Three FAs, one passenger makes for a great ratio in first class. Not only was I blessed to fly Japan Airlines (JAL) in first class, but I had the entire cabin to myself. But I think even if the cabin had been full it would have been one of the best first class flights of my life.
Let’s get the one negative out of the way here: first class ground services. While the onboard product is simply amazing, the ground service is not. Sure, there is a special check-in area for first class and even a first class security line. No escort, though. Sure, the first class lounge is spacious and comfortable…but hardly anything special. Free massages have been cut and the food was only so-so.
But JAL more than makes up for the decidedly average ground experience with service, food, and comfort onboard that just blew me away. Please note this review is from 2016. I note the reasons for publishing older reports here.
After spending a few hours in the JAL First Class Lounge, it was time to board. I found my way to the gate, where I encountered boarding already in progress.
I maneuvered away around the crowd and to the first class boarding lane. It was time to fly!
Japan Airlines (JAL) 725
Tokyo (NRT) – Jakarta (CGK)
Monday, June 20
Depart: 10:50 AM
Arrive: 04:35 PM
Duration: 07hr, 45min
Aircraft: Boeing 777-300ER
Seat: 2K (First Class)
I liked the informational display about the flight just inside the boarding door:
Since I had not been among the first to board, I figured I’d encounter a full cabin…just like my ANA flight the previous week.
Instead, I found the cabin empty. I began snapping picture of the cabin, something that is far less awkward when flying on a Japanese airline. Two of the FAs greeted me and immediately offered to take a picture of me in my seat. Rather than explain why I was taking pictures and potentially ruin the authenticity of this review, I simply said, “Thanks, maybe later. I’m just so excited to fly JAL in first class for the time.”
The FA smiled back and said, “Well today, Mr. Klint, you have the whole cabin to yourself!”
I was so ecstatic. Immediately, I stopped taking pictures and settled into my seats. I figured I could take unobstructed pictures later.
JAL 777-300 First Class Seat
While not the most private of first class seats, the JAL seat is one of the most comfortable. The eight-seat cabin is configured in a 1-2-1 layout. Privacy dividers do slide up in the center section if you are traveling alone.
Seat controls include adjustable lumbar support, massage, manual recline, and pre-set reclines at several positions.
One cabinet contains an interactive IFE handset and mirror, while another deeper cabinet contains a secondary IFE remote and deep storage container.
The suite has several lights, but no individual air nozzles. Thankfully the flight did not get warm.
A power port, USB port, and old RCA video port were located toward the front of the seat.
After lunch I took a long nap. While I changed into pajamas, FAs prepared the bed. JAL uses tremendous bedding including a thick mattress pad to make the bed extremely comfortable. I was asked whether I wanted a “hard’ or “soft” mattress pad and chose hard. Since I had the cabin to myself, the FAs just turned the seat across from me into by bed.
JAL 777-300 First Class Service
Service shined like no other flight in all my years of flying. What made this unique is that the FAs were the absolute superlative combination of professional, kind, diligent, warm, attentive, but not obtrusive.
I was addressed by name the entire flight. My glass never went empty. Plates were immediately cleared away. But most of all, the FAs were charming. While ANA FAs seemed more robotic, this crew exhibited character and had a perfect command of English. They coaxed me to try the Japanese menu (we compromised: dessert only) and encouraged me try every single item on the menu.
While I changed into pajamas, FAs waited outside with a clothes hangar and to escort me back to my seat. A glass of water and liquid eye mask were waiting at my seat.
This great service was not just the byproduct of having the cabin to myself. In fact, just a couple days later I would again have the first class cabin to myself from Kuala Lumpur to London on Malaysia Airlines and the service did not come close.
JAL 777-300 First Class Dining
Prior to takeoff, I enjoyed a glass of Salon champagne. JAL now uses Cristal in first class.
The feast began after takeoff with an amuse bouche.
Here’s the menu for the flight:
For the appetizer, I chose caviar with prawn ceviche. It was delicious, and presented beautifully, with fresh rosemary drizzled over the ceviche. Bread was served with amazing French butter, sea salt, and incredible olive oil.
A FA also brought over the squid appetizer, insisting that I try it:
Since I had ordered red meat for my main, I asked for red wine, choosing Chateau de Fieuzal 2009 (Bordeaux, about $60/bottle). It was marvelous.
Next, I enjoyed a soup course and more bread. The Vichyssoise soup (chilled creamy potato and leek soup) was superb.
But the main course was the true highlight. JAL proves that an airline can cook a steak perfectly from 40,000 feet. My Japanese beef skirt steak was served a perfect medium rare and placed on top of a wonderful eggplant puree. Wow, this gave Asiana and SWISS a run for my best steak award.
Isn’t that a remarkable presentation? I devoured every last bite.
The meal was not over. Next came a beautiful cheese course:
You know when you’re at that point where you are full but cannot stop eating? The cheese was so wonderful I just could not stop eating it.
Finally, the conclusion: dessert. I ordered the summer fruit compote, which was a fabulous apricot in its own juices. It was served with Blancmange which is like an almond-flavored panna cotta. I also tried, per the insistence of the FAs, roppongi pudding.
As I sipped my cappuccino, I once again marveled at what a fabulous meal I had just consumed.
I could have had another meal prior to arrival in Jakarta. But when I woke up from my nap I was still stuffed.
JAL 777-300 First Class Lavatory
Lavatories were kept immaculately clean…so clean I would have eaten off the floor. Real towels were used and special amenities like a toothbrush and toothpaste were laid out for me, so I did not even have to open my amenity kit.
I was amused that the FA call buttons were clearly women…I haven’t seen a button like that since I last flew a Boeing 727 in 2011.
JAL 777-300 First Class Amenities
Speaking of amenity kits, I never opened mine. During the 2016 phase of my travels, I was hoarding amenity kits and did not want to open any of them. In retrospect, now I’ve got a garage full of them and they will all likely go to charity.
Waiting at my seat were slippers and a shoehorn.
Learning my mistake on ANA, I ordered XXL pajamas, which fit me perfectly (especially after the feast I had for lunch).
But my favorite amenity was a pair of macarons from Jean-Paul Hevin:
Lastly, I was offered a skincare kit form Shiseido for myself and another beauty kit for my wife.
JAL 777-300 First Class IFE
The 7.5 hour flight flew by far too quickly and I did not take out much time to use the onboard IFE, beyond a couple games of Sudoko and a bit of Hail Caesar! (which had me in stitches). But the library was comprehensive and I loved the Bose Noise-cancelling headphones.
The hand-held controller also offered a full range of options and was actually easier to use than the larger screen.
CONCLUSION
The combination of tremendous meal + tremendous crew + private cabin made this one of the best (if not the best) flights of my life. Even with a full cabin, I highly recommend JAL first class…a tremendous product that exceeded all my expectations.
I’ll conclude with some window views from the flight:
I flew this plane NRT to LAX in March in F. I can only say that the FAs get A+ ratings. Could not have been nicer. The seat, the massive TV, the endless food, excellent IFE all get highest of marks. One thing that I loved is that in the bathroom there is a special stool that folds down from the wall so that when you are changing into PJs, your feet never touch the floor. Ingenious and so thoughtful. Cannot wait to go again. (70K Alaska points delivered on this amazing splurge).
Thanks Paul! In your assessment, has anything changed in the product that I may have missed in my review?
Just flew this and it is almost identical. The amenity kit has changed to a red Porsche brand for men. Same facial treatment, which is excellent by the way. I use it daily.
Only other diff, the caviar presentation is a little different. More accompaniments, so an improvement!
Couldn’t believe how much food I ate… absolutely sublime. I take this over Emirates F on a 777, to be honest. Probably the best I’ve slept on a plane.
Great review & beautiful photos – all looks sublime. this got me really excited for JAL 5 (JFK-HND) in F next spring with my wife. will be my first int’l F flight. my only concern is that i like to stretch now and then on long flights; i hope the FA’s don’t take that as a sign of discomfort!
Thanks Brandon! I hope your trip goes very well!
Nice review! Is a separate lounge review in the works, or do you have a previous one you could link to? My understanding is that the JAL lounges have better F&B offerings than ANA lounges, but what’s your impression?
As for the seats, that brown leather color scheme isn’t really appealing… And, I think you meant “Sudoku.” 🙂
Btw, I’d be happy to take some of your amenity kits! 😉
I’ll publish the lounge review tomorrow. I did it out of order because I wanted to get the flight review out today (traffic is lower on Friday)
@ Matthew — Love this airline and plane. We took the Queen Mother to Japan last year, and had a fantastic flight first class flight from TYO (I forget which airport)-JFK!
@Gene: “Queen Mother”
ROTFL!
What is the point of a review that is approaching three years old?
Because nothing has changed. Thanks Bob.
too bad JAL stopped having first class for flights to/from Jakarta since early 2017
Correct, I mentioned this in the article. Route is now served by Dreamliner. Too bad, as there was always award space on this route and it was an incredible use of Alaska miles.
Bob should post his own review or stfu
He clearly states the point of it in the article… things don’t change much from year to year and he clearly notes when they do.
Especially for a consistent airline like JAL, this review will be good for a long time.
Great review. However the inability to learn and adapt to the tastes of one of Asia’s greatest cuisine robbed you the chance of perfection. Nevertheless keep them coming.
My years of service in Asia has taught me that the easiest way to blend in is through food, thank God it worked for me.
I wish I loved Japanese food. But the western menu far exceeds any European airline.
someone from los angeles that don’t like japanese food…LOL!
let me guess, you probably don’t like mexican and chinese food too!
Yep, I hate Mexican food so much I seek it out wherever I am in the word…
For example:
https://liveandletsfly.boardingarea.com/2018/03/06/mamasita-melbourne-review/
I flew JAL first class roundtrip from Lax to NRT in March. My steaks both ways were cooked a perfect medium and I also got to have the blue lobster entree on the return flight, given that the other 5 passengers all ordered the Japanese entrees. Service was flawless and the seat and bedding were incredibly comfortable. The flight attendants also could not have been nicer. Can’t wait to take my next flight in first class on JAL.
Sounds like an incredible flight!
I`m thinking about doing JAL first on my next flight hoe from the US….It sounds great. I flew JAL business last year in the summer and the service and seat were awful….This sounds better
I think you will love it!