JAL Mileage Bank - Strategy for Japanese meal when in 15HK

My party is in seats 15HK on JL5 JFK-NRT. Those were the only two adjacent business seats available at the time of our booking, and ExpertFlyer shows nothing better available now.

We have a strong preference for Japanese food. Love the Japanese meal with the great 8-box appetizer!

I recall JL always taking orders from front to back, so 15HK are sure to be the last to order.

Any way to increase our odds of getting preferred meal? Can one order the Japanese meal in advance, i.e. as a special meal? The "Manage Booking" section of JL's site shows nothing for our reservation. http://www.jal.co.jp/en/inflight/s_meal/ doesn't list a Japanese meal as an available special request.

Interestingly, on AA's flights to/from Japan, J pax can get a Japanese meal *only* by advance request!

The Japanese meal has changed it is no longer the 8 mini boxes + main dish. No you can't reserve meal in advance.

http://jal-pak.blogspot.com/2011/09/jal-updates-business-class-meal-service.html

Try get a seat closer to the front at check-in

Thanks, JALPak. Disappointing -- I have such fond memories of the old meal, and this looks substantially less memorable. On the plus side, maybe it means my choice of seat is less important!

I don't expect that better seats will open up at check-in. (This is Business, where there are not seats held back for disabled pax etc., so far as I know.) But I have an EF seat monitor set to alert me to any pair of adjacent seats.

Thanks, JALPak. Disappointing -- I have such fond memories of the old meal, and this looks substantially less memorable. On the plus side, maybe it means my choice of seat is less important!

I don't expect that better seats will open up at check-in. (This is Business, where there are not seats held back for disabled pax etc., so far as I know.) But I have an EF seat monitor set to alert me to any pair of adjacent seats.

There are definitely blocked seats as far as I can tell. If you tell me your dates I can take a look at it

11DE are open right now and you can select them through JAL website.

Unfortunately all blocked seats have been taken. So 11DE are the only options right now and it's very unlikely new seats will be open up at check-in unless there's no show or someone didn't ticket before their ticketing deadlines and the seats are therefore released.

If you really want a Japanese meal when you are sitting in the back of C...I'll share with you my sure fire way to score the Bento box you crave. Before you leave JFK go to duty free and buy a box of chocolate (Godiva-5/9 pieces at least) for the cabin crew serving business class, sincerely apologize in advance for being a special needs passenger (this sounds strange but if you speak Japanese you will know what I mean and more importantly the FA's will also appreciate your kind thought- Tsumaranai mono).... works for me every time... you'll have a great flight and enjoy the bento box

...Tsumaranai mono...

Be sure to indicate the box of chocolate when you say that ;)

Just closing the loop on this: Turned out all options, Japanese and both Western, were somehow still available when FA reached our seats. So zero issues there! Of the subsequent snacks, some ran out by mid/late flight, but still plenty of solid choices left. No undercatering that we saw...

If you really want a Japanese meal when you are sitting in the back of C...I'll share with you my sure fire way to score the Bento box you crave. Before you leave JFK go to duty free and buy a box of chocolate (Godiva-5/9 pieces at least) for the cabin crew serving business class, sincerely apologize in advance for being a special needs passenger (this sounds strange but if you speak Japanese you will know what I mean and more importantly the FA's will also appreciate your kind thought- Tsumaranai mono).... works for me every time... you'll have a great flight and enjoy the bento box

When is the best time to hand over this "tsumaranai mono" to a cabin crew?

Just closing the loop on this: Turned out all options, Japanese and both Western, were somehow still available when FA reached our seats. So zero issues there! Of the subsequent snacks, some ran out by mid/late flight, but still plenty of solid choices left. No undercatering that we saw...
How much chocolate did you bring for bribes to the other passengers?