JAL JFK-HND business class 1:30AM flight
Mar 29, 2024, 12:46 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2020
Posts: 75
JAL JFK-HND business class 1:30AM flight
Hi all,
Looks like there is a business class flight JFN-HND which takes off at 1:30AM and lands around 4:30AM in Tokyo. This flight is like 60k points so seem to be great redemption value. However, I'm not sure how do I work around 4:30AM landing?
Would you recommend 1:30PM AA Premium economy flight which is around 50 000 miles, or a 1:30AM JAL Business class flight which is around 60 000 miles? I'm interested in overall comfort which includes comfort on the flight itself as well as comfort around jetlag as one flight lands 4:30AM and another one 4:30PM.
Thanks!
Looks like there is a business class flight JFN-HND which takes off at 1:30AM and lands around 4:30AM in Tokyo. This flight is like 60k points so seem to be great redemption value. However, I'm not sure how do I work around 4:30AM landing?
Would you recommend 1:30PM AA Premium economy flight which is around 50 000 miles, or a 1:30AM JAL Business class flight which is around 60 000 miles? I'm interested in overall comfort which includes comfort on the flight itself as well as comfort around jetlag as one flight lands 4:30AM and another one 4:30PM.
Thanks!
Mar 29, 2024, 1:02 pm
#3
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: KHOU/KIAH
Programs: AA EXP | Marriott LT Plat | Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 11,551
J > PE especially for almost the same miles.
I like morning landings. Force yourself to stay up all day and crash. You're instantly adjusted.
I like morning landings. Force yourself to stay up all day and crash. You're instantly adjusted.
Mar 29, 2024, 1:04 pm
#4
Join Date: Oct 2021
Location: PHL/LAX
Programs: American Airlines Executive Platinum, AmEx Membership Rewards
Posts: 934
JAL all the way. Spending 14 hours on a plane and changing all those time zones is going to turn you around regardless of whether you land at 4:30pm or 4:30am, so might as well spend 10k more to (massively) upgrade your experience and enable at least some sleep on that flight.
Mar 29, 2024, 1:04 pm
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2020
Posts: 75
I understand what you are saying. 
However, perhaps JAL Business class is so much better than AA Premium Economy that I will land well rested and will be able to make it through the day just fine. If that flight landed later than 8AM I wouldn't be asking this question as it would be a no brainer, but 4:30AM is a different story.
But they have that flight for some reason, right? Or is this aimed at Japanese salarymen who land 4:30AM and go straight to the office?
However, perhaps JAL Business class is so much better than AA Premium Economy that I will land well rested and will be able to make it through the day just fine. If that flight landed later than 8AM I wouldn't be asking this question as it would be a no brainer, but 4:30AM is a different story.But they have that flight for some reason, right? Or is this aimed at Japanese salarymen who land 4:30AM and go straight to the office?
Mar 29, 2024, 1:06 pm
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2020
Posts: 75
I can usually adjust instantly if I land around noon and make it till 11pm. When I land 8AM it makes adjustment a bit more complicated. With 4:30AM landing I'm not sure I'll be able to make it through the day.
Mar 29, 2024, 1:07 pm
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2020
Posts: 75
JAL all the way. Spending 14 hours on a plane and changing all those time zones is going to turn you around regardless of whether you land at 4:30pm or 4:30am, so might as well spend 10k more to (massively) upgrade your experience and enable at least some sleep on that flight.
Mar 29, 2024, 1:09 pm
#8
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Wesley Chapel, FL
Programs: American Airlines
Posts: 30,526
I understand what you are saying. However, perhaps JAL Business class is so much better than AA Premium Economy that I will land well rested and will be able to make it through the day just fine. If that flight landed later than 8AM I wouldn't be asking this question as it would be a no brainer, but 4:30AM is a different story.
But they have that flight for some reason, right? Or is this aimed at Japanese salarymen who land 4:30AM and go straight to the office?
However, perhaps JAL Business class is so much better than AA Premium Economy that I will land well rested and will be able to make it through the day just fine. If that flight landed later than 8AM I wouldn't be asking this question as it would be a no brainer, but 4:30AM is a different story.But they have that flight for some reason, right? Or is this aimed at Japanese salarymen who land 4:30AM and go straight to the office?
Mar 29, 2024, 1:13 pm
#10
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: PHL
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 738
A lie-flat seat vs. a recliner. That’s what is so massive about the upgrade. The ability to lie flat and sleep for as much of the 14 hours as you can, as opposed to reclining 6” - 8”.
Mar 29, 2024, 1:14 pm
#11
Join Date: Oct 2021
Location: PHL/LAX
Programs: American Airlines Executive Platinum, AmEx Membership Rewards
Posts: 934
JAL business/first is objectively one of the best redemptions on AAdvantage. Book it and don't think twice.
Mar 29, 2024, 2:58 pm
#13
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: LAX / PHL
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 966
You could be in Tokyo by ~7am with any luck. Booking an extra day at the hotel or a day rate in front of your normal stay to take a quick nap and then try to get onto the local timezone. It's not a morning city anyways.
Mar 29, 2024, 4:50 pm
#14
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: NYC, SLC, LAX
Programs: AA EXP, UA Plat
Posts: 3,955
The long flight + huge time zone change is disorienting enough that I don't think 4:30AM landing is such a big deal.
You could be in Tokyo by ~7am with any luck. Booking an extra day at the hotel or a day rate in front of your normal stay to take a quick nap and then try to get onto the local timezone. It's not a morning city anyways.
You could be in Tokyo by ~7am with any luck. Booking an extra day at the hotel or a day rate in front of your normal stay to take a quick nap and then try to get onto the local timezone. It's not a morning city anyways.
Mar 29, 2024, 10:14 pm
#15
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: SIN
Programs: AA-LT Plat; BA-CCR & LT Gold; SQ-Solitaire; DL-Plat; SPG-LT Plat; HHonors-Diamond; Hyatt-Globalist
Posts: 156
For me, the key is to eat before boarding and then get on and stay awake for the first 2-3 hours. Then I sleep right up to landing. Close to 10 hours of sleep allows me to schlep my way through the entire day before an early’ish night.
FWIW, I would choose a lie flat product over an upright one every single time for a flight time of approx. 14 hours.