Questions and Answers

Planning this Asia/Australia trip has been so time consuming. That whole phantom seat on AA drove me nuts. Had to bust open the Delta account and do a Virgin Australia MEL to HKG since I couldnt get Qantas, although from everything I am reading its supposed to be one of the nicest Business classes out there.

At any rate, i have 1 last leg to book and i can stuck on something and wanted to see if anyone has flown JAL Sky Suite on their 777 Vs. Delta 767. The route is NRT to SIN. Both actually leave right around 5pm arriving midnight. Both non stop So really all things are equal..

I have this feeling you are all going to say JAL hands down but maybe Delta internationally will do something they just dont do domestically (for at me at least). I heard also the 767’s are in the process of getting an update, although that may be just the 767-400 and not 330’s (?)

There are 3 things with JAL that mildly worry me

1) the food- i love food but probably the one cuisine i am not huge on is Japanese
2) the seats- heard they are low to ground and very firm and no pad is provided
3) hear the plane is kept very hot. i happen to run hot as it is so being on a plane extra hot could be bad

At any rate for the same day same time, same route, same price would you all recommend Delta One 767 or JAL 777 Sky Suite ??

Thanks in advance…

p/s just thought of one thing, if JAL were to switch 777’s into any of their other 777 versions it would mean older seat and sitting next to someone whereas with Delta there is no other plane to switch to. If there were some switch the only other planes they even have in Asia would have Delta One Suites so a switch would be a good thing

Everybody has their preferences on just what constitutes a good J product. For me, I don’t select a product based on the food, so I never factor that into any equation. However, I put sleep and seat comfort at the top of my list. That’s not to say I would take a layover and extra day of flying just to experience the fabulous Qatar Q Suite if an adequate product were available that would get me there quicker. To answer your question, the JAL cabin is congested, with lots of narrow seats, close together. On the other hand, the Delta 767 business class seat isn’t great (it’s narrow as well) but it’s better than the JAL product and the cabin is less dense, making for a better experience.

JAL will still probably be better.

Delta’s 767s are okay but seats are generally ranked the lowest among all Delta business class seats. Some 767s (400s, not 300s) are being updated but it’s not a new seat. [URL=’https://onemileatatime.com/new-delta-767-business-class/’]It’s essentially the same seat with new finishes[/URL] and a bit more privacy.

1 – You wont be limited to Japanese cuisine – they have a western option. You can also look up menus on JAL’s website. Here’s the current one for NRT-SIN [URL]https://www.jal.co.jp/inter/service/menu/pdf/meal/nrt_sin_c_m_201906_201908.pdf[/URL]

2 – Where did you hear that the seats are lower? Theyre’ not any higher or lower than other business class seats – and it seems JAL is using a 777 with reverse herringbone seats on the route. This is a pretty standard business class seat. JAL offers a mattress pad on some business class flights, though I dont know if this will be one of them. Delta doesnt offer mattress pads on any flight. Gia is right though – JAL will have more seats, but its a larger plane compared to the 767.

3 – I’ve heard this too, and I also run hot. However, Having flown both ANA and JAL a couple times, I’ve never found the cabin to be very hot. You can always ask the crew about lowering the temperature.

[QUOTE=”David W, post: 65099, member: 29″]JAL will still probably be better.

Delta’s 767s are okay but seats are generally ranked the lowest among all Delta business class seats. Some 767s (400s, not 300s) are being updated but it’s not a new seat. [URL=’https://onemileatatime.com/new-delta-767-business-class/’]It’s essentially the same seat with new finishes[/URL] and a bit more privacy.

1 – You wont be limited to Japanese cuisine – they have a western option. You can also look up menus on JAL’s website. Here’s the current one for NRT-SIN [URL]https://www.jal.co.jp/inter/service/menu/pdf/meal/nrt_sin_c_m_201906_201908.pdf[/URL]

2 – Where did you hear that the seats are lower? Theyre’ not any higher or lower than other business class seats – and it seems JAL is using a 777 with reverse herringbone seats on the route. This is a pretty standard business class seat. JAL offers a mattress pad on some business class flights, though I dont know if this will be one of them. Delta doesnt offer mattress pads on any flight. Gia is right though – JAL will have more seats, but its a larger plane compared to the 767.

3 – I’ve heard this too, and I also run hot. However, Having flown both ANA and JAL a couple times, I’ve never found the cabin to be very hot. You can always ask the crew about lowering the temperature.[/QUOTE]

Thank you David & Gia for the replies. Gia maybe were you on one of the more crowded 777 configurations b/c they all looked more 2-3-2 and crowded but NRT to SIN is Reverse Herringbone 1-2-1 which i love.. I was leaning towards Delta just to play it safe and fly an airline I know but i was surprised to see for only 30K miles through AA i could fly this route with JAL..

Thanks for the menu info David. As far as their seat being lower i read it on a blog someone did about the Sky Suite 111 which is what this seat would be. They said it was lower to the ground.

Good to know you flew them and werent hot. I know I read that in a few diff places and it worried me.

I think either way, JAL or Delta, this will be the weakest link of this Asia/Australia trip (AA 787 to NRT, BA first SIN to SYD, Virgin MEL to HKG and Delta One suites home to LA). So ya i think JAL or Delta 767 either way probably the weakest flight of my trip but still should be good

[QUOTE=”David W, post: 65099, member: 29″]JAL will still probably be better.

Delta’s 767s are okay but seats are generally ranked the lowest among all Delta business class seats. Some 767s (400s, not 300s) are being updated but it’s not a new seat. [URL=’https://onemileatatime.com/new-delta-767-business-class/’]It’s essentially the same seat with new finishes[/URL] and a bit more privacy.

1 – You wont be limited to Japanese cuisine – they have a western option. You can also look up menus on JAL’s website. Here’s the current one for NRT-SIN [URL]https://www.jal.co.jp/inter/service/menu/pdf/meal/nrt_sin_c_m_201906_201908.pdf[/URL]

2 – Where did you hear that the seats are lower? Theyre’ not any higher or lower than other business class seats – and it seems JAL is using a 777 with reverse herringbone seats on the route. This is a pretty standard business class seat. JAL offers a mattress pad on some business class flights, though I dont know if this will be one of them. Delta doesnt offer mattress pads on any flight. Gia is right though – JAL will have more seats, but its a larger plane compared to the 767.

3 – I’ve heard this too, and I also run hot. However, Having flown both ANA and JAL a couple times, I’ve never found the cabin to be very hot. You can always ask the crew about lowering the temperature.[/QUOTE]

Wait David on PVG to Lax on delta suites I don’t get a mattress pad ? That’s kind of lame. Delta keeps cutting corners. They don’t do a sundae anymore from lax/jfk Delta one. That’s lame too

The western menu on JAL seems kind of boring. I think I might get a better meal on delta although not sure how there catering is out of NRT

I have until midnight to cancel one of them. I think keeping the JAL is where I am heading. Be cool to experience their service which I hear is nice. When in Asia fly the Asian carrier ? Plus the rest of this trip between BA, AA, Qantas, Delta and virgin Au I am not even experiencing an Asian carrier

I’m pretty sure they dont offer a mattress pad. They market their bedding as Westin Heavenly Bedding but that consists of a pillow and a duvet. I think the gold standard of bedding for business class on a US airline was United, when Polaris first rolled out.. American partners with Casper.

[QUOTE=”David W, post: 65118, member: 29″]I’m pretty sure they dont offer a mattress pad. They market their bedding as Westin Heavenly Bedding but that consists of a pillow and a duvet. I think the gold standard of bedding for business class on a US airline was United, when Polaris first rolled out.. American partners with Casper.[/QUOTE]
Thats nuts you would think a pad is standard. Rather not sleep right on the seat. I will do what i do on all my lax/dallas on AA and lax/ewr on united and just take 2 blankets, i use one as a pad and one as my actual blanket..

I just hope the Delta One service PVG to LaX will blow me a way or at least be a whole level better than their Premium TransCon which i will never fly again..

I think i am going to stick to JAL for the NRT to SIN. 30,000 miles was cheap. Delta wants 82,500 for same flight, same time, etc

[QUOTE=”Mikewarren1000, post: 65119, member: 5445″]Thats nuts you would think a pad is standard. Rather not sleep right on the seat. I will do what i do on all my lax/dallas on AA and lax/ewr on united and just take 2 blankets, i use one as a pad and one as my actual blanket..

I just hope the Delta One service PVG to LaX will blow me a way or at least be a whole level better than their Premium TransCon which i will never fly again..

I think i am going to stick to JAL for the NRT to SIN. 30,000 miles was cheap. Delta wants 82,500 for same flight, same time, etc[/QUOTE]

David i have decided to go with JAL, new experience..

I was really surprised to see NO seats are open in the entire forward J cabin ( 7 rows).. Middle seats sorry are open but all 14 window options are blacked out.

No way 10 months in advance this can be right? Does JAL do this to customers using AA miles? I have to choose a seat in the 2nd Business cabin. Thats not as desireable to me but still not worth switching to Delta 767 over this…….

My foot well question i asked above would be helpful to know here. Like 8K is good if a larger foot well otherwise rather take 9K and not be right by the galley

If Delta was using a 777 for this route like they used to it’d be a done deal

Dont think JL is doing anything to restrict seats from AA or other award pax. Might just be occupied. I’d pick a seat and then just keep checking every so often to see if other seats open up then switch.

Is the 2nd cabin smaller? Some people like the smaller cabin since it’d be even quieter with less foot traffic.

yes def 2nd cabin is smaller. you can see it on seat guru, its the only reverse herringbone 1-2-1 777..

Its weird though i mean not a single seat on either side of the entire front galley. Feels like they are blocking it

I am going to go to JAL and try to begin the process of buying a ticket for the same flight be curious to see if it will show me the seat map

AS of now i am going off what the AA agent told me.

I forgot to get my JAL confirmation number so i cant see anything myself. I am calling now to get my JAL # then will see whats up and what i can do but she did say last night nothing is open on either window side unless i go to the smaller back Business cabin (i believe its 4 rows)

And yes it might be more intimate as a smaller cabin but i never sit in the back of the 2 Business cabins when there is one b/c i dont like being that close to a possible crying baby in Coach. Also, that galley usually seems to be the louder/noisier one as far as the FA’s go..

I love Row 2, 3 or 4.. Depends if its staggered then row 2 or 4 if its even number closer to window or 3 if its Odd. Reverse herringbone 2 if 4-5 rows or maybe row 3 if 6-7 rows. I always go for that, i find no one walks by my seat. Row 1 usually goes to the forward bathroom and walks acorss the galley. row 4,5, 6 etc use the bathroom behind, at least in reverse herringbone that works when i choose the right side of the plane. On staggered i take the left. Have a thing for having the drink rest on my right and table to my right..

Got my JAL #, going to check this out now. 10 months out hard to believe entire cabin is full

Wouldn’t surprise me if they did restrict which seats partners can access. Qantas does this. In January when award space opened for my Qantas SFO-SYD flight, there were lots of seats in J blocked out. If my friend and I wanted to sit upstairs on the 747 our only choice was the very last row. I remember Qantas doing that to me even on an intra-Australia flight back in 2015. I think our choice was the two seats in the last two rows of the (domestic first) business class cabin and I’m not even sure both sides of the plane were open. When we actually flew the flight I think there were only 3 of the 16 seats taken.

Yup 100% confirmed, seats are withheld on JAL for those who booked with miles.. I can have the front Business cabin if i take the middle but for either side windows i can only have access to 8-11.

I took 9L b/c 8 would be close to the galley

Anyone been in the 2nd J cabin do you think 9 is right or take 8 to be as far from Coach as possible? I am worried about crying babies lol

Also, either way i imagine the 2nd J cabin is nuts during boarding, everyone walks past you, although maybe more ppl make a sharp right and walk through the A side aisle and then cut over after the J cabin

I understand what they are doing with this policy but kind of frustrating to be the first confirmed passenger on the plane and have to take Row 8 or 9

Oh and Qantas did it to me too, same as you to you i guess. Its just SYD to MEL so its not a huge deal but i was not allowed to take rows 1-3. Although i wanted Row 4 so it was fine. Its an A330 so 4A is against the window and closer to the exit door than taking row 2. But i have never personally experienced this blocking of reward seat assignments until now with the JAL and Qantas Flights. Fortunately for Delta One Suites flight home and my BA first SIN to SYD and of course AA J to Narita i had no restrictions on those 3.