Hello,

Just thought I would share my review of my flight to BKK via HND from HEL in Business Class (DEC 2021)

JL048 Helsinki - Haneda. Business Class. 787-9. 17:40 departure. Seat 7KPre departure:

Check in/security –

To sum it in up in one word – stressful. Japan is still closed to visitors although they do accept transit passengers who remain airside (I was continuing to BKK). The requirements for me were pretty straight forward: a PCR test within the last 72hrs and an onward ticket for same day. There were only two JL counters open at Helsinki, one for Economy and one for Business Class and check in was handled by Finnair staff. The agent checking me in was brusque and although not rude in any way was certainly minus any pleasantries. I was advised that my PCR test result ‘had to follow the format required by the Japanese Government’ which was not correct. I showed him the email I had received from JAL a few days earlier stating that although they prefer the format set by the Japanese Government, any PCR test result that includes the mandatory information will be accepted. I was also given a brochure listing three separate phone apps I would need to download. My documents to enter Thailand were not checked which I found odd as Thailand is quite strict with entry requirements right now. I could have easily gotten as far as Haneda without the right to enter Thailand and I wonder what would have happened then? The check in process took at least ten minutes and it seemed to be roughly the same for the people checking in at the adjacent desk, so I was glad I arrived early.

I proceeded through the Premium Security Lane where there was no wait and was airside within minutes. Helsinki Airport has a lot of fans as a transit point, I am not one of them. I find the terminal unpleasant with narrow halls and as arriving and departing passengers mix it can be like a fish swimming upstream sometimes. I much preferred my transit at CPH a day earlier which felt far more open with wider spaces and higher ceilings.

Next was passport control where there was a reasonable line but a wait of no more than ten minutes. There were e-gates, but these were for EU nationals only. This, I’ve always found odd. Since Brexit, access to e-gates at every EU airport I’ve used is off limit when travelling on a UK passport. Yet, EU nationals (and others) can use the e-gates when arriving in the UK.

Finnair Lounge –

Finnair operates two lounges in the non-Schengen area, a Business Class lounge as well as the ‘Platinum lounge’ for Oneworld Emerald customers. The latter was closed, and all customers were directed to the business class side. The business class lounge felt like it had been renovated and expanded and I felt it was on par with what I’d experienced previously next door in the Platinum lounge. There were plenty of seating areas including lots of solo pods and a large area for eating. There was also a manned bar. The food selection was not too bad. A small salad selection, a soup and some hot dishes of lasagne and meatballs. The food was self-serve yet there seemed very few COVID measures in place. For example, there were no plastic gloves available, and you had to look hard to find hand sanitiser. Wi-Fi was just the free Helsinki Airport network which was fine for my needs and there are power points and USB plugs literally everywhere.



Boarding –

As far as I could work out, the departing aircraft arrived the day before, spends 24hrs in Helsinki and then returns to Japan. I’m not sure about the logic of this but the perk is that the 787 was parked remotely and boarding was by bus and stairs – always a treat for an Avgeek. Boarding was by group and once group 1 and 2 had been loaded onto the bus we set off for our jet and boarded via stairs at door 2.

The senior cabin attendant welcomed all customers at the door and directed me to the right and my seat, 7K. Already waiting at my seat was a bottle of water, washbag, slippers, inflight menu and all of the paperwork for entry to Japan. I took my seat and no fewer than three Cabin Attendants came to welcome me personally and introduce themselves. From the very start to the very end of the flight the crew were faultless. Attentive, friendly, proactive, gracious.

JAL conducts no other service on the ground such as pre-flight bubbles etc. The only amenity offered on the ground is an ‘inflight cardigan’ – when in Rome….

Business Class was around 40% full and I’d say Premium Economy and Economy even less so.

The main door was closed five minutes prior to our scheduled departure time and the safety demonstration was conducted and a lengthy COVID video shown. We had quite a long taxi to the runway and were soon in the night sky.

The seat –

The JAL Apex seat is hands down my favourite out there. Not facing any weird directions, no feet in small cubby holes, all direct aisle access, fantastic privacy, huge IFE screen. I don’t understand why more airlines do not use it. I guess it comes down to money and put simply more seats can be put into the same floorspace using other designs.



The flight –

After take-off disposable oshibori were handed out (goodbye hot towels thanks to COVID) and drink and meal orders were taken or in my case my pre-ordered Japanese meal was confirmed. Tablecloths were laid and the Japanese white wine I’d ordered for an aperitif which was served with some packaged Japanese snacks.

Then came the meal which can only be described as incredible. First, a bento box full of starters and delicacies was brought out. This was followed by the main hot dish which was serves with pickles and miso soup. The taste, freshness, preparation and presentation were all a ten out of ten. My wine was regularly topped up. I passed on dessert and instead had the cheese plate and fruit from the ‘Anytime menu’.

After clearing anything away, the Cabin Attendant advised me that I could order anything else I liked from the menu up until 1.5hr before landing and asked if I would like her to wake me up before last orders. Not wanting to miss out on more of the amazing food I said yes please.

There are thick mattress toppers in the overhead lockers and I made up my bed and attempted to get some shut eye.

I was a little surprised when the lights were switched on a full 2.5hr prior to landing as I had expected them to remain off until closer to arrival time, especially given the light load. A Cabin Attendant immediately appeared and asked if I’d like anything and I ordered a coffee. JAL only offers brewed coffee, no espresso based drinks. But I have to say it was one of the best airplane coffees I had ever had.

My breakfast order was taken and I went for the ‘Japanese set plate’ which was grilled salmon, egg cake, rice and miso soup. Again, delicious.

I had another coffee and there was still another good 90 minutes to kill so I had a look at the IFE. This is definitely a weak spot of the product offering. HUGE screen, not a lot of western content and only movies, no TV shows.

Around 45minutes prior to landing the cabin was prepared for landing. A crew member passed through the cabin with ‘japanese gentle steam masks’ and offered one to each passenger and thanking them for flying JAL. The cabin attendant that had mainly been serving me also came and thanked me for flying with JAL. And finally, the Senior Cabin Attendant came and asked about my flight and wished me a merry Christmas.

Arrival/Transit:
Once the aircraft pulled onto stand and the door was open all customers were asked to remain seated. A few minutes later, an announcement was made for connecting passengers only to dis-embark the aircraft. There were only two of us, and we were met at the door by a JAL representative. We were escorted as far as the Transit security area where we were left and once through were free to roam the terminal. I only had about an hour to kill but Haneda is quite compact so I made my way to the First Class lounge and had some bites and coffee before making my way to the gate for my BKK flight.

Haneda - Bangkok. JL031. 777-300. 6hr. Seat 1A. 11:10 departure

Boarding:

I was particularly excited about this flight as although operated by a four class 777-300, JAL does not sell F on this route however allows OneWorld Emeralds to select seats in the F cabin.

I was welcomed onboard and took my seat 1A. First Class seating on JAL is very elegant and classy although quite understated. It certainly lags behind the enclosed 'suites' or 'rooms' offered by some competitors in F and the seat itself felt more like a big old leather armchair my grandfather used to have in his living room. The seat is quite open and in fact offered less privacy than the Apex Business Class seat on the HEL - HND sector. However, the sense of luxury was definitely there.

One of the crew came to introduce herself and she was lovely. I thought her english was particularly good for a Japanese person but it terns out she was actually Thai. The other crew were pleasant but not quite as relaxed as the crew from HEL. Being ex cabin crew myself I get this. When you fly out of base you are usually working with a new team you aren't familiar with. By the time you reach your destination you've bonded a little, socialised and by the return sector more relaxed. There was no welcome or introduction from the Senior Crew member either this sector.

In-flight:
During the flight a main meal was served and on this sector I went for the 'western' option. I was regretting my decision when I saw my neighbours Japanese starters appear. However, as soon as my Wagyu beef main came I knew i'd made the right call. It was hands down the best hot meal i've ever had on an aircraft. I was actually eating it tiny bit by bit it was so good lol.

I had some coffee after and caught up on some work on my laptop.

Not long after take off the captain made an announcement that there were excellent views of Mt Fuji from the right hand side of the aircraft. Great, just my luck, I was on the left. Within seconds, one of the cabin crew appeared and asked if she could take me to an empty seat on the right hand side so I could see Mt Fuji. It's little touches like this - genuine, that cost nothing - that makes me remember my journeys most.

We landed on time at BKK.

Verdict:

I LOVED my flights on JAL. Everything from the seats to the food to the crew were perfect. It goes to show that a lot of the 'COVID adjustments' (read reductions) that many airlines are making to their inflight service are nothing but opportunistic cost cuts.

I would fly JAL again in a heartbeat.

Western meal starters HND - BKK

Western meal Wagyu beef main HND - BKK

Japanese meal starters HEL - HND