HKG-SFO, CX vs. JL
 

Hello, I recently booked an award ticket with AA miles for CX872 (HKG-SFO) in F. Now it seems that there are available F seats in JL002, so I could switch to HKG-HND-SFO (CX542+JL002). I was wondering which one is a better product overall? Should I switch to JL? Thanks a lot!

Both CX and JL F are top notch, but in this particular case, I would definitely stick with CX. JL 2 (as well as the returning JL 1) is a late-night departure with diminished catering (a light meal after take off, presumably giving passengers more time to sleep, and then a breakfast before landing), whereas on the LAX, ORD and JFK flights ex-NRT, JL serve a full meal after take off with a Wagyu Beef choice of entree for F pax. You may compare the SFO and LAX menus to see the difference:
JL 2: http://www.jal.co.jp/inflight/inter/...506_201508.pdf
JL 62: http://www.jal.co.jp/inflight/inter/...506_201508.pdf

I only had caviar after take off when I flew CX872 recently, having had a proper meal in The Wing, but got to enjoy the full meal service before landing (breakfast at 9 pm local time seemed weird to me). This would not be an option on JL 2.

Thank you so much for sharing your experience, moler! :-)

You haven't told us the key determinant, which is whether you're trying to get from A to B in the quickest time possible in F, or whether you are trying to extract maximum value from an F experience. If time is not an issue, I frankly think that the JL F experience is a notch above, particularly for food presentation and quality. You can also check out the small but exceptionally retro-cool HND F lounge.

Thanks so much for replying! Time is not an issue for me. I've never flown CX or JL in F so either one would be a new experience for me. I was just wondering which one is more worth trying :)

im also for the JL + CX option. given that its CX isnt as good as they used to be, the light meals in JL are also very good (without the pretentious factor too)

btw, take the morning CX ex HND flight - this one is catered ex HND, the pm flight caters ex HKG

OP is flying the other direction.

JL F is not full service F on HNDSFO there's not a full meal service as there is on other JL F flights. There's a big thread about it on the JL page (I would link if I wasn't in my phone) that you should read for experiences. For that reason alone I would say to go with CX.

The seats on both are quite nice (though JL center seats are better for talking) but the pajamas on CX are better. I've flown both this year and I rank JL slightly higher with the exception of the flight in question (though I did SFOHND in J and it was fine but my primary goal was sleeping, not maximizing the experience).

If it was an NRTUSA flight on JL that would be a different story but for HNDSFO it's not worth the extra stop and time.

then all is taken equal. at least OP can try the ex HKG kaiseki meal. which you cant try with the SFO direct. i personally am all for the 1 stop.

Thanks for the reply guys! How's the food spread in HND lounge? If I could get a full stomach in the lounge I wouldn't mind a late night snack on the flight.

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I think theres a sushi bar. Pretty impressive tgere tbh

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Sorry- sushi at nrt
http://press.jal.co.jp/en/release/201408/003060.html
Wide selection of decent lounge champers n sake

I suggest the OP to sample the Japanese meal on JL ex-HND. The ex-HKG Kaiseki meal is much worse.