In late 2018 I booked some absolutely incredible Cathay Pacific First Class fares thanks to a pricing mistake. Because of this mistake, which Cathay Pacific honored, I’d finally have the chance to fly Cathay Pacific First Class and Business class between the US and Asia It was arguably the deal of the decade, but there was just one issue. The issue being, the flights began in Vietnam…
When I started looking for ways to get to Vietnam, the first option I found was on Qatar Airways, in QSuites, via Doha. This flight would finally give me a chance to review QSuites, allow me to revisit the Al Mourjan Business Class lounge, and try out the Qatar Airways 787 in Business class. While I preferred this itinerary, I didn’t necessarily want to take 2 days to get to Vietnam. So, as the trip grew closer I continued to look for other options.
I continued searching for award flights on British Airways’ website as BA tends to show much more award space on OneWorld partners than American does. I searched about every day for flights without much luck. Then, just two days before I was set to depart, I found a First Class seat from New York to Tokyo on Japan Airlines with a Business Class connection to Hanoi.
Immediately after locating the space I called American to book the seats. In total, the trip to Hanoi cost 110,000 AAdvantage miles, but the JAL First Class leg from JFK to NRT only cost 80,000 AAdvantage miles. Personally, I think this represents one of the best use of AAdvantage miles out there.
A few days after booking the tickets it was time to head out to Japan. So, I woke up early on a Sunday morning, packed my backpack, and began the long journey to New York JFK airport.
Arriving At John F. Kennedy Airport New York
Since I’ve been living in New Jersey, getting to New York’s JFK airport isn’t exactly easy. To begin the journey I boarded a NJ Transit Bus and rode into New York Port Authority Bus Terminal. Next, I transferred to the Subway which took me to the Jamaica Station AirTrain stop. Finally, I boarded the AirTrain which dropped me off at JFK Terminal 1.
Now I realize that getting to the airport isn’t why you’re readying this review, but it always makes me laugh when I take public transit to a First Class flight. I imagine most other passengers traveling in First Class show up in a cab or black car and that I’m one of the few who take public transportation. Anyway, I digress…
After eventually making it to JFK I proceeded from the AirTrain to the main entrance of Terminal 1 above. As you enter the Terminal, the JAL check in area is located on the main level, toward the left side (as you enter) of the Terminal.
In the center is the security checkpoint which all passengers use to enter the terminal.
Terminal 1 is mostly shared between Lufthansa, Air France, and Japan Airlines among others.
After exploring the terminal for a few minutes on the quiet Sunday morning I made my way over to the JAL check in area to retrieve my boarding card.
Japan Airlines First Class Check In
One of the things that I appreciate about JFK’s Terminal 1 is how easy it was to find each airline’s check in counter. JAL’s counters are located to the left side (as you enter) of the terminal. Directional signage at the end of the row of check in counters makes it easy to find.
The JAL check in area spanned the entire length of a row of counters, but the First Class check in could be found at the end nearest the entrance to the terminal.
In case you missed any of the signage, there was a JAL First Class rug to remind you that you’ve made it to the right place.
When I arrived at the check in counter I handed the JAL agent my passport and she began the check in process. Sitting on the counter was another sign which informed JAL customers which lounges they could access while waiting for their departure.
Before long the agent handed back my passport and boarding cards, but also affixed JAL First Class luggage tags to my carry on baggage.
These little luggage tags listed my name and flight number on the reverse side.
I’ve flown First Class on a few different airlines in recent years and I’ve never seen personalize bag tags like this before. I personally found it a nice touch which added to the premium feel of the entire experience.
Waiting For The Flight To Depart
Immediately after I spent a few minutes admiring my personalized bag tags I received a major reality check. The reason being, all Terminal 1 passengers have to go through the exact same security line. Also, because I forgot to add my TSA PreCheck number to my reservation, I had to go through the regular security line, take out all of my electronics and liquids, and take off my shoes. First world problems I know, but still a harsh reminder that no matter how luxurious a commercial flight might be, we all have to go through security.
After clearing security I had about an hour to burn before the boarding process began. I first decided to stop and visit the Lufthansa Senator Lounge in Terminal 1. I had access to the lounge since I was flying JAL First Class.
The lounge was a nice quiet place to sit, but after a short while I grew tired of sitting and decided to continue to explore the terminal. That’s when I discovered the Air France Lounge located next to our boarding gate.
Typically I wouldn’t have access to this lounge, but I was able to get in with my Priority Pass Select card.
Of the two lounges I preferred the design and amenities of the Air France lounge, however, the views from the Lufthansa Lounge were far superior.
Boarding JAL First Class To Tokyo
After lounge hopping for about an hour it was finally time to board my Japan Airlines flight to Tokyo.
As I approached the boarding gate I was greeted with a fantastic view of the Boeing 777 that would take me to the other side of the world.
Boarding began a few minutes late, but was extremely efficient. After a short wait First Class passengers were invited to board to begin the boarding process.
After the gate agent scanned my boarding card I proceeded through the gate door and down the hallway toward the jet bridge door.
For the flight to Tokyo, all passengers passed through the same door as there were not separate boarding doors for premium and economy cabin passengers.
After a short walk down the jet bridge I arrived at the L2 boarding door where the friendly Japan Airlines crew checked my boarding card and directed me to my to the left.
I have to admit, at this point in the journey I was unbelievably excited. JAL First Class is one of the best in the world and I was heavily caffeinated on Sunday morning.
Japan Airlines First Class Cabin
The Japan Airlines First Class cabin is comprised of 8 suites arranged in a 1-2-1 layout forward from the L2 boarding door and galley. When boarding from the L2 boarding door you must first pass through a very small business class cabin before reaching the First Class cabin.
At first glance the JAL First Class cabin isn’t the most impressive cabin in the world. In fact, I’d argue the cabin is extremely understated or even boring as far as modern First Class cabins go.
However, as you settle into the cabin you’ll quickly realize how spacious and functional the First Class cabin actually is.
Each suite features a large leather armchair which is lined with a large cabinet on the inside of the suite. That cabinet turns out to be extremely functional. Likewise, the well positioned reading lamps on either side help make each suite a great place to read or work when the cabin lights are dimmed. So, while the First Class cabin may see dated and underwhelming, as the flight progressed I grew to love the seat.
JAL First Class Seat
For the 14 hour flight to Tokyo I selected the last available window seat, 1K. Seats in row 1 are less desirable than row 2 as they are closest to the forward galley.
While the seat may be considered ‘undesirable’ to some, I was still quite happy with it. I especially appreciated how comfortable the leather armchair was when seated.
Each JAL First Class suite includes a large leather armchair which reclines into a fully flat bed. Each seat is surrounded by a small privacy barrier which makes the seat feel much more private when sitting than it appears.
When seated there are two reading lamps on either side of the seat which rotate to adjust the brightness. The lights can also be easily adjusted to direct light exactly where needed.
The lamp on the far side of the seat sits a little further back in the seat, but is just as functional.
I especially appreciated the position of the seat’s headphone outlet which sits just beneath the inner reading lamp.
The position of the headphone outlet means that you’re never stretching the cord when moving around the seat. It also means that you can remain plugged in no matter what position the seat is in.
JAL First Class Seat Storage
As I mentioned above, I didn’t fully appreciate the Japan Airlines First Class suite until I sat down and began to look around. The first thing I noticed is that this seat has more enclosed storage space than any other airline seat I’ve ever flown in. For starters, the entire right side of the seat is essentially one large storage locker.
Inside the rear storage compartment is ample room for a laptop, headphones, or even a small bag.
This rear compartment also contains the in-flight phone which I didn’t seem to work. Toward the front of this storage compartment is a smaller fabric lined area which is the perfect area to store a wallet or watch during the flight.
Just in front of the rear storage compartment is a second, much shallower compartment which is home to the IFE remote and a small vanity mirror. There is also a small area perfect for pens or a pair of reading glasses. One thing to note, all of these compartments leave a little space under the lid for protruding wires. This allows you to have the IFE remote out and move it freely while the lid is closed.
A little farther forward in the seat is a small tray area which perfectly holds a cell phone or other small items you’d want access to throughout the flight.
Toward the very front of the seat there is even more storage. First, there is a small slot to hold items such as the complementary in-flight slippers, but there is also yet another enclosed storage area.
This final storage compartment is home to the seat’s power outlet.
This compartment’s lid also allowed wires to pass freely even when closed.
Japan Airlines First Class Departure
After exploring the cabin and seat for a few minutes one of the flight attendants stopped by see if I wanted a pre-departure beverage. I asked for a glass of Champagne which arrived a few moments later and was accompanied by a warm towel.
As I finished my Champagne we taxied toward the departure runway and the flight attendants circulated one final time to collect the pre-departure service items.
As we taxied toward the runway I caught a few last glimpses of the distant New York City skyline on the chilly February morning.
Before long we made a final turn onto the runway and began our takeoff roll.
Just a few seconds later and the aircraft was in the skies above New York as we quickly turned toward Japan.
It was a beautiful winter morning that made me glad that I chose a window seat.
Shortly after takeoff we were above 10,000 feet and the cabin crew left their seats to begin the in-flight service.
At this point the flight truly began as Japan Airlines’ First Class soft product (in-flight service) is known to be among the best in the skies.
Japan Airlines WiFi Connectivity
One thing that continues to surprise me is how many international carriers still lack decent (if any) WiFi connectivity. Thankfully, our Japan Airlines 77W not only had high-speed WiFi, but JAL offers complimentary access to First Class passengers. Connecting to the WiFi was however a bit complicated.
To begin the process I first had to locate the WiFi voucher located inside the menu booklet when I arrived at my seat.
As I opened the voucher I found instructions on how to connect to the WiFi as long as my promotional code which allowed for complimentary access.
Once I connected to the WiFi, things got a bit tricky. To use a promotional code you must first select a service to purchase.
So, to begin the process, you search for the 24-hour flight pass and begin to purchase it from the T-Mobile website.
Next, toward the bottom of the options page is an expandable area for a promotion code. Selecting this option allows you to enter the included promotional code.
Once you enter the code you’ll notice the price of 24-hour WiFi service drops from $18 to $0.
After this, you have to enter your email and create a profile before you can connect.
After a short while I was online and able to access the internet.
Overall internet speeds were sufficient. I could load social media, email, and browse webpages, but streaming video, etc. was unavailable. Personally I would have paid the $18 for the 14 hour flight, but I’m glad to see JAL offering complimentary WiFI for premium cabin passengers. I wish more airlines would do this!
JAL First Class Amenities
Once airborne and connected to the WiFi I was finally able to take a look at the extensive amount of stuff provided by Japan Airlines. I waited until we were airborne before I explored the amenity kits provided by JAL.
For starters, JAL provides all First Class passengers a set a Bose QuietComfort headphones which until very recently have been regarded as the best noise canceling headphones.
Next, prior to takeoff the flight attendants provided all First Class passengers with a set of thick cotton pajamas.
First Class passengers also received a flight slipper kit which included a branded shoe horn.
Finally, all First Class passengers received two amenity kits when they arrived.
The first amenity kit, a bright paisley pouch, contained a ton of items which nearly covered my entire tray table. There were a face mask, earplugs, tissues, an eye mask, a moisture mask, a dental kit, a comb, chapstick, hand lotion, and a fragrance tester.
The second kit, a Shisheido skincare box, contained a few more moisturizing products specifically for men.
Of all the flights I’ve been on, JAL First Class definitely offers more amenity items than any other airline.
Japan Airlines First Class BEDD Menu
After exploring the provided amenity kits I turned my attention toward the in-flight catering menus. Each menu could be found inside a leather booklet with a gold “F” printed on the outside.
Inside the leather booklet was the wine list, the dining menu, a WiFi voucher, and a JAL in-flight shopping leaflet. The booklet also contained a plastic bag for you to put your liquid amenities in for security screenings (incredible attention to detail).
The airline’s in-flight service is referred to as “BEDD Sky Auberge by JAL.” More on the name in a moment, but as I browsed the in-flight catering menus I started with the extensive First Class wine list. The wine list began with a page introducing two of Japan Airlines’ wine advisors who carefully currated the in-flight wine menu.
The impressive list began with two full pages of white wine options from several different regions.
The following pages of the wine list included four red wines again from various vineyards around the world.
After introducing the wines on board, the wine list continued with two full pages of Sake options available throughout the flight.
The next pages of the wine list included a premium tea and several non-alcoholic options available on board.
The final pages of the menu highlighted the available spirits and Champagnes available for first class passengers.
Most notably, Japan Airlines serves Louis Roederer Cristal 2009 which retails for more than $200 a bottle.
Japan Airlines BEDD Sky Auberge Menu
The second menu included in the leather booklet was the in-flight dining menu.
As you open the paper dining menu you’ll find a brief note from Japan Airlines which introduces you to the one of a kind dining experience you can expect from the airline.
The next page introduces the head chef and re-introduces the two wine advisors. This page also introduces BEDD which we learn stands for “Bed, Dining, Delicious, and Dream.”
The following pages of the menu give passengers several eastern and western dining options.
An a la carte menu could be found on the next page and offered passengers a variety of heavy and light snacks available throughout the flight. There was also a limited breakfast menu available to passengers.
After outlining the available dining options on the flight, the BEDD menu continued with an extensive coffee menu.
The final page of the menu offered a second introduction and brief bio of the head chef for Japan Airlines.
Overall, the menu was extensive, but I found the options a bit limited. When the flight attendant stopped by to take my order I asked to have a few dishes from the Eastern and Western sets. This request seemed unusual, but the flight attendants were able to honor my request without issue. Shortly after placing my order the meal service began.
Japan Airlines In-Flight Dining
To begin the meal service I was brought a glass of Louis Roederer Cristal 2009 Champagne.
A short while later the flight attendant brought out an Amuse Bouche which was accompanied by a warm towel.
After finishing the amuse bouche, the flight attendant returned with a plate of oil, butter, salt, and pepper.
Japan Airlines First Class plates all of their items on Noritake China.
The first dish to arrive was the cold salmon soup from the western set menu. I don’t typically enjoy salmon, but both the soup and the smoked salmon were very tasty.
As I finished the salmon soup my second dish, the caviar, arrived. The caviar was quite tasty, but the overall dish wasn’t as good as that found in Lufthansa First Class or Cathay Pacific First Class.
Following the caviar I ordered the Kelp-marinated Fluke & Tuna Sashimi and the poached tofu. Both of these dishes from the eastern set were fantastic.
Finally, for my entree, I ordered the steak, cooked medium rare, from the western set.
As I cut into the steak I found a perfectly prepared slightly red center. I can honestly say, this was the best steak I’ve ever head on an airplane.
Following the steak I was brought a chocolate mousse dessert with a small scoop of ice cream.
The dessert of course was fantastic and overall, the meal service on the flight was incredible.
Japan Airlines First Class Coffee Service
The only issue I had with the meal service was the flight attendant’s willingness to serve me alcohol. My meal began and ended with a few glasses of Cristal, but also included a beer and a glass of cognac.
Needless to say, by the end of the meal service I was a bit more intoxicated than I had planned. So, in an attempt to keep myself together, I decided to order a french-pressed coffee following my meal.
The coffee arrived in a loverly silver vessel which came with an empty cup on and a sand timer.
Perhaps it was because I was a bit drunk, but I absolutely adored this little sand timer on the flight. It’s a nice touch which makes the coffee service a bit more ‘interactive’ as you are responsible for pressing your own coffee. As expected, the Kotowa Estate 2016 coffee was exactly as described by the BEDD menu which proved to be a great after dinner coffee.
JAL First Class Lavatory
When I finished my coffee the flight attendants stopped by once again to collect my empty coffee cup and to stow the tray table. At this point we were about 4 hours into the flight to Tokyo and I requested the turn down service to convert my seat to a bed. While the crew scrambled to prepare the bed, I went up front to the forward lavatory to change into the provided pajamas.
As I entered the lavatory I immediately noticed the infamous Japan Airlines First Class toilet.
The toilet in JAL Premium Cabins is a bit different than your average airline toilet. That’s because JAL’s toilets feature a bidet function which is a bit unusual.
One of the aspects of this particular lavatory that I appreciated was the dressing bench. This bench could be lowered to sit over the toilet and used for changing.
Similarly, there was another lowering platform which you could stand on while changing. With both of these lowered you could change clothes in the lavatory without sitting on the toilet seat or standing on the lavatory floor.
Besides the toilet and changing bench the lavatory wasn’t all that impressive. One thing I did appreciate however was that you could use linen towels to dry your hands opposed to basic paper towels.
As I exited the lavatory I reached the small area between the cockpit and forward galley.
JAL First Class Common Areas
This little area was essentially an area where First Class passengers could move around and stretch if they so desired. It was in this area that I noticed perhaps my favorite item on the aircraft, a plaque that listed the aircraft type, ship number, and home base. There was something so simple about this little plaque, but it was such a neat thing to see on an aircraft.
After admiring the plaque for a few moments I explored the rest of the area and found a magazine rack for First Class passengers with a variety of reading materials.
I also discovered a small snack bar which was setup shortly after takeoff and included a few bags of nuts and bottles of water.
While this little area could hardly be called a lounge, I did find it a nice place to get out of my seat and stretch every few hours.
Japan Airlines First Class Bed
After exploring the forward area of the aircraft for a short while I returned to my seat and found my seat had been fully converted into a bed. This is accomplished by fully reclining the seat which then connects to the ottoman. After the seat is fully reclined a mattress pad is placed on top of the seat to make the bed especially comfortable.
First Class passengers also receive a very comfortable duvet which did an excellent job of regulating sleeping temperatures.
The duvet felt more in place in a high-end hotel rather than on an aircraft.
Thanks to the plush mattress pad, soft pillows, and excellent duvet it wasn’t hard to get comfortable in the wide JAL First Class bed. However, since the flight departed in the middle of the day I decided watch a few shows on the massive IFE screen before dozing off.
A Brief Daytime Nap
One thing I wasn’t expecting from the JAL First Class suite was the massive IFE screen. The screen sits in the far wall of the seat and is nearly the width of the entire seat.
Since the screen is so far away, you control the IFE system by using the touch sensitive IFE remote.
From the remove you can select movies, tv shows, news, audio, games, view the map, and even order food. As the crew dimmed the cabin lights following the meal service I decided to try to take a nap so I changed the IFE screen to the moving map.
I then lowered the window shades in my suite to block out the remaining light entering the cabin.
In total I slept for about three hours before I woke up restless. At this point in the flight it was only about 6PM in New York. Since I was wide awake and didn’t have much else to do, I decided to sample a few of the a la carte snacks offered in first class.
Mid-Flight A La Carte Snacks
At first I tried to order my in-flight snack using the IFE remote, but it didn’t seem to work. Instead, I pressed the silent flight attendant call button and someone arrived a few moments later.
For my first a la carte meal I ordered cold soba noodles and a glass of Cristal. The food arrived about 10 minutes after ordering and came complete with another warm towel.
The soba noodles were very enjoyable as was the glass of Cristal. After I finished my snack I went back to sleep for a few more hours before waking up again. When I woke up the second time we had about 5 hours left in the flight and I decided to again order food, but this time I asked for coffee instead of alcohol.
For my second a la carte snack I ordered the lobster roll because it sounded delicious. Sadly, what arrived was a diced lobster meat stuffed between two slices of garlic bread. Out of all of the food I had on board, this lobster roll was by far the least appetizing thing I ate. That being said, the lobster roll was still 100x better than any food served on American Airlines.
The coffee I ordered came in a unique coffee cup with a long handle that also rested on the table. I personally loved the design of the JAL First Class coffee cup.
Again, after finishing the lobster roll and my cup of coffee I laid back down for a short nap. Before long the cabin lights came on as the crew prepared the cabin for breakfast.
Japan Airlines First Class Breakfast
Although I had already eaten quite a bit of food on this flight… perhaps too much… I still made sure to make room for breakfast. As with the dinner menu, the breakfast menu offered both eastern and western options. For my breakfast I ordered the seared shrimp and fried rice dish with a side of greek yogurt.
Both of the breakfast items were great. In fact, the shrimp itself was probably the tastiest thing I had on board.
Following the breakfast service I ordered a cappuccino which arrived with a heart (ish) design and a cinnamon stick.
I’ll admit, as I’m writing this now I might have over indulged on the food and drink throughout this flight.
Admiring Japan Airlines First Class
As I mentioned at the beginning of this review, when I first entered JAL First Class I wasn’t all that impressed. The cabin isn’t as stunning or flashy as other First Class cabins so as you board you might be a bit underwhelmed at first. However, the more time you spend in the cabin and in the seat, the more you’ll appreciate it. For example, the tray table is absolutely fantastic. The tray table sits and locks beneath the IFE screen. However, with the pull of a single level, the entire table slides toward you so you can eat comfortably while seated reclined.
Even more impressive, when the tray table is pulled out, the ottoman can be used as a second seat to allow two passengers to dine together. Also, if you wish to get up at any point in the meal, you can simply slide the table away from you.
Sure this is a minor thing, but often in First or Business Class you end up stuck in your chair during the meal because of the tray table.
Another fantastic feature of JAL First Class is the phone! Yep, separate from the IFE remote is a portable AirPhone for First Class passengers.
Now, I’m not sure that this phone still works, but it’s crazy to think that you could theoretically make calls from the comfort of your own seat.
Even if the phone doesn’t work, it still shows how well thought out and passenger focused this First Class hard product is.
Arriving In Tokyo
After about 13 hours of flying we began our initial decent into Tokyo Narita International Airport.
As I looked out of the windows of the aircraft I could see the stunning Mt. Fuji off in the distance.
It was such a treat to pass over the snow capped mountains which cover much of Japan.
We continued to circle over Japan for about 30 minutes before we were given final clearance to land.
Typically I would be impatient at this point in the flight, but I was perfectly entertained by the stunning views offered from my window seat.
Before long we did make our way onto the runway at Tokyo Narita Airport and began the short taxi to our arrival gate.
Once stopped at the gate I gathered my belongings and bid farewell to the excellent cabin crew.
As I walked toward the immigration area of the airport I caught one final glimpse of the JAL 777 Sky Eco aircraft which took me from New York to Tokyo.
Truth be told, it wasn’t until I left the aircraft that I realized just how fantastic of a First Class product Japan Airlines offers.
Japan Airlines First Class Experience
As I walked toward the immigration lanes I realized just how special of a flight this was. I’ll admit, I wasn’t really looking forward to JAL First Class. The only reason I took this flight is because it required less miles and less time to get from New York to Asia than Qatar Airways. Also, I wasn’t necessarily excited about this flight because the whole point of this trip was to fly Cathay Pacific First Class which I was excited about. This was a huge mistake as this flight was an absolutely incredible First Class experience.
What made this flight so special was just how attentive the crew was throughout the flight. The crew was the perfect balance of attentive without being overbearing. They were incredibly efficient while being relaxed. I never felt like I was in their way nor did I ever felt left alone. The truth is, they were there when I needed them, disappeared when I didn’t, and always made sure my glass was full or plates cleared.
The other aspect of JAL First Class which is spectacular is the seat. Sure it might not look like much, but it’s incredibly well designed and quite comfortable. There is a ton of storage, but it’s also useful storage. Likewise, the chair is comfortable in nearly every position you can put it in and when converted to a bed, it rivals any other bed in the sky.
Finally, the food in JAL First Class is fantastic. Sure it’s a lot of fish and a bit strange compared to western fare, but trust me, it’s delicious. If you’re flying JAL First Class, make sure to step out of your comfort zone and try a few of the ‘odd’ dishes, they won’t disappoint.
Final Thoughts
Looking back I’m actually a bit mad at myself. When I booked this flight I wasn’t terribly excited. This flight replaced two flights on Qatar Airways, one in QSuites, which I’ve been wanting desperately to fly again. So, I was a bit sad at the time that this flight replaced my Qatar Airways flights.
However, as I write this review, I’m quickly remembering just how much I loved this flight and this product. JAL First Class doesn’t quite have the “wow” or “bling” factor found on other airlines, but when you land you’ll quickly notice just how quietly perfect everything was. It’s the kind of flight that you don’t truly appreciate until you’ve landed.
The good news is that I’m actually taking another JAL First Class flight in just over a weeks time. Oddly enough, before I sat down and began writing this review I planned to switch to another flight. Thankfully, as I wrote and reminisced about the flight I convinced myself to fly JAL First again and honestly, I can’t wait.
