Introduction
British Airways Galleries First Class Lounge Chicago Airport
Cathay Pacific First Class 777-300ER Chicago To Hong Kong
Grand Hyatt Hong Kong
Cathay Pacific Business Class A330 Hong Kong To Jakarta
Transiting Jakarta Airport
Japan Airlines First Class 777-300ER Jakarta To Tokyo Narita
Japan Airlines First Class Lounge Tokyo Narita Airport
Japan Airlines First Class 777-300ER Tokyo Narita To New York JFK
After a really awesome flight on JAL from Jakarta to Tokyo Narita, I was excited to see whether it was a one-off, or if JAL has really become this awesome. In this review I won’t focus too much on the hard product, since I covered that pretty thoroughly in the last installment.
Japan Airlines 6
Tokyo Narita (NRT) – New York (JFK)
Monday, February 16
Depart: 11:10AM
Arrive: 10:05AM
Duration: 12hr55min
Aircraft: Boeing 777-300ER
Seat: 2A (First Class)
At the door I was welcomed by the senior cabin attendant, Akahane, and two of the other first class crew. I got a full round of bows before I even stepped foot on the plane. I was escorted to my seat, 2A.
Japan Airlines 777 first class, seat 2A
Japan Airlines first class cabin
As soon as I sat down Akahane came to my seat for a more detailed welcome, including informing me of the flight time of 12hr15min. She offered me a drink, and I of course requested a glass of Salon champagne. It was served with a hot towel.
Japan Airlines first class pre-departure champagne
Shortly thereafter I was offered the same pajamas and amenity kit I had been given on the last sector. As on the last flight, one of the flight attendants escorted me to the lavatory and waited while I changed so that she could hang my clothes upon emerging.
The cabin continued to fill up, almost exclusively with Japanese passengers. There was one guy traveling with his wife who seemed to be an especially big deal, because the crew just about bowed at a beyond 90 degree angle for him.
To quote “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” he most certainly wasn’t getting “$hit bows:”
At around 11AM Akahane came on the PA to welcome everyone aboard on behalf of the two captains and two first officers, as well as the rest of the crew.
At 11:05AM the door closed with a full first class cabin, and we began our pushback to runway 34L.
View on pushback Tokyo Narita Airport
As usual, the traffic enroute to the departure runway was interesting, from a Delta 757 to a Japan Airlines 767 to a FedEx 777 to an ANA 787 to Nippon Cargo 747-8s.
Taxiing to runway Tokyo Narita Airport
Japan Airlines 767 Tokyo Narita Airport
Fedex 777 Tokyo Narita Airport
ANA 787 Tokyo Narita Airport
Nippon Cargo 747s Tokyo Narita Airport
Once at runway 34L we were number two for takeoff, and were airborne in a matter of minutes after a roughly 40 second takeoff roll.
Taking off Narita Airport
Airshow enroute to New York
The weather on the initial climb out was beautiful, and our ride was smooth at first, so the seatbelt sign was turned off a bit over five minutes after takeoff.
View after takeoff from Narita Airport
View after takeoff from Narita Airport
However, as we reached our cruising altitude we hit some serious chop. Like, I’m not scared by turbulence and certainly don’t get fazed by it anymore, but this was among the worst I’ve had in a while… yet the seatbelt sign stayed off, so the crew tried to continue their service. Hah.
On the plus side, the views were breathtaking. For such a small and densely populated country, I didn’t realize Japan was so mountainous and unpopulated in many areas.
Gorgeous views over Japan
Gorgeous views over Japan
Once the turbulence subsided menus and wine lists were distributed.
The menu read as follows:
Random thought, but can anyone explain to me why JAL markets their menus as “BEDD?” Like, I could get if they marketed their turndown service that way (who wouldn’t want an extra “D” in BED?), but the meal service…?
I was eventually hoping to sleep so took it easy on alcohol, and instead had a Diet Coke. It was served with a colorful plate of things to nibble on.
JAL first class lunch — palate pleaser
I was then offered rice crackers and fermented soybeans.
JAL first class pre-lunch snack– soy beans and rice crackers
The next course consisted of sea urchin and marinated octopus. While I’m not usually a huge fan of those sea creatures, it was quite good.
JAL first class lunch amuse bouche — sea urchin and marinated octopus
JAL first class lunch amuse bouche — sea urchin and marinated octopus
I was also offered a selection from the bread basket.
JAL first class lunch — bread selection
Next I was served caviar, which was accompanied by a surprisingly good cauliflower veloute.
JAL first class lunch starter — caviar and cauliflower veloute
For the main course I ordered the wagyu beef. For wagyu beef it was quite good, though I’m not sure if I’ll ever “get” wagyu beef.
JAL first class lunch main course — wagyu beef fillet
I had the Japanese dessert, which was one of the most interesting and tasty desserts I’ve had in a while.
JAL first class dessert — Japanese chestnut Mont Blanc with passion-fruit granite
Lastly I had a cappuccino to finish off the meal.
Japan Airlines first class cappuccino
All-in-all it was a good meal, and the crew was just so lovely. Since the cabin was full the service wasn’t quite as attentive as on the last flight, but the crew showed the same passion and friendly/positive attitude as the last crew did.
The meal service was done a bit under two hours into the flight, at which point it was time for some shut eye.
Airshow enroute to New York JFK
I immediately had my bed made, and this time opted for a “soft” mattress.
Japan Airlines first class bed
Japan Airlines first class mattress pad
I slept extremely well all the way until we were over Northwest Canada.
Airshow enroute to New York JFK
Airshow enroute to New York JFK
At that point I got out my laptop and got some work done, given that I still had the wifi pass from the previous flight.
About three hours before landing I was a bit hungry again, so decided to take a look at the menu. While JAL has a set meal after takeoff, for the rest of the flight they just have an a la carte menu, so you can order what you want when you want.
The a la carte menu read as follows:
I decided on the Japanese udon noodles and lobster sandwich. Both were phenomenal. I find udon noodles on planes to often be among the best airplane food out there, since it can actually be executed fairly well. Meanwhile the lobster roll was the thing that surprised me — the lobster tasted fresh and not at all “dried out.”
Japan Airlines first class snack — udon noodles and lobster sandwich
Then for dessert I asked if they had any ice cream, which they did indeed. It was even properly “plated,” rather than just being served in a carton.
Japan Airlines first class dessert — ice cream
Soon enough we were about 45 minutes out of New York, so I changed out of my pajamas and back into my jeans and t-shirt. Once again as I emerged from the lavatory I was asked if I wanted a fresh set of pajamas to take with me — sure! Four sets of pajamas after just two flights isn’t half bad (well, unless you live out of a carry-on like me, in which case it’s sort of problematic).
Airshow enroute to New York JFK
As we began our descent Akahane and her team came around to each passenger to thank them for flying JAL and to offer them a box of macarons. What a nice touch!
Japan Airlines first class pre-arrival gift — Jean-Paul Hevin macarons
Japan Airlines first class pre-arrival gift — Jean-Paul Hevin macaroons
Our descent was a bit turbulent, and the seatbelt sign was turned on only about five minutes before landing.
View on approach into New York
View on approach into New York
View on approach into New York
View on approach into New York
Final approach into New York
We touched down at Kennedy Airport at 9:30AM, and from there had quite a long taxi to the gate.
Final approach into New York
Touchdown JFK
At one point we were taxiing on one of the outer taxiways at maybe 20 miles per hour and came to a really abrupt stop. Good thing the crew were all seated, or else they would have likely fallen. I think the pilots made a wrong turn or something, because after the abrupt stop we stood there for about 30 seconds and then turned onto a taxiway to make a U-turn of sorts.
Terminal 8 JFK
Terminal 1 JFK
We were arriving at gate 6, which I guess was a bit tight, since we turned off our engines short of the gate and were then towed in.
Arrival gate JFK
Parked a couple of gates down from us was a National 757, which was an airline I had to look up (it’s not often that happens nowadays!).
National 757 JFK
I bid farewell to the crew and headed towards Global Entry, ready to be back on solid ground after an awesome but crazy three day trip.
Interestingly the guy that seemed to be “someone” was met at the gate by no fewer than a handful of Japanese guys in suits, and was escorted through immigration. I’m not sure if he was an airline executive or diplomat or what…
Japan Airlines first class bottom line
Japan Airlines really impressed me with this trip.
The hard product was fantastic, from the seat comfort for lounging to the bed for sleeping. I also love the fact that JAL has reasonably priced and fast wifi, which not many transpacific airlines have — for me that’s a huge selling point.
But what impressed me the most were the crews on both sectors. They were warm, friendly, and attentive.
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