Japan Airlines A350-1000 Long-Haul Business Class JFK - HND Flight Report - An Archive of Journeys and Stories with Sky

Silhouettes of Sky - Japan Airlines A350-1000 JA02WJ at Haneda Airport (HND)

Japan Airlines | A350-1000 Long-Haul Business Class | JFK - HND

Silhouette Archived in Jan 2024, Developed in Dec 2024

The Stats

Date: 2024-01-26

Route: John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) - Haneda Airport (HND)

Flight Number: JL5

Aircraft: JA02WJ (Airbus A350-1000 MSN 628)

Schedule: 12:40 - 17:15+1

Actual: 12:51 - 17:15+1

Flight Time: 13:49

Used with Permission

The Departure

Silhouettes of Sky - Lobby View at Marriott New York JFK Airport

Today's journey brings me to New York. To catch the flight on Japan Airlines' brand new A350-1000 aircraft, which I was really excited about, I decided to stay at the relatively new Marriott hotel near JFK so that it's easier to get to the airport early.

As you can tell from the opening picture, it's a bit rainy today. I have been to New York a few times and nearly every time I am here, it rains.

Silhouettes of Sky - Departure Area of JFK Terminal 8

As with many airport hotels in the US, the Marriott offers free shuttle bus taking guests to and from the airport that runs every hour or half-hour.

Japan Airlines uses Terminal 8 at JFK, sharing the terminal with a few other oneworld airlines such as American Airlines (AA), British Airways (BA), Cathay Pacific (CX) and Qatar Airways (QR).

Silhouettes of Sky - Departure Area of JFK Terminal 8

It's still a bit early as I arrived about 4 hours before my flight, the terminal is relatively quiet.

Silhouettes of Sky - Departure Board of JFK Terminal 8

The main user of the terminal is, of course, American Airlines. So you can find AA branding all over the airport, as with the departure board.

Different from the rest of the world, many US airport terminals are designed and operated primarily for a single airline and its partners, instead of as a common-use facility shared among all airlines. The main airline will often have long-term leases for terminals, with significant control over operations, gate assignments, and passenger services.

These terminals are often also managed and maintained by the main airline, leading to varying passenger experiences even within the same airport.

Silhouettes of Sky - Japan Airlines Check-in Counters at JFK

Japan Airlines check-in counters are located at row 4, and it is neatly organized with the same kind of airport check in signage that you will find in Japanese airports.

Despite there is still about an hour until check-in opens (3 hours before departure time), there are quite a few people already waiting in line.

Silhouettes of Sky - Japan Airlines Check-in Counters at JFK

The check-in counters opens at 3 hours sharp before departure. At opening time, all ground staff bow to greet the passengers.

The counters are organized by Economy, Web Check-in, Business/Premium Economy, and First. The Business/Premium Economy counter also opens to oneworld Ruby and Sapphire members, while the First Class counter also caters oneworld Emerald status holders.

Silhouettes of Sky - Japan Airlines Business Class Boarding Pass

The check-in process is quick and easy and I got my boarding pass in no time. Also, Japan Airlines' check-in agents are among the most polite and friendly you will ever find in any airport. Fantastic check-in experience!

However, the same cannot be said for the TSA security screening line, which was slow and chaotic as always.

Silhouettes of Sky - JFK Terminal 8 Departure Area

Silhouettes of Sky - "A Silhouette of Manhattan" by Charles Fazzino at JFK T8

The departure area post TSA is decent with loads of retro AA decor. A few beautiful art pieces can be found in the terminal. One of my personal favorite is definitely this one - "A Silhouette of Manhattan" by Charles Fazzino.

Charles Fazzino also made the model AA aircraft below the retro AA logo in the upper left picture.

The Lounge

Silhouettes of Sky - Entrance of Greenwich Lounge at JFK T8

There are a few lounges at JFK T8 operated by AA:

Admirals Club
Greenwich Lounge
Soho Lounge
Chelsea Lounge

Greenwich, Soho and Chelsea Lounge are considered as "premium lounges" by AA and have stricter access rules than Admirals Club. The access rules for these lounges are actually quite complex, especially when travelling on AA flights.

When travelling on Japan Airlines flights to Tokyo, you will get access to different lounges based on different travel class and oneworld status:

By Travel Class:

Economy Flex (Y): Admirals Club

Premium Economy: Admirals Club

Business: Greenwich Lounge

First: Soho Lounge

By oneworld Status:

oneworld Sapphire: Greenwich Lounge

oneworld Emerald: Soho Lounge

The most exclusive Chelsea Lounge is only available to the following passengers, and is not accessible by passengers travelling on Japan Airlines at all:

By Travel Class:

AA Flagship First International

BA First Class

AA Flagship First Transcontinental

AA Flagship Business Plus

By AA/BA Status:

AAdvantage ConciergeKey: When travelling with BA, or qualifying routes with AA

BAEC Gold Guest List: When travelling with BA, or qualifying routes with AA

Silhouettes of Sky - Greenwich Lounge at JFK T8

The Greenwich Lounge is spacious and thoughtfully designed. As one of the largest and most significant departure and arrival points across the Atlantic, the lounge caters to a substantial volume of premium passengers.

It offers a wide range of amenities, including a main dining and lounging area, a quiet zone, multiple workspaces, a TV room, two bars, as well as shower suites.

Silhouettes of Sky - Greenwich Lounge at JFK T8

And it definitely doesn't hurt having a great apron view.

Silhouettes of Sky - Breakfast Selections at Greenwich Lounge

During breakfast hours, the variety of food on offer is okay but nothing too impressive. From what I read online, the catering situation should be better during lunch and dinner with more hot food selections.

Silhouettes of Sky - Alcohol Selections at Greenwich Lounge

A fully stocked self-service alcohol area, as well as a self-service wine area are available, in addition to all sorts of soft drinks. Piper-Heidsieck champagne is on offer in the wine area.

Silhouettes of Sky - The Tasting Room at Greenwich Lounge

The Tasting Room offers a nice selection of different beer and snacks, while The Bridge Bar is more of a proper bar. Both areas are very tastefully decorated and I would love to sit here and have a drink during a relaxing afternoon.

And did I mention these very classic American style working pods hidden in the lounge?

Silhouettes of Sky - Working Areas at Greenwich Lounge

The Gate

Silhouettes of Sky - JFK T8 Gate Area

Silhouettes of Sky - JFK T8 Flight Information Board

After a brief stay at the lounge, I made my way to the gate to try to get some photos of the Japan Airlines A350-1000 aircraft. Again, the terminal area is quite pleasant with a lot of natural light, and is not too crowded.

Silhouettes of Sky - JFK Apron View from Terminal

Silhouettes of Sky - JFK Apron View During Taxi

As one of the most connected airports in the world, there are over 70 airlines operating to and from JFK from all continents in the world. It also hosts the world's longest flight as of time of writing, Singapore Airlines' SQ23/24 service between JFK and SIN.

Silhouettes of Sky - JFK Terminal 8 Boarding Gate

The flight I am taking today is the second ever commercial service operated by Japan Airlines' A350-1000 aircraft. Despite not being the inaugural flight, there are still quite a few media personnel and aviation enthusiasts on this flight gathering around the gate area.

The Aircraft

As of December 2024, Japan Airlines operates 6x A350-1000 aircraft, with an additional 7x scheduled for delivery, bringing the total fleet to 13. These state-of-the-art aircraft are set to replace the airline's existing fleet of 12x Boeing 777-300ERs, serving as the new flagship for key long-haul international destinations such as New York, London and Paris.

The A350-1000 introduces a fully refreshed cabin across all four cabin classes, offering enhanced passenger comfort while brining in significant improvements in environmental sustainability.

Despite the fleet transition, Japan Airlines is not in too much of a rush to retire its 777-300ER fleet. Instead, we saw these aircraft being deployed on routes such as Singapore and Sydney to meet increased demand for premium cabin capacity.

Drawing of Japan Airlines A350-1000 Aircraft is Produced and Provided by Aviation Volume (AVLM)

Used with Permission

Silhouettes of Sky - Japan Airlines A350-1000 JA02WJ at John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK)

The Japan Airlines' livery is simple but beautiful, as is the A350-1000 aircraft. IMO, the extended fuselage of A350-1000 makes a more elegant appearance than the base model of the family, the A350-900.

The aircraft taking us to Tokyo today is JA02WJ, the second A350-1000 aircraft delivered to Japan Airlines. This is the very first commercial service operated by this brand new aircraft (the inaugural A350-1000 HND-JFK service was operated by JA01WJ, the first JAL A350-1000). A few months after the trip, an A350-1000 sticker was added near the tail of the aircraft.

The aircraft is powered by Rolls-Royce Trent XWB-97 engines.

The Cabin

Japan Airlines' A350-1000 aircraft are configured with a total of only 239 seats in a 6F 54J 24W 155Y configuration.

This is an extremely premium heavy configuration and stands in stark contrast to some airlines that fit up to 240 seats into an A321neo - a narrowbody aircraft with a cabin floor area of less than half that of the A350-1000.

Japan Airlines' A350-1000 Business Class seats are customized based on Safran's next-generation business class seat architecture Unity. These seats features several enhancements and customizations such as built-in headrest speakers and 24-inch 4K personal monitors.

Drawings of Japan Airlines A350-1000 Business Class Seats are Produced and Provided by Aviation Volume (AVLM)

Used with Permission

Silhouettes of Sky - Japan Airlines A350-1000 Business Class Cabin

First impression of the Business Class cabin is great - overall design and color choices are on the darker side but looks classic. The absence of the center overhead bins adds to an open feeling. Also, the cabin definitely still has the new aircraft smell.

The seats are arranged in a 1-2-1 staggered layout with all seats facing forward. Each seat is shaped like a cubical. The entire Business Class cabin are split into two sections by door 2; the front section has 5 rows of seats, and is a bit smaller than the rear section which accommodates 8.5 row of seats.

Silhouettes of Sky - Japan Airlines A350-1000 Business Class Seat

I was seated at 6A, a window seat in the forward cabin on the left side. This seat is closer to the aisle and has just one window (there are quite a few window seats that have two).

The seat color look quite different from Japan Airlines' product page in person, which is actually a good thing as the actual color is a much more understated burgundy color - truly beautiful.

Silhouettes of Sky - Japan Airlines A350-1000 Business Class Amenities

Silhouettes of Sky - Japan Airlines A350-1000 Business Class Headphones

Silhouettes of Sky - Japan Airlines A350-1000 Business Class Slippers

Silhouettes of Sky - Japan Airlines A350-1000 Business Class Pajama

Silhouettes of Sky - Japan Airlines A350-1000 Business Class Blanket

Several amenities are already waiting on the seat, which include a pair of headphones, a pair of slippers, a pajama, a blanket, a plush pillow, as well as a menu.

The pajama looks more like a gown and does not have separate upper and lower parts, and is only available on on the A350-1000 aircraft. The blanket and pillow are plush and feels very nice to the touch.

Silhouettes of Sky - Japan Airlines A350-1000 Business Class Footwell

Silhouettes of Sky - Japan Airlines A350-1000 Business Class IFE

The footwell of this seat is quite spacious - an improvement from the new Safran Unity platform compared to previous generations of staggered seats. I did not have any problem with my feet feeling constrained on this flight.

Silhouettes of Sky - Japan Airlines A350-1000 Business Class IFE

Silhouettes of Sky - Japan Airlines A350-1000 Business Class Built-In Speakers

The state-of-the-art IFE system is from Panasonic Avionics, and features 24" 4K IFE screen, as well as several next-generation features such as Bluetooth audio and speakers built in the headrest, a first in the industry.

This means there are three options to receive audio in the Business Class cabin - by wired headphones, by Bluetooth and by the in-seat speakers - really spoilt with choices here. The sound quality is only average from the in-seat speakers due to the noise of the aircraft; nevertheless, not having to wear headphones on such a long flight means great improvements in comfort. If an active noise cancelling feature can be added it would make a perfect experience.

The new IFE system is smooth to operate and the overall design are quite pleasing. Movie selections on Japan Airlines isn't the best compared to major US carriers or Asian competitors such as Cathay Pacific and Singapore Airlines.

Also, the use of frosted glass on the wardrobe door is SO elegant!

Wi-Fi is offered on the flight. A full-flight plan costs US$18.80, a reasonable pricing considering the flight time.

Silhouettes of Sky - Japan Airlines A350-1000 Wi-Fi Purchase Page

Silhouettes of Sky - Japan Airlines A350-1000 Business Class Seat Control

The seat position and lighting controls are clearly laid out on the side. The seat can also be controlled through the IFE remote control.

Silhouettes of Sky - Japan Airlines A350-1000 Business Class Seat

Silhouettes of Sky - Japan Airlines A350-1000 Business Class Seat Storage

A few storage area is available on the side table as well for storage of small personal items. A bottle of Japanese water have already been placed in the upper storage area.

Silhouettes of Sky - Japan Airlines A350-1000 Business Class IFE Remote Control

Silhouettes of Sky - Japan Airlines A350-1000 Business Class Charging Ports

IFE remote control is also located here, with a fully touch screen interface and much more compact than the older generations.

Power socket, USB-A, USB-C and wireless charging are also available on the seat. This is as good as it gets in terms of airplane seats, and again, I was truly spoilt with choices.

Silhouettes of Sky - Japan Airlines A350-1000 Business Class Wardrobe

Each Business Class seat boasts a built-in wardrobe and a convenient shoe storage compartment at the base. This thoughtful feature is particularly valuable during winter flights, allowing passengers to neatly store coats or jackets while keeping their belongings organized.

Silhouettes of Sky - Japan Airlines A350-1000 Business Class Welcome Drink

Silhouettes of Sky - Japan Airlines A350-1000 Business Class Amenity Kit

A welcome drink was provided by the friendly cabin crew before departure.

Also, an amenity kit was already available at the seat upon boarding. The content is relatively basic, including dental kit, earplug, eyeshade, tissue paper, in addition to some interesting choices: a smartphone stand and a charging cable.

Japan Airlines A350-1000 Business Class MISOKA Bamboo Toothbrush

Separately, a high quality bamboo toothbrush was also provided from MISOKA Bamboo. The toothbrush is designed to clean the mouth and teeth without the need for toothpaste from the use of special mineral coatings, and can last up to a month.

I have tried it after the flight for a few days, and it actually works magically well.

Silhouettes of Sky - Japan Airlines A350-1000 Business Class MISOKA Bamboo Toothbrush

Silhouettes of Sky - Japan Airlines A350-1000 Business Class Cabin

The wall of these seats isn't as high as Qatar Airways' QSuite but sufficient to provide great privacy, and each seat is equipped with a sliding door. The wall of the First Class seats is noticeably taller.

Silhouettes of Sky - Japan Airlines A350-1000 Business Class Overhead Panel

Silhouettes of Sky - Japan Airlines A350-1000 Business Class Table

Reading lights are available on the overhead panel, but unfortunately, not individual air vents.

A large, sturdy tray table slides out from the side of the seat and can be rotated, allowing passengers to exit their seat even when the table is in use.

Silhouettes of Sky - Japan Airlines A350-1000 Business Class Safety Card

Silhouettes of Sky - Japan Airlines A350-1000 Business Class Information Cards

Silhouettes of Sky - Japan Airlines A350-1000 Business Class Literatures

There are quite a lot of different types of literatures in the seat pocket, including very high quality safety card, seat information card and Wi-Fi guide. In-flight duty free catalogue and magazine are also available.

Silhouettes of Sky - Japan Airlines A350-1000 Business Class Seat Screen

Silhouettes of Sky - Japan Airlines A350-1000 Business Class Details

Silhouettes of Sky - Japan Airlines A350-1000 Business Class Ambient Light

Silhouettes of Sky - Japan Airlines A350-1000 Business Class Cabin

All in all, the Business Class hardware is impeccable, with loads of design details, ample legroom and overall space, the latest generation of electronics and IFE, elegant color matching, materials, and texture, in addition to various other thoughtful features. It is no exaggeration to say that this is one of, if not the best Business Class seat in the world.

The Takeoff

Silhouettes of Sky - Japan Airlines A350-1000 Business Class Window

Push back commenced on-time, despite Japan Airlines only start boarding about 30 mins before departure, thanks to a combination of low seat count and the Japanese being efficient as always.

Silhouettes of Sky - American Airlines 777-200ER N780AN at John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK)

Silhouettes of Sky - Ground Staff at at John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK)

An AA 777-200ER aircraft was parked next to us when we pushed back.

A few ground staff gathered to wave farewell to the aircraft, marking the beginning of its decades-long journey in the sky.

Silhouettes of Sky - Japan Airlines A350-1000 Safety Demonstration Video

The safety video shown on this flight is still the old JAL safety video with the 777 aircraft, albeit in a much higher resolution than the video on 777s.

Silhouettes of Sky - Japan Airlines A350-1000 Onboard Camera View

Live camera view is also available on the aircraft - a very high definition one too.

Silhouettes of Sky - Japan Airlines A350-1000 Wing View

Silhouettes of Sky - Japan Airlines A350-1000 Electronically Dimmable Window

As far as I know, Japan Airlines is the first customer of A350-1000 NPS (New Production Standard), which provides a wider and longer cabin, increased MTOW and optional EDW (Electronically Dimmable Windows).

The Business Class and First Class cabins of Japan Airlines' A350-1000 aircraft are equipped with EDW, while the Premium Economy Class and Economy Class cabins still have ordinary windows.

The A350's version of EDW introduces comprehensive upgrades over the EDW found on 787s. These enhancements include a more intuitive touch-based control interface, more levels of dimming adjustment, significantly faster dimming and brightening speeds, and a noticeably deeper black.

The Meals

Silhouettes of Sky - Japan Airlines A350-1000 Business Class Menu

A printed menu was provided for this flight, which contains both drinks and food menu.

Various alcoholic drinks are on offer, with the wine list offering both new world and old world wines:

Champagne

Champagne Drappier Carte d'Or NV, or
Champagne Duval-Leroy Brut Réserve NV

Japanese Wine

Château Mercian Aiakane, or
Coco Farm & Winery Noumin Rosso 2020

White

Albert Bichot Origines Bourgogne Chardonnay 2020 (France), or
Casas del Bosque Gran Reserva Chardonnay 2021 (Chile)

M. Chapoutier La Combe Pilate 2020 (France), or
Stepp Riesling vom Kalkstein 2022 (Germany)

Red

Stepp Pinot Noir 2021 (Germany), or
Ken Forrester Petit Pinotage 2021 (South Africa)

Domaine Virginie Thunevin 2019 (France), or
Albert Bichot Les Charmes Morgon 2018 (France)

In addition to several Japanese-produced sake and shochu:

Sake

Mimurosugi Junmai Daiginjo, みむろ杉純米大吟醸山田錦, or
TOYO BIJIN Junmai Daiginjo, 東洋美人純米大吟醸

Senkin Issei Junmai Daiginjo, 仙禽一聲純米大吟醸, or
Tenbu Junmai Daiginjo, 天賦純米大吟醸

Shochu

Imo Shochu Tsurusora, 芋燒酎鶴空

Mugi Shochu Nakanaka, 麦焼酎中々

Cocktails, spirits, liqueurs and beers are also offered, in addition to a large selection of non-alcoholic drinks such as juice, soda, tea and coffee.

One full meal service is offered right after take-off, with the choice between Japanese and International Cuisine set meals.

Silhouettes of Sky - Japan Airlines A350-1000 Business Class Hot Towel

Silhouettes of Sky - Japan Airlines A350-1000 Business Class Pre-Meal Snacks

The main meal service starts out with a hot towel. There is also a drinks and snacks service before the main meal that consists of some olives and nuts.

Silhouettes of Sky - Japan Airlines A350-1000 Business Class Meal Starters

Silhouettes of Sky - Japan Airlines A350-1000 Business Class Meal Main Dish

Silhouettes of Sky - Japan Airlines A350-1000 Business Class Meal Dessert

Japan Airlines A350-1000 Business Class Meal Paper Crane

I have decided to go with the Japanese cuisine on this flight.

The starter featured a beautifully curated selection of six seasonal Japanese dishes. For the main course, the salmon and beef were both well-prepared. What truly stole the show, however, was the dessert - a absolutely delicious strawberry panna cotta.

The cabin crew on this flight are super attentive and friendly. Also, the meal service did not drag on at all; I did not have to wait too much for any course, and the cabin crew are also very quick to clear the plates.

Silhouettes of Sky - Japan Airlines A350-1000 Business Class Meal Paper Crane

After the main meal service, there is a large selection of à la carte dishes that can be ordered anytime until 1.5 hours before landing. The à la carte selection include several signature JAL dishes such as beef curry and JAL's original noodle.

I think this is a great initiative, which balances the workload for cabin crew and the dining experience for passengers.

Silhouettes of Sky - Japan Airlines A350-1000 Business Class "Hideki Matsui" Curry

Silhouettes of Sky - Japan Airlines A350-1000 Business Class Hojicha Pudding and Fresh Fruits

Later on during the flight, I ordered an A350-1000 special dish "Hideki Matsui" Curry, in addition to the Hojicha pudding and some fruits. Both the curry and the Hojicha pudding are super delicious, even better than the main meal service.

Silhouettes of Sky - Japan Airlines A350-1000 Galley

Silhouettes of Sky - Japan Airlines A350-1000 Galley Snack Bar

During the flight, a self-service snack bar was setup in the galley. The snack bar seem to be a permanent feature with built-in fridges and shelfs. Various alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks are available here, in addition to some small snacks. A great feature that, IMHO, should be a feature available on all long-haul flights in all cabins.

The meal service main meal was definitely outshined by dessert and the à la carte dishes. Nevertheless, with an impressive drinks list, a wide selection of high quality dishes, and great service, the overall experience is among the best of all airlines.

The Lavatory

Silhouettes of Sky - Japan Airlines A350-1000 Business Class Lavatory

Silhouettes of Sky - Japan Airlines A350-1000 Business Class Lavatory Amenities

The lavatories on this flight are spotless, and are kept clean throughout the flight. Color palette here matches the cabin and the finishings are just beautiful.

Bidet toilet seats are installed onboard as well in a true Japanese fashion.

Miller Harris Tea Tonique amenities are available, along with travel-friendly mouthwash packets and extra toothbrushes. These portable mouthwash packets are incredibly convenient for travelers and such a great addition to the onboard experience.

The Flight

Silhouettes of Sky - Japan Airlines A350-1000 Business Class Bed

Silhouettes of Sky - Japan Airlines A350-1000 Business Class IFE Remote Control

Mattresses were provided on the flight and the friendly cabin crew helped me to set up the bed when I got changed into the pajamas provided.

Silhouettes of Sky - A Silhouette of Sky

Silhouettes of Sky - Japan Airlines A350-1000 Engine

Silhouettes of Sky - View During Flight

Silhouettes of Sky - Japan Airlines A350-1000 Onboard Camera View

Flying over an area near Alaska, with the floating ice clearly visible. Contrails from the aircraft engine can also been seen from the onboard camera.

Silhouettes of Sky - Japan Airlines A350-1000 Winglet

The red gradient winglet design on Japan Airlines' A350-1000 aircraft is similar to the design on domestic A350-900 aircraft.

The Arrival

Silhouettes of Sky - View of Narita Airport (NRT) During Flight

As we start the descent and approach into Haneda Airport, I managed to spot the nearby Narita Airport in the distance. Both HND and NRT are major airports serving the Tokyo region, with NRT focusing a bit more on transit and low-cost carrier traffic, given it's further from the city.

Silhouettes of Sky - View of Sunset During Flight

We were also treated with some magnificent sunset view over the Tokyo Bay as we got closer to Haneda Airport, as we make a smooth landing at Haneda Airport.

Silhouettes of Sky - Japan Airlines Building at Haneda Airport (HND)

Passed the Japan Airlines building while we were taxing at Haneda Airport.

Silhouettes of Sky - ANA 787-8 JA802A Landing at Haneda Airport (HND)

Also managed to snap a picture of an ANA 787-8 aircraft landing at Haneda Airport with the great sunset as the background.

Silhouettes of Sky - Japan Airlines A350-1000 Onboard Camera View

Continuously monitoring the aircraft through the onboard camera, as the aircraft slowly rolls into the gate.

Silhouettes of Sky - Japan Airlines A350-1000 JA02WJ at Haneda Airport (HND)

Both door 1 and door 2 are connect to the jet bridge. However, even Business Class passengers are directed to use door 2 to exit the aircraft for the privacy of First Class passengers.

Silhouettes of Sky - Haneda Airport (HND) Arrival Area

The arrival process was quite smooth at Haneda Airport, and I was at the arrival area in no time. Although, the length of immigration queue depends entirely on whether you arrive at the peak hours - there were definitely times that I had to queue for up to an hour in order to get in as a visitor, which can be quite painful.

Silhouettes of Sky - Sunset at Haneda Airport (HND)

And with the stunning evening view at Haneda Airport, we also arrive at the end of today's journey.

The Conclusion

The brand-new seat on Japan Airlines’ A350-1000 absolutely raises the bar for Business Class comfort and privacy with the Safran Unity platform. It is equipped with all the cutting-edge features you’d expect in 2024: Bluetooth audio, wireless charging and USB-C, a stunning 24-inch 4K screen, and built-in speakers, in addition to various thoughtful design details.

Amenities on board are also impressive. Expect high-quality pajamas, well-stocked amenity kits, and considerate extras like portable mouthwash.

The main Japanese meal is satisfying, though not necessarily a standout. However, the dessert and à la carte beef curry are amazing!

The cabin crew on this flight are super friendly and welcoming, and are equally excited to fly onboard the A350-1000 aircraft. There are even a few Singapore-based cabin crew members onboard this flight, which I find quite interesting and warm.

All things considered, Japan Airlines’ A350-1000 Business Class is easily one of, if not the very best Business Class products currently available as of 2024. Despite the upcoming wave of next-generation Business Class products, like Cathay Pacific’s Aria Suite, Qatar Airways’ Qsuite Next Gen, Emirates' new 777X Business Class, and Singapore Airlines’ forthcoming Business Class, I’m confident that Japan Airlines’ A350-1000 Business Class product will remain a strong contender well into the next decade.

Thank you for exploring this silhouette.

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