most of the times they won't upgrade you from PE to J

for ANA and JAL, PE gives you lounge access in NRT (but not when flying from stateside/Chicago to Japan)
https://www.jal.co.jp/jp/en/inter/airport/premium_y/ - JAL only NRT
https://www.ana.co.jp/en/us/the-ana-...emium-economy/ - ana offers slightly more access when flying from NRT/HND/Kansai/Honolulu)




the japanese airlines service is definitely better than UA - how far away are you on the UA million miler (which only works for UA-operated flights)