Each of Japan’s main airways are unbelievable and industry-leading, so evaluating JAL vs ANA is essentially pedantic. Relatively than one being good and the opposite dangerous, it’s about figuring out and appreciating the totally different and complementary ways in which every service excels—and excel they do.
To make sure, I’m undecided if I’ll be capable to say definitively, and goal, which is the finest Japanese airline inside the confines of this put up. However I’ll give you particular info by which you may make your personal comparisons and draw your personal conclusions.
No matter whether or not you select ANA or JAL, and no matter the category of service you select, you’re in for the flight of your life. It’s time for take-off now, nonetheless, so buckle your belt and face ahead!
Why Ought to You Fly a Japanese Airline to Japan?
Exterior of the ANA vs JAL debate (which I’ll get to in only a second—persistence!), there’s merely no comparability between Japan’s airways and non-Japanese airways that fly to Japan. From the hospitality on the bottom and within the air, to the meals on the lounge and on-board and even the seemingly inconspicuous design particulars of the livery, cabin and crew uniforms, your journey to Japan begins the second you board a Japanese airline.
That can assist you select whether or not JAL or ANA is correct to your journey, I’ll be evaluating the onboard product for each airways in enterprise and financial system lessons, and likewise explaining some common contrasts between JAL and ANA top quality and premium financial system. After mentioning some key variations between ANA’s and JAL’s fleets (and the truth that domestically, each present a near-identical expertise) I’ll clarify methods to fly ANA and JAL at a reduction and eventually, examine and distinction Tokyo’s Haneda and Narita Airports.
JAL
Evaluating ANA vs JAL in Enterprise Class
Seat
Up till very not too long ago, evaluating enterprise class seats for Japan Airways vs ANA was fairly simple, with most worldwide ANA plane that includes lie-flat beds in a 1-2-1 configuration, and most JAL passengers having fun with the favored APEX Suite seat. These are in a 2-2-2 or 2-3-2 configuration, for the 787 and 777 respectively, however are nonetheless remarkably non-public. (NOTE: As long as you get a window seat! On a latest JAL enterprise class flight from JFK-NRT, I mentioned on the aisle—and I felt like the entire aircraft may see me!) Nevertheless, ANA’s not too long ago rolled-out “The Room” has modified the sport.
Food and drinks
As I discussed in my Japan Airways assessment, I do give JAL the slight edge in the case of enterprise class eating—which different airline provides colourful, edible flowers to its salad of lush greens and tender roast beef? Alternatively, ANA’s meals is nothing to sneeze at (particularly its Japanese choices); each airways provide enterprise class passengers a full bar, together with Japanese spirits like a wide range of sakes, whiskies and even plum-flavored umeshu.
Service
Service and hospitality are risk essentially the most futile technique of evaluating ANA vs Japan Airways—they’re each unbelievable! Within the enterprise class cabins of each Japan’s main airways, you’ll take pleasure in attentive and customized service, with pleasant flight attendants serving your each want with a smile. On a private be aware, ANA’s crew did as soon as write me a candy birthday card on a flight from Houston to Tokyo, despite the fact that my birthday wasn’t for a number of days, and that stands out over something JAL did for me. With the ability to communicate Japanese will improve your expertise, though cabin crew for each airways attempt their finest with English.
Lounges
Deciding between Japan Airways or ANA enterprise class isn’t simply concerning the expertise within the air. The on-the-ground expertise, particularly on the airways’ hubs at Tokyo’s airports, is simply as vital. Along with providing fabulous lounges at each Haneda and Narita (Sakura Lounge and ANA Lounge, respectively), each carriers provide expedited safety screening at Narita, although not at Haneda. Contained in the lounges, I’d say JAL’s Sakura lounge is each extra fashionable and affords higher meals, although I’m sentimental about ANA’s satellite tv for pc lounge at Narita, because it’s one of many first worldwide enterprise class lounges I ever visited. At Haneda, in the meantime, I give the ANA Lounge (and, if you happen to can entry it, the first-class ANA Suite Lounge) the sting.
ANA
Firm ANA vs JAL in Financial system
Seat
ANA and JAL are each these finest Japanese airways in their very own methods, however JAL’s “Sky Wider” seat wins out in the case of the financial system class expertise, palms down. That is particularly the case if you happen to can fly on JAL’s internationally-configured 787-8 and 787-9 plane, that are among the many solely Dreamliners on the planet to characteristic the roomy 2-4-2 financial system class seating association Boeing had in thoughts when it designed the aircraft.
Meals
Usually talking, financial system class passengers on each airways can select between Japanese and Western dishes, in addition to specialty meals (diabetic, vegetarian and Halal, as a number of examples), plus free beer and wine and restricted spirits as nicely. It’s troublesome for me to decide on a winner between All Nippon Airways vs JAL on this class—the meals in each financial system cabins is best than common, although unspectacular on the entire.
Service
Whether or not you select ANA or Japan Airways, and no matter your reserving class, you’re going to take pleasure in pleasant service and nice hospitality. Whether or not flying ANA from Tokyo to Los Angeles or JAL from Bangkok to Osaka, it by no means ceases to amaze me how heat and pleasant Japanese cabin crew are, even when every is chargeable for dozens of financial system class passengers. Plus, I’ve by no means needed to wait greater than a minute for any name to be answered!
JAL vs. ANA in Different Courses of Service
For my part, the perfect Japan Airways class of service (or the one on ANA, for that issues) is enterprise class. I don’t eat caviar, and the opposite enhancements of first vs. enterprise—barely bigger seat, considerably higher meals, extra attentive service—don’t justify the massive improve in price. Nevertheless, ANA’s new premium cabins I discussed above characteristic a firstclass that’s so lovely I’d simply should droop this attitude for 10-12 hours.
Relating to JAL vs ANA premium financial system, I really feel like there’s even much less of a distinctions. Seat-wise, each of those cabins are similar to what you’d discover in top quality on home flights within the US (or Japan, for that matter); the meals is best than what you get in financial system however not as impeccable as what enterprise class passengers take pleasure in.
Fleets of JAL and ANA
One other solution to examine JAL vs ANA is when it comes to their fleets. For this, nonetheless, I’m going to be trying on the worldwide fleets, since Japanese home plane…nicely, I’ll discuss extra about these in a second. By way of lengthy haul plane, JAL and ANA each function all-Boeing fleets for now, though JAL took supply of internationally-configured A350-1000 plane in late 2023; ANA is awaiting the 777-9, which looks as if it could by no means truly fly. Selecting the perfect Japanese airline primarily based on this metric, to besure, can also be one thing of a idiot’s errand.
In recent times, Boeing 787-8 and 787-9 plane have change into the spine of each airways’ worldwide fleets, whereas 777-300ER planes (with top quality cabins) serve high-yielding locations like London, New York, Chicago and Los Angeles. Each airways function a sure variety of Dreamliners inside Asia (with ANA having taken supply of some 787-10 for flights to Bangkok and Singapore); although 777-200ER and 767-300ER plane additionally serve sure locations. As of 2024, ANA operates a small fleet of A380s for flights to Hawaii.
ANA vs. JAL for Japan Home Flights
Talking of home flights in Japan, that is one other space the place I discover ANA and JAL to be just about equal. Japanese home plane characteristic extraordinarily tight configurations and minimal service as a result of brief stage lengths, however easy hospitality and charm dominate the onboard atmosphere no much less. Costs are additionally comparatively normal between airways, in order that doesn’t are usually an element.
Personally, the best way I between between JAL vs. ANA when flying domestically in Japan is availability. As an example, solely ANA flies to Tottori. Likewise, JAL’s varied regional subsidiaries (JTA or Japan Transocean Air in Okinawa; JAC or Japan Air Commuter in different areas) imply that it’s usually the one option to smaller Japanese markets.
Greatest Offers on ANA and JAL Flights
Whether or not you’ve been extra enticed by my JAL assessment or find yourself selecting ANA, one factor you’ll discover is that Japanese airways aren’t low-cost. There are methods round this, nonetheless, together with:
- Reserving flights through Tokyo to Southeast Asia
- Utilizing miles for ANA and JAL, particularly in first and enterprise class
- Subscribing to e mail updates to obtain information of offers
- Willingness to fly from a number of North American and European origins
Different FAQ About JAL vs. ANA
Which is best JAL or ANA?
The Japan Airways vs ANA debate is essentially subjective, however I discover that ANA affords a extra persistently glorious product and extra beautiful on-line service. With this being mentioned, JAL is a materially higher airline than nearly any world service outdoors Japan. Moreover, JAL’s A350-1000 is a superior worldwide plane to both ANA’s 777s or its Dreamliners.
What’s the distinction between JAL and ANA?
Along with the variations between JAL vs ANA enterprise class I highlighted earlier, I might say ANA tends to be extra revolutionary with its seats and delicacies, whereas JAL take a extra conventional, time-tested method. Alternatively, ANA’s resolution to refresh its longhaul fleet utilizing the doomed 777-9 would possibly show a foul selection within the medium time period.
Why is JAL so costly?
No matter whether or not you contemplate it to be the perfect Japanese airline or not, JAL is certainly not low-cost. As to why it’s costly, that is primarily as a result of JAL is a premium airline, particularly lengthy haul. Its enormous 777-300ER plane are configured in a means that they solely maintain a few hundred passengers, for instance, which naturally signifies that every must pay extra.
The Backside Line
Which is the perfect airline in Japan? Sadly, selecting ANA or JAL isn’t all the time simple. Each of Japan’s main world carriers characteristic scrumptious meals, comfy and classy cabins, excellent service and an fulfilling floor expertise as nicely. Each are additionally uniformly costly, although some methods round their excessive costs do exist. On the finish of the day, you need to purpose to fly each ANA and JAL if you happen to can, and remember what I mentioned initially: Your journey to Japan begins the second you step on-board both of those distinctive carriers. Be sure to contemplate hiring me to plan your journey to Japan—what occurs at 35,000 is just the start of the journey.