JAL vs QAN Business Class

[kasumi]

I've been on Qantas Business Class many times, but wondering how does it compare to JAL?

We will be travelling to Tokyo from Sydney, and have never been on JAL before.

Any advice?

Thanks

 

[Andrewt]

Hi there,

JAL are ok, you don't get all the add-ons that you'd expect such as noise cancelling headphone on the SYD-NRT route, and no shower at NRT, but the seats are comfortable.

One thing I personnally don't like about JL772 is that the flight leaves SYD at around 9am and they dish up a 3 course main meal in the first hour, the food is good but a bit much at that time of day.

They are much cheaper so good value for money. I have no problem using them again, very nice crew.

Andrew

 

[kasumi]

Thanks!

Wow - 3 course meal an hour into the flight!

hmm...prob stick to Qantas then

Cheers

 

[drron]

Gosh paying more just because of the timimg of the meal :shock:.Besides you can have a meal later if you choose-just less choice.Again I would never go for the 3 course meal as I would have the Japanese meal.
JAL certainly have showers at NRT.If you are WP you can use their Flounge which has fantastic showers and massages-of course you can even if travelling on QF.I'm not sure if Andrewt meant on arrival showers-if so i have never been offered this as a QF J pax either.
Service-I like the JL service,much more consistent than QF.Some people dont like it thinking it is contrived.Certainly there is a standard that they dont fall below unlike QF.And at times you can get a really fantastic experience-often from the dedicated English speaking FA-may be an Australian but I have experienced English,American,Singaporean and even a Kiwi FA on JAL.
If all else is equal I would pick JL over QF.I dont because being with AA on JAL I dont get the points bonus-though if a QF or AA codeshare then the best of both worlds

 

[Travel Guru]

Gosh paying more just because of the timimg of the meal :shock:.

I was just thinking that myself as I read it.

So you'd rather pay $11,000 to fly Qantas than pay $5000 to fly JAL just because they're going to serve a large meal (which last time I checked you're allowed to refuse!)

Each to their own I guess.

I'm flying JAL J this weekend, can't wait, it's been a while since i've flown JAL and i'm certainly looking forward to seeing if that good service is still a feature I enjoyed so much last time.

TG

 

[Amberlower]

I was thinking the same thing. Even if they threatened to forced the food down your throat, you have an extra $5k in your pocket with which to 'dissuade' them.

 

[Keith009]

JAL often has extremely cheap fares to NRT and Europe (about $4000ish to LHR last time I looked which is even better than that AY fare) so I'd go with them for that reason if not on a DONE. Otherwise the service on QF is heaps nicer, FAs are far more laidback and friendly. JAL FAs are just weird and identikit, much like the service culture in Japan that I've experienced. Call me culturally insensitive but it just freaks me out. I used to love food on JAL as I'd choose the Japanese option but now I can't eat shellfish so I go for the Western option to be safe and it can be rather shocking.

But for an extra $5k to shop with in Harajuku - definitely go JAL!

 

[drron]

JAL often has extremely cheap fares to NRT and Europe (about $4000ish to LHR last time I looked which is even better than that AY fare) so I'd go with them for that reason if not on a DONE. Otherwise the service on QF is heaps nicer, FAs are far more laidback and friendly. JAL FAs are just weird and identikit, much like the service culture in Japan that I've experienced. Call me culturally insensitive but it just freaks me out. I used to love food on JAL as I'd choose the Japanese option but now I can't eat shellfish so I go for the Western option to be safe and it can be rather shocking.

But for an extra $5k to shop with in Harajuku - definitely go JAL!

That's where we are different.My next trip is a circle Asia and i have chosen 2 JAL sectors-1 a QF codeshare,1 an AA codeshare because I like the JAL service and get on better with their FAs.Which of course brings to mind a culturally insensitive song-
"I think I'm turning Japanese,
I think I'm turning Japanese
I really think so"
The other difference I have seen was in reaction to a medical emergency.The JAL approach was much better.The patient was brought up to the jump seats between J and Y so lots of room,I was assigned an FA to interpret and help,and afterwards got a letter from the President of JAL.QF on the other hand I went back to spend the majority of the flight in a Y seat :shock:.The FAs disappeared after a few minutes and a form letter from the LHR manager 6 months later.
On top of that about 3 years after the JAL incident I had the same purser on a NRT-BNE flight.He recognised me and showered me with attention even offering me my pick of seats in the cabin so definitely not Identikit.

 

[dragonman]

JAL often has extremely cheap fares to NRT and Europe (about $4000ish to LHR last time I looked which is even better than that AY fare) so I'd go with them for that reason if not on a DONE. Otherwise the service on QF is heaps nicer, FAs are far more laidback and friendly. JAL FAs are just weird and identikit, much like the service culture in Japan that I've experienced. Call me culturally insensitive but it just freaks me out. I used to love food on JAL as I'd choose the Japanese option but now I can't eat shellfish so I go for the Western option to be safe and it can be rather shocking.

But for an extra $5k to shop with in Harajuku - definitely go JAL!

On a recent DONE4 had one of the great flights of my life on JAL from NRT-FCO. Would fly with them again in an instant.

 

[Keith009]

That's where we are different.My next trip is a circle Asia and i have chosen 2 JAL sectors-1 a QF codeshare,1 an AA codeshare because I like the JAL service and get on better with their FAs.Which of course brings to mind a culturally insensitive song-
"I think I'm turning Japanese,
I think I'm turning Japanese
I really think so"
The other difference I have seen was in reaction to a medical emergency.The JAL approach was much better.The patient was brought up to the jump seats between J and Y so lots of room,I was assigned an FA to interpret and help,and afterwards got a letter from the President of JAL.QF on the other hand I went back to spend the majority of the flight in a Y seat :shock:.The FAs disappeared after a few minutes and a form letter from the LHR manager 6 months later.
On top of that about 3 years after the JAL incident I had the same purser on a NRT-BNE flight.He recognised me and showered me with attention even offering me my pick of seats in the cabin so definitely not Identikit.

I can only go by my own experiences (mainly NRT-SIN and NRT-LAX), and all I've experienced on JAL are sickeningly subservient automatons. A lot of bowing and kneeling for instance. Can get pretty irritating on a long flight. Even more so in F - it got so bad one flight when I had to plead for the FAs to stay away. Much like most of the people serving in Japanese hotels or dept stores.

But at least I don't get condescending looks whenever I ask for drinks, unlike on CX and SQ.

 

[dragonman]

I can only go by my own experiences (mainly NRT-SIN and NRT-LAX), and all I've experienced on JAL are sickeningly subservient automatons. A lot of bowing and kneeling for instance. Can get pretty irritating on a long flight. Even more so in F - it got so bad one flight when I had to plead for the FAs to stay away. Much like most of the people serving in Japanese hotels or dept stores.

But at least I don't get condescending looks whenever I ask for drinks, unlike on CX and SQ.

I wonder why you would bother with JAL in the first place. That is their culture, their way of service. I appreciate the difference in cultures and just enjoy it.

 

[Keith009]

I wonder why you would bother with JAL in the first place. That is their culture, their way of service. I appreciate the difference in cultures and just enjoy it.

Sometimes I ask myself the same thing. Then again for half the price on a standard return I'm willing to bite the bullet, and grin and bare it. $5000 can get me at least 16 Prada shirts, or 12 Yoshida Porter totes, or 10 pairs of Kris van Assche high tops, or 7 pairs of Morgenthal Frederics' frames, or 5 Dolce&Gabbana messengers.... Have to remember my old mum's sage advice in situations like these "so long as you get there in one piece..." But I reserve the right to rant about the flight afterwards. I don't care if it's culture, i just find it over the top and totally uncomfortable. Difference in culture and way of service or not, as far as I'm concerned it's most deffo in no way "good service." Actually I wouldn't bother with Japan at all were it not for the fab shopping (and the fact that they have special local editions of international designers' stuff).

On a DONE4 - they're deffo a last resort! Good SCs intra Asia or not. I never thought I'd say this but intra Asia give me Cathay any day - at least they serve Billecart-Salmon in J which totally s*its all over PH NV anyday.

 

[cosi]

I don't care if it's culture, i just find it over the top and totally uncomfortable. Difference in culture and way of service or not, as far as I'm concerned it's most deffo in no way "good service." Actually I wouldn't bother with Japan at all were it not for the fab shopping (and the fact that they have special local editions of international designers' stuff).

Dont fly with JAL or visit Japan if you are uncomfortable with there their culture, their way of life or more importanltly respect for each other.

For example, you rarely hear a mobile ring in public (especially public transport) or hear people shouting into there mobile like other Asian countries and so on.

If you are uncomfrtable with the respect the Japanese are showing fly another airline or visit another country

 

[Keith009]

Dont fly with JAL or visit Japan if you are uncomfortable with there their culture, their way of life or more importanltly respect for each other.

For example, you rarely hear a mobile ring in public (especially public transport) or hear people shouting into there mobile like other Asian countries and so on.

If you are uncomfrtable with the respect the Japanese are showing fly another airline or visit another country

Roppongi is alright, as are certain districts of Shinjuku , and the major fashion districts like Shibuya/Harajuku. For the amazing shopping I can put up with the place (but just). The amazing flagship stores are THE reason to visit Tokyo, and boozing it up there is great compared to Milan which is completely dead on weekdays (or hell even comparatively dead on weekends). Paul Smith in Tokyo pwns the one in Notting Hill any day. And Prada Aoyama is reason enough to go back over and over again.

And like i said JAL is my absolute last resort of the oneworld majors anyway. Given I've yet to buy point to point tix in a while (still on DONE4 bought ex-ICN) I really have no reason to fly them as their only attraction are the super cheap fares (ok, maybe the great SC runs intra Asia too) - Qantas any day if they're on a given route.

 

[madrock]

Back to the original question, business class? Used to be Qantas hands down but these days it seems to be much of a muchness.

That said, in the past twenty odd years I've spent far too much time in the air and of all the airlines flown, JAL & Qantas have come up trumps in terms of consistency. I probably favour JAL cabin service slightly as I appreciate the fact that they leave you alone unless you request attention and when requsted it is fast, friendly & effecient unlike Qantas who seem to be set on pestering you at every available opportunity when you least need them then when attention is actually required it is difficult to find.

Perhaps the fact that I live in Japan has something to do with this but to those of you who consider Japan as a place to avoid or purely as a shopping destination, may I suggest that you haven't even begun to scratch the surface...

 

[craven morehead]

"I think I'm turning Japanese,
I think I'm turning Japanese
I really think so"




drron,

Have you been sniffing "the vapours?":mrgreen:

 

[Travel Guru]

Having just come back from flying JAL to Europe (SYD-NRT-PAR // FRA-NRT-SYD), i'd have to say its the best service i've had in J hands down.
(Please note in that comment i'm critiquing service only, not seating, meals etc which were still great)

Sure their seats are lie flat, not fully flat so they're not the most up to date offering on the market, but as service goes, you can't fault them and at under 5k inc taxes, I wouldn't hesitate to fly them again.

The only negatives I can really point out were a lack of decent snacks, and they don't really communicate the fact that the airtime menu is in leui of a set meal before landing (or if they did it went in one ear and out the other), but aside from that, it was fantastic and a really enjoyable travelling experience.

There's no way i'd be paying over double to fly on QF metal when I can get that kind of service for such a great price on JAL. (esp. when they earn great SC's at the same time)

Great 10 min. massage at Sakura in NRT too, helped take the edge off (or was it the 3-4 Asahi's I downed in the QF lounge?)

Anyway, overall, wouldnt hesitate recommending them to any of you or any of my clients for that matter, and cant wait to step back on board their plane again soon.

TG