At least in my experience, they are one of the most polite people in the world and they follow rules by the book and don’t try to find a way around to take advantage. The most impressive thing I saw while visiting Japan was one Sunday afternoon when I was waiting to cross a very large avenue in Tokyo and the lights were red for pedestrians. I could see there were absolutely no cars coming in any direction and one could easily slow walk and cross the avenue since there were no cars coming. There were many pedestrians waiting for the light to cross turn green and not a single one crossed on the red light. I was impressed.
I've not flown to the US for a while but the boarding of an intercontinental flight in Europe is similarly civilised. We recently boarded a KLM flight from Schipol to KUL and boarding started 30 minutes before the flight with boarding completed exactly at departure time and all doors secured. There was no histrionics just like in all previous flights. They employ a zone boarding system with similar priorities to the appropriate passengers. Passengers at...
I've not flown to the US for a while but the boarding of an intercontinental flight in Europe is similarly civilised. We recently boarded a KLM flight from Schipol to KUL and boarding started 30 minutes before the flight with boarding completed exactly at departure time and all doors secured. There was no histrionics just like in all previous flights. They employ a zone boarding system with similar priorities to the appropriate passengers. Passengers at the rear of the aircraft board first. Those in the wrong zone were denied boarding and there were enough staff and both air bridges were operational. When all the business class passengers had boarded the premium economy passengers were permitted to board using the fore air bridge. Passengers were constantly reminded to be quick. The Dutch are quite direct.
Your description of the boarding groups is not entirely right. While the general sign you have a picture off just shows "priority boarding", this is actually divided in to two groups. Group 1 for first class and emerald, group 2 for sapphire.
This proves what I said was totally true.
If conservatism and lack of liberty suck, then why is Japan so good?
Japanese people never consider voting for libs, follow what the people in charge tells them to do, and respect each other (since they're forced to do). A lot of Japanese people want Trump back in the US Presidential Office, btw. But you libs of OMAAT go through either a denial or make double...
This proves what I said was totally true.
If conservatism and lack of liberty suck, then why is Japan so good?
Japanese people never consider voting for libs, follow what the people in charge tells them to do, and respect each other (since they're forced to do). A lot of Japanese people want Trump back in the US Presidential Office, btw. But you libs of OMAAT go through either a denial or make double standards, because they always praise Japan as if it's a gods' realm.
Now I wouldn't be surprised to see OMAAT libs supporting Russia or Palestine or anything they see as an enemy if Japan did. They'll support and praise what-so-f*ckin-ever Japan does.
And you think I'M just a ret*rd?
Clowns.
“And you think I'M just a ret*rd?”
No.
We just hope you get some help.
People love to throw around words that don't mean anything.
The conservatism in Asia is the kind about focusing on safety, education, respecting the law, and taking care of the weak and elderly.
In Asia, there's no one slinging around guns doing mass shootings every day. People in Asia take recycling and environmentalism very seriously. You'll get fined for not properly sorting your trash. Asian countries have socialized healthcare programs to provide for everyone.
Meanwhile...
People love to throw around words that don't mean anything.
The conservatism in Asia is the kind about focusing on safety, education, respecting the law, and taking care of the weak and elderly.
In Asia, there's no one slinging around guns doing mass shootings every day. People in Asia take recycling and environmentalism very seriously. You'll get fined for not properly sorting your trash. Asian countries have socialized healthcare programs to provide for everyone.
Meanwhile in the US, conservatism means gun ownership and climate change denial. And paying thousands of dollars for private health insurance.
This is one of the most amusingly "confidently incorrect" takes I've heard in a long time.
> Japanese people never consider voting for libs
An amusing aside since this is what you chose to open with is that the ruling party in Japan is literally called the "Liberal Democratic Party" and has been in power virtually continuously since the 1950s.
(Now in reality, name notwithstanding they are generally considered a conservative political party...
This is one of the most amusingly "confidently incorrect" takes I've heard in a long time.
> Japanese people never consider voting for libs
An amusing aside since this is what you chose to open with is that the ruling party in Japan is literally called the "Liberal Democratic Party" and has been in power virtually continuously since the 1950s.
(Now in reality, name notwithstanding they are generally considered a conservative political party but as you're about to see, it only highlights how radically different "conservative" parties are in the US versus many other countries in the world)
So the whole thrust of your argument is that Japanese people "never consider voting for libs" yet here is a (not at all exhaustive) list of things that Japan has as a matter of course:
* Comprehensive, affordable national healthcare. You can get cancer here, get excellent medical treatment and... not go bankrupt? You can regularly see a dentist and it costs you less than $8 USD. You can give birth (including several days hospital stay) and it costs less than $1500 USD (SOCIALISM GASP!)
* Complete nationwide ban on guns (with extremely narrow exceptions under heavy licensure for a limited number of hunters - there are estimated to be no more than 175,000 civilian owned guns in a country with a population of 125 million+) (CLUTCH YOUR 2ND AMENDMENT PEARLS! )
* Apropos this, fairly strict nationwide bans on civilian ownership of many types of knives and virtually all swords as well (IF YOU BAN GUNS THEN WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO BAN KNIVES? OH WAIT ... YOU DID? AND IT WORKED? HUH)
* Lifetime employment system for regular employees coupled with extremely strong labour protections (unlike the US where capitalist bootlickers treat the hiring/firing of employees as just another lever to control P/E ratios to please investor overlords) (CAPIALIST BOOTLICKERS AND 1%ERS CLOSE YOUR EYES!)
* Extremely heavy taxation (max income rate of 45% which you hit at equivalent of 260,00 USD and with virtually zero loopholes unlike the US) + additional 10% flat residency tax (on top of income tax) + heavy social welfare fees + a staggering inheritance tax rate of up to 55% (again with virtually few loop holes). Incidentally, this taxation regime is intentionally designed to discourage the growth of the hyper rich at the expense of societal stability. (THE HORRORS OF SOCIALISM!)
* Broad range of social welfare, benefits and other societal support funded by aforementioned taxation (monthly cash supplements to support families with children, cash supplements for home owners with mortgages, medical supplements for expectant mothers, various public programs and investment in childhood education and welfare, etc.) (YOU MEAN YOU ACTUALLY CARE ABOUT THE CHILDREN AFTER THEY'RE BORN?!)
* Speaking of which... abortion (and access other forms of reproductive medicine) is widely available (up to 22 weeks), convenient, fast and affordable. The abortion rate in Japan is generally comparable to or slightly higher than that of the US (depending on time frame/demographic being compared) (CHRISTOFACISTS COVER YOUR EARS!)
* While overall LGBTQ issues in Japan are a mixed bag (same sex marriage is universally recognised for example), a wide variety of LGBTQ celebrities and other public figures routinely appear on public television, commercials and billboards, as well as in some children's educational programs, etc. LGBTQ-related violence is exceedingly rare (especially compared to the US) and things like all-gender/multi-use etc. bathrooms etc. are common in some of the larger cities. (BUT BUT THE CHILDRENS! WAIT WHAT DO YOU MEAN THEY GREW UP NORMAL?)
* Strong ecological/environmental policies both public and private: strong public transit usage, comparatively high commercial penetration of non-ICE vehicles (electric, hydrogen, solar, etc.), nationwide recycling programs, non-trivial investment in environmentally-friendly projects/policies in the private sector, etc. (YOU MEAN THEY ACTUALLY MAKE (SOME) SOUND PUBLIC POLICY BASED ON SCIENCE AND PEOPLE COOPERATE?)
I'm not listing the above as evidence of how "awesome Japan is" (in fact, there are many downsides to the "Japanese way" (as a short hand for the amalgamation of government / society and culture), a full enumeration of which is beyond the scope of a comment on a travel blog, but which can perhaps pithily be summarised as "domestic peace and stability above all, but at what price?") but rather to address this amusing incorrect pronouncement on your end:
>If conservatism and lack of liberty suck, then why is Japan so good?
I mean, if "conservativism" in the US came with all of the bullet points highlighted above (established and expanded under the ruling conservative political party of the last seven decades) then I imagine that there would be far less opposition to the idea.
The fact that the above policies - most of which are so far "left" that the brain of the average so-called conservative in the US would explode for lack of a word beyond "socialism" - are just considered so basic and matter that they were born of and expanded in a country with a relatively conservative political regime just goes to show you how far whacked out the so call "conservativism" in the US is.
I would wager it's not the actual conservative fiscal/economic policies and general love for bombing other countries in the name of freedom that most people in the US have an issue with - it's the capitalist bootlicking, openly hostile hate-based policies designed to punish and harm the vast majority of the US population (especially children and minorities), hollowing out the middle class to create a permanent servant underclass carrying while carrying out the single most blatant wealth extraction from the current and future generations in order to concentrate it into the hands of the 1% that the world has ever seen that most people probably have more of an issue with.
So yeah - maybe if the US adopted some of the things that are taken for granted in conservative Japan then nobody would care if the US called it convervativism or liberalism or whateverism.
Fantastic, really informative reply. Thanks for educating, you put in a lot of effort to address such a foolish OP though!
"A lot of Japanese people want Trump back in the US Presidential Office"
Source?
I've just finished a month split between Australia and New Zealand and I saw a single "Make America Great Again" cap in Sydney and not a single conversation with dozens of people who support Trump. They are almost unanimous in their fear of the chaos Trump brings.
Now to the topic at hand..... Boarding in Australia and New Zealand were typical US style (Jetstar, Qantas, NZ Air and Air Tahiti) starting 50 minutes ahead....
I've just finished a month split between Australia and New Zealand and I saw a single "Make America Great Again" cap in Sydney and not a single conversation with dozens of people who support Trump. They are almost unanimous in their fear of the chaos Trump brings.
Now to the topic at hand..... Boarding in Australia and New Zealand were typical US style (Jetstar, Qantas, NZ Air and Air Tahiti) starting 50 minutes ahead. They may be Asia, but align with US in operations.
the converse of this is that flights deplane just as fast if not faster. Widebodies w/ this many seats are scheduled for turns of less than one hour and they are clean when they are boarded.
in contrast, US narrowbody aircraft take 20 minutes to deplane while people play on their phone and can't remember where they put all of their stuff.
People move when they are told, focus on what they are doing instead...
the converse of this is that flights deplane just as fast if not faster. Widebodies w/ this many seats are scheduled for turns of less than one hour and they are clean when they are boarded.
in contrast, US narrowbody aircraft take 20 minutes to deplane while people play on their phone and can't remember where they put all of their stuff.
People move when they are told, focus on what they are doing instead of yacking on cell phones, they don't care much on the plane, and they respect each other.
Some of those things happen in other parts of the world but the Japanese take it to a new level.
One of the unmentioned benefits of this is that you can also arrive at the airport way later.
When I had some domestic Japan flights, people showed up maybe like 20 to 30m before the departure time in the lounge and it was all very low stress.
In the US, we normalize getting to the airport hours in advance bc boarding basically adds an extra hour even for domestic narrowbody flights.
True, you can arrive at the airport as late as 15 mins before the departure in Japan.
Not only the boarding process, but also security checks and airport design flows are superior in such Asian airports.
I would think part of this comes down to how good the shinkansen and legacy rail network is for trips that would otherwise be a 30-90 minute flight in the US. The sheer capacity of the shinkansen network takes a huge load off domestic air travel, so you don't have nearly as many regional flights as you otherwise would, and as a result less strain on airport check-in, baggage handling, and security staff. For example,...
I would think part of this comes down to how good the shinkansen and legacy rail network is for trips that would otherwise be a 30-90 minute flight in the US. The sheer capacity of the shinkansen network takes a huge load off domestic air travel, so you don't have nearly as many regional flights as you otherwise would, and as a result less strain on airport check-in, baggage handling, and security staff. For example, about 88% of ATL's passenger traffic was domestic according to 2023 stats I found, while Haneda's domestic share was 78%, the Tokyo area also has Narita as an option.
So, to save 25-35 minutes of boarding time, everyone has to spend an extra 5 minutes checking their bags before the flight, then another 30 waiting for them at the baggage belt on arrival. And run the risk of a lost or damaged bag. I will take longer boarding time over having to check a bag, thank you very much.
Because in Japan baggage damage is very uncommon and your baggage arrives when you show up at the carousel
@Aaron -
The first part about uncommon lost/damaged luggage is very true, that not a single luggage has been lost there so far, for thirty years.
The last part, however, isn't really true. I had to wait for my luggage to be processed all the way through the carousel in Japanese aiports for a...
@Aaron -
The first part about uncommon lost/damaged luggage is very true, that not a single luggage has been lost there so far, for thirty years.
The last part, however, isn't really true. I had to wait for my luggage to be processed all the way through the carousel in Japanese aiports for a few times, still better than what is it like in the rest of the world, though.
My last domestic flight with JAL (NGO-NRT) had fewer than 5 checked bags for a B738. Most people travelled light or had a cabin luggage, while my 28” luggage was at the carousel within 3 minutes of my arrival.
Also, if you have priority baggage service, at some Asian airports, the bags would arrive even before you clear immigration. One example is Singapore-Changi where the first bag will be on belt within 12 minutes of the plane docking for non-LCCs. If you were a Singapore resident, the wait is probably just 3 minutes if you didn’t spend time at the duty-free shops.
Seoul, Taipei & Kuala Lumpur were speedy as well.
Right, baggage handling is the key. So if you are ultimately connecting to the US, priority tags won't make any positive difference. Even worse, if you have a domestic connection in the US, you would have to waste even more time collecting and re-checking the bag. So while I don't mind checking a bag on a domestic Batik Air flight in Indonesia, I try to avoid it on any flight to the US, regardless of class/airline.
This highlights the different between a civilised society, and a society filled with Donald’s and Karen’s
Few people already brought up luggage allowances - but did JAL agents announce at any point that "we need 182 volunteers to gate-check the bag"?
If not, how do they solve the bins problem on such a densely configured jet?
Most people on domestic travels travel light. They are probably just staying a night to meet up with relatives or business partners, and they fly back the next day. Huge luggages are not necessary. And hotel rooms ain’t big either, so why bring a big luggage you can’t use?
So most people travel with cabin size luggage here, and they are very efficient and cooperative when it comes to putting them on the overhead compartments....
Most people on domestic travels travel light. They are probably just staying a night to meet up with relatives or business partners, and they fly back the next day. Huge luggages are not necessary. And hotel rooms ain’t big either, so why bring a big luggage you can’t use?
So most people travel with cabin size luggage here, and they are very efficient and cooperative when it comes to putting them on the overhead compartments. You see, the first collective aim is to avoid inconvenience for others (迷惑). So most people would proactively stack their luggages to take up the least space, so that others could quickly find an available space and also slot it in taking just what they need and leaving ample space for other passengers. This way, most people complete the luggage stowage work and sit down very quickly, leaving space for others to move in. Literally, their minds be like, don’t be an ass and cause trouble for others! Most boarding is completed in less than 10 minutes for narrowbody and 15 minutes for widebodies, and they will then leave the gate early if they can. Better than punctual.
Just completed two JAL international flights. Both US to Osaka and Tokyo to US went the same. Start 30 minutes before departure, call people who need assistance, then First and elites and then groups as described. Two jetways and twin aisle helps but fully staffed gates with 5 agents and polite, orderly passengers make the difference
Japanese passengers do not bring a lot of hand carry, in fact they have hardly any. This makes a huge difference in boarding time.
I think boarding in the US would be a bit more efficient if gate agents actually allowed some time between groups. Every time I take a regional flight, the announcement for pre-boarding comes first, followed about 15 seconds later by the call for First Class and top-tier FF program members, followed about 15 seconds later by Group 1. Of course it becomes a scrum.
I understand that boarding in the US will never be like boarding in Japan because the culture is simply different, but I don't understand why airlines can't simplify boarding into no more than 6 zones, and having a dedicated line for each zone (instead of currently 1 or 2 lines for elites, and then 1 more for everyone else, which ends up being a bunch of people all getting into the line when their boarding...
I understand that boarding in the US will never be like boarding in Japan because the culture is simply different, but I don't understand why airlines can't simplify boarding into no more than 6 zones, and having a dedicated line for each zone (instead of currently 1 or 2 lines for elites, and then 1 more for everyone else, which ends up being a bunch of people all getting into the line when their boarding group isn't being called).
It really doesn't cost much to add a few extra signs, and then just block off the front of each line with stanchions, then retract them as each boarding group starts.
Bc they need to make everyone feel special. Amex gives Delta customers "Zone 5" priority
Coincidentally enough, I belong to a customer feedback panel of a major European airline. Another member of the panel just hosed the airline for a train wreck boarding on a long-haul flight. No respect for boarding groups. A free for all. So, maybe . . . just maybe . . . it's not only the Americans. Hmmm.
"Passengers stay seated until it’s their turn to board, follow instructions, and only board when their zone is called."
Well, there's your problem.
you got only japanese people here, they behave, dont throw tantrums and are educated.
in america you have a zoo.
europe is not any better
It helps most of the Japanese airlines allow for free domestic checked luggage up to 20kg in total, without limits as to the number of pieces (or what I understood). In addition, I believe the widespread automated luggage check-in machines allow for efficient staff allocation elsewhere, like at the gates. Furthermore, there are no liquid restrictions for domestic carry-ons!
The same very efficient orderliness applies at the train stations. Queueing passengers follow painted lines...
It helps most of the Japanese airlines allow for free domestic checked luggage up to 20kg in total, without limits as to the number of pieces (or what I understood). In addition, I believe the widespread automated luggage check-in machines allow for efficient staff allocation elsewhere, like at the gates. Furthermore, there are no liquid restrictions for domestic carry-ons!
The same very efficient orderliness applies at the train stations. Queueing passengers follow painted lines that show the exact positioning of a specific carriage. Mind you, there may be several trainset types stopping by the same platform, and each type has its own coloured lines to follow!
Do JAL include checked luggage in the cheapest fares? Limited overhead space is the only logical reason for not wanting to board last, although I wouldn't doubt that a -negligible proportion of pax in the USA, and possibly a few other places, have been conditioned in a quasi-Pavlovian way to place significant value on early boarding.
That should have read 'NON-NEGLIGIBLE proportion of pax'.
It's because Japanese people are respectful, and Americans are generally self-entitled, spoiled, inconsiderate assholes. Eric Scmidt euphemistically calls this Americans having "individualism and flexibility in our DNA, rather than cooperation." Japanese culture has plenty of individuality. They just aren't trying to screw over others on a daily basis. It's a country with intelligent, mindful, civilized people. The US, on the other hand, is a greedy and divisive society in turmoil, stoked by our radical liberal...
It's because Japanese people are respectful, and Americans are generally self-entitled, spoiled, inconsiderate assholes. Eric Scmidt euphemistically calls this Americans having "individualism and flexibility in our DNA, rather than cooperation." Japanese culture has plenty of individuality. They just aren't trying to screw over others on a daily basis. It's a country with intelligent, mindful, civilized people. The US, on the other hand, is a greedy and divisive society in turmoil, stoked by our radical liberal politicians, fake news outlets, and woke corporations, who preach that certain groups are "victims" who deserve "special treatment."
It's funny to read that boarding in the US is chaotic.. it's all relative. Even though I grew up in India and settled in the US and visited India very frequently.. it's a whole another level of chaos and pandemonium. Your torture starts before you can even enter the airport with these very inefficient military staff checking your boarding pass and passport before you can even enter the airport. Then you have a very slow...
It's funny to read that boarding in the US is chaotic.. it's all relative. Even though I grew up in India and settled in the US and visited India very frequently.. it's a whole another level of chaos and pandemonium. Your torture starts before you can even enter the airport with these very inefficient military staff checking your boarding pass and passport before you can even enter the airport. Then you have a very slow immigration process to leave and then even worse security with not enough bins or lines creating a very chaotic and stressful environment. Then at the gate there are no clear announcements from the gate agents.. random lines form and you don't know what line you should be in.. once boarding starts everyone rushes from all directions... It's exhausting. I find boarding in the US to be a breeze.
According to other readers, only the US has such disorder. By the tone of their comments, they seem quite certain. But, I'm inclined to believe you. Could it possibly be that they are wrong?
How great was it when I tried to checkin for my family the night prior to our am flight and they wouldn’t let me leave the Delhi airport until an airline agent escorted me out?
Its not as much about culture as much it is about inconsistencies in execution of the boarding plan. You see very different ways of executing the same boarding plan from one person in charge to the other, even at the same hub.
I have figured out a way to board an aircraft much faster than we do it now.
Probably comes down to differences in culture. In the US, it is mostly about survival of the fittest leading to the a "I, me, myself" mindset while Japan is about survival of the community. Looting of stores is an accepted event in the US during any calamity but you will not see it in Japan.
I'm in the UK regularly. California-style looting of stores is prevalent in the UK. You just haven't heard about it.
“Looting of stores is an accepted event in the US during any calamity…”
LOL!
Yeah…nope.
In the US, passengers are just savages with no manners. Flew MIA-LGA on AA yesterday. I had group 1 on my boarding pass, but literally half the the plane walked up to the boarding line and made boarding messy. And this happens to me on every US domestic flight. Very sad. Also, can you write about your luggage claim experience in Japan? I was told everyone stands behind a line and waits for their baggage....
In the US, passengers are just savages with no manners. Flew MIA-LGA on AA yesterday. I had group 1 on my boarding pass, but literally half the the plane walked up to the boarding line and made boarding messy. And this happens to me on every US domestic flight. Very sad. Also, can you write about your luggage claim experience in Japan? I was told everyone stands behind a line and waits for their baggage. In the US you just get pushed over and everyone needs to be right upfront. Like animals. Sad.
Love Japanese bag reclaim. It’s true. Also when taking the first departure of the day the staff open exactly on time, stand in front of the check in and bow
People don't wait in a line at luggage claim in Japan, that makes zero sense. But baggage claim IS better, there's a little rubber bump near the metal guard rail of the belts which prevents the luggage from slamming into the metal at high speed. Sometimes there's someone working to remove the bags as they come out, and neatly place them in a row nearby, so you can "gracefully" leave with your belt without having...
People don't wait in a line at luggage claim in Japan, that makes zero sense. But baggage claim IS better, there's a little rubber bump near the metal guard rail of the belts which prevents the luggage from slamming into the metal at high speed. Sometimes there's someone working to remove the bags as they come out, and neatly place them in a row nearby, so you can "gracefully" leave with your belt without having to get the bag off the belt yourself (being "graceful" is a very Japanese thing they seem to care deeply about).
Even checking in a paper bag is relatively common in Japan domestic flights (you can see them come out on a tray often at baggage), and is not something done in other countries, even in Asia.
We had exactly the same experience last Christmas flying the reverse route on an ANA 773. It was a similar time and felt utterly stress free. I noticed that many didn’t have rollers which must have sped up the process. It was incredible.
This is cultural. In the US people in Group 9 feel the urge to run up to the boarding lane as soon as the first wheelchair is boarded, then stand in the middle of the lane blocking boarding, then completely not understand the process of finding your seat and finding a place for your bag, then sitting down and shutting up Or the self entitled first class boomer that stands in the middle of the...
This is cultural. In the US people in Group 9 feel the urge to run up to the boarding lane as soon as the first wheelchair is boarded, then stand in the middle of the lane blocking boarding, then completely not understand the process of finding your seat and finding a place for your bag, then sitting down and shutting up Or the self entitled first class boomer that stands in the middle of the aisle going through their bag trying to find god knows what-after all they're already onboard. You can't cure stupid.
I totally agree, it’s mainly cultural. In the US and Europe I also observe a lot of later groups rushing to the gate … just te be sent back … which causes further delay.
Buddy, this happens everywhere I've been. Europe, Africa, Asia . . . Brits, French, Italians, Turks, Moroccans, . . . not just the in US. Inexperienced travelers everywhere don't know the routine. Experienced travelers do. They rush the gate. They put their bags in the overhead sideways.
Took same flight in business, and, yes, I boarded last.
When it comes to tourism and transportation, Japan is just light years better...
Having studied boarding processes extensively across multiple different countries and cultures, my conclusion is that whatever process you use, the proportion of exception processing dictates the time required.
Exception processing includes anyone that isn't simply able to board in a line with everyone else. That includes special assistance, children, wheelchairs, elites, gatecheck bags, etc..
You can board the entire flight all at once, but if everyone simply stands in line and moves at a...
Having studied boarding processes extensively across multiple different countries and cultures, my conclusion is that whatever process you use, the proportion of exception processing dictates the time required.
Exception processing includes anyone that isn't simply able to board in a line with everyone else. That includes special assistance, children, wheelchairs, elites, gatecheck bags, etc..
You can board the entire flight all at once, but if everyone simply stands in line and moves at a constant pace without oversized luggage, you will complete the process faster than any complex algorithmic process throws up.
I was on a full Korean air a380 that boarded in about 25 mins.
But I am a Diamond.
There's actually scholarly literature on this. You're right about exceptions, but the process matters too.
Random boarding is pretty fast. But the most efficient way the authors found to board a single aisle jet was in 6 groups:
1) Window seats, odd rows
2) Window seats, even rows
3) Middles, odd
4) Middles, even
5) Aisles, odd
6) Aisles, even
Hardly practical, since it means nobody can board with their companions, but this is the fastest.
The unspoken rules and culture of Japanese society make this possible. But if you had to live in Japan long term you might start to find these rules oppressive in daily life. Maybe this is the tradeoff.
Boarding in the US is disorganized and stressful, but maybe it's because we have individualism and flexibility in our DNA, rather than cooperation. And not having to pay attention to things that we don't think are important,...
The unspoken rules and culture of Japanese society make this possible. But if you had to live in Japan long term you might start to find these rules oppressive in daily life. Maybe this is the tradeoff.
Boarding in the US is disorganized and stressful, but maybe it's because we have individualism and flexibility in our DNA, rather than cooperation. And not having to pay attention to things that we don't think are important, but which takes a little bit away from everyone else's experience.
You can't fix or change these things with just a "I wish we could make this specific thing better" without sometimes changing some of the fundamental unspoken rules of a society.
"because we have individualism and flexibility in our DNA, rather than cooperation"
A very selfish viewpoint.
It's not the "individualism" so much as the fact that there are something like *nine* boarding groups. Most people in the higher groups are sitting towards the front, which is the opposite of the way it should be for efficient boarding (back to front). The reason for 9 boarding groups is just airline greed: they monetize boarding priority. It's a benefit offered to F and J and premium economy and credit card holders and those...
It's not the "individualism" so much as the fact that there are something like *nine* boarding groups. Most people in the higher groups are sitting towards the front, which is the opposite of the way it should be for efficient boarding (back to front). The reason for 9 boarding groups is just airline greed: they monetize boarding priority. It's a benefit offered to F and J and premium economy and credit card holders and those who pay extra for seats at the front of the cabin and those who pay extra to have a carry-on bag and those who pay a credit card annual fee and those who pay extra just to bump up their boarding priority. This has absolutely nothing to do with individualism and everything to do with US corporate culture (which is obviously different from Japan's).
"there’s a lot of yelling from the gate agent"
Nah, American communication is just everyone yelling at everyone all the time.
The rest of your story is basically one American guy being overly surprised about how things actually work if everyone just follows the rules for once.
Lagos when a flight is delayed
I was at haneda once when my flight was delayed an hour due to atc.
Calm and almost silence apart from English guy berating a staff member. There was a storm passing. Then his partner pulled him back. Apologised to the employee and there were words in his ear.
Then there are stupid people everywhere
In every country that I've boarded an aircraft, it is the inexperienced traveler who doesn't know the drill that is the problem. They invariably crowd the boarding area. "I'm sorry. We're boarding group 1. You're in group 9." Occasionally, I'll see a gate agent do an excellent job at boarding management and will thank them.
I would change "inexperienced" with "stupid" in your sentence.
this is the same country where a nearly full version of this same plane sat burning on the runway at HND as the passengers all sat patiently waiting for crew instructions.
The Japanese are an incredibly conforming, community-based culture and yet they are also the most homogenic of any industrialized country - there is little ethnic or social diversity.
Ben proves that he is an American with its reviews of the past week - picking...
this is the same country where a nearly full version of this same plane sat burning on the runway at HND as the passengers all sat patiently waiting for crew instructions.
The Japanese are an incredibly conforming, community-based culture and yet they are also the most homogenic of any industrialized country - there is little ethnic or social diversity.
Ben proves that he is an American with its reviews of the past week - picking apart the things about each culture that he likes but unable to see the whole and appreciate all cultures equally.
The Japanese have been some of the most warring people - perhaps not by individual choice since few humans seek out war - but by their leaders - in Asia. and yet they have managed to build a social fabric that is very welcoming of foreigners and catering to foreign business even w/ countries that they subjugated and still hold vestiges of animosity.
I get Ben didn't bother to stop in one of the museums in S. Korea that deal w/ Japanese occupation.
The Japanese are fascinating people but they are just a prone to weaknesses as every other culture.
The fact that they allocate so few seats to a premium product that so few buy even at such a low price - and don't see pigs as any higher on the evolutionary scale than cows or chickens - proves how unAmerican Japan is and how American Ben is
Imagine if Delta merged with the Japanese government, and made it more premium!
The UK is one of the most warring countries. That is what made English so widespread. It beat out Spanish and Portuguese as well as French. Arab countries are also warring but there were stalemates so no one big country. Jews are also warring but the State of Israel is relatively new.
Jews are not f— warring. Don’t compare them with the incumbent Israeli government. Maybe do some research into the Spanish Inquisition and world war 2
The best society in the world is Singapore. I am referring to the people and not the government, though the government is decent and low in corruption.
America is fairly high but not the best society or government. So is Japan. A number of other countries are decent.
Delta is not the best airline in the world.
The society is best and government is decent and low in corruption because propaganda under nepotism works.
Long time resident of Japan, still a subject of the American empire, bought a house in Japan, plan to retire, die, and be put in the ground in Japan, and I laughed so hard I almost started coughing. Halfway through naturalisation, but can't give up the US passport while I have an elderly parent who refuses to move to Japan with me. Will finish maybe when I retire.
Japanese collectivism is vastly overstated, and Japan...
Long time resident of Japan, still a subject of the American empire, bought a house in Japan, plan to retire, die, and be put in the ground in Japan, and I laughed so hard I almost started coughing. Halfway through naturalisation, but can't give up the US passport while I have an elderly parent who refuses to move to Japan with me. Will finish maybe when I retire.
Japanese collectivism is vastly overstated, and Japan is VERY socially diverse and has always been multi-ethnic (the Ryukyuu in Okinawa and the Ainu in Hokkaido are only the two most famous and well-recognised of the still existing Indigenous peoples), not to mention there are large populations of Zainichi (multi-generational) Koreans, Taiwanese and Chinese, or the Japanese-South Americans. Then we can talk about the technical workers and caregivers from Vietnam and the Philippines and plenty of Europeans, North Americans, etc. We even have a vibrant Nigerian-Japanese community. And if any of these folks naturalise, they are just listed as Japanese. This is where you get that false "98%" number. That counts citizenship, not ethnicity or national origin. Don't even get me started on the politics or fandoms.
By and large the worst actors in daily interactions in Japan are ostensibly native-born "Yamato" Japanese with Japanese citizenship. Littering, garbage problems, traffic violations, sexual harassment and assault, irate tirades at customer service, and so on. I have seen it all in my lifetime, and while it is sometimes the visiting tourist in the center of Tokyo, anywhere else in Japan, especially the rural areas I have most often worked and lived in (including my current town where I have Taiwanese and American neighbors), nope... it's the "typical" Japanese person. Immigrants would never--too much to lose socially or legally.
Japanese homogeneity is a myth, and I'll push back on it anytime I see it. And claims that Japanese are incapable of anything but docility seems awfully orientalist to me.
"how American Ben is"
What else would Ben be, if not American? Argentinian? Thai? Swedish? Nigerian?
He's also German.
The most importany thing is that people don't block the aisle. Stand in front of your seat if you need to unload/load stuff from/to carryon or place it in overhead compartment , not next to it on the aisle.
The first sentence could replace the United States with Italy. Milan Malpensa was something else.; yelling, tearing down the flexible barriers, pushing and people falling over one another. Kind of incredible to watch but very stressful to be part of!
That applies to the whole of Europe. And I don't invite you to visit any African country.
Yeah, the key factor is the "follow instructions" part.
The sign doesn't say anything about window seats in Group 3.
Too many demanding DYKWIA.
Me and my entitlement first.
Technically in US also boarding is done within 15-20 minutes (boarding starts in US half an hour earlier, and gates close 10 minutes prior).
Also in Japan having extra staff means their labor costs are lower, which isn't a good thing because it reflects poorly on how they're paid.
“Also in Japan having extra staff means their labor costs are lower, which isn't a good thing because it reflects poorly on how they're paid.”
It doesn’t have to mean this at all. What a strange assertion. It could mean JAL spends more operational expenses on labor at the expense of their margins. It could also mean that the cost of living, and salaries in Japan in general, is lower. It could mean so many things.
It could also mean that Unions are costing consumers more, just like distributors , middlemen etc. cut that crap out and the world is a much simpler place.
Unions aren't costing consumers more. Stop drinking the oligarch's koolaid.
More staff does not automatically mean low wages. What a bizarre conclusion to make.
That shows that random boarding is ok. This is random boarding except rear window seats first.
Actually, preboarding last is the fastest because no margin of error is needed. Just leave after the last disabled person is seated
Not even an issue in most places in the world…
It's that way ANYWHERE checked bags are free and are consistently returned promptly. Singapore Airlines boards 16 hour-long flights in 25 minutes