Japan Airlines

London Heathrow - Tokyo - Sydney. My first time in JAL as I had booked a FF Award seat on QF (LHR-SYD) and it turned out it was on JAL. Easy check-in great lounge. Service on board was better than I expected - B777-300ER on leg 1 B777-200 on leg 2. Very nice Japanese food possibly the best I have eaten in Economy. Great FAs happy to do their best to help with our young child. Ample legroom and happy to serve food out of normal service times if required. Very good first experience overall.

Rome to Tokyo. For a 12 hour flight it was very reasonable. Its fortunate I got an exit row seat otherwise I think I would have died. Im 6ft 5 and pretty thin so the width of the seat didn't bother me but if you are even slightly overweight I think you would find the seats uncomfortable. Service of staff on JAL is exceptional they are so wonderful happy and willing to help. This was a night flight but I didn't sleep. Also the inflight entertainment is woefully inadequate by today standards. Movies & TV shows are not on demand you have to wait until the movie/tv show restarts - very frustrating on a long haul flight. Probably wont fly again if it can be avoided.

Singapore to KL on B767-300 in Y class. Managed to get a good deal from Zuji website for S$103 including taxes (return). Travelled with family and 2 kids. Were given bulkhead seats on both sectors. Singapore-Kl was about 40% full. Flight was from KIX with a stopover in Singapore. Thus managed to get some seats from the back with my infant daughter. Was given packet of apple juice and disposable wet wipes. FA polite and offered more wet wipes when they saw me having a sandwich. Flight map shown during the flight. KL to Singapore was about 60% full a newer B767-300. Cushions were thinner compared to ANA Y Class. Don't think it would be comfortable for a flight for more than 6 hrs to KIX due to thin cushions. Overall flight was comfortable for a short flight and a bargain.

SIN-NRT. 11pm flight and the aircraft was extremely warm to the extent that we were sweating. 1 hour into the flight we were still waiting for our refreshments. We were only served a piece of cookie and a drink. This left us thirsty throughout the flight.

Late night flight to Narita fully loaded 777. Despite the cramped seat pitch across their fleet I have enjoyed flying JAL. The service has been very warm efficient and polite. However the catering on this particular flight left a lot to be desired. After take off and waiting for a little over an hour - smiling flight attendants doled out a drink of choice and two small cookies. That was it - till breakfast was served a few hours later - no choice just the standard very bland congee. Also having flown on JAL the previous month having watched most of the movies available - I was a bit disappointed to find the selection of movies almost identical on this flight. So tried to catch up on sleep instead but with a short flight time breakfast was served about 4.30am. so not much sleep either. While not the best flight I've had with them I still would fly with them again - perhaps not a red eye like this one. Hope they get that cash injection from somewhere soon.

BNE-NRT connecting to Sapporo. Aircraft from Brisbane cramped with seats close together. Had to sit with legs apart as knees hit seat in front and am only 170cm (5'7"). FA friendly helpful and English speaking. Food disappointing. Hot meal was OK but snack consisted of stale multigrain bread with ham and plastic cheese with mustard pickle reminiscent of your school sandwiches. Obviously need better catering in Brisbane. Domestic connection in Narita was good. Seats better - less cramped. Efficient FA. Fares however cheaper than rival airlines so value for money.