CalNaughtonJr

Thanks, JALPak. Makes sense. We've not enrolled in family club, but sounds like something worth doing now that I think about it.

AlphonsoMango

I'm thinking of booking JFK-HND in economy and it'll be on the 777-300ER. Does row 56 have no recline? It's the two seats in front of the lavatory. I'm looking for May 2020 and the front section of economy is already full so I don't think we can risk booking the two aisle seats in the middle in hopes that no one will want the middle seat. TIA!

JALPak

AlphonsoMango

Wow, thanks! I was looking on seatguru and it said limited recline, didn't know JAL clarifies on their site.

CPH-Flyer

No seatguru says "may have limited decline", which is seatguru speak for "we have no information, but in order to pretend we are a useful resource we will write something, and hope no one notices how often we are wrong."

konstantinovs

Hi, does anyone know how far in advance JAL tends to open up their domestic flights (both cash and reward)? I'm wanting to fly CTS - NRT in February but there don't seem to be any JAL flights at all for sale past November. Thanks in advance!

rustykettel

Generally domestic flights have opened 2 months before, except for Saikitoku fares which are opened twice yearly. The next release for Saikitoku should be any day now ("late August") for 10/29/19-3/29/29.

https://www.jal.co.jp/en/dom/reservation/ticket/

Note that this changes 9/10 and JAL will go to a 330 day domestic reservation schedule.

https://www.jal.co.jp/en/info/dom/330-change/

Mizunara

kentauta

A couple of questions for LAX users:

1. Does the AA Flagship lounge practically welcome JL passengers? I hold AA Plat Pro (OWS), and am flying J on JL61 (so no access to the QF F lounge), so on paper I am eligible, but I am wondering passengers like me will be subject to denial for capacity control and sent back to the OW lounge. Just learned that T4 and TBIT are connected on the air side and am wondering if it's worth trying it.

2. Do the JL check in counters open exactly 3 hours before flight as stated on the website or they actually open earlier by any chance? As with many San Diego residents flying out of LAX, I have the dilemma of arriving too early or too late due to the unpredictable traffic on the way to LAX.

Thanks.

Tokyoite

No issue at all. It is my go to lounge these days when going through LAX on JAL flights.

Fortunately (or unfortunately), they open the check in counters on time. You could try checking through your bags in San Diego.

JALPak

You are always subject to capacity control no matter which lounge you use, even the one designated by your carrier. You can try use the AA flagship lounge but the oneworld lounge is just as nice if not nicer.

3 hours

CPH-Flyer

​​​​​1. You can use the lounge, I have done so with a JL ticket. But I would imagine if they do need to restrict due to capacity considerations you would be first in line to be turned away. Any way, I can't imagine that the Flagship Lounge is that much better than the OW J lounge, it is not that special.

2. I have had varying experiences at check in, opening sharp 3 hours before, opening 3.5 hours before, opening (i guess) 3 hours before but someone was around that checked me in anyway. So I guess the answer is, it depends on the day.

kentauta

Thanks for the quick replies, Tokyoite, JALPak, and CPH-Flyer

I will try leave for LAX as early as I feel comfortable for not missing the flight, and if I have enough time, will stop by the Flagship lounge to see if I like it.

It would be nice if they could open a drop-off only counter way earlier than 3 hours (either in TBIT or in T4 using AA resource), but I guess that has practical challenges.

It is nice to fly from SAN but J price difference is often so large that I fly from LAX.

flyingeph12

I highly doubt you would be turned away from the FL based on capacity restrictions. I use the FL often, even on domestic AA flights, based on my OWE status and have never been turned away due to capacity issues (it does get crowded in the mornings before all the flights to Asia). I would imagine that OWE on a domestic AA flight is lower on the totem pole than someone flying J on a JBV partner.

I actually quite like the FL and have been preferring it to even the QF F lounge recently. I wouldn't go so far as to say the FL is better overall than QF F, but I like the tarmac views, the food/alcohol selection is decent, and the showers are better/newer (I find the fluctuating temperature in the QF F showers to be quite frustrating). Also, the quiet room in the back (by FFD) is a good place for a nap. TBH, I've never visited the Oneworld lounge, but I can't imagine that the Oneworld lounge is better than QF F.

kentauta

Thanks. That makes me feel better. Even in the worst case I get denied, I simply head back to TBIT and relax in the OW lounge.