Jun 26, 2018, 12:52 pm
Last edit by: Tokyoite
Corona related JAL announcements page link.
https://www.jal.co.jp/jp/en/info/2020/other/200228/
Just to kick start a wiki, with answers to frequent questions.A: Yes. written here (link) A. Definitely, within the lounge access rules of course. written here (link)
https://www.jal.co.jp/jp/en/info/2020/other/200228/
Just to kick start a wiki, with answers to frequent questions.
1. We're flying HND-NGO-HNL. NGO-HNL is booked in business class, but HND-NGO is in economy. Will we still get the baggage allowance as if we're flying business class the whole way?
2. We're flying HND-NGO-HNL. Will we have lounge access in HND?
[JAL NEWBIE LOUNGE] Ask Your Questions Here (flame free)
Aug 26, 2019, 2:34 pm
#3151
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Seattle, WA
Programs: Alaska Airlines
Posts: 659
Aug 26, 2019, 3:20 pm
#3152
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Pacific Wonderland
Programs: ʙᴏɴᴠo̱ʏ Au, IHG Au, HH Dia, Nexus, Pilot FlyingJ Preferred
Posts: 5,336
Not on international flights. Looks like Gogo TV is only on Gogo equipped aircraft, which would be domestic flights.
Aug 26, 2019, 3:52 pm
#3153
Ambassador: Japan Airlines
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: LAX
Programs: JAL Mileage Bank, JMB Diamond, oneworld Emerald, Bonvoy Platinum
Posts: 16,398
Aug 29, 2019, 12:54 am
#3154
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Seattle
Programs: AS MVP100K, Hilton Diamond, IHG Gold
Posts: 3,215
Wow I tried ANA F with some lifemiles I had, and it’s not even close to JAL. JAL is 1000x better than ANA. I’m not quite sure how they even compete for business in premium cabins. The lounge, the food, and the seat was hands down better than ANA. Never will cheat on JAL again.
Aug 29, 2019, 9:42 am
#3155
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: New York City
Programs: JGC
Posts: 445
I reached Sapphire around August 15th (JMB website reflected). I haven't received my JMB Sapphire card yet. Next week I have a BA flight in premium economy, and I'd like to be able to use business class checkin / lounge access & priority boarding. Am I likely to receive my new JMB card in time for the flight? If not, will I be able to use OWS benefits somehow (maybe my BP will reflect that?)
FWIW I'm able to select seats for free on BA.com, so BA seems to know I am a Sapphire.
FWIW I'm able to select seats for free on BA.com, so BA seems to know I am a Sapphire.
Last edited by mhy; Aug 29, 2019 at 10:06 am
Aug 29, 2019, 3:52 pm
#3156
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Tokyo
Programs: JAL Metal Card (OWE), SAS Eurobonus Gold (*G), Marriott Titanium (LTP), Tokyu Hotels Platinum
Posts: 21,178
I reached Sapphire around August 15th (JMB website reflected). I haven't received my JMB Sapphire card yet. Next week I have a BA flight in premium economy, and I'd like to be able to use business class checkin / lounge access & priority boarding. Am I likely to receive my new JMB card in time for the flight? If not, will I be able to use OWS benefits somehow (maybe my BP will reflect that?)
FWIW I'm able to select seats for free on BA.com, so BA seems to know I am a Sapphire.
FWIW I'm able to select seats for free on BA.com, so BA seems to know I am a Sapphire.
As you can select seats for free, the news has reached BA.
Aug 30, 2019, 9:47 am
#3157
Join Date: Nov 2018
Programs: OW-E; AA-EP
Posts: 24
Flying NRT-LAX-NRT on a 77W in Premium economy with my wife and toddler.
Are the bulk head seat 17 D,E,F best seat or would it be better to get few rows back?
Is the lavatory in front of row 17 for the J class or PY?
Are the bulk head seat 17 D,E,F best seat or would it be better to get few rows back?
Is the lavatory in front of row 17 for the J class or PY?
Aug 30, 2019, 10:08 am
#3158
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Pacific Wonderland
Programs: ʙᴏɴᴠo̱ʏ Au, IHG Au, HH Dia, Nexus, Pilot FlyingJ Preferred
Posts: 5,336
I'm not sure there's an advantage to the bulkhead row other than more legroom and able to get out without disturbing your neighbor. As a family group, that's probably not much of an issue. Tray and tv come out of the armrest, so you can't have the tv on during takeoff or landing. You also don't have the same seat back storage pockets. I like the other rows, particularly the back row as those seats feel more private to me.
Aug 30, 2019, 6:56 pm
#3159
Join Date: Nov 2018
Programs: OW-E; AA-EP
Posts: 24
Thanks so much for the immediate response! 
Does the bulkhead seat get bothersome in terms of being near the Lav? Such as noise or light shining thru?
Hows the tray? firm and sturdy?
Like the very last row of PY?
Does the bulkhead seat get bothersome in terms of being near the Lav? Such as noise or light shining thru?
Hows the tray? firm and sturdy?
Like the very last row of PY?
Aug 31, 2019, 9:39 am
#3160
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Seattle, WA
Programs: Alaska, Bonvoy, Hyatt
Posts: 601
Couldnt quite believe my search results -- disappointed that JAL 67 SEA-NRT doesnt have PE! I'd almost have routed fam back with me NRT-LAX-SEA to get them better seats. It seems contrary to what I read: https://onemileatatime.com/japan-airlines-seattle/
ExpertFlyer and the seat map seem to confirm, no PE. Is that wrong?
ExpertFlyer and the seat map seem to confirm, no PE. Is that wrong?
Aug 31, 2019, 10:03 am
#3161
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Pacific Wonderland
Programs: ʙᴏɴᴠo̱ʏ Au, IHG Au, HH Dia, Nexus, Pilot FlyingJ Preferred
Posts: 5,336
Light shouldn't be an issue. As soon as the CAs get up after takeoff, they move curtains across the aisle way which have somewhat of a gusset to keep them closed and block light by the lavs passageway. The door openings themselves are on the opposite wall away from the PY bulkhead. Not sure how much noise or vibration can be observed.
My favorite spot!
Aug 31, 2019, 10:20 am
#3162
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Pacific Wonderland
Programs: ʙᴏɴᴠo̱ʏ Au, IHG Au, HH Dia, Nexus, Pilot FlyingJ Preferred
Posts: 5,336
Couldnt quite believe my search results -- disappointed that JAL 67 SEA-NRT doesnt have PE! I'd almost have routed fam back with me NRT-LAX-SEA to get them better seats. It seems contrary to what I read: https://onemileatatime.com/japan-airlines-seattle/
ExpertFlyer and the seat map seem to confirm, no PE. Is that wrong?
ExpertFlyer and the seat map seem to confirm, no PE. Is that wrong?
JAL to start NRT to SEA
Aug 31, 2019, 10:35 am
#3163
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Seattle
Programs: Alaska
Posts: 46
Question for those who know more about JAL's domestic flights: Is there a reason that the ITM-NRT route is impossible to book (with money, anyway) many months in advance? (June 22, 2020 to be specific.) Are they cancelling this route in 2020 or something? Or do they just not make domestic tickets available for purchase that far in advance?
Background: My husband and I want to take a belated honeymoon in Japan. I will book my own ticket with money, and I'll use my miles for him. Right now I'm looking at a roundtrip (paid) business class ticket that is available on Google Flights that includes ITM-NRT-SEA as the return trip, all on JAL. So apparently the ITM-NRT leg is totally bookable when it's part of an international trip. But that same leg is impossible to book on its own. It's also impossible to book ITM-NRT-SEA with my Alaska miles. So I had been thinking of just getting the NRT-SEA flight for my husband using my Alaska miles, and buying the ITM-NRT as a separate ticket. But no dice -- just can't book that domestic leg any which way. So I'm curious about whether this means the route is genuinely being dropped (doubtful, since it's still available as part of international bookings), or if it will eventually be bookable at a later date? I know that some other airlines in Asia don't make tickets available until just a few months in advance. Is that the case with JAL?
Background: My husband and I want to take a belated honeymoon in Japan. I will book my own ticket with money, and I'll use my miles for him. Right now I'm looking at a roundtrip (paid) business class ticket that is available on Google Flights that includes ITM-NRT-SEA as the return trip, all on JAL. So apparently the ITM-NRT leg is totally bookable when it's part of an international trip. But that same leg is impossible to book on its own. It's also impossible to book ITM-NRT-SEA with my Alaska miles. So I had been thinking of just getting the NRT-SEA flight for my husband using my Alaska miles, and buying the ITM-NRT as a separate ticket. But no dice -- just can't book that domestic leg any which way. So I'm curious about whether this means the route is genuinely being dropped (doubtful, since it's still available as part of international bookings), or if it will eventually be bookable at a later date? I know that some other airlines in Asia don't make tickets available until just a few months in advance. Is that the case with JAL?
Aug 31, 2019, 10:47 am
#3164
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Pacific Wonderland
Programs: ʙᴏɴᴠo̱ʏ Au, IHG Au, HH Dia, Nexus, Pilot FlyingJ Preferred
Posts: 5,336
Question for those who know more about JAL's domestic flights: Is there a reason that the ITM-NRT route is impossible to book (with money, anyway) many months in advance? (June 22, 2020 to be specific.) Are they cancelling this route in 2020 or something? Or do they just not make domestic tickets available for purchase that far in advance?
https://www.jal.co.jp/en/dom/reservation/ticket/
Very very unlikely, to the point of shocking, that JAL would be cancelling NRT-ITM. I would not worry about that.
ETA: partner award booking is blocked from domestic flights until two months out as well. For more on that or follow up questions on AS partner awards, see https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/alas...es-thread.html in the AS forum.
Aug 31, 2019, 11:00 am
#3165
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Seattle
Programs: Alaska
Posts: 46
JAL domestic flights are generally not bookable until two months prior. There are exceptions for certain types of fares & tickets such as booking as part of an international itinerary. This will change Sept 10 when JAL switches to a 330 day calendar.
https://www.jal.co.jp/en/dom/reservation/ticket/
Very very unlikely, to the point of shocking, that JAL would be cancelling NRT-ITM. I would not worry about that.
ETA: partner award booking is blocked from domestic flights until two months out as well. For more on that or follow up questions on AS partner awards, see https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/alas...es-thread.html in the AS forum.
https://www.jal.co.jp/en/dom/reservation/ticket/
Very very unlikely, to the point of shocking, that JAL would be cancelling NRT-ITM. I would not worry about that.
ETA: partner award booking is blocked from domestic flights until two months out as well. For more on that or follow up questions on AS partner awards, see https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/alas...es-thread.html in the AS forum.