Introduction | Japan Airlines

If this review kind of surprises frequent viewers, don’t. I know - I just wrote a review of the same exact flight back in March titled “Review: Japan Airlines Business Class Review | HND to SFO.” However, given that last time’s seat was in the aisle, I decided to review it once more based on the window seating format and also on the consistency of the service I got back spring of 2023.

After a one day trip on Tokyo and having reviewed the Conrad Tokyo Executive Bay View Room, it was back to Haneda International Airport for my flight back to SFO. A quick 20 minute taxi ride and voila! appeared at the check-in with ample time to spare. I didn’t review the Japan Airlines Sakura lounge this time, but you can read it extensively in the 1st Japan Airlines business class review (see above!).

BOOKING | JAPAN AIRLINES

There were a couple of open award availability from Japan to San Francisco in the beginning of October, and I took advantage of that notion to close out this trip. To book this flight back home, I looked into a somewhat average redemption basis with Avios. Here, I settled with paying 77,250 Avios Miles and a slightly bigger fee of $263.45 USD for the 10 hour flight back to San Francisco. While it’s not necessarily the best redemption possible for Japan Airlines (AA and Alaska Miles are still the best for this), I had way too many Avios miles just sitting in my account.

Still, it’s a bargain. At time of travel, the cash price for this business class flight was an absurd $4,800 USD for a one way ticket!

The Seat (12K) | Japan Airlines

The Business Class seat on the Japan Airlines Boeing 777-300ER is like reminiscent of the old Mercedes E and S class - they may be aging but the quality and the superb quality was there. These cabins are spacious, comfortable, and thoughtfully designed. The cabin layout offered a 1-2-1 configuration, ensuring that every passenger had direct aisle access, a significant advantage for those who prefer not to disturb their seat mates.

A bit of recap: the Japan Airlines SkySuite business class seats are equipped with the large 23-inch entertainment system that I also used back in 2014, albeit slightly showing its age a bit. Nowadays touch screens are the norm, whereas in this current configuration, you had to use the handheld remote to move around the interface. Nevertheless, it was still a good system to use.

While the entertainment system is aging a bit compared to its peers, it still featured a large definition screen and a wide selection of movies, TV shows, music, and games. The intuitive controls and a wide range of options ensured that passengers could tailor their inflight entertainment to their preferences, even if there was a bit of learning curve to it. Because the screen is not touch screen, you would have to utilize the remote control to its fullest.

Compared to my previous flight in 12A and 12C, this time I chose 12K once more. Seats were provided with a water bottle, our menu, pillow, blanket and a pair of noise-cancelling headphones. Amenity kits were provided in the form of a beautiful leather Maison Kitsune bag that carried the basics - Japan Airlines doesn’t usually score high on their amenity kit, but the bag was fantastic. I just wished the content were more…extensive.

Having tried both window and aisle seat, there are a few things to note immediately:

Aisle seat storage will beat out the window seats due to its personal cabinet near the outlet, whereas the window seats do not have anything.
There are no pockets or bins to secure your items and most of the time I had them stuffed in front of my seat, whereas the Aisle seat allowed me to store them in the cabinet
Aisle Seat storage is big enough to hold a ton of stuff - I was able to shove my Macbook Pro 16” along with my iPad when I wasn’t using them.

There is a AC power outlet along with a USB port, though the charging on the USB-A is getting incredibly slow as technology moves towards bigger batteries and USB-C. Seat controls are located next to the divider and was very easy to use. It is slightly showing its age here as well, but I believe it has aged gracefully throughout the years.

The seat itself could be converted into a fully flat bed, providing a restful night's sleep during long-haul flights. The bedding and pillows provided were of high quality, adding to the comfort of the sleeping experience. The privacy partition between seats also provided a sense of seclusion, enhancing the overall comfort and relaxation.

Don’t forget to wave back to the ground crew at Haneda International Airport!

When heading out of the airport, don’t forget to wave back to the friendly ground crew! This is such a blissful culture and one that I happily appreciate every time I fly out of Tokyo.

The never-ending Tokyo skyline is such a beautiful thing to wtiness.

Food & Beverage | Japan Airlines

Japan Airlines takes great pride in showcasing the country's culinary heritage, and this commitment is prominently displayed in their Business Class Japanese menu. The selection of Japanese dishes is not just an inflight meal; it's a culinary journey that allows passengers to experience the rich flavors and traditions of Japan. The dining experience alone makes flying Japan Airlines an absolute must.

These menus are extensively designed by Michelin-starred chefs and featured some of the best types of courses one can have on an airplane. For the Japanese set menu, it was designed by famed chef Mishina Jun, who is the owner of Ren Mishina, a one star Michelin-rated restaurant in the heart of Ginza, Tokyo.

To begin, I started with a small cup of olives and mixed nuts, along with a glass of whiskey.

Up next came the beauty of the Irodori Gozen - it featured a series of cold dishes from various beef, seafood and vegetables that one can taste at a Japanese restaurant. The flavor profile of each small cold dish was simply amazing, and they were incredibly fresh. The Grilled black cod along with the simmered abalone makes this appetizer so luxurious. If the food didn’t make your jaw drop, the beautiful bento box is like a beautiful artwork.

Next came the entree, or Dainomono. It featured melt-in-your-mouth Wagyu beef cheeks that paired really well with the special curry sauce. The Grilled salmon along with the rice is a match made in heaven. Accompanied by all this is miso soup, a small side dish featuring cucumber, white radish and simmered kelp.

Lastly, dessert was a soybean mouse topped with red bean confiture and chestnuts, accompanied by a hot green tea. This was a great way to finish the meal and I found myself smiling all throughout the meal.

Before arriving, I was served another set of meal, this time featuring simmered conger eel, maitake mushroom and burdock. This was also accompanied with similar rice, miso soup and pickles. Note you can order this before the 1 hr 30 minute mark, but I chose to have it as close as possible to arrival to ensure breakfast timing during arrival.

Meal service was divided into multiple courses, and passengers were presented with a menu that offered a variety of options, including both Japanese and Western dishes. The quality of the food was top-notch, with fresh ingredients and exquisite presentation. The Japanese options, in particular, showcased the airline's commitment to showcasing the country's culinary heritage. In fact, I wouldn’t bother with anything else BUT the Japanese menu. If you’re flying Japan Airlines you better also select the Japanese set menu as well!

The wine and beverage selection complemented the meal perfectly, with a range of choices that included premium Japanese sake and a variety of international wines. Flight attendants were knowledgeable about the menu and were more than happy to make recommendations, enhancing the overall dining experience. The white wines provided paired really well with the cold dishes in the beginning of the course.

In summary, Japan Airlines' Japanese menu in Business Class is such a culinary journey that celebrates the country's food culture. The exceptional service provided by the cabin crew enhances this experience, making passengers feel like they are dining in a top-notch Japanese restaurant in the sky. If you’re still not satisfied, you can watch a 20 minute video from Japan Airlines on the IFE regarding the chefs and how they came to creating the menu!

Turndown Service | Japan Airlines

JAL advertises a turndown service that allows their business passengers to get an additional sleep pad, to which I took on wholeheartedly after eating almost 99% of the menu. I had the flight attendant set up the mattress topper, and was provided with another bottle of water and a couple extra pillows! Talk about fantastic service here! The seat itself was already comfortable, but the mattress topper just makes it a lot more soothing and memorable across our flights to and back home. This time around, I took a long nap and woke up just in time for a final meal.

Service | Japan Airlines

The service in JAL Business Class continues to be one of my favorites in the sky. The cabin crew are incredibly warm and super friendly, making sure that all requests are fulfilled genuinely. From proactively hinting at upcoming drinks and meals to preparing a bed ahead of time to even getting a small gift for me during the flight is something that I wish everyone can experience. The hospitality of Japanese culture is one that outshines almost all its competitors. It’s a major reason why I will continue to invest my time and money into Japan Airlines down the road.

Conclusion | Japan Airlines

I’ve flown this particular route so many times in the last 8 years, and with each flight, I’ve grown in love with the service and breathtakingly beautiful dining service that Japan Airlines offers. Even a decade later, Japan Airlines has been one of my top choices. It’s not the most luxurious or tech-savvy planes - you have Qatar, Singapore and the up and coming Starlux that caters to those audiences. However, what you get with this business class is the fantastic service and the amazing dining experience.

The service is impeccable, the food is delectable, and the seat provides both comfort and privacy. Whether you're traveling for business or leisure, Japan Airlines' Business Class sets a high standard for premium air travel and is sure to leave passengers with a lasting impression of Japanese hospitality and quality. It's a journey worth savoring, and it's an experience that reaffirms Japan Airlines' reputation as a leader in the aviation industry, and with their latest announcement of their upcoming refresh of their business and first class cabins, I can’t wait to fly with Japan Airlines again in the future!

I’ve attached more pictures of the business class cabin below during my flight - since the cabin was about 60% full, the flight attendants were more than happy to help me snap some pictures of both the aisle and window seats of the cabin!