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

[jase05]

Upset as in I wonder if they tried it, they may enjoy it. My mentality is I can have croissant and omelettes at home, and if I don't enjoy any of it - Tokyo is full of delicious options worth being hungry for.

Mrs Jase and I eat zero seafood so have no intention of trying it. I will eat scorpions, crickets and all other weird and wonderful things but won’t touch any seafood.

 

[Matt_01]

The window seats in the forward cabin are pretty regularly blocked off for elite status members. This includes not only the flights from australia to japan, but also japan onwards to USA etc.

These seats must be available to OWE and those in the same booking. I Just booked +1 and daughter MEL-NRT-ORD. +1 is WP and she could select R2 MEL-NRT and R5 NRT-ORD, I understand R5 on the 777 is considered quite good as there is only 1 J row behind F and hardly any foot traffic. Although my +1 could select her seat via the JL website, the site would not accept my daughters (NB) seat selection although she was in the same booking. We had to call and her seating allocated which was painless. They ended up in 2H/K and 5H/K

 

[Oubline]

My flight MEL-NRT in J is showing up with 5 rows of business class seats and no premium economy, so this is still happening. All indications are that this seat is a shell neo seat so I have my fingers crossed that this changes sometime between now and then. JAL themselves give no indication on their website that the flight would be anything but Sky Suites.

Searching for premium economy as a revenue fare, I noticed that JL isn’t selling it on this route, even for next month.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

IIRC it’s some sort of website glitch? It’s the apex suites, despite it showing no PEY.

 

[Oubline]

IIRC it’s some sort of website glitch? It’s the apex suites, despite it showing no PEY.

I hope so! Fortunately I haven’t heard of anyone actually having to fly in shell neo seats from MEL-NRT yet.

 

[tizey]

I hope so! Fortunately I haven’t heard of anyone actually having to fly in shell neo seats from MEL-NRT yet.

I flew the five row J cabin last week on MEL-NRT. It was definitely apex suites. Exactly the same seat as the bigger J cabin 787 they fly to MEL from time to time. Nothing to worry about.

 

[Oubline]

I flew the five row J cabin last week on MEL-NRT. It was definitely apex suites. Exactly the same seat as the bigger J cabin 787 they fly to MEL from time to time. Nothing to worry about.

Thanks tizey! So useful to have first hand experience. Cheers

 

[bernardblack]

No problem, hopefully you catch a glimpse of Fuji, Sky Tree, or a nice sunset if you're flying later in the year.

If you happen to be taking any JAL domestic flights headed south, you can use this site to see which side Fuji will be on! JAPAN AIRLINES - Which Side is Mt. Fuji?

It's an incredible view on a clear day..

Reviving this, my wife and kids and I are now in business on the same flight early next year (assuming travel is open by then), except that it's switched to SYD-HND in lieu of SYD-NRT. We then fly onward to CDG the next day.

Is the approach still similar, such that the left is the better side for views on arrival?

We've selected the right side for the next day, to be on the cooler/less-glary side on the way to Europe.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Reviving this, my wife and kids and I are now in business on the same flight early next year (assuming travel is open by then), except that it's switched to SYD-HND in lieu of SYD-NRT. We then fly onward to CDG the next day.

Is the approach still similar, such that the left is the better side for views on arrival?

We've selected the right side for the next day, to be on the cooler/less-glary side on the way to Europe.

Of course, JAL has a website for this question!! https://www.jal.co.jp/en/dom/mt_fuji/?m=df

Although it only covers domestic flights. Flying Tokyo to Shanghai, Mt Fuji was always on the right side. You might be able to have a look at something like flight radar to see the track of the Paris flight.

 

[bernardblack]

Of course, JAL has a website for this question!! https://www.jal.co.jp/en/dom/mt_fuji/?m=df

Although it only covers domestic flights. Flying Tokyo to Shanghai, Mt Fuji was always on the right side. You might be able to have a look at something like flight radar to see the track of the Paris flight.

Thanks for that. I'd been linked that JAL lookup page previously, but it wasn't working for whatever reason. I figured the best approximation of "inbound from Sydney" was Naha, which indicates Fuji on the left. And yes, FlightRadar24 shows the last few completed JAL and ANA SYD-HND flights as approaching over Tokyo Bay from the south, with Fuji and then Yokohama and southern Tokyo on the left.

 

[SteveLL]

got 1st class with JAL to tokyo for xmas. looking unlikely to be able to fly by then and not sure if they would in fact upgrade to the bigger plan which has 1st class onboard.

 

[sudoer]

Is the approach still similar, such that the left is the better side for views on arrival?

Prior to March the answer would have been the left side of the plane if you wanted views of Fuji.

Starting on 30 March this year a new approach came into operation at HND which brings you in over the city with Fuji to the right side of the plane



Due to noise the approach is only in operation from 3pm-7pm local time, so QF25 and both NH slots are unaffected, but JL52 may be.

Here's JL52's approach today:



Compared with its approach from a week ago on 1 Jun:



Unless the new approach is temporarily suspended (it was introduced to help with anticipated additional traffic for the Olympics but has pissed off a lot of locals) then I think it'll just be luck of the draw

got 1st class with JAL to tokyo for xmas. looking unlikely to be able to fly by then and not sure if they would in fact upgrade to the bigger plan which has 1st class onboard.

Me too... fingers crossed it goes ahead and JAL operates the 773 as scheduled.

 

[jaseb]

We have optimistically booked JL774 in J for July next year. As per others experiences, all window seats blocked out which doesn't faze us a great deal given we'll be flying through the night.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

We have optimistically booked JL774 in J for July next year. As per others experiences, all window seats blocked out which doesn't faze us a great deal given we'll be flying through the night.

Even though at night flight I'd recommend checking back in to see if you can get a window... which really are the best seats - extra long and 100% private. The aisle seats are somewhat exposed, but the Apex window seats are more like first class.

 

[jaseb]

Even though at night flight I'd recommend checking back in to see if you can get a window... which really are the best seats - extra long and 100% private. The aisle seats are somewhat exposed, but the Apex window seats are more like first class.

Good to know. I will set a reminder to check again much closer to departure date. Are the window seats likely to open up weeks, or days in advance?

 

[sudoer]

Window seats will open at OLCI if they're still available.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

For Jaseb, if you are happy to pay $5900 one way, you can have the coveted window seat in JAL J Au - Japan.
Others say you could till OLCI to see if these window seats open up, but they are probably coveted, and JAL knows it.
Only way to guarantee if you want a window seat, is to stump up for the $ and buy it outright.
I see that flight leaving a bit past midnight, as good, as it gets you into Tokyo at 8am or so, early enough to spend some quality daylight time in Tokyo before hotel checkin.
Also gives a bit of time if you finish work at 5pm, and get to MEL Tulla T2 to spend some time in the Maharba, or the QF J/F lounge if you have access.
Or some time to fly from other state capital to get to meet that past midnight departure.
I do realise that yours is most likely a points redemption, but if you can afford it, and don't want to loose the window seat, maybe pay that premium price.
In the end, other than paying that much, I am not sure how to guarantee it.
I am looking into paying that premium when I do make it, ie, to fly overseas again.

 

[sudoer]

Only way to guarantee if you want a window seat, is to stump up for the $ and buy it outright.

If you hold OWS (e.g. QFF Gold) or higher, it's possible to select window seats on all business tickets.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

If you hold OWS (e.g. QFF Gold) or higher, it's possible to select window seats on all business tickets.

As a OWR I had access to the last few rows of windows in J class for SIN-NRT on a 787. Better than nothing!

 

[sudoer]

As a OWR I had access to the last few rows of windows in J class for SIN-NRT on a 787. Better than nothing!

Indeed! I misread the guide on FT linked below. Have only ever flown JAL J as OWS and higher.

Seat selection on JAL on award tickets. - FlyerTalk Forums

Japan Airlines | JAL Mileage Bank - Seat selection on JAL on award tickets. - This thread is to ask all of the questions, and hopefully get answers, about seat selection on JAL flights when you have booked award travel. What seats are available, will status change that, how to do the seat...

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