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For the past few years when flying to Japan, we’ve had the opportunity to travel on various airlines with Premium Economy seats, ranging from Singapore Airlines to United Airlines. However, on our most recent trip, we opted for economy seats with Japan Airlines (JAL). It had been quite some time since our last flight with JAL, and we were eagerly anticipating the experience, given their reputation for top-notch service.

CHECK-IN

Check-in at both Los Angeles Airport and Narita Airport during our travel dates in early to mid-March was surprisingly efficient, with no lengthy queues. Staff were prompt in providing assistance on both occasions, contributing to a smooth start to our journeys.

On our flight with economy seats, we were allowed to bring along two complimentary checked bags, each weighing up to 50 pounds. Additionally, we were permitted to bring aboard one carryon suitcase as well as a personal bag. Some airlines are pretty strict with the carry-on luggage weight restrictions, but luckily we did not encounter this issue when flying with JAL.

BOARDING

If you’ve never flown with JAL, you’ll be delighted to learn that their boarding process is efficient and fast. Boarding time starts 20-30 minutes before departure time and this process moves along very quickly, so make sure you are at the gate on time.

Like most major airlines, JAL initiates the boarding process with pre-boarding for those needing special assistance and then travelers in premier cabins. Followed by the remaining passengers to board from the rear rows, which really speeds up the process.

MAIN CABIN

Economy Seats

We knew that JAL’s economy seats were roomier than its competitors, so there were no big surprises when we got to our seats. Resting on our seats was a blanket and pillow. In the seat pocket in front of us was a set of headphones and just above it was a personal screen monitor.

There was plenty of legroom and our large backpacks fit comfortably underneath the seats. We also had no issues finding overhead bin space for our carryon luggage and our Quince carry-on suitcase and Away carry-on suitcase fit just fine.

We did notice that on both the outbound and return flights, the seats located at the front of the economy cabin were consistently reserved but remained unoccupied throughout the entire duration of the flight.

Surprisingly, not even the flight attendants utilized these seats. We wonder if these particular seats are reserverd for families traveling with infants or kept vacant in case of passenger emergencies.

Entertainment and WiFi

There were an array of movie and TV options available during our flight. However, when compared to our experiences with other airlines, we noticed that the selection of movies wasn't as extensive.

This wasn’t a huge deal since we opted to purchase WiFi for the duration of our flight, which turned out to be great. The connection was strong enough to upload and view videos on social media apps without any noticeable disruptions.

Snacks

We absolutely love the snacks that JAL provides on their flights, especially the delicious rice cracker treats. I wish I could buy them as souvenirs. JAL has multiple partnerships with food and beverage brands, collaborating to produce exclusive JAL limited edition offerings cherished by travelers worldwide.

For example, they have partnered with Häagen-Dazs to produce exclusive flavors that are available only in the air. These unique airborne treats add a special touch to the inflight experience.

When the lights are out, you can satisfy your late-night cravings with a visit to the Sky Oasis self-service snack corner. We found an assortment of light bites like chocolate and Ottotto (a popular Japanese snack) which were a nice little treat.

Bathroom

The bathrooms on board were consistently immaculate. There was an unexpected surprise when I discovered that it was equipped with a bidet, adding a touch of modern comfort - a feature rarely found within the confines of an aircraft lavatory.

IN-FLIGHT MEALS

We were both looking forward to our meals, as the food has consistently impressed us in the past on JAL flights. One of the main reasons being that we prefer Japanese dishes over Western cuisine. As meal service began, the flight attendants presented us with a menu featuring images of the various meal options, allowing us to visually explore our choices.

Unfortunately, we were both disappointed with our meals. One of the main reasons for our dissatisfaction was that the rice in the dishes were very mushy. Having grown up in Japan where rice is a staple component of almost every meal, we know what perfectly cooked rice should taste like.

The pizza entree was good; however, when Candy received hers, she noticed that it was not heated thoroughly enough, resulting in unmelted cheese. Fortunately, the flight attendant promptly replaced it with a freshly baked pizza, ensuring that the cheese was thoroughly melted.

The only meal we savored was the Taco Rice meal during our flight from Narita to Los Angeles . It was a rare treat to find the rice perfectly cooked for a change. The aroma of the minced meat with onions simmered in spices was a delightful entree that stood out among the previous inflight food offerings.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Other than the disappointing meals, everything else was excellent. All of the staff were extremely friendly, kind, and attentive. When Candy’s TV wasn't working, their quick response in fixing the issue and double-checking to ensure it worked properly was impressive.

While we typically opt for premium economy, JAL's economy seats provided unexpected comfort with cushy seats and ample legroom. The service extended to baggage claim, where staff kindly retrieved our bags and placed them neatly for us.

JAL's commitment to customer care was evident on and off the aircraft until our journey's end.

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