JAL reveals new A350 first, business class
The Japanese flag-carrier will debut the flagship A350-1000 jet on the Tokyo-New York route in late November.
By David Flynn, October 2 2023
Japan Airlines is going full-on with fully private suites in both first and business class on its forthcoming Airbus A350, which will take wing on the premium Tokyo-New York route in late November 2023.
The six first class havens (in two rows of 1-1-1) and 54 business class berths are all enclosed private suite with sliding doors, although first class flyers are cocooned behind walls up to 1.57m (62") while the business suites are framed by more modest 1.32m (52") partitions.
Something else they both have in common are in-suite wardrobes and stereo speakers built into the headrests, “allowing customers to enjoy the inflight entertainment system without using headphones;” other high-tech touches include wireless device charging and Bluetooth audio streaming.
JAL's A350 first and business class suites have headrest speakers and in-suite wardrobes.
JAL says its A350 cabin will “immerse customers in the elegance of Japanese aesthetics and envelop them in tranquility, providing a serene ambiance that encapsulates the beauty of Japan.”
JAL's new A350 first class suite.
The unique design of the A350 first class suites contains two seats side by side, with one almost twice as wide as the other, at a total of 1.23m (48").
JAL's new A350 first class suite.
This provides “a choice of three seating modes: Sofa, Seat & Single Bed, or Double Bed...”
JAL's new A350 first class suite.
... with the later achieved by “having all seats transformed into a bed configuration.”
JAL's new A350 first class suite.
In addition to the concealed wardrobe there’s also under-seat bag stowage, as the first class cabin has no overhead luggage bins in order to “create a more open individual atmosphere.”
JAL's new A350 first class suite.
The JAL A350 business class suites are more conventional, although these too have a private wardrobe and cabin bag storage, while the business class cabin has done away with the central overhead storage compartments to make the most of the A350’s spacious room-like interior.
JAL's new A350 business class suite.
There’ll even be pyjamas, but not to keep. JAL will introduce “a rental service for inflight relaxing wear” from Japanese sleep brand Uchino, made of 100% cotton “and characterized by its thin, lightweight, and soft texture, as well as excellent water absorption and insulation properties.”
JAL's new A350 business class suite.
Japan Airlines is also playing the personalisation card, with travellers able to “customize the timing of your inflight course meal service based on your lounge visit before departure and the flight's arrival time.”
In addition, the large 4K video screens (43" in first and 24" in business) “will indicate the times for meal services and lights-out so you can plan ahead,” while a new vegan and vegetarian menu is available for pre-ordering.
From early 2024, passengers in all cabin classes will also be able to set up a playlist of movies, TV shows and music ahead of the flight via the JAL app, and then have this shared to their screen after they board.
JAL is expected to take delivery of its first two A350-1000s by the end of this year, with seven more due before the end of 2025 and the final four rolling into the hangars by 2028, where they’ll join a crop of mid-sized A350-900s which ply an extensive domestic network.
This 13-strong fleet of A350-1000s will allow Japan Airlines to retire its 13 ageing Boeing 777-300ERs in a 1:1 replacement.
As recently reported, Cathay Pacific has its own all-new 777 business class landing in the second quarter of 2024 (to be followed by new Cathay 777 first class suites in late 2025), while speculation continues to swirl that Singapore Airlines plans to upgrade its long-range A350s with doored business class suites originally intended for the delayed SQ 777-9 fleet.
08 Jul 2023
Total posts 3
Business will be 1-2-1 with doors, excited to see it
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer P1
23 Aug 2014
Total posts 142
Fantastic news1
This upgrade will supplement one of my top three airline food and wine experiences in international F
09 Aug 2016
Total posts 11
Should be on this flight in December I hope … can’t wait
QFF
12 Apr 2013
Total posts 1501
Love JAL and really like to see new suites. Pity that they unlikely to fly First to Australia.
Etihad - Etihad Guest
09 Jun 2019
Total posts 11
It will be good to see these new seats in J class on HND/LHR and HND/CDG. Probably a bit longer to wait for the SYD/HND run.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
30 Nov 2011
Total posts 28
Etihad - Etihad Guest
21 Jul 2019
Total posts 160
It goes without saying the new products are fantastic, and coming online in only a matter of weeks is a real bonus for some lucky pax. Inevitably, this impressively short gap between announcement and actual deployment got me thinking about how Lufthansa sure could learn a thing or two from JAL (or most other credible airlines for that matter).
09 Feb 2021
Total posts 5
I'd be interested in whether it would be possible to book the First Class suite for 2 people, given that it''s effectively 2 seats? It looks ideal for a parent travelling with a child, and would probably work out more economical than two J class seats in those circumstances.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
05 Oct 2016
Total posts 91
Rent PJs?? Not sure that sounds a goer... wearing someone else's PJs is a bit different to a washed blanket/duvet!!
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer P1
23 Aug 2014
Total posts 142
Understand taste is subjective - to my palate the best F food in the sky and the salinity of Salon champagne offered make this my no 1 (AF no 2) - the seat has been the weak link for those who are into the "door closing" style. This review is well-timed and important.
JAL will now have BOTH an excellent seat and food/wine product.
Let's hope the new F seat doesn't lag in its introduction, as in the Emirates product where the "new F" is still flogged as the benchmark by the carrier (and PRE-PANDEMIC), but is ultimately inaccessible to travellers due to the (overall) insignificant numbers of the re-fitted aircraft.
The other issue is that JAL dos not have a First ex-Sydney or Melbourne except for some short periods and the Australian market is therefore only looking at a "mixed" F/J fare to sample this product.
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Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
11 Oct 2014
Total posts 685
Hardware - unquestionably a superior seat / bed combination and the little extras such as wireless charging and screens, speakers, wardrobe etc will position JAL as one of the - if not the best - First / Business classes in the market.
But oooh - SOFT product seems to have been forgotten or deliberately 'stepped backwards' in this new launch. I agree that JAL has always offered sublime food and beverage - but really ? Where is dine on demand? And 'renting' pajamas ?
For God's sake - if I'm travelling on HND-JFK-HND, I'd at least like to determine when I choose to eat on a 14+ hr flight. As for the 'renting' of pajamas, this is really a 'del-classe' move which is more likely to engender a negative impression on your very top-tier customers - and bugger the tiny amount of revenue it might raise, if any. Let's face it, the cost to outfit each flight attendant in First with a hand-held credit card charge machine would outweigh the 'benefit'.
Such a shame - what could have been an across-the-board industry-leading First class, global product is being let down by lack of attention to 'soft' product details. Let's hope that JAL rethinks these two elements of service sooner than later. Nickel and dime-ing your best customers is never a good look.
03 Oct 2023
Total posts 1
Better to read the actual info from JAL rather than relying on something written on a website before having a rant. The pyjamas are not for "rent", they are lent out and collected at the end of the flight, washed and reused. This is exactly the same as happens now, although the product itself will be new on the A350-1000. In Japan, the word "rental" is often misused though and applied to things that are lent for free. See the JAL press release on their website for the real information.
24 Oct 2010
Total posts 2551
Hi mlyssy – as it happens, JAL made a mistake in translation between the original Japanese text and the English preess release, along the exact same lines as you've mentioned, and the English press release when first issued by JAL stated the PJs would be available as “a rental service”
This mistake was only realised when Executive Traveller went back to JAL PR asking for more information (eg how much would this PR 'rental' system cost). JAL responded to confirm it has made a mistake on the English release, that the PJs would be lent out during the flight, and has also since updated its English materials to reflect this (and we have also updated this article along the same lines).
Still worth noting however that JAL maintains the PJs are only on loan and will be collected at the end of the flight, they are not 'keepers' as is the case with just about all other airline PJs.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer P1
23 Aug 2014
Total posts 142
kimshep
Dine on demand is standard in Jl F
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer P1
23 Aug 2014
Total posts 142
The "times for meal services" will only be a guide
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
14 Aug 2022
Total posts 2
I'm not too excited by the new F suite. The console by the door seems a bit far away to put drinks on while seated. The console by the window is quite narrow to be very useful. Will the larger seat by the window be able to go into a chaise longue position so you can stretch out onto the ottoman in front? Having said that the bed looks as if it will be very comfy and JL's service will no doubt be impeccable. But overall I think I prefer QF's mock-up of their new F suite.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
14 Mar 2018
Total posts 25
The F seat doesn't look lie-flat. When extended the top section is inclined upwards slightly at the end, the middle third is flat, and the bottom third is inclined downwards slightly. This can hardly be a mistake in marketing given the importance to premium customers of a proper flat bed.
05 Mar 2015
Total posts 412
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
14 Mar 2018
Total posts 25
@QFP1 That makes sense, but only if all of the seat's constituent panels are in the same plane. The three panels here are not in the same plane (no pun intended) when set in bed mode: the back is up slightly, the seat panel IS flat, the leg section is down slightly. The aircraft nose being up slightly inflight will not balance out this lack of alignment of the three panels. Unless, of course, the demo is not an accurate depicition of what will eventually be installed.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
02 Feb 2018
Total posts 8
Looks great, but er.... headrest speakers instead of headphones? Surely not... So pax have to potentially put up with their neighbour cranking the IFE? Please tell me I have missed something.
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