Shockingly, to me at least, I was able to score an award seat on Japan Airlines (JAL) on the brand new Airbus A350-1000 in first class…a “bucket list” review flight I thought I might have to wait years to book.
JAL A350-1000 First Class Using AA Miles
Using AA’s award search calendar, I found an award seat from New York to Tokyo Haneda in first class on the A350-1000 for only 80K miles, a long-term sweet spot of the AAdvantage award chart. I was also able to add on a connection to Seoul Gimpo on the 787-9 in business class, featuring the carrier’s oft-maligned Sky Suite III product.
My goal is to find space back to the USA on Korean Airlines, though the carrier has been incredibly stingy lately in releasing any first class award space, even on the A380-800 which operates twice-daily to Los Angeles and seems to go out often with open first class seats. It’s cherry blossom time in Japan so the thought of a couple of days in Tokyo is also appealing, but ultimately the point of this trip is to review airline products and get home as soon as possible.
The new first class product on the A350-1000 looks positively stunning, with immense space and a 43-inch, 4K screen. I’m looking forward to the catering as well…yes, from the Western menu. No carrier does Western food better than JAL. The first class cabin looks like a train compartment to me…not that that is a bad thing.
I’ll shortly offer my first impressions on the JAL flights…and hopefully on the Korean Air flight as well. If Korean Air doesn’t open, I have all sorts of thoughts about how I can get home, though I think transferring points to EVA Infinity MileageLands and flying home on EVA is long overdue.
In any case, it’s going to be fun!
image: JAL
Wonderful!!! That’s a great find.
My first comment when Ben flew this cabin was that it looked like a train compartment (and I agree with you, not in a bad way).
I miss the days of Korean being an easy partner to fly with to Asia 🙁
Fantastic! I’m excited to read your review, and you have now inspired me to start checking AA’s calendar daily so I can do this too. AA miles are so valuable right now. It won’t be this way forever.
Good score. If EVA is the option return, and EVA has been great to me, please don’t let it be a Hello Kitty. While I enjoy EVA I’m over HK.
I find it odd that you’ll book Asian carriers to Asian destinations only to eat only Western food? What’s the point?
That is blatantly not true.
He will also fly to Asia to eat Mexican food as well.
Typical American pig
Any other details you can share? How far out were you looking? Did you see any other availability or have any additional tips? Congrats to you but how can you help your readers?!
Booked eight weeks in advance. Also saw availability for one day in October.
Saw a lot of last-minute space from DFW just before cutover to 351. Not sure if that is still showing up.
Awesome, Matthew! What a great score. Looking forward to the review and whether when you entered the train compartment of JAL a man yelled, “ALL ABOARD!”
Will your son be able to watch cartoons? You have made it very clear he can only watch cartoons on the plane or will he have to sit still and face forward for the flight for fear of getting your wrath? Dang glad my parents didn’t give me his name, high school will be fun, but you will probably home school to have fun control!
Congrats.
Flew JL5 last month in first class. Had the western menu for the experience, because I usually get the washoku and enjoyed the Quintessence menu last year. However, the steak was overcooked and dry. I would not have such high expectations to be safe.
Hey yes great award I just booked it as well this past week with 80K aa miles! Excited as well as it’s one of my last first class products I haven’t flown.
Exciting
And I was excited when I booked economy on JAL for 70,000 AA miles round trip from FRA to NRT Christmas night (for this June!) sounds like you really scored here.
No doubt you will act like the typical loud American pig, wont be welcomed on jal!