MH A330 versus JAL 787 J Recommendation
Jun 10, 2017, 8:11 pm
#31
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: SIN 5 days out of 7
Programs: BD*G, A3*G, BA-S, Accor Gold, IHG Amb
Posts: 5,505
Just did this this morning too without problem > Malaysia Airlines clearly printed at the top, but a JL flight number on the BP (albeit the 'JL' letters were printed on the other half of the paper that got taken at the boarding gate).
I learnt that in effect its a Ą1000 discount one gets which equates to the shower fee, but it is also possible to use a nap room for an hour if one makes up the Ą500 difference in cost (Fee Ą1,500).
I think I should have stuck with the MH operated flight though. The JAL service didnt afford me any real sleep > I skipped dinner and breakfast but the noise whilst they carried it out for others and the various announcments such as duty free shopping disturbed me. They wanted to start breakfast service 2 hours before arrival, and as the flight was 30 minutes early that put breakfast distruptiond from 4:30am JST = 3:30am KL Time!
The inability to select seats when on the codeshare also meant I couldnt avail of a window seat that might have helped a bit as I found the aisle seats quite exposed. For some reason I though there would be a sliding partition but it was all open.I learnt that in effect its a Ą1000 discount one gets which equates to the shower fee, but it is also possible to use a nap room for an hour if one makes up the Ą500 difference in cost (Fee Ą1,500).
I think I should have stuck with the MH operated flight though. The JAL service didnt afford me any real sleep > I skipped dinner and breakfast but the noise whilst they carried it out for others and the various announcments such as duty free shopping disturbed me. They wanted to start breakfast service 2 hours before arrival, and as the flight was 30 minutes early that put breakfast distruptiond from 4:30am JST = 3:30am KL Time!
If they offered a shorter breakfast snack option that would have avoided a 2 hr wake up call that woukd have been useful. As it was I arrived tired and hungry. I did manage to get a cup of tea, served in a paper cup branded Coca-Cola which felt economy-esk.
Last edited by jbfield; Jun 10, 2017 at 8:18 pm
Jun 10, 2017, 9:53 pm
#32
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: HKG
Programs: BA(GGL) QF LTS CX AM, Hilton Diamond, PPL(A)
Posts: 1,654
Just did this this morning too without problem > Malaysia Airlines clearly printed at the top, but a JL flight number on the BP (albeit the 'JL' letters were printed on the other half of the paper that got taken at the boarding gate).
I learnt that in effect its a Ą1000 discount one gets which equates to the shower fee, but it is also possible to use a nap room for an hour if one makes up the Ą500 difference in cost (Fee Ą1,500).
I think I should have stuck with the MH operated flight though. The JAL service didnt afford me any real sleep > I skipped dinner and breakfast but the noise whilst they carried it out for others and the various announcments such as duty free shopping disturbed me. They wanted to start breakfast service 2 hours before arrival, and as the flight was 30 minutes early that put breakfast distruptiond from 4:30am JST = 3:30am KL Time!
The inability to select seats when on the codeshare also meant I couldnt avail of a window seat that might have helped a bit as I found the aisle seats quite exposed. For some reason I though there would be a sliding partition but it was all open.I learnt that in effect its a Ą1000 discount one gets which equates to the shower fee, but it is also possible to use a nap room for an hour if one makes up the Ą500 difference in cost (Fee Ą1,500).
I think I should have stuck with the MH operated flight though. The JAL service didnt afford me any real sleep > I skipped dinner and breakfast but the noise whilst they carried it out for others and the various announcments such as duty free shopping disturbed me. They wanted to start breakfast service 2 hours before arrival, and as the flight was 30 minutes early that put breakfast distruptiond from 4:30am JST = 3:30am KL Time!
If they offered a shorter breakfast snack option that would have avoided a 2 hr wake up call that woukd have been useful. As it was I arrived tired and hungry. I did manage to get a cup of tea, served in a paper cup branded Coca-Cola which felt economy-esk.
Pilot came on the intercom 70mins before landing asking the crew to prepare. And serving breakfast 2 hrs before landing is wrong.
I think that the time management on this flight is wrong. I fly CX CMB-HKG, and there, the crew don't wake you up that early to serve you breakfast, and the pilot certainly only comes on around 40mins before landing...
Jun 10, 2017, 10:01 pm
#33
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: SIN 5 days out of 7
Programs: BD*G, A3*G, BA-S, Accor Gold, IHG Amb
Posts: 5,505
Lol were you on the same flight as me (Sun morning arrival)?
Pilot came on the intercom 70mins before landing asking the crew to prepare. And serving breakfast 2 hrs before landing is wrong.
I think that the time management on this flight is wrong. I fly CX CMB-HKG, and there, the crew don't wake you up that early to serve you breakfast, and the pilot certainly only comes on around 40mins before landing...
Pilot came on the intercom 70mins before landing asking the crew to prepare. And serving breakfast 2 hrs before landing is wrong.
I think that the time management on this flight is wrong. I fly CX CMB-HKG, and there, the crew don't wake you up that early to serve you breakfast, and the pilot certainly only comes on around 40mins before landing...
I'm hoping the day-time flight back will be better.
Dec 5, 2017, 4:10 am
#36
Join Date: May 2016
Location: SIN
Programs: SQ TPPS, QR Gold
Posts: 380
Dec 5, 2017, 6:53 am
#38
Join Date: May 2012
Location: SIN
Programs: JL GC | Marriott LT Silver | Global Entry | SQ Silver
Posts: 6,819
Dec 5, 2017, 8:39 pm
#39
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 2,573
Might be better now if you can somehow get it yourself - but before the migration MH refused to give me the JL PNR - told me they couldn't for data protection reasons?? So I never did manage to do anything with my booking, though I had managed to select some seats through the MH app at one point that did stick.
Unfortunately JAL changed the config of the 787 to their new "Apex III suite" and I ended up at the front of the rear cabin and couldn't change it - which I was a little worried about noise - not that I should have worried as other posters have said - JL has a ridiculous service routine of a dinner and then breakfast at 4.30am mid way through the flight a couple of hours later with various announcements and goings on .
Unfortunately JAL changed the config of the 787 to their new "Apex III suite" and I ended up at the front of the rear cabin and couldn't change it - which I was a little worried about noise - not that I should have worried as other posters have said - JL has a ridiculous service routine of a dinner and then breakfast at 4.30am mid way through the flight a couple of hours later with various announcements and goings on .
Dec 12, 2017, 2:49 am
#40
Join Date: May 2016
Location: SIN
Programs: SQ TPPS, QR Gold
Posts: 380
I guess I have to put aside my OCD and hope for the best at check in!
Jul 31, 2019, 2:53 pm
#41
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PlatMM, BA and Alaska Emerald, HHonors DIA, Accor, Marriott Titanium, IHG Plat Amb, UA Silver, AA
Posts: 4,513
Instead of starting a new thread, I will ask a similar question:
MH A350 vs. JL 787 in J on the overnight flight KUL-NRT?
I think both now have full flat seats on these flights.
I will be flying MH J from India, then continuing in JL on NRT-ORD, so open to either airline.
I lived in Japan for 7 years so do love Japanese food, but also love my satay.... in addition, those strict JL rules in terms of service timings makes me lean towards MH.... (reminds me of how much less sleep you get on a KLM redeye flight vs. Delta!)
TIA for anyone with experience on these flights in the last year or so.
MH A350 vs. JL 787 in J on the overnight flight KUL-NRT?
I think both now have full flat seats on these flights.
I will be flying MH J from India, then continuing in JL on NRT-ORD, so open to either airline.
I lived in Japan for 7 years so do love Japanese food, but also love my satay.... in addition, those strict JL rules in terms of service timings makes me lean towards MH.... (reminds me of how much less sleep you get on a KLM redeye flight vs. Delta!)
TIA for anyone with experience on these flights in the last year or so.
Aug 9, 2019, 2:09 pm
#42
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: SE ASIA
Programs: SQ KF GO, OZ GO, QR PC PLAT, TG ROP SL, LCAH SL, IHG SPIRE, Marriott BONVOY GO, HILTON GO
Posts: 641
Data point - MH A330/A350 HKG @ AUG. 2018 + JL 787 NRT @ FEB. 2019
Instead of starting a new thread, I will ask a similar question:
MH A350 vs. JL 787 in J on the overnight flight KUL-NRT?
I think both now have full flat seats on these flights.
I will be flying MH J from India, then continuing in JL on NRT-ORD, so open to either airline.
I lived in Japan for 7 years so do love Japanese food, but also love my satay.... in addition, those strict JL rules in terms of service timings makes me lean towards MH.... (reminds me of how much less sleep you get on a KLM redeye flight vs. Delta!)
TIA for anyone with experience on these flights in the last year or so.
MH A350 vs. JL 787 in J on the overnight flight KUL-NRT?
I think both now have full flat seats on these flights.
I will be flying MH J from India, then continuing in JL on NRT-ORD, so open to either airline.
I lived in Japan for 7 years so do love Japanese food, but also love my satay.... in addition, those strict JL rules in terms of service timings makes me lean towards MH.... (reminds me of how much less sleep you get on a KLM redeye flight vs. Delta!)
TIA for anyone with experience on these flights in the last year or so.
So here goes - hope you find the info. useful (if you search by my username, I posted about my experience in the JL forum earlier this year + a pic of the seat & narrow food cubby)
1. Flight & dep. time - Similar
10.50pm - 11.30pm / 6.5 hours
Really important how fast you can fall asleep
2. Seat - MH A350
JL's 787 foot cubby narrows & tapers right to the end which makes sleeping uncomfortable, esp. for side sleepers & tall passengers (me)
(I am 6'1" / 1.85m)
OK if you are a back sleeper, I suppose ?
I find MH'S A330 / A350 to be more comfortable - though to be fair, I only flew with them to HKG & not on a red eye flight to NRT
3. F&B - Similar
B/fast on an airplane isn't much to get excited about, but on the inbound, catering exNRT was excellent.
The bento set was exquisite :-:
Best to maximize sleep on the outbound & have something to eat at the lounge instead
If choosing JAL, def. order the bento on the inbound
NRT-KUL
Is there satay service from NRT-KUL on MH? I'm not sure ...
4. Cabin crew - hit & miss
The JL Japanese FA serving my aisle was robotic, and not particularly flexible nor friendly (no warmth detected)
However the Hong Kong FA serving the other aisle was much better - it's a pity that my Mom slept thru' the entire flight while I was awake for most of it ...
Service on the inbound was much better though I don't remember much of it.
MH has their fair share of hit & miss crew as well, & service most likely / may not be as polished / gentle as JAL (excluding the FA I got to NRT)