- Around the World in Twelve Days
- Hotel Review: Augustine, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Prague
- Touring Prague, Czech Republic
- Hotel Review: Park Hyatt Seoul
- Hotel Review: Grand Hyatt Seoul
- Touring Seoul, Korea
- Flight Review: Korean Air Business Class
- Flight Review: Japan Airlines Business Class
- Flight Review: Singapore Airlines Business Class
Introduction
Flying from Tokyo to New York is a long and painful 12 hour flight and any opportunity to fly in business class is a greatly welcomed. Japan Airlines along with ANA currently fly direct between JFK to Narita (NRT) and Haneda (HND) with Japan Airlines award flights being bookable with AA, BA, or AS miles. Japan Airlines business class has one of the most private seats, with large entertainment screens, lie flat seats, and descent food.
Flying to Japan with stopovers is not recommended, as 12 hours is long enough without having to add more time due to layovers. Also, Haneda (HND) is better to fly into if you are going to Tokyo versus Narita (NRT). An hour long train ride to Tokyo is required after landing into Narita.
Booking
Business class mileage redemption rates for Japan Airlines partners between Tokyo to New York are:
- British Airways: 105,000
- American Airlines: 60,000
- Alaska Airlines: 60,000
If you want to book using American Airlines miles, it is not possible online. A search for availability is required on either BA.com or Alaskaair.com and then the flight would have to be booked via phone call to AA. If you have enough Alaska Airlines miles, it is now possible to book online at alaskaair.com.
Lounge (3/5)
For this being the major hub for Japan Airlines, I was surprised how unimpressed I was with the Business Class lounge. There was barely any food to be found and not much non-alcoholic beverages available. However, there was plenty of hard liquor available and the seats were comfortable.
Flight
Japan Airlines 4
Narita (NRT) to New York (JFK)
Cabin: Business
Seat: 9K
Aircraft: Boeing 787
Flight Time: 12h 45m
Service (5/5)
Like everywhere in Japan, the service was at a high level and ultra respectful. There was even an option to order food from the remote.
Plane Atmosphere (3/5)
Also like everywhere indoors in Japan, it was very hot on the plane. If you have visited Japan in the winter, you might have noticed that once you walk indoors, it is like a Finnish sauna. If you are sweaty person, even being in business class for 12 hours sweating up a storm is still going to be miserable. The lie flat bed wasn’t any able help for catching sleep since the heat was so over powering.
American Airlines never had this issue on this route when they used to fly direct between NYC and Tokyo. Next time I’ll try ANA to see if the tempature is any better.
Food (4/5)
On the plus side, passengers are well fed on the 12 hour flight and were never left hungry. I enjoyed the sake, steak and ramen.
Seat (4/5)
The seat is pretty much walled off and almost fully enclosed, something more common on first class seats. A motorized wall is between the seats that you can raise and lower depending on if you know the person sitting next to you.
The seats recline to fully flat and provide plenty of room for people over 6 feet tall. Downside of the seat is the stiffness and bumpiness between the crevices.
The entertainment system had a gorgeous large screen with an intuitive remote. The GPS map application was very detailed and interactive.
Conclusion
In conclusion, flying 12 hours between Tokyo and New York in economy class can get uncomfortable and any opportunity to fly business class should be pursued. Flight award options using miles are pretty reasonable using American Airlines or Alaskan Airlines miles. While the service, privacy, and food options are all top quality on Japan Airlines business class, the overbearing heat and lumpy seats could use improvement. People shouldn’t look like they ran a marathon in the Amazon rain forest when they land.
If you like my photos, follow me on Instagram: @BLTraveler
ANA is supposed to offer individual air nozzles on their flights. I’m still puzzled why all long haul airlines don’t equip their planes with these, but there must be some reason.
Jal has the nozzles over the crappy business class seats ( jal, 65/66, 707/708)
too bad they have such crappy business class seats in their jl65/66 flights
[…] Flying from Tokyo to New York is a long and painful 12 hour flight and any opportunity to fly in business class is a greatly welcomed. Japan Airlines along with ANA currently fly direct between JFK to Narita (NRT) and Haneda (HND) with Japan Airlines … ( read original story …) […]
Flying between Tokyo and New York in economy is easy on ANA and JAL. Just do not do it on Delta, United or American. I do this flight 6 to 7 times a year. But on ANA in economy. Easy.