Japan Airlines A350-1000 Business Class Review (Tokyo - New York)
Airline: Japan Airlines, JL
Aircraft: Airbus A350-1000
Aircraft Registration: JA09WJ
Route: Tokyo Haneda - New York John F. Kennedy
Flight Numbers: JL4
Seat: 15A
Written based on Dan’s YouTube review by Ela, a part of the Nonstop Dan team.
No airline confuses me more than Japan Airlines. It is one of the most celebrated and loved carriers in the world, and while I agree with some of the praise, I've never had a flight with them that blew me away across roughly a dozen business class trips. The service, while well-intentioned, has always felt a bit messy to me, and a lot of the catering just isn't competitive. Their seats also range from excellent to among the worst in the industry.
Japan Airlines A350-1000 aircraft
When I critique an airline, I try not to just focus on its best product. I ask what the experience looks like for the average passenger once you combine every seat they offer, every meal, everything. So this trip was an attempt to see if I could improve my opinion of Japan Airlines by flying their newest aircraft, the Airbus A350-1000, on a long journey in business class from Bangkok to New York, connecting through Tokyo.
Would the Japan Airlines lounges hold up against the competition in the region? What about the A350-1000 business class seat? Would the airline's much-hyped chef collaboration menu actually deliver? Let's get into it.
Ground Experience: Japan Airlines Lounges and Boarding in Tokyo
The day starts with a 6-hour flight from Bangkok up to Tokyo on a Japan Airlines 787-9, and I won't spend much time on it since it isn't the focus of this review. What I will say is that there's a reason people avoid this particular aircraft as soon as they see the 1-2-1 configuration on the seat map. It looks like a normal reverse herringbone seat, but it's one of the most barebones and poorly functioning versions of that seat out there, and it's really cramped.
Given what Japan Airlines charges and the competition in the region, that's worth knowing before you book it. The good news is these 787-9s are being reconfigured with the same seat found on the A350, which should be a big upgrade.
With about an hour to connect in Tokyo, we head straight for the Japan Airlines lounges ahead of our 13-hour flight to New York.
Japan Airlines Sakura Lounge sky view signage
I'd recently visited Korean Air's updated business class lounges in Seoul and was pretty blown away by the food and the extras, everything from a ramen library to photo booths to an arcade. Japan Airlines is widely regarded as the superior airline to Korean Air, so I figured something equally impressive was waiting.
I start at the Sakura Sky View Lounge, mostly because anything with "sky" and "view" in the name sounds promising.
Japan Airlines Sakura Lounge sky view signage
The view doesn't disappoint, and neither does the lack of crowds, so there's plenty of seating to choose from.
Japan Airlines Sakura Lounge sky view
Japan Airlines Sakura Lounge dining area
The food selection is another story. Don't expect an extravaganza.
Japan Airlines Sakura Lounge sky view buffet
Japan Airlines Sakura Lounge sky view buffet
Japan Airlines Sakura Lounge sky view buffet
Japan Airlines Sakura Lounge sky view buffet
Japan Airlines Sakura Lounge sky view buffet
Japan Airlines Sakura Lounge sky view buffet
Japan Airlines Sakura Lounge sky view beverages
Japan Airlines Sakura Lounge sky view bathroom
I head down to the main lounge for comparison, and it's basically the same food, just twice as crowded. If you like people-watching, you'll enjoy it. If not, it's a lot. One World Emerald members can access the first class lounges instead if they'd rather, for what it's worth.
Japan Airlines Main Lounge signage
Japan Airlines Main Lounge dining
With just a one-hour connection, we head to the gate for our A350-1000, only to find boarding has been delayed.
Tokyo Haneda Airport boarding screen
Tokyo Haneda Airport boarding
Japan Airlines A350-1000 boarding
Japan Airlines A350-1000 Business Class Suite features
Japan Airlines' A350-1000 flies in a four-class, premium-heavy configuration with 54 business class seats spread across two cabins.
Japan Airlines A350-1000 seat map
The center seats are consistent row to row, so if you want to sit with a partner it doesn't matter which row you pick, though there are no honeymoon-style seats, which makes traveling with young children more difficult if you want to stay close to them. The window seats are similarly consistent in terms of privacy, no matter how close you are to the window or the aisle. Even economy on this aircraft is unusually spacious.
Japan Airlines A350-1000 seat map
Boarding starts at 7:29PM, and my first impression walking down the aisle is that the cabin almost feels military in style, though a very comfortable version of that. From what I understand, that finish reads as luxurious to Japanese travelers.
Japan Airlines business class cabin
What struck me most was how substantial the seats felt, they must weigh a lot. Walking all the way back to my seat, 15A, at the rear of the cabin, the spaciousness is obvious, helped by the fact there are no overhead lockers down the center, which opens things up considerably.
Japan Airlines business class seat
This seat is the Safran Unity, and having recently flown the same seat on Riyadh Air, I can say Japan Airlines' version is noticeably more spacious in every way, roughly six additional inches of pitch compared to Riyadh Air's configuration.
After about five minutes in the seat, Oskar and I both agreed it feels closer to a first class product than most business class seats, and honestly it's in the same league as Starlux's A350 first class, which they charge close to $10,000 for.
I've started to prefer window seats closer to the aisle rather than right against the window, because you can store luggage on the floor there during the flight, something you can't do in the even-numbered rows since that space doubles as your exit path.
Japan Airlines business class seat pocket
Japan Airlines business class seat entry way
. The tradeoff is that the even-numbered rows offer even more separation from the aisle for a cozier, more private feel.
Japan Airlines business class seat cabin
Beyond the space, most of the details on this seat are really well thought out. There's a closet for hanging clothes with shoe storage below it, a mostly hidden compartment that's great for a passport or phone, and a remote that feels almost unnecessary given the large HD touchscreen.
Japan Airlines business class seat closet
Storage-wise, there's a compartment located above head height, the first time I've seen a bin like that on an aircraft outside the standard overhead bins, which shows just how tall these seat walls are. In fact, this is the only seat I'm aware of with walls as high as Qsuite.
Japan Airlines business class seat
Japan Airlines business class seat headrest
Japan Airlines business class water bottle storage
The seat controls sit off to the side where you won't bump them with your elbow, there's an armrest you can raise or lower, a large foot cubby, and an additional storage area below that big enough for a full carry-on.
Japan Airlines business class seat armrest
Japan Airlines business class seat controls
Japan Airlines business class seat control
Japan Airlines business class seat footwell
Charging options are strong: wireless charging, USB-C, USB-A, and an AC power outlet are all available.
Japan Airlines business class power outlet
The entertainment system on Japanese carriers has historically been rough if you don't speak Japanese, but it felt noticeably improved on this A350.
Japan Airlines business class entertainment screen
Japan Airlines business class entertainment screen
You can use the provided headphones, connect your own Bluetooth headphones, or use the built-in headrest speakers. I tried the headrest speakers to watch the news and honestly didn't get much out of them, they mostly just pick up the ambient flight noise rather than clear audio.
Japan Airlines business class entertainment screen
There's also free, relatively fast onboard Wi-Fi.
Japan Airlines business class entertainment screen
One nice touch pre-departure was a steam eye mask, that I found quite relaxing.
Japan Airlines business class steam eye mask
As it approaches 11:00pm, I convert the seat into what looks like an incredibly comfortable, soft, and spacious bed, with the plan to put it to full use for at least 7 to 8 hours of sleep across the 13-hour flight.
Japan Airlines business class bedding
Japan Airlines business class bed
Japan Airlines business class pillow and blanket
I wake up to find the bed had lived up to its promise. Even without individual air vents, I slept extremely well thanks to the seat and Japan Airlines' bedding. It was some of the best airplane sleep I've ever had, top five all-time, helped along by the privacy of the seat.
Japan Airlines business class bedding
Japan Airlines business class pillow
Japan Airlines a350-1000 inflight meal
Drink service starts pre-departure with a choice of orange juice, poured into a plastic cup.
Japan Airlines business class pre departure orange drink
Japan Airlines business class scented hot towel
Broadly, Japan Airlines' catering investment is noticeable in the champagne, somewhat noticeable in the wine list, and then thins out from there. For a 13-hour premium flight, the bar selection felt a bit weak, a handful of mocktails, non-alcoholic wine and beer, and the airline's signature Sky Time drink.
Japan Airlines business class inflight menu
Japan Airlines business class inflight menu
Japan Airlines business class inflight menu
Hot and cold green tea are both good, and yes, there's onboard matcha too.
Japan Airlines business class inflight menu
On the food side, Japan Airlines offers a Western menu and a Japanese menu, and neither fully lands.
Japan Airlines business class inflight menu
Even the airline's biggest fans admit the Western catering isn't great, while the Japanese menu isn't especially accommodating if you have any dietary restrictions or preferences.
Japan Airlines business class inflight menu
My own Western meal illustrated the gap: only two main course options, no choice of appetizer, and no choice of dessert, on what's supposed to be one of the world's best airlines. The airline also promotes a chef collaboration menu heavily, though I'd never actually heard anyone else talk about it before this flight, so I went in curious to see if it would deliver.
Japan Airlines business class inflight menu
The amuse-bouche came with two options, and I went with a non-alcoholic Chardonnay, served in a plastic cup rather than a wine glass, which felt a little unusual, though it tasted quite good.
Japan Airlines business class amuse bouche and chardonnay
The dish itself was a ratatouille-style preparation alongside peach pickles, which had a strange flavor to me.
Japan Airlines business class amuse bouche
About twenty minutes later, the appetizer arrived, roughly an hour and twenty minutes after takeoff: a sweet corn mousse that was really good, served with soft bread, salt, pepper, and a small capsule of extra virgin olive oil.
Japan Airlines business class appetizer
Japan Airlines business class fruit desserts
Thirty minutes after that came the dish I was most excited about, fried tofu and mock chicken curry, alongside sticky berry rice. It tasted homemade rather than like typical airplane food.
Japan Airlines business class curry rice
About an hour and ten minutes after the meal service began, dessert arrived: a lime tart with Rooibos tea. The dessert ended up being the tastiest part of the meal, though that's not saying much since it's dessert.
Japan Airlines business class lime tart
Japan Airlines business class rooibos tea
They also have snacks available onboard, which you can grab if you get hungry between meals.
Japan Airlines business class snacks
Japan Airlines business class snacks
Japan Airlines business class snacks
It's worth noting Japan Airlines is one of the few airlines I've flown recently without chamomile or peppermint tea on offer, though green tea covers that gap later in the flight.
Japan Airlines business class roasted garlic pasta
Breakfast, unfortunately, was small and disappointing for an airline that makes such a big deal of its chef partnership. I started with a hot green tea.
Japan Airlines business class hot green tea
I asked if I could get the pasta from the snack menu instead, even though it was technically no longer available at that point, and the crew brought it anyway, along with a packaged wet towel and packaged cutlery. It smelled like roasted garlic and was noticeably larger than the actual breakfast portion, which says a lot.
Japan Airlines business class roasted garlic pasta
Japan Airlines Business Class Service
The crew were lovely throughout, on both the Bangkok to Tokyo leg and the main flight to New York, and couldn't have been friendlier in person. But just like on Korean Air, the service training seemed to be missing some of the finer details you'd expect on a top premium airline like Emirates.
My biggest issue was that the crew weren't great about clearing items from the seat, my hot towel sat next to me through the entire meal service, going from hot to freezing cold without ever being picked up. The service flow was also a little odd, with the crew bringing the next course and expecting me to move existing items aside myself rather than clearing first, all served off a cart, the same kind of awkward sequencing I noticed on Korean Air.
Drink refills weren't proactively offered either, and interactions overall were kept fairly minimal. Some of that likely comes down to cultural and language differences, since I don't speak Japanese, but I had the same experience on the shorter Bangkok to Tokyo leg as well.
Japan Airlines Business Class Amenity Kit
The amenity kit is worth calling out. Inside is a phone stand and a USB-A to Lightning cable that, once you remove the Lightning adapter, also works as a USB-C cable, a small but really thoughtful touch I haven't seen from many other airlines like Riyadh Air.
Japan Airlines business class amenity kit
Japan Airlines business class amenity kit
Japan Airlines A350-1000 Business Class Lavatory
With three lavatories serving the business cabin, working out to about one for every 18 passengers, these are among the best airplane lavatories I've come across. The color scheme is gray throughout, but don't let that fool you.
Japan Airlines business class lavatory sink and amenities
There's a foot pedal for the trash can, and the toilets are Japanese-style with a built-in bidet, something I still can't understand why more Middle Eastern airlines like Emirates haven't widely adopted.
Japan Airlines business class lavatory bidet control
Japan Airlines business class Japanese style toilet
There are also toothbrushes, mouthwash and a few other toiletries.
Japan Airlines business class lavatory amenities
Is Japan Airlines A350-1000 Business Class Worth It?
Japan Airlines aircraft view
The Safran Unity seat on this A350-1000 is, without question, the best off-the-shelf business class product I've flown, and Japan Airlines' generous pitch makes it even better than the same seat configured on Riyadh Air. That said, I don't think it's the single best business class seat in the sky. ANA's still holds that spot for me, though I haven't flown it since early 2020 and it's about time for a refresher. What has me excited is that this same seat may be coming to two airlines I personally prefer to Japan Airlines, Singapore Airlines is rumored to be bringing a new business class to the A350, and Emirates may introduce it on the 777X. If that happens, flying is about to get a lot sweeter.
Where Japan Airlines still comes up short for me is everything around that seat. The catering is inconsistent, strong on champagne and matcha, weak on the broader bar list and on meal choice, and the much-promoted chef collaboration menu didn't leave much of an impression on a Western menu with only two mains and no choice of appetizer or dessert. The crew were warm and friendly the entire trip, but the service execution had real gaps, uncleared items, no proactive refills, and an oddly sequenced course service, issues that echoed what I noticed flying Korean Air.
So where does that leave me? I got to experience the best Japan Airlines has to offer on this trip, and the seat truly is among the best out there. But I still can't say I fully understand the hype around this airline after roughly a dozen business class flights with them. Every globally celebrated airline, Cathay Pacific, Emirates, Qatar, Singapore Airlines, has passengers who don't connect with it the same way everyone else seems to, and I think that's fine. Japan Airlines isn't a bad airline, it's actually a very good one in a lot of ways. I just think it's worth offering a little pushback on the airlines that get this much universal praise, because it adds some nuance to the conversation. Japan Airlines has an excellent seat on the A350, but there are still things to work on, same as every airline.
