Japan Airlines (JAL) today unveiled the details of its new Airbus A350-1000 aircraft and cabin interiors, which will become the airline’s first new flagship for international service after nearly 20 years. With JAL being part of oneworld, you can use your Avios to redeem for business or first class. Having done both, even with the older seats, it is still an amazing experience that I would highly recommend. You can read our review of JAL First class here and business class here.
The airline’s launch of the A350-1000 aircraft was originally planned for late November 2023 on the Tokyo (Haneda) – New York (JFK) route, but is now expected to start before the end of 2023.
The new interiors are designed to reflect the airline home country and to be consistent with their domestic fleet (A350-900 and B787-8 aircraft).
Completely redesigned seats have been installed in all classes. First Class and Business Class offer spacious, yet fully-private environments, and Premium Economy Class provides enhanced privacy and comfort.
JAL’s in-flight meals will also be improving to give more choice and use non-petroleum-derived plastic.
All classes will feature 4K monitors for high-quality viewing with Bluetooth connectivity. Each customer will also be able to create a personalized favourites list through integration with the JAL Mobile App.
In this post:
First Class
The new seating arrangement features just six (6) suites. Seats are designed to provide more comfort and the addition of individual doors and there will be no overhead storage compartments to make the cabin feel more spacious.
- Wall height: Approximately 157cm (62 in.)
- Seat Pitch: Approximately 211cm (83 in.)
- Seat Width: Maximum of approximately 123cm (48 in.)
- Bed Length: Maximum of approximately 203cm (80 in.)
- Individual Monitor Size: 43 in.
To me these look very similar to ANA’s First class suites.
There is a choice of three seating modes: Sofa, Seat & Single Bed, or Double Bed where both parts of the seat are transformed into a bed configuration. This gives you the option of more room, or having a seat and a bed at the same time with the single option. The beds look extremely spacious although my concern would be that it could be hard as the previous iteration was.
There will also be a very interesting feature with headphone-free stereo from built-in headrest speakers, allowing customers to enjoy the inflight entertainment system without using headphones. Let’s hope you can’rt hear it outside the suite if people have the volume up loud!
The headrest also has a reclining function, allowing comfortable viewing of the inflight entertainment even in bed mode. There is plenty of wardrobe and storage space for personal belongings inside the suite since there are no overhead bins. I love this feature where you don’t have to worry about lifting bags up and down from a locker.
Business Class
There will be an increase in seat capacity to 54 from the current configuration but there still appears top be plenty of space with suites with doors. Overhead storage compartments are exclusively positioned on the window side to create an open atmosphere. Now this is something I dislike and I wish airlines would stop doing it. This means if you are in a window seat and have someone annoying (like I observed on my latest BA flight) who gets up every 5 minutes to get something out of the locker, they are leaning over your space, banging the lockers. Personally, I don’t care if you have central lockers; when you are sitting down, you don’t notice the overhead space anyway.
- Wall height: Approximately 132cm (52 in.)
- Seat Pitch: Approximately 130cm (51 in.)
- Seat Width: Maximum of approximately 56cm (22 in.)
- Bed Length: Maximum of approximately 198cm (78 in.)
- Individual Monitor Size: 24 in.
The press release says that there is “ample space at the foot area and comfortable sleeping experience with cushioning structures that evenly distribute body pressure”. It also has the same headrest reclining function, allowing comfortable viewing of the inflight entertainment while lying down. Plus the same headphone-free stereo with built-in headrest speakers, allowing customers to enjoy the inflight entertainment system without using headphones. I’m definitely very keen to see how this works in real life when you have seats n
ext to each other in the middle section. I think I’d still want to use headphones for the noise-cancelling feature.
There is even a wardrobe for storage, which is very rare in business class.
Premium Economy Class
The cabin features large partitions to significantly improve privacy. It is also the first Premium Economy Class in the world to introduce electrically operated reclining functionality.
- Seat Pitch: Approximately 107cm (42 in.)
- Seat Width: Maximum of approximately 48cm (19 in.) *Excludes some seats
- Individual Monitor Size: 16 in.
- Seat Manufacturer: Safran Seats France (FR)
Inflight Meal Service for First Class and Business Class
Vegan and vegetarian menus will be renewed under the supervision of Fumio Yonezawa (the first Japanese sous chef at “Jean-Georges” in New York). For long-haul Business Class, a new service will be introduced that allows customers to design their own preferred way of spending their time onboard (available from spring 2024). This will involve pre-ordering and there is already an option to select not to have a meal at all tp save waste.
Amenities for First Class and Business Class
In Business Class, a rental service for inflight relaxing wear will be introduced. It will use Airy Touch material that is known for being made of 100% cotton and characterized by its thin, lightweight, and soft texture, as well as excellent water absorption and insulation properties. This service will be available exclusively on A350-1000 operated flights. In First Class, relaxing wear made from 100% organic cotton material will continue to be provided.
An amenity kit will be provided, featuring the artwork of contracted artists from the welfare experimental company, Heralbony, with a mission to “Unleash Your Exceptionality”. The amenity kits are designed with the artists’ artwork and the packaging for the contents incorporates the use of paper, furthering our commitment to move away from new petroleum-derived plastics.
(*11) This service will be introduced starting from A350-1000 operated flights, with plans for gradual expansion to Europe, the United States (excluding Hawaii and Guam), Canada, and Australia routes operated by other aircraft types.
As part of the celebration of the A350-1000 inaugural flight, a JAL exclusive “MISOKA” toothbrush, which can be used with just water and is made without petroleum-derived plastic, will be offered for a limited time. In First Class, “MISOKA” toothbrush will be offered as part of the contents of the amenity kit until June 2024. In Business Class, it will be exclusively available on A350-1000 flights until February 2024.
6 comments
Looks very nice!
Total noob question – how do I book JAL with Avios?
I’m guessing First Class with Avios is a hen’s teeth option…
You can book on the BA website. If there is availability, then it will show
Just as you would a BA flight. If it is available it should show up as a partner airline in the options. It is the same for all the oneworld airlines unless you are doing the multi partner booking option which has to be done by phone. That’s one thing BA does well, allowing you to book oneworld airlines themselves. Yes First class is very tricky to get, although I did manage it a few years ago.
I’ve booked JL F several times using Avios. There may be some released a long time before the flight but I’ve noticed they often appear a couple of weeks before, presumably when they think they are not going to sell them. I can be flexible with late booking but I guess most people can’t.
They also have F from FRA and CDG which may help. Aeroplane type might be different if you are looking specifically towards the new A350.
Good to know, thanks.
Bookable via BA site, JAL site or OW?
Any better than others, such as for price (Avios or cash costs) or protection?
Good tips Greenpen!
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