Find cheap Japan Airlines flights

Japan Airlines (JL) is Japan’s flag carrier and one of the country’s two global airlines. Colloquially known as JAL both at home and around the world, it connects Japan to Europe, North America, Australia and the Middle East from its bases at Tokyo’s Narita and Haneda airports, the latter of which is also its massive domestic hub.

Cabin classes, seats & legroom

Japan Airlines is a full-service carrier, with intercontinental aircraft that feature First Class, Business Class and Premium Economy, in addition to an award-winning economy class product. Within Japan, you can expect various premium seating options, depending on the aircraft serving your route.

Business Class

Every aircraft in JAL’s intercontinental fleet includes a business class cabin. The most common product is the Sky Suite, which is one of the most private business class seats in the sky, in spite of being in a 2-2-2 configuration. This product is available on all Boeing 777-300ER aircraft, as well as the majority of the airline’s Boeing 787-8 and 787-9 fleets.

While all these seats feature direct aisle access, I personally always choose a window seat. These boast enhanced privacy and a longer footwell, allowing me to stretch out even more when the seat extends into a lie-flat bed.

JAL’s new Airbus A350-1000 introduces a new, cutting-edge business class product, featuring individual suites with doors in a 1-2-1 configuration. Other highlights include 24-inch personal monitors with 4K resolution, state-of-the-art in-seat audio systems that don’t require the use of headphones. While the A350 will eventually replace all 777-300ER aircraft, availability of this plane will be sporadic through the end of the 2020s.

A third business class product is known as the Sky Suite III, which is a variation of the popular ‘reverse herringbone’ seats many other airlines feature. These seats are available on select 787-9 aircraft.

The few 767 aircraft that JAL still flies on long haul routes, meanwhile, feature a ‘staggered’ product in a 1–2-1 configuration. Another rare business class product is the angled-flat ‘shell’ seat that remains on 787-8 aircraft serving some regional Asian routes.

No matter which seat you have, you’ll enjoy JAL’s award-winning Business Class service, which spotlights fine Japanese sake, whisky and shochu, as well as an impressive collection of wine and a full bar. Food-wise, you’ll have a choice between a Western menu featuring steaks and seafood, as well as a Japanese menu. I almost always choose the Japanese menu, whose multi-course meals almost feel (and taste!) as if they’re being served in a fine kaiseki restaurant on the ground in Tokyo or Osaka.

First Class

JAL’s exclusive First Class, which has won best in the world from Skytrax several times, is available on 777-300ER and A350 aircraft, and features enclosed seats with flat beds, massive video screens and service that’s even more personalised than what you experience in business. Configured 1-2-1 on the 777 and 1-1-1 on the A350, this exclusive product often enters ‘once-in-a-lifetime’ territory.

If you’re able to snag a seat in JAL First Class, I highly recommend booking your food online in advance, which allows you to enjoy exquisite steaks and freshly caught lobster. Regardless, you’ll enjoy multi-course dining with fine accents such as caviar and best-in-class Champagne.

Domestic First Class and Class J

Japan is a unique air service market in that large aircraft such as the Boeing 787 and Airbus A350 serve domestic routes. However, these are special aircraft in dense configurations, sometimes with double the passengers of their intercontinental counterparts.

While booking a domestic Business Class (known as Class J) or First Class (only available on the A350) ticket will get you a larger seat and a slightly higher level of service, you shouldn’t expect anything comparable to what you’d experience flying overseas.

Given that most Japanese domestic sectors are under two hours, I usually don’t consider it worth upgrading to Class J or First Class unless I get a cheap buy-up offer upon check-in.

Premium Economy

JAL offers Premium Economy on all intercontinental versions of its A350 and 777-300ER aircraft, as well as on select 787-8 and 787-9 airframes. Configured as 2-4-2 on the 777 and A350 and 2-3-2 on 787 aircraft, this cabin features larger and more private seats with more recline and pitch than standard economy, and enhanced food and beverage offering that sit somewhere between Business Class and Economy.

‘Sky Wider’ Economy

JAL features one of the largest economy class seats in the sky (branded as ‘Sky Wider’) and also offers fantastic service to passengers in this class. Because of this, I rarely opt for Premium Economy over standard economy when flying JAL.

I find the Sky Wider seat especially impressive on the 787 aircraft. JAL is the only remaining operator to retain Boeing’s original 2-4-2 configuration, while all others have switched to 3-3-3. It’s not as noticeable on the 777 and A350, but still makes a difference on a 12+ hour flight.

Extra legroom economy

Unlike most carriers in Europe and the US (and an increasing number of Asian carriers), JAL has not yet monetised bulkhead and exit row seats as ‘extra legroom’ or ‘economy plus’. On the other hand, the airline limits the advance assignment of these seats to its own frequent flyers, though I’m sometimes able to snag one at airport check-in or even at the gate.

Pre-flight experience

Here’s what you need to know about the airport experience when flying with Japan Airlines.

Baggage policy and fees

Compared to airlines in Europe and the US, JAL offers a generous baggage allowance in all classes of service. Every passenger is entitled to at least two checked bags of up to 23 kg or 50 lbs, plus one cabin bag and one small personal item. Passengers in international First and Business classes get a third checked bag for free.

While you can check bags weighing more than 23 kg but less than 45 kg, you will be required to pay extra to do so, regardless of your class of services.

Check-in

JAL offers full-service airport check-in for all classes of service, with elite flyers in JAL’s Mileage Bank programme and those belonging to other programmes of oneworld alliance carriers able to use Business Class or First Class check-in. Not surprisingly, check-in counters and staff are the most plentiful at JAL’s Tokyo hubs at Narita and Haneda International Airports.

Although I often avail of this more exclusive airport check-in when flying First or Business Class, even if I’m not checking a bag, I usually do everything online if I’m flying in economy.

Lounges

JAL operates a variety of lounges both in Japan and at select airports overseas. Most of these are branded as the JAL Sakura Lounge, which is effectively a Business Class lounge, though JAL First Class Lounge locations are available at Tokyo’s Haneda and Narita airports.

All passengers ticketed in First and Business Class automatically enjoy access to either the First Class or JAL Sakura Lounge. Passengers who are flying in economy but who have elite status with JAL or one of its oneworld partners can also access these lounges. JAL Diamond flyers (oneworld Emerald) can access the First Class Lounge where available, while JAL Sapphire (oneworld Sapphire) can access the Sakura lounge.

Although JAL does sell Sakura Lounge access when space is available, I don’t usually purchase it if I’m flying economy. The buffet-style food and self-service alcohol are fine, but are not materially different from the non-branded airport lounges I can access for free using my Priority Pass membership.

Onboard experience

Here’s what you can expect onboard a Japan Airlines flight.

Wi-Fi & entertainment

All of JAL’s international aircraft feature Wi-Fi, which in my experience has greatly improved in speed and reliability over the past decade. Whenever I fly long haul on JAL, I always buy a full flight package, which represents the best value. Notably, JAL offers free WiFi on all domestic aircraft equipped with the technology and has for many years.

JAL’s seatback entertainment, on the other hand, leaves a lot to be desired. Although the screen quality is very good (and, in Business and First Classes, much larger than the industry standard), there are few international films and TV series available. If I don’t think I’ll have work to do on a flight, I’ll usually download a couple of films and at least one full season of television before I take off.

Amenities

JAL offers amenity kits to passengers travelling in First and Business Class on intercontinental flights. These kits feature basic toiletries which, while sometimes produced by leading brands, are not as opulent or flashy as those you receive on Middle Eastern or certain other Asian carriers, like EVA Air.

Loyalty programmes, miles & credit cards

JAL’s frequent flyer programme is known as Mileage Bank. It’s attractive for travellers who live in Japan or who primarily or exclusively fly JAL, but a clunky online dashboard and limited customer service in English limit its utility for overseas foreign travellers.

Instead, my main strategy for booking travel on JAL using miles is to do so through the frequent flyer programme of one of its oneworld partner airlines. British Airways is a great choice for UK travellers, though American Airlines AAdvantage offers the most attractive redemption rates on JAL, particularly for First Class and Business Class.

Another award travel sweet spot is using American Airlines AAdvantage or British Airways Executive Club to book JAL domestic flights. This often costs just a few thousand miles and a few pounds in taxes and fees, and can save you a lot of money compared to paying for domestic flights outright.

Credit cards

Technically speaking, international travellers can apply for a JAL credit card, but this is not usually worthwhile in practice. The card offers meagre introductory bonuses compared to other credit cards and limited opportunities for ongoing earnings.

For me, a much smarter credit card strategy is to collect miles via one of JAL’s oneworld partners, typically via American Airlines AAdvantage or British Airways Executive Club, and book travel on JAL using those programmes.