JFK to NRT on JAL: the economy experience?

I'm flying JFK to NRT on JAL flight 5 in a few weeks. Being that this is an unusually long flight for me, I would like to know what to expect. Has anyone flown this or other transcontinental routes on JAL in economy? I would like to know about the in-flight entertainment, food service, and facilities on the JAL 747s in economy.

Thanks!

Welcome to FT....you should ask this question in Japan Airlines forum....hopefully the Moderator will move this thread!

So sorry, are you a drinker?

Sorry about that! I'll query the JAL forum.

So...what's with the drinking Q?

Well, it's a longgg flight and there's not much else to do so why not have a few?


Seriously, the flight seems to take forever but the service by the crew has always been very good on every flight I've taken with JAL. You'll have 2 meal services and there are snacks out during the flight near the galley. There are 10 or 12 video channels that run on a continuous loop showing both Japanese and western movies or TV shows. Be sure and bring a book or two. A couple of good seating options are any exit row if you really like legroom or 67D or G, the last row which I have been told they like to keep empty so that if any pax become ill during the flight, they are near the aft bathrooms. You can only get those seats at check in so arrive early. Check in starts 3 hours prior to departure time. Enjoy your flight!

What's the standard seat pitch in Y on JL these days?

(I haven't flown with them since about 1987 or so.)

30-32. The seats do feel somewhat cramped (similar to flying coach on a NW 747.) The seats do have personal TVs + basic video games. They are one of the few airlines that still has the CCTV showing exterior shots of the plane. Movies are a mix of Western and Asian titles. Not all titles have English Soundtrack and/or Subtitles, but most do.

The service is very good even in Y. Expect a lot more bowing and attention to detail. If you're alert you'll even notice they clean the restrooms during the flight.

Booze is free in Y. It's been almost two years since I've flown international coach on any airline, but back then adult beverages on JL were all top shelf. Scotch is 12 or 15 year, served from the large bottle, and better than the scotch you'd get in International Business on a US airline. Food is okay, nothing to write home about.

They do have a snack box in the sky full of goodies you can grab at any time between meal services.

Seatguru.com finally has JAL configurations. You can use that to find the best seat. If the loads are light the FAs may suggest an open row to stretch out in. However, I don't think has the same load issues as the NRT-ORD flight.

30 to 32? THIRTY? Is 30 the standard or is it just in those "seats with restricted legroom" that SeatGuru mentions?

Hmm, I have no immediate plans to go to Japan, but I may want to go on UA, or else NW via PDX to get the A330.

3 hours?! Is there any good reason to get there that early? I don't have lounge access or anything. How about two hours prior to flight time...or 1.75 hours?

Quick description of JAL long-haul economy on the 747-400:

Seating is tight (like most US carriers). Planes are immaculate. All seats have personal TV screens with several movie choices that run on a loop. Flight attendants are wonderfully attentive, cheerful, and professional. Food good for economy. Alcoholic drinks are free. Personal bottles of water are distributed to all passengers after the meal. A snack cart is set up near one of the galleys so you can "raid" it for food when you get hungry. Meal service consists of main meal shortly after takeoff, mid-flight snack (usually something like noodles or sandwiches), and pre-arrival meal.

If I've missed anything, hopefully someone else will chime in!

Just did the opposite direction (NRT - JFK) in Y last week. Agree that the planes were very clean, and service was very courteous and helpful. I switched seats to the upper cabin, and greatly appreciated the sense of detachment and quiet. IFE was about 10-12 movies on a loop, not enough to entertain you the whole time if that's what you want.

I found the meals to be very bad, even by Y plane food standards. The mid-flight snack -- some kind of sandwich -- was inedible. I didn't drink (still had ambien in the system), but it seemed free-flowing.

There was no amenity kit. Seating felt a little better than on domestic.

Well, I want the best seat I can get. I once checked in with 1.5 hours to spare for SFO-NRT when I first started flying on JAL and I got a middle seat. I'm 6'0 and weighed 240 at the time, I was miserable! Never again will I check in at all that late. The good news is that security is a breeze, not many flights out of terminal 1 at that time of day so you could check in closer to flight time. Every JFK-NRT I've ever been on has been full in Y. YMMV

I got my ticket as an AA award and then used JAL's website to preselect a seat. Am I in danger of losing this seat if I don't get to the airport very early? I know the rule is usually "check in 1 hour prior to departure to retain your seat."

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