Just came back from this trip, managed to book the AA transcons JFK-SFO-NRT-CGK and back. A few noticings/wonderings:
1) For the past couple months, from what I can see, JAL's entire schedule has been running late due to the Japan Quarantine regulations that allow transit pax to travel without any testing or visa, BUT airlines are not allowed to leave ANYONE overnight at NRT or HND. So.... if even one of the N. America-NRT flights (JFK, ORD, LAX, DFW, SAN, SEA, SFO, YVR) are late, then the Asian connections are not allowed to leave until the last pax have boarded from those late flights. Example: On SFO-NRT we were delayed 2 hours, which had me sweating.... until we got to NRT and I saw that SAN-NRT was FOUR hours late and so we would be delayed.... almost 4 hours. Return left 90 min late and I missed my AA transcon (had given 1:45 to connect at SFO which is tight but legal-- the next transcon is 9 hours later-- and as someone who lived in Japan for 6 years, I wrongly assumed JAL would be on time like they always used to be!).
2) I found it super hard to find AA transcons on this AA fare. Is it hard to find transcons because AA doesn't offer much R class availability? When booking this, LAX transcons would show up on AA.com and always error out. SFO worked but just for these days and these flights. Ended up doing an overnight in SFO and staying with old friends, then heading to SFO airport for the 13:30 departure which was already delayed. I didn't even think to check because it's JAL, right?
3) I had a $800 travel credit from pandemic times so needed to book via AA.
4) AMEX IAP $300 is only for the regular AMEX Plat? I have AMEX Delta Reserve, Bonvoy, and HHonors but can't see the offer.
5) JAL SFO lounge is ghastly. One super nice benefit to the flight being 2H late was getting to use the beautiful BA Galleries Lounge at SFO for an hour before boarding. If JAL leaves on time, it's not open yet.
6) Paid $300 to upgrade from Biz to First on AA Transcon JFK-SFO. What a great experience the Flagship First Dining is! Fantastic food, service, and atmosphere. And while the flight was mostly full, First was 4/10 so service was lovely. Onboard food was fine but not up to par with the FFD.
7) JAL's CGK lounge is the Garuda Indonesia (flagship carrier at CGK) lounge and... also blah, not worth your time other than for a quick coffee. Highlight was the staff catching a screeching bat (!) in the lounge.
8) Yes Bali is nice but Indonesia has 9,000 (more?) islands. Did a 4-day visit to Komodo Island national park and did a 3-day boat trip around the islands! Absolutely amazing. PM me for details.