Japan Airlines

SYD-NRT-FRA-NRT-SYD in Premium Economy (plus NRT-SIN-NRT J Class). Excellent aspects were the meticulous cabin crew service good leg room seats which allowed sleep and quiet cabins. Not so good was the food in Premium Economy - minuscule tasteless portions of poor quality especially to and from Australia. I can recall wonderful Japanese food even in basic economy 10 years ago on JAL. An odd aspect is that JAL seemed not to be able to recognise my OneWorld Emerald details and status until I complained on check-in on each leg. Another odd aspect was the default position of having all window shades closed on boarding and even on take off and landing. Isn't this policy a safety hazard? I enjoyed the First Class Lounges at Narita Sydney (through Qantas) and at Frankfurt.

I flew with my baby who was only 2 months old when we first took JAL. The staff at the airport was nice and helped with everything including luggage. At the boarding gate the staff was also there to carry my bags and fold the stroller and put it in a thick plastic bag to protect it! On arrival Narita and JFK the staff was there to help me with luggage and also helped me carry the bags through immigration and customs.

SYD-NRT-FRA then CDG-HND-NGS then FUK-NRT-SYD in business class. As a JAL Mileagebank member able to select preferred seat in advance - 1st row in J class with more room. B777's to/from Australia/Japan/Europe MD90/B737-800 internally. Friendly courteous service comprehensive menu with choice of Japanese and Western options. European sectors now have an expanded on- demand 2nd meal service with about 10 options to choose from any time after first meal service. IFE improved since last year with more movies. Whilst our travel agent booked discounted JAL airpasses for Y class travel in Japan these were easily upgraded to J class at check-in for Y1000 each. Great value for the extra room. Did not use the CDG lounge due to a very tight Air France connection from FCO. Sakura lounge at NRT very comfortable with good selection of snacks and hot food especially at lunch and dinner time. Upstairs bar with barperson able to make a wide variety of drinks. Great value J fares to Europe makes JAL my preferred choice for European travel.

Tokyo Hanada-Beijing-Tokyo Narita in Business class. JAL has a nice first class lounge at Hanada airport great food and drinks nice facilities but does not have spa service. Business class seat is more like Qantas domestic business class seat. Hot meal served with good choice of drinks. Cabin crew friendly and professional. AVOD system is okay does not have great range of movies. JAL uses Beijing airport first lounge at PEK pretty average for first class lounge.

Sydney-Narita-Frankfurt in Business. Fantastic crew and ground staff professional and friendly. JAL business class seats are full flat 2-3-2 arrangement made the cabin really crowded. Sydney-Narita leg using economy headset for business class. Food was beautifully presented but not always tasty. IFE good not great after two legs you pretty much finished everything you could watch. Two first class lounges at Narita terminal 2 hardly anyone there middle of the morning. Buffet dinning spa massage fantastic but only 10 minutes.

Paris - Tokyo Narita Boeing 777. Seats 2-3-2 and originally in the middle. Cabin crew very helpful and found me an aisle seat. Inflight service superb very personal and attentive cabin crew. Meal choice either Western or Japanese. I chose the former superb french cuisine but nearby passenger had the oriental and I wish I had chosen that. In flight entertainment AVOD and could be better - plenty of movie choice but little in the way of TV comedy sport and documentaries.

Frankfurt-Narita on B777. Spotless cabin. Comfy seats and superb service from very friendly flight attendants. Very good meals lots of drinks between dinner and lunch prior landing.

NRT-KUL on old 767 in J class. Seat narrow and nothing special. Crew very senior doing things very slowly. Meal service took over 4.5hrs and really showed favouritism if you are not Japanese. Not worth the money for what JAL is charging for Premium service compared to SQ and CX.

NRT-KUL business class on old 767. Not worth the money as the seat was old and the entertainment system quite limited with old screen. The lounge in NRT was packed in the satellite and people were grabbing the food out of the servery as soon as it arrived. The service onboard was chaotic to say the least. Had to ask for something to eat with the drink. The meal service was over 4 hours. Seat not comfortable for over 8 hour flight. Seems that if you speak the language and are male you get better service as all the male business men got bags tagged first class - and this class was not available on the flight.

LAX-PVG. LAX to NRT was not as expected from Japan Airlines seat on business class was not a flat bed and being 6'2 is not a good one to sit. They don't have amenity in a bag like other business class but in a basket and FA goes around and let you pick which one you want and all wrap in a cheaply plastic . Food were served in a bento box looks nice in pictures but not in real food really disappointed. Love the lounge at LAX and NRT ate at the lounge in NRT. NRT to PVG as usual same old business class.