JAL business class Melbourne - Tokyo. Is it worth it?

[sudoer]

Looks like JL773/JL774 has the Shell Flat Neo seat maps loaded after 6/3/2019.

JAL don't appear to be selling Y+ seats and the WiFi-enabled symbol is missing too.

 

[tizey]

Is it possibly they are retrofitting them? Seems very odd to have the "sky suites" tag on the flights when booking a revenue fare... I wouldn't think they'd muck this up. I'd be incredibly annoyed if I'd paid for a J fare expecting the suites and getting the neo!

 

[chodo]

Checked 'Manage My Booking' and there was a window and aisle seat available! Hopefully the booking sticks.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Is it possibly they are retrofitting them? Seems very odd to have the "sky suites" tag on the flights when booking a revenue fare... I wouldn't think they'd muck this up. I'd be incredibly annoyed if I'd paid for a J fare expecting the suites and getting the neo!

Take a screenshot of the skysuite page!

If it's still angled-flat at time of departure (or indeed the website changes before that to match angled flat), you should be able to get a full refund and book with another carrier.

 

[Dannyism]

FWIW I got my flight to Tokyo with JL. Booked Melbourne to Tokyo Narita 2xJ.

The flights open up at 11am for anyone interested, they get snapped up pretty quick.

Coming back Seoul to Melbourne via Hong Kong with CX.

Overall a pretty easy experiance, although booking the return flights before booking the flights over is a bit awkward.

 

[chodo]

So I thought I'd share some thoughts from our trip! At Melbourne Airport, we had the midnight flight out to Tokyo. We checked out both the Marhaba Lounge and the QANTAS Lounge. Marhaba was first and we were surprised at how basic the food options were and how little was on offer. They had a few options in the bain marie and a couple more to be ordered a la carte. I ordered wonton noodle soup that seemed like it was out of a packet. Some stodgey cheesecake and cheeses and then frozen yoghurt rounded it out. It was nice to be away from the hordes though. We had plenty of time left so we went to check out the QANTAS Lounge. And we thought Marhaba was basic!! The sullen old dear who was running the front desk at QANTAS informed us it closed in an hour as though we intended on camping the night. We did a quick drive by of the food and drinks and it was pitiful! We were in and out of the QANTAS Lounge in about 3 minutes. Across the way was the AMEX Lounge and one of my cards allows a few free entries per year. The girl at the front was lovely and said we could have a quick sticky beak and decide if we wanted to stay. It was much nicer than the other two we had visited that evening but we didn't feel the need to hang around. Just next door was the Singapore Airlines lounge which I imagine is a huge step up! Anyways, onto the plane and Business Class was only 20-30% full. We had the window seats and we got comfortable and settled in for movies and food. The food out of Melbourne wasn't that amazing and we were both surprised at how basic it was. Saying that, the service was top notch and the added extras like decent blankets, slippers and amenity kits helped. One observation - the bathrooms in Business were still tiny and no larger than economy, although they did have hand lotion and a pile of toothbrushes.

Japan itself was amazing and our trip whizzed by far too quickly.

Coming home, the Sakura Lounge at Narita was much better than our Melbourne experiences. The food on the flight home was much better, and as somebody noted in this thread, the steak was very good! Once again it was only 20-30% full. Now I'm 180cm and I only JUST fit when the bed was in lie flat mode. My toes could touch the end if I pointed them, so I don't know how anybody over 6 foot could enjoy a decent sleep in these sky beds.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Heh, we told you the QFi MEL J lounge was a (can I be so rude), a *ump! LIke a cave, isn't it? Hard to find too!
Even during the day, that place in the basement is only lit with artificial lighting, but at the least you know what its like now.
Next time, if you have a need/want/feel like a trip to Europe, try the EK lounge at MEL, good views, good food, good wines/different types, well lit, airy, feels very open.
Thousand times better than the basement QF calls its lounge.
Surprised the Marhaba is so poorly done though!

 

[Monya Meow Meow]

I'm planning a trip to Tokyo this November to pay my brother a visit (and to use this an excuse to go see the wonderful autumn leaves).
I saw from the JAL website that they currently have sale prices for their premium economy seats which is around $800 each way.
Just wondering if they are worth it with one of those being an overnight flight departing Melbourne at 12:45am.

I also note that premium economy grants you access to their lounges? Which lounge is this in Melbourne?
Thanks all!

 

[Himeno]

I'm planning a trip to Tokyo this November to pay my brother a visit (and to use this an excuse to go see the wonderful autumn leaves).
I saw from the JAL website that they currently have sale prices for their premium economy seats which is around $800 each way.
Just wondering if they are worth it with one of those being an overnight flight departing Melbourne at 12:45am.

I also note that premium economy grants you access to their lounges? Which lounge is this in Melbourne?
Thanks all!

Jal uses the Marhaba lounge at MEL. It is next to the QF F lounge.

 

[Monya Meow Meow]

Jal uses the Marhaba lounge at MEL. It is next to the QF F lounge.

Thanks Himeno, how is the Marhaba Lounge like? If you have used it before that is.
I assume it closes at midnight or before that?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I'm planning a trip to Tokyo this November to pay my brother a visit (and to use this an excuse to go see the wonderful autumn leaves).
I saw from the JAL website that they currently have sale prices for their premium economy seats which is around $800 each way.
Just wondering if they are worth it with one of those being an overnight flight departing Melbourne at 12:45am.

I also note that premium economy grants you access to their lounges? Which lounge is this in Melbourne?
Thanks all!

Note that JAL's economy class is approaching premium economy on Qantas in terms of hard product - extra wide seats (only 8 across instead of 9) and an extra three inches of legroom. You may find JAL's economy even better value!

 

[aspro2]

I can see that these flights MEL-NRT vv still appear to be Neo for Mar 2019 onwards. Would people nonetheless recommend this over, say, a QF A330 NRT-BNE and then a domestic connection? (Slightly cheaper award flight, almost the same surcharges, loss of time.)

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I can see that these flights MEL-NRT vv still appear to be Neo for Mar 2019 onwards. Would people nonetheless recommend this over, say, a QF A330 NRT-BNE and then a domestic connection? (Slightly cheaper award flight, almost the same surcharges, loss of time.)

I just checked a couple of dates (12 and 15 March) on the JAL website and it says these are being operated by the skysuite. This is the second best business seat in the market (after Qatar's Qsuites).

Was there a particular date you had that's showing NEO?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

PS: I note seatguru is showing the flights as the angled lie-flats - but seat guru is not always reliable these days for airlines outside of the USA. The JL website is accurate.

 

[aspro2]

PS: I note seatguru is showing the flights as the angled lie-flats - but seat guru is not always reliable these days for airlines outside of the USA. The JL website is accurate.

Appreciate your feedback... but earlier in this thread a similar scenario was being cited (JAL site said SkySuite for the booking, but actual seatmap for the booking was Neo - not just on SeatGuru).

 

[sudoer]

Appreciate your feedback... but earlier in this thread a similar scenario was being cited (JAL site said SkySuite for the booking, but actual seatmap for the booking was Neo - not just on SeatGuru).

Confirming this is still the case - seat maps show 2-2-2 from 6th March onwards which indicates a Shell Flat Neo aircraft, despite what the JAL website says. Personally not a fan of this config and would take any proper lie-flat over it.

If you are WP or higher, I'd suggest connecting in Sydney for the F lounge. If not, you could connect through BNE onto the QF A330, or SIN onto a JAL 772 with SS3 seats. The upside of going via SIN is arriving in HND which is closer to the CBD and better for domestic connections.

 

[aspro2]

Confirming this is still the case - seat maps show 2-2-2 from 6th March onwards which indicates a Shell Flat Neo aircraft, despite what the JAL website says. Personally not a fan of this config and would take any proper lie-flat over it.

If you are WP or higher, I'd suggest connecting in Sydney for the F lounge. If not, you could connect through BNE onto the QF A330, or SIN onto a JAL 772 with SS3 seats. The upside of going via SIN is arriving in HND which is closer to the CBD and better for domestic connections.

Thanks! Outbound, I have no choice on my dates (and for an award, the SIN route isn't offered, at least to me). The only flexibility was coming back QF A330 via BNE or JL direct to MEL.

EDIT: and I've just booked the outbound leg. As confirmed by sbor90, despite the JAL website showing it as a SkySuite, the seatmap for my flight is definitely a Neo (and all the window seats are reserved! Hmph... lucky it's a night flight!)

Fingers crossed that the seat type changes closer to the date! Now to decide about transiting in BNE on the way back...

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Appreciate your feedback... but earlier in this thread a similar scenario was being cited (JAL site said SkySuite for the booking, but actual seatmap for the booking was Neo - not just on SeatGuru).

Oh Although there's something weird with the seat map display which is showing a skysuite arrangement (off-set windows and aisles). But there's no premium economy for sale, which confirms the NEO

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Thanks! Outbound, I have no choice on my dates (and for an award, the SIN route isn't offered, at least to me). The only flexibility was coming back QF A330 via BNE or JL direct to MEL.

EDIT: and I've just booked the outbound leg. As confirmed by sbor90, despite the JAL website showing it as a SkySuite, the seatmap for my flight is definitely a Neo (and all the window seats are reserved! Hmph... lucky it's a night flight!)

Fingers crossed that the seat type changes closer to the date! Now to decide about transiting in BNE on the way back...

Middle seat would be a definite advantage - direct aisle access and no one needing to climb out over you.

For the return I'd take the QF A330 - guaranteed full flat. At least you'll face the BNE transfer well rested.

 

[tizey]

Just to add to this thread, I flew JL 773 yesterday NRT-MEL with Mrs. Best J flight I've had this far in our points journey.

I'm just shy of 180cm with a big frame and found the flat bed incredibly spacious and roomy. Huge screen, GREAT food (J was completely full, and they were out of steak so had Japanese menu - no regret except for dessert (haagan daaz cookies and cream made up for it). Even Mrs who had turned into an F monster rated it highly.

Window seat for the win - even as a couple.