Had a fabulous time flying JL F on NRT-ORD
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 3,749
Had a fabulous time flying JL F on NRT-ORD
Food was phenomenal. Cabin wasn't too hot (managed to sleep 6 hours). Crew spoke good English and were very attentive. Had a fabulous time.
I'll post the full TR in the Reports forum once I process my photos, but if there's one criticism of the JL flight that I can make it's that the bathroom seemed decidedly average (however the fresh towels there were a nice touch).
My first time flying JL F; I've only flown CX F (777), BA F (A380/777), and QR F (A380) for comparison, but my JL F flight was far superior to those three.
Pic of my petit dessert tray.
I'll post the full TR in the Reports forum once I process my photos, but if there's one criticism of the JL flight that I can make it's that the bathroom seemed decidedly average (however the fresh towels there were a nice touch).
My first time flying JL F; I've only flown CX F (777), BA F (A380/777), and QR F (A380) for comparison, but my JL F flight was far superior to those three.
Pic of my petit dessert tray.
#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Austin, Texas
Programs: Airline nobody. Sad!
Posts: 26,062
You'll enjoy it, catering ex-NRT is generally better with both ANA and JL (more noticeable with ANA due to some small extras catered such as macaroons), but neither really shortchanges much from most outstations when it comes to F. Try the Royal Blue Tea as well, if you like tea you'll thank me later .
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 3,749
Wish I had known of your suggestion to drink the Royal Blue tea earlier BOSMan. Argh!
If the amenity kit for men come with the additional Shinseido kit, then what is the female amenity kit's analogue of the Shinseido? Is it also a Shinseido kit but with female product contents?
If the amenity kit for men come with the additional Shinseido kit, then what is the female amenity kit's analogue of the Shinseido? Is it also a Shinseido kit but with female product contents?
#9
You'll enjoy it, catering ex-NRT is generally better with both ANA and JL (more noticeable with ANA due to some small extras catered such as macaroons), but neither really shortchanges much from most outstations when it comes to F. Try the Royal Blue Tea as well, if you like tea you'll thank me later .
#10
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Austin, Texas
Programs: Airline nobody. Sad!
Posts: 26,062
I didn't, at least not in that part of my post you selected .
Price only maintains the slightest correlation with quality when it comes to wine and champagne (and alcohol in general). Quantity limitations have a similarly low correlation with quality. A more expensive, quantity limited alcohol can be better than a cheaper and higher production one, but I would hardly call it a strong correlation. I personally prefer Pol Roger Sir Winston Churchill to Krug, and in many places they retail for a similar price. That said, Salon is noticeably better than Krug in my opinion, and I was drinking Krug on CX F 3-4 days after I had Salon on JL so my comparison is pretty direct. Also, saying Krug, a USD 120+ bottle of champagne is anything resembling a commodity...
Price only maintains the slightest correlation with quality when it comes to wine and champagne (and alcohol in general). Quantity limitations have a similarly low correlation with quality. A more expensive, quantity limited alcohol can be better than a cheaper and higher production one, but I would hardly call it a strong correlation. I personally prefer Pol Roger Sir Winston Churchill to Krug, and in many places they retail for a similar price. That said, Salon is noticeably better than Krug in my opinion, and I was drinking Krug on CX F 3-4 days after I had Salon on JL so my comparison is pretty direct. Also, saying Krug, a USD 120+ bottle of champagne is anything resembling a commodity...
#11
Join Date: May 2001
Location: exUA1K, UA MM, lifetime UA1P, AA MM, HH Diamond, Marriott Gold
Posts: 3,731
I've done ORD-NRT-ORD in F in JL, NH, and even on UA (lowest rating).
I dislike the UA lounges that ANA uses at ORD. The AA lounges that JL use are OK.
I like the JL lounge at NRT a bit more than ANA's lounges.
I like the check in at NRT a lot on ANA (private F check in room and security line)
I like the food a bit more on NH.
I like the attention/service a bit more on ANA.
I totally dislike the thick knit PJ's on ANA. JL PJ's are good.
BUT... JL is a very very close second to ANA in my opinion.
(BTW, I like the CX F PJ's best)
I dislike the UA lounges that ANA uses at ORD. The AA lounges that JL use are OK.
I like the JL lounge at NRT a bit more than ANA's lounges.
I like the check in at NRT a lot on ANA (private F check in room and security line)
I like the food a bit more on NH.
I like the attention/service a bit more on ANA.
I totally dislike the thick knit PJ's on ANA. JL PJ's are good.
BUT... JL is a very very close second to ANA in my opinion.
(BTW, I like the CX F PJ's best)
#12
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Tokyo, Japan (or Vienna whenever possible)
Posts: 6,382
3 JL F sectors lately with the most recent two days ago. NH F maybe 5 months ago. I am a long time fan of ANA but cannot help but admit that the JL hard product is significantly superior to NH. The seat, the space, the movement within the space, the window access, the bed configuration, all of it.
The food on JL however is a bit chintzy. The portions are small and are not plated well to highlight the contents. It is an aspect that NH gets very right. I would say that it is a toss up on quality but a nudge to NH on presentation.
As an acquaintance of the wine director on NH I am loathe to admit, but nevertheless must, that JL's wine list beats NH but a not insignificant margin.
English language skills are good on both but as a fluent Japanese speaker I find that takes the already wonderful and classy service on both carriers to a higher level. There is a perceptible relaxation and ease in the faces pf all staff I encounter from check-in to onboard.
I have lived her long enough to have known (pre-restructuring) as a colder more conservative airline and ANA as a partner of the foreigners and more western friendly. That is so very much a thing of the past I am quite pleased to say that JL and NH are both so comparable it is as if one has no nee to make a choice other than when using miles or flying a specific route. Either is No. 1 or No. 2 in my book. And No. 3 is somewhere in the distance.
The food on JL however is a bit chintzy. The portions are small and are not plated well to highlight the contents. It is an aspect that NH gets very right. I would say that it is a toss up on quality but a nudge to NH on presentation.
As an acquaintance of the wine director on NH I am loathe to admit, but nevertheless must, that JL's wine list beats NH but a not insignificant margin.
English language skills are good on both but as a fluent Japanese speaker I find that takes the already wonderful and classy service on both carriers to a higher level. There is a perceptible relaxation and ease in the faces pf all staff I encounter from check-in to onboard.
I have lived her long enough to have known (pre-restructuring) as a colder more conservative airline and ANA as a partner of the foreigners and more western friendly. That is so very much a thing of the past I am quite pleased to say that JL and NH are both so comparable it is as if one has no nee to make a choice other than when using miles or flying a specific route. Either is No. 1 or No. 2 in my book. And No. 3 is somewhere in the distance.
#13
If you look at JAL's financial performance this year, it has done significantly better than ANA, which is not surprisingly really and ANA has been struggling to cut cost, at the detriment of many aspects of their products and services.
#14
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Tokyo, Japan
Programs: JAL Global Club & oneworld Sapphire, ANA SFC & Star Alliance Gold
Posts: 3,763
Re JL vs NH F seats: I can't imagine who at NH thought it would be a good idea to cover up almost all the windows with a wall. Epic fail IMO.
Re JL FAs: Guava's comments are very interesting. While I have always found JL FAs to be fantastic, the FA in J on my most recent LAX-NRT flight was especially so. What made her different from most was that she spoke amazing English and even could communicate with a casual American style (with just the right English phraseology, like an actual American) when appropriate. I usually speak Japanese with the FAs, but this woman's English communication style was so perfect that I just used English on the flight.
While we all agree that Japanese service is outstanding, I think we also recognize that the really good American FAs have their own casual, friendly style that puts customers at ease. Well, this FA on my JAL flight could do both: the polished, formal Japanese style and the casual, friendly American style.
Re JL FAs: Guava's comments are very interesting. While I have always found JL FAs to be fantastic, the FA in J on my most recent LAX-NRT flight was especially so. What made her different from most was that she spoke amazing English and even could communicate with a casual American style (with just the right English phraseology, like an actual American) when appropriate. I usually speak Japanese with the FAs, but this woman's English communication style was so perfect that I just used English on the flight.
While we all agree that Japanese service is outstanding, I think we also recognize that the really good American FAs have their own casual, friendly style that puts customers at ease. Well, this FA on my JAL flight could do both: the polished, formal Japanese style and the casual, friendly American style.
#15
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: LAX/SNA
Programs: United MP, SQ Krisflyer, SPG, HHonors, SkyPesos
Posts: 60
It is technically Shiseido as well but a higher end brand of Shiseido for women: Cl de Peau Beaut