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In case you’d requested me even a yr in the past whether or not I most popular ANA or JAL, I’d in all probability have chosen the previous. Whereas inconsistent when it comes to its availability, ANA’s “The Room” enterprise class was simply up to now above and past something JAL supplied.
Two issues modified. First, ANA continued to lag on its rollout of “The Room,” which nonetheless exists solely on a handful of 777-300ER plane. Notably, ANA has no plans to retrofit its big 787 fleet, which incorporates a enterprise class seat designed over 15 years in the past.
Secondly—and most significantly—is the truth that JAL A350 enterprise class is nothing wanting revolutionary. I’ll discover each of those truths in additional element over the approaching paragraphs.
Fly JAL’s A350-1000 Enterprise Class
As you may think, the JAL new enterprise class shouldn’t be on each aircraft. It’s only each A350-1000 plane, nonetheless, so if that’s the one serving your route, you’re assured to have it. As of early 2025, the route serves flights between Tokyo (HND) and New York (JFK), Dallas-Fort Price (DFW) and London (LHR), with Paris (CDG), Los Angeles (LAX) and San Francisco (SFO) the following routes in line.
Do notice that this product shouldn’t be out there on JAL’s A350-900 plane, which solely serve home flights inside Japan. It could ultimately be out there on the airline’s future worldwide A350-900 fleet, although these received’t be coming on-line till 2027 on the earlier. Moreover, remember the fact that whereas unusual, your A350-1000 may very well be swapped out for a 777-300ER.
The place JAL’s A350 Enterprise Class Shines
Seat
Like ANA’s The Room, JAL’s A350-1000 enterprise class is an ultra-wide cocoon with a privateness door and a 4K display screen that’s nearly as large as my TV at residence (albeit, in each circumstances, with a woefully insufficient film and TV present choice). In contrast to The Room, JAL’s A350 enterprise class options particular person storage closets, which is vastly handy for anybody who travels sporting a jacket or coat.
Cabin
I personally love each the colours of the brand new JAL enterprise class (outlined by a good-looking maroon) in addition to the general really feel. The suites are very uniform within the look they given the cabin. Plus, like all long-haul A350 plane, JAL’s lack bins over the middle rows, which ends up in the cabin feeling very open and spacious. Furthermore, JAL’s A350-1000 options digital window dimming à la the 787.
Meals
I’ll be frank: I discovered the principle washoku possibility on my JAL A350-1000 flight to be flavorless and uninspired, which sadly has been my expertise when deciding on the Japanese meal on most JAL flights. Surprisingly, the mid-flight snack (which featured grilled octopus) was restaurant high quality, and really jogged my memory of a meal I had in Portugal’s Algarve area in 2023.
Service
For all of the accolades I give the A350 JAL enterprise class for the “exhausting” product, the gentle product largely strains up. JAL’s flight attendants are all the time skilled and attentive, even when they’re neither what I might name enthusiastic, nor excellent in English for probably the most half. As a private grievance, I’m past sick of the truth that at the very least half of them nonetheless masks in 2025—which, no, was not a factor earlier than covid, besides sometimes.
Sleep
One space the place I have to commend JAL is that they’ve created a cabin very conducive to sleeping. They don’t have any fancy bedding, however the seat itself is extraordinarily comfy. Furthermore, the doorways actually do make a distinction. Whereas I want particular person air nozzles existed (they don’t on JAL, as is the case with most Asian airways), the comparatively humid air aboard the A350-1000 partially compensates.
Will JAL Set up New Enterprise Class on Its 787s?
Though the A350-1000 shall be taking on for the Boeing 777-300ER on a one-to-one foundation, neither of those plane are JAL’s worldwide workhouse. This could be the 787 Dreamliner, largely 787-9s, however some 787-8. At present, these plane largely characteristic the comfy (if dated) Apex Suite, a non-public, lie-flat mattress with direct aisle entry. Some 787-9s characteristic “reverse herringbone” seats; some 787-8s have an angled-flat “shell seat.”
The way forward for JAL enterprise class on these plane is a thriller. Whereas the A350-1000 enterprise class producer (Safran) has seats that might match onboard the 787 (which is narrower than the A350), JAL has not commented a technique or one other. Nonetheless, it stands to motive that the older enterprise class product will ultimately get replaced with one thing extra fashionable.
Different FAQ About JAL’s A350 Enterprise Class
The place does JAL fly the A350?
As of early 2025, JAL flies its A350-1000s to Dallas (DFW), New York (JFK) and London (LHR) from its Tokyo (HND) hub. The A350-900, in the meantime, solely flies home routes akin to Haneda to Fukuoka (FUK) and Sapporo (CTS).
What number of A350s does JAL have?
JAL at present operates 7 A350-1000 plane, although it can ultimately function 13. In different phrases, one to interchange every of the 777-300ER plane it initially flew. JAL may even quickly take supply of 20 internationally-configured A350-900s, along with the 11 home A350-900s it has.
Which route does JAL fly A350?
JAL flies the A350-1000 from Tokyo (HND) to New York (JFK), Dallas (DFW) and London (LHR). Moreover, it flies home A350-900 planes from Haneda to Fukuoka (FUK) and Sapporo (CTS). Future A350-1000 routes will embody Paris (CDG) and San Francisco (SFO) or Los Angeles (LAX).
The Backside Line
JAL A350 enterprise class is an absolute game-changer. Whereas it’s nonetheless comparatively restricted in availability, the A350-1000 will substitute each 777-300ER at present in service by the tip of the last decade. Furthermore, not like ANA’s “The Room” (which was by no means meant for the 787, that provider’s commonest lengthy haul plane), JAL’s new enterprise class might very effectively find yourself by itself Dreamliners, albeit in a modified kind. Want personalised assist planning your subsequent journey to Japan, irrespective of how you find yourself flying there? Contemplate hiring me to create a customized Japan itinerary!
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