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Airline: Japan Airlines
Flight Number: JL793
Route: HNL-NGO
Class: Business Class
Aircraft: Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner
Registration: JA874J
Delivered: July 2018
Flight Duration: 7 Hours 45 Minutes
Distance: 4025 Miles
Overall Impression:
Flying business class on Japan Airlines (JAL) has always been a great experience. Having previously enjoyed their original Sky Suite product, we were excited to try out the Sky Suite III, a reverse herringbone configuration, on their 787-9 Dreamliner for our flight from Honolulu to Nagoya. Here’s a look at what we loved—and what we didn’t—about our recent journey across the Pacific.
What I Liked:
The Lounge Experience: Sakura Lounge/Admirals Club in HNL – Our journey began in the shared Sakura Lounge/Admirals Club at Honolulu International Airport. This is arguably the best lounge in the terminal, and it easily surpasses Hawaiian Airlines’ own lounge. The space is bright and offers plenty of comfortable seating.
The lounge also features a staffed bar, a beverage station, and a modest snack buffet. What really sets it apart, though, is the ability to order hot food items at the counter. We enjoyed a delicious Japanese chicken curry and a bowl of chowder before our flight.
Exceptional In-Flight Dining – JAL’s in-flight catering was a highlight of the flight. The airline offers high-quality, restaurant-level meals. A few minutes after takeoff, the meal service started with the beverage service, which I ordered a glass of champagne served with water and Japanese rice crackers.
The My companion ordered the Japanese washoku meal, which was a delectable masterpiece of seasonal ingredients. The cold appetizer consisted of scrumptious assorted seasonal Japanese delicacies. The main dish was a Yu-An style grilled Chilean Sea Bass with simmered prawn served with steam rice and a piping bowl of miso soup. Yum!
Meanwhile I opted for the international option—which was all served in a single tray along with artisan breads. The Ahi Tuna with french beans starter tasted light and fresh. For my main, I had Kiawe Smoked Beef Tenderloin steak—which was cooked to a perfect medium. There was also the watermelon gazpacho, which was rather interesting as it was sweet and savory at the same time. I really can’t describe the taste, but it was pretty good.
For dessert we were offered an Okinawan Sweet Potato Haupia cake, which I ordered with a cup of Japanese green tea. The cake was not too sweet, and a happy ending to the meal service.
Light snacks were also available to order, and the crew setup a snack basket in the galley. Our only minor complaint was the small and somewhat disappointing pre-arrival meal, which felt a bit underwhelming for an almost eight-hour flight. The only option was (half) chicken katsu sandwich, served with fruits and Greek Yogurt. The sandwich itself was pretty good, but the serving size was tiny and there were no other options.
Service That Goes Above and Beyond – The JAL flight attendants were fantastic from start to finish. Their warmth and genuine eagerness to help made us feel incredibly welcome. Pre-departure beverage service was offered, which the crew served a small glass of guava juice. The flight attendants also distributed Oshibori Hot Towels at the beginning of both meal services. Overall the cabin crew were consistently attentive, checking in on passengers’ needs throughout the entire flight and ensuring everyone was comfortable.
What We Didn’t Like
The Seat – Despite our initial excitement, the Sky Suite III seats were the biggest disappointment of the flight. While reverse herringbone configurations are usually known for their balance of privacy and comfort, these seats felt surprisingly cramped, especially in the shoulder area. When we converted the seat into a bed, the lack of adequate padding made them feel hard and uncomfortable, which made it difficult to fully relax on the long flight. Of course these are all first world problems, and we have been very lucky to fly in comfort.
The In-Flight Entertainment System – While the selection of movies and shows was decent, the entertainment system itself was not easy to use. The small remote control interface made it difficult to navigate, which detracted from the overall entertainment experience. The noise canceling headphones were decent, and blocked most of the cabin noise while I was watching some movies. JAL also offers free in-flight WiFi to business class passengers.
Lack of Individual Air Nozzles – The absence of individual air nozzles was a minor but noticeable issue. While the cabin temperature was generally comfortable, the inability to control our own airflow was a a bit of a let down. Personal air nozzles would have allowed for a more customizable and comfortable environment for passengers.
It’s fine, I guess…
The In-flight Amenities – While not extravagant, the amenities provided in JAL’s business class were functional and contributed to a comfortable journey. The absence of pajamas was a notable omission for a long-haul flight, but this was balanced by the inclusion of thoughtful items like slippers, a cardigan for warmth, and a mini amenity kit and bottled water for the flight. The lavatories were clean and well-stocked with toiletries. The lavatories were also equipped with Toto washlets. Before landing, the purser went and around and gave us a package of gentle steam mask, which was a nice parting gift.
Bottom Line:
On Japan Airlines’ 787-9 Dreamliner, the business class experience is a tale of two halves. The exceptional in-flight catering, warm and attentive service, and a great pre-flight lounge experience stand out as clear strengths. However, these are weighed down by the significant drawbacks of the uncomfortably cramped and hard Sky Suite III seat, a difficult-to-use in-flight entertainment system, and the lack of individual air nozzles. In short, it’s a solid but not spectacular product where the food and service far outshine the seat itself.
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