Originally Posted by
number_6
JL is quite poor in J compared to CX. Closer to AA than to CX for J service. NRT lounges are primitive (hint: the AC at NRT is generally considered to be superior to the JL J lounge). Nothing like the Wing/Pier is offered by JL. Overall JL is an average to poor airline, but has a couple of specific premium routes that have stellar service. If you happen to fly one of those routes (maybe 1% of JL services), then it can be really good (particularly in F), but otherwise it is dismal. JL brings new routes and cities to the table, but not an improvement in service over CX.
I've flown on the new JL shell flat seats many times, and find them roughly equivalent to the CX NBC seats in terms of comfort, although they feel a bit narrower. The JL J section can occupy 2/3 of the plane. A couple of weeks ago I was in a JL 747 NRT-JFK where, except for the nose area for J, and the very last section (between the second bulkhead and the rear of the plane) it was all J. There must have been 30 rows of J in the main deck.
Service is a toss-up, with perhaps a slight edge to CX. Foodwise, I
much prefer JL's offerings, not even a question in my mind. CX's food in J can be easily disappointing. CX is a winner in the lounges.
As for comparing JL to AA, that's not meaningful. AA is an unmitigated piece of crap compared to JL, and of course, to CX.
In F, except for the AVOD, where CX wins hands down, I'd rather fly JL than CX, actually. I find the food and the service in JL to be better overall than CX. Especially the food.
CX has definitely better AVOD, with a much better selection.