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?
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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.