• Home
  • Reviews
    • Flight Reviews
    • Hotel Reviews
    • Lounge Reviews
    • Trip Reports
  • About
    • Press
  • Contact
  • Privacy
  • Award Expert
Live and Let's Fly
  • Home
  • Reviews
    • Flight Reviews
    • Hotel Reviews
    • Lounge Reviews
    • Trip Reports
  • About
    • Press
  • Contact
  • Privacy
  • Award Expert
Home » JAL » Japan Airlines Premium Economy Has New Unique Key Feature
JALJapan

Japan Airlines Premium Economy Has New Unique Key Feature

Kyle Stewart Posted onOctober 8, 2023October 8, 2023 5 Comments
My dear readers, some links on this site pay us referral fees for sending business and sales. We value your time and money and will not waste it. For our complete advertising policy, click here. The content on this page is not provided by any companies mentioned, and has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by these entities. Opinions expressed here are the author's alone.

Japan Airlines’ new A350-1000 flagship aircraft has an exciting overhaul, but the most important might be a unique feature in Premium Economy. 


If you are considering booking travel or signing up for a new credit card please click here. Both support LiveAndLetsFly.com.


If you haven’t followed us on Facebook or Instagram, add us today.

A350-1000: Japan Airlines New Flagship Aircraft

Japan Airlines is overhauling its fleet with the new flagship moving from the Boeing 777-300ER to the Airbus A350-1000. The headline announcement was that the JAL A350 offers private suites in First Class including a double bed and a reclining chair. The Business Class cabin has been renewed as well. Each business class suite will feature a sliding door for added privacy in what has become the international standard with a private wardrobe with storage space for luggage, a large entertainment system, and converts into a single bed, fully flat.

Premium Economy Leg Support

For some reason, unknown to me, it seems that Japan Airlines is downplaying what could easily be the most interesting and unique feature. It doesn’t include it in its pitch for the product segment on the website.

Japan Airlines Premium Economy Product Display

As you’ll notice in the linked page from Japan Airlines and the image above, the leg support appears to go 90° flat but does not offer support for the full leg. The buttons controlling the seat don’t demonstrate that the support extends beyond the knee.

In fact, I only saw it by re-watching the product rollout video on JAL’s Facebook page that it appears travelers will have a fully flat leg extension, though merely a deep recline on the back of the seat.

Japan Airlines Premium Economy leg support

A Premium Economy Worth Getting Excited About

Japan Airlines Premium Economy passengers will be able to utilize 42 inches of pitch (distance from the front edge of the seat to the back of the seat in front of the passenger.) As king of the economy classes, it will also include a spacious tray table, a shell to ensure passengers are not affected by other passengers reclining their seats, and a hallmark of business class like upgraded catering and noise cancelling headphones.

I personally value rest on a long-haul flight that crosses several time zones. While many premium economy seats make sleeping akin a recliner, I find it difficult to sleep sitting up, even if reclined somewhat. But with my feet at a full 90° angle and a deep recline with 42″ pitch, I could probably make this work. That presents a great value, not necessarily with cash tickets as the savings for premium economy I haven’t found to be a marked difference from business class, but when using miles and points. I was able to find Premium Economy one-way awards from 45,000 American Airlines Advantage miles vs. 60,000 in Business Class.

More than simply the cost savings, assuming both options are available at saver-level prices, it’s the additional availability that may make Premium Economy a more viable option.

Additionally, purchasing day-of-departure upgrades at the gate (or check-in) could make a slight premium worthwhile.

Conclusion

It appears that Japan Airlines is burying the lede with its launch of the new A350-1000 flagship Premium Economy product. Is a bigger tray table and a 16″ 4k display important? It is, but getting 90° leg support and deep recline is a very attractive option. I will be more likely to look for the product on award flights at saver level but might be inclined to upgrade for a reasonable rate.

What do you think? Is this a Premium Economy product you’d consider?

Get Daily Updates

Join our mailing list for a daily summary of posts! We never sell your info.

You have Successfully Subscribed!

Previous Article What Is Google Flights Price Guarantee? How Does It Work?
Next Article Trying To Find Value When Hotel Points Let You Down

About Author

Kyle Stewart

Kyle is a freelance travel writer with contributions to Time, the Washington Post, MSNBC, Yahoo!, Reuters, Huffington Post, MapHappy, Live And Lets Fly and many other media outlets. He is also co-founder of Scottandthomas.com, a travel agency that delivers "Travel Personalized." He focuses on using miles and points to provide a premium experience for his wife and daughter. Email: sherpa@thetripsherpa.com

Follow us on FacebookFollow us on Twitter

Related Posts

  • an airplane with seats and a person standing in the back

    Missing: Premium American Airlines Aadvantage Awards To Asia

    May 4, 2025
  • Airline Stocks

    Mixed Financial Results Paint Murky Travel Picture In 2025

    May 4, 2025
  • united credit card

    United’s Answer To Failing Credit Cards Is Coupons, Fees

    March 30, 2025

5 Comments

  1. PM Reply
    October 8, 2023 at 11:56 am

    Not sure how good this will be, but the Air France premium economy seats with fixed shell backs are super unpopular with most people who have actually tried them. Premium economy might actually be marketed and/or perceived the wrong way as a ‘premium leisure’ product, whereas I think that it’s probably more appropriate for work travel when someone prefers to fly direct and/or on specific days as opposed to having a bit of time to spare and consequently the luxury of playing with connections, stopovers and points of origin/destination in order to find a good price for an actual premium seat.

  2. Chris Reply
    October 8, 2023 at 8:11 pm

    I flew HND JFK on JAL this summer, the premium economy service seemed very similar with seats that recline without going into the next row’s space at all – the seat slides forward to accomplish the recline. I don’t think the leg supports went quite to 90°, but almost…It was surprisingly comfortable for premium economy and one direction those seats were cheaper than coach/economy and on the way back we paid for an upgrade which was very modest, much much cheaper than business and definitely worth it.

  3. Atz Reply
    October 9, 2023 at 2:18 am

    When fully reclined the legroom will decrease significantly. If you‘re not a japanese granny with really short legs, this feature will be just a silly gimmick. I travelled in JL Premium Eco a few months ago and changed to regulat eco after a few hours dor having more legroom.

  4. Todd Reply
    October 9, 2023 at 12:40 pm

    Are you kidding? No one over 4’10”, is going to be able to use this with their legs straightened.

  5. Kory Reply
    October 9, 2023 at 1:00 pm

    In J I’ll often set the leg rest to 90 degrees then have my feet lie flat footed with my knees towards my chest similar to how we used to do it as school kids sitting with arms around our knees sitting. This premium economy configuration works with that approach, would still way prefer J but willing to try this out if options elsewhere are limited

Leave a Reply

Cancel reply

Search

Hot Deals for May

Note: Please see my Advertiser Disclosure

Capital One Venture X Business Card
Earn 150,000 Miles Sign Up Bonus
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Earn 100,000 Points
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
Earn 75,000 Miles!
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Earn 75,000 Miles
Chase Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card
Earn $750 Cash Back
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
Earn 120,000 Membership Reward® Points

Recent Posts

  • American Airlines Flagship Lounge Philadelphia
    Premium Progress: American Airlines Flagship Lounge Opens In Philadelphia (PHL) May 24, 2025
  • United Flight Attendants Tentative Deal
    At Long Last, United Airlines Reaches Tentative Labor Deal With Flight Attendants May 24, 2025
  • Aegean Airlines Feast
    A Feast Fit For A King On Aegean Airlines May 23, 2025
  • a woman looking at a man
    He Flirted On A United Flight…Then Let Her Walk Away May 23, 2025

Categories

Popular Posts

  • a room with a table and benches
    Where To Smoke At Paris Charles De Gaulle Airport (CDG) April 26, 2025
  • United Airlines Polaris Lounge Chicago Review
    Review: United Polaris Lounge Chicago (ORD) May 1, 2025
  • United Airlines Refresh Polaris Lounge Chicago
    First Look: United Airlines Reopens Renovated Polaris Lounge In Chicago (ORD) April 29, 2025
  • a hand holding a blue card
    Chase Sapphire Preferred 100K Bonus Offer Ending Soon May 2, 2025

Archives

May 2025
M T W T F S S
 1234
567891011
12131415161718
19202122232425
262728293031  
« Apr    

As seen on:

facebook twitter instagram rss
Privacy Policy © Live and Let's Fly All Rights Reserved. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Live and Let's Fly with appropriate and specific directions to the original content.