How to fly business on Japan Airlines, Japan's other airline: review of the 787 from Doha to Tokyo

The beauty of alliances is that they allow the passenger to buy a ticket and arrive at their destination even while flying with three different airlines.

Specifications

Aircraft:

787/9

Class:

Business

Treat:

DOH - HND

Price:

40,000 avios + €90

Book

For us accumulators of points and miles, however, the advantage is related to points.

You can earn money with one company and then use it to book with another, as in my case: I earned Avios with British Airways, moved them to Qatar Airways, and booked a ticket with Japan Airlines.

Reservation

When I saw Qatar First Class popping up on Milan., I immediately tried to construct a ticket that would allow me to fly there, maximizing - as always - the expense.

And so I was able to construct a ticket to fly to Japan via Doha. Here I arrived, flying first class, on Qatar's 777 And I left on a Japan Airlines 787. A ticket that cost me 40,000 Avios: the same price I would have paid flying with QR? No, 10,000 Avios less.

Japan Airlines does not fly to Italy

Of the two main Japanese companies, only ANA flies to Italy (as of very recently). JAL has been absent for more than 10 years.

In Europe it flies to Paris, London, Frankfurt, Helsinki, and currently there are no rumors Of a possible landing in Italian skies. From London, he flies daily on his flagship A350/1000, outfitted with the spectacular new cabins from First to Economy: a truly outstanding product.

At the airport

I spent my 9 hours in transit in the best possible place: Al Safwa First Class lounge in Doha., or the waiting room for First Class passengers. No entry here with oneworld's Emerald status., but only with Privilege Club Platinum.

Or with a First Class ticket. Even if you arrive in F and depart in a lower class, you will have access to this lounge.

In practice, Of the former world's best airport I only saw the square with the giant yellow bear, because I was obliged to cross it to get to the lounge.

The lounge

This is, in my opinion, the best first class lounge in the world. Of course, it is not comparable to that of La Première, but at these latitudes we play in a different league. The lounge itself is bigger than the Genoa airport. I ate in the restaurant, worked in the business center, got a 30-minute massage. E, If I had wanted to, I could also have rested in one of the rooms or in the jacuzzi inside the spa.

At the gate

An airport that does not guarantee you Of arriving and departing from finger, in my opinion, cannot be rewarded as the best airport in the world. In Doha, unfortunately, arriving and/or departing from an open stand is the practice, even though incredibly there are dozens of gates available.

The strange thing is that there was not even a distinction between business and non-business passengers, but only by zones. Which, on the other hand, the other times I flew from Doha, was always respected. But then some ultra VIPs were allowed to arrive comfortably below board.

For me, anyway, having a chance to dick around under these little birds is always a plus, but not so for the ordinary passenger, forced out of the cold air conditioning of the bus into the heat - sometimes unbearable - of the desert, then climbing an endless ladder with trolleys, children and other "dead weight."

On board

Japan Airlines has different layouts for its 787s. Honestly, I was hoping to fly with the Apex Suite (the same seat that Oman Air and Gulf Air use). Instead, we got a 787 equipped with the Sky Suites III, a customization of a very popular chair: the Safran Aries.

The outfitting of this 787 is very premium, as it accommodates as many as 52 Business Class passengers in 1-2-1 configuration, 32 in Premium Economy (2-3-2), and only 116 economy class seats.

If you travel in the middle rows there is no real divider, but a small partition, so no privacy from neighbor's gazes.

This configuration is very unique, especially when the chair is in bed mode, right in the D and G seats

In fact, passengers occupying the middle rows sleep on two different levels in order to have maximum space. Those who have seats in row C are almost on the floor-say, they sleep like on a Japanese futon-while those who sit in row D are much higher than everyone else. An ingenious, but really unromantic solution. I would not choose row D, where you have your face 10 cm from the feet of other passengers, even under torture. Rather I go to economy, near the toilets.

Bathroom that were immaculate throughout the flight, I don't even have to specify it, but of course there was a bidet function included in the bathroom.

The chair

As mentioned, it is a very customized configuration. I have never found anything like it around the world.

Apparently everything is "already seen": the fishbone orientation, the small table coming out of the cantilevered seat structure (like Magnifica Alitalia), but there is very little space to store items and one window is practically occluded by the structure of the chair.

There is no door or shoulder to protect from the hallway. Only the slightly staggered rows give a little extra privacy.

The button panel to operate the seat is convenient to reach in any position, and most importantly, you do not accidentally press it.

The coffee table is not large, but it is rigid and allows it to stand up even when open-which is not a given.

Here, too, an original solution was found: the top rotates, effectively increasing the available surface area.

The little storage available is right in the console, a small door-protected locker perfect for keeping one's belongings safe, but unfortunately this configuration as mentioned occludes the view to the outside, to all window-side passengers and forces everyone to travel unprotected to the aisle.

Not being able to comfortably look out to admire the scenery is a major flaw for me; I choose the window for that very reason.

Functional, neat, but nothing WOW or comparable to what the Apex Suite offers, let alone the new cabins on the A350.

Service

On the seat each passenger finds cusino, slippers, cardigan and a face mask.

No pajamas, but a garment to be used for more relaxed travel.

In this case, however, one cannot take home the garment as is the case with PJs offered by other companies.

Soon after, the clutch bag was distributed. Colorful and nice, but again not to be remembered.

In compensation, the content is a mix of usual items and other useful ideas.

Such as the cell phone stand or the cable for charging devices.

Not even time to sit down that I already had my first glass of champagne, but also to be dicked twice for where I had stuck my takeoff timelapse sucker.

IFE

Good product, but no longer at the top. This is also a way to get used to the fact that Japan is not really the supertechnology we Westerners imagine, sure on some aspects they are top, but on many others they are really boomers, such as security video.

The entertainment system controller is in the console, from here you can manage everything and also access the smart functions.

Headphones are not the best, but once turned on, they insulate enough from cabin noise.

Food&Beverage

I have already made several flights aboard Japanese airlines. Both premium and low-cost as Zip Air And I must say that I was never disappointed. Immediately after takeoff, appetizers were served and I started with sake.

I opted for the "local" menu and greatly appreciated both the presentation and the inclusion in the paper menu of the map of the small plates that made up the bento box of appetizers.

The rest of the meal was also made in Japan and I was not disappointed at all, the only Western concession I allowed myself was dessert.

In the central galley there was then set up the snack corner.

A light dinner was served before landing. The choice was between sandwiches and cheese. The attendant suggested that I take both "because they are small," and indeed she was not telling lies.

To top it off, even an ice cream sundae.

Before arrival, a voucher was also distributed to take a cab to the destination in downtown Tokyo

It's just too bad that the 20k yen didn't cover the ride to Narita, the departure airport for my next flight, but that's another story.

In conclusion

Of all the products JAL offers on long-haul, this is definitely the least flashy, and the comparison with the A350 is really a different planet. At this price point, though, flying this way to Tokyo is definitely not a bad use of miles. Be sure if you fly to Japan don't forget about electronic clearance, you will save time and queue less at immigration.

• Avios

The verdict

At this price one should definitely not be picky, of course JAL's other products are definitely better, but one cannot always be too critical.

6.5

Service

6.5

IFE

6.5

F&B

7.5

Cabin and Armchair

6.5

Pro

• Gastronomic proposal
• The price

Against

• Occluded view
• Departure from remote area
• Little storage