I recently returned from Japan, and what better way to fly there and back than Japan Airlines business class? So, what did I think of Japan Airlines business class? Keep reading to find out…

 

Quick Rundown

U.S. to Japan

Route flown: ORD to HND

Miles used: 75,000 Cathay Pacific Asia Miles (they have since devalued their program and this route will now cost 89,000 Asia Miles)

Miles transferred: I transferred points from American Express and Capital One to Cathay Pacific

Taxes/surcharges: $348/person

Aircraft flown: Japan Airlines 787-9 Dreamliner (2-2-2 business class configuration; every seat has aisle access)

Japan to U.S.

Route flown: HND to ORD

Miles used: 60,000 American Airlines miles

Miles transferred: None! I earned these via the welcome offer on the Barclays American Airlines Business Card

Taxes/surcharges: $48.65/person

Aircraft flown: Japan Airlines 787-9 Dreamliner (2-2-2 business class configuration; every seat has aisle access)

 

Pre-Departure

I took a positioning flight and stayed at the Hyatt Regency O’Hare the night before my flight (I actually ended up flying out a day early due to bad weather predicted in the Houston area). I redeemed 6,500 Hyatt points/night. In total, my stay cost 13,000 Hyatt points + $0. The Regency O’Hare also has a free shuttle to and from the airport.

I met up with my two stepdaughters in Chicago, and we were off to Japan! Because we were flying Japan Airlines business class, we had access to the American Airlines Flagship Lounge at ORD (Japan Airlines and American Airlines are both members of the Oneworld alliance). Our flight was scheduled to depart at 10:20 AM, so we arrived at the airport bright and early to enjoy breakfast in the lounge.

 

The Cabin

The business class cabin on the Japan Airlines 787-9 Dreamliner is arranged in a 2-2-2 configuration. All seats have direct aisle access, which was a very nice touch.

 

 

All seats in business class also recline into a lie-flat bed. There were headphones, slippers, a pillow, a blanket, and an amenity kit waiting at our seats. The amenity kit contained a toothbrush and toothpaste, tissues, a sleep mask, ear plugs, a phone holder, and a phone charger (I loved this addition)!

 

We were three of five total passengers in business class, so we practically had the entire cabin to ourselves! While not the most updated of the business class cabins I’ve flown, I found the seats comfortable. The flight was a daytime flight, but I managed to nap for a couple of hours prior to our arrival in Tokyo.

 

The Food

You will not go hungry on a Japan Airlines flight, that’s for sure! Most airlines allow you to pre-order your meals 3-7 days before your flight (if you’re a premium cabin passenger). A few days before our flight, I pre-ordered the Japanese meal for all three of us.

Don’t worry, if you aren’t able to place an order you’ll still have options. Pre-ordering just guarantees that they set aside that specific meal for you/don’t run out.

We all really enjoyed the traditional Japanese meal. It included things like lobster, shrimp, egg, veggies, fish, rice, miso soup, and more! I told you you wouldn’t go hungry.

 

 

 

They also have an “International meal” option for those who don’t like Japanese food. The International meal featured options like beef filet or flounder.

There’s also an a la carte menu you can order from any time during the flight. It includes things like sandwiches, salads, ramen, ice cream, fruit, and more. The best part? Order directly from the remote control for your in-flight entertainment, and the flight attendants will deliver it to your seat.

 

 

 

The Service

The service onboard was excellent. Flight attendants regularly checked in to ask if there was anything we needed. The ability to order food via the remote was also great for not having to flag a flight attendant down, and the food/drinks were always promptly served.

My stepdaughters are both pescatarian, and the flight attendants could easily accommodate their preferences.

There was also a basket of self-serve items in the galley which was a nice touch. It included things like chocolate, cookies, crackers, and even gentle steam eye masks (I took one, and it was amazing)!

 

 

Bottom Line

I would not hesitate to fly Japan Airlines business class again. The seat wasn’t the nicest I’ve experienced, but they’ve thought of everything from ordering via remote control to the self-serve basket to the wonderful service. If you can snag an award seat for 60,000 American Airlines miles in business class (like I did for the return flight from Tokyo), it’s a no-brainer!