Hi and welcome to the highlight of this series - flying F on JAL from CDG-HND.
Long haul F is always a treat and so far my limited experiences in this cabin have been on LX, LH, UA, CX and now JL. I redeemed 70,000 miles from my AA account for this trip before the increase in award levels. It now costs 90,000 for a F class award from Europe to Japan.
For my short stay in Paris, I decided to stay in the Gare du Nord area. It's not the most appealing neighborhood but for the sake of convenience it is an ideal location. All I had to do was take the RER B from/to CDG with minimal hassle - a straight shot. I would say that buying the RER tickets proved to be the most challenging part of getting to Paris. There are vending machines conveniently placed at the airport and station, but they do not take credit cards (except for local debit ones) nor bills, just coins. Why on earth would they design such an impractical machine? Is it a government scheme to secure job protection for its employees so that the frustrated user would resort to finally make the line and talk to a real customer service agent? Paris never ceases to amaze me, and I mean that in the full sense of the word.
As luck would have it, when I took the RER to the city on arrival, it was a nonstop ride to Gare du Nord bypassing all the other stops along the way.
Gare du Nord.
When I decided to stay by Gare du Nord, I had to find a hotel and chose the Hôtel de l'Europe. It's a modest 2 stars property with a small room but it was clean and very close to the station, so it fit the purpose nicely. At only USD 67 or EUR 63 for the night I didn't have to think too much about it.
View from my room.
I did a lot of sightseeing during my 24 hrs stay and will include the pics in the bonus at the end of the report. The following morning trip on my day of departure I checked out of the hotel and locked my bags in the luggage holding area inside Gare du Nord while I went around town to do more sightseeing and shopping. Upon my return to the station by 15:00 I retrieved my bags and navigated through the maze to take the train to CDG. I can see how going through Gare du Nord can be a frustrating experience for the first time visitor - signs are not clearly marked, long waits at the elevators that are as slow as snails, ticket machines that do not accept any payments except for local debit cards or coins, crowded spaces that would take the ability of an acrobat to pass through and the patience of a saint.
I take the train to CDG and once I get off at T2 I head to the JL counter at T2E.
Arriving at CDG.
Direction 2E.
I arrive at the JL counter which is handled by AF. The agent at the F class desk greets me with a smile and after verifying my information hands me an AF boarding pass. I was slightly disappointment since I was expecting a JL one. While exiting I am thanked in Japanese by a JL agent when I make my way to the premium line - Access no1.
Boarding pass.
On my way to passport control & security.
Access no1 with friendly agents and officer. How refreshing! Unfortunately there was only 1 booth that was staffed for "priority" pax so it took a few minutes to clear.
Staff at the security line were nice and one of them even wished me a nice flight. I had to pinch myself and check if I was really in CDG. Once in the other side you encounter a few high end shops for any last minute purchase. I bet any wife (or mistress) would appreciate these gifts.
AF lounge - K hall.
The lounge consists of two sides. The left one has a second floor offering a more private environment. The right side seems more open and contains the showers in the back. Check-in was cordial and I was told that both sides were the same.
JL uses the AF lounge but unfortunately F pax don't get to see the AF Premiere lounge. Instead they use a cordoned off area within the right side area as I discovered when I was exploring this side of the lounge.
Entrance
Left side lounge
Upon entering and settling down, I've heard a lady laugh and talk loudly in one of the tables. Eventually another guest approached her and asked her to be quiet. If I were her I would have been mortified. How embarrassing to have everyone around her listen to the request from the offended guest. I'm sure most were cheering and applauding deep inside while wearing a mask of indifference on the outside. :P
Buffet
I thought that it was strange to have breakfast items during the late afternoon. The catering was light and I was expecting a more generous display.
Interior
Left side room 2nd fl.
These pralines were only found upstairs.
Right side of the lounge
This area contained the "mini room" for JL's F pax in addition to the showers. At one point when I was in the F section I saw two agents escort a pax out because she was not a JL pax. An agent was not always there to check so I thought that this was based on an honor system.
I sat near the entrance so from time to time I had the uneasy feeling of others staring at me. It's hard to say if they were looking with envy since they couldn't qualify to be admitted in such an exclusive corner OR the stare was out of pity for those F pax that couldn't get their own lounge and be placed in this semi opened space for everyone to see like an exhibit in a zoo. :P
Truth be told, I've heard a pax say to another "Oh no, we can't go inside there, this is for F class people" with a slight tone of mockery and disdain. A few minutes later I left and moved to the left side of the lounge. I felt an assault on my self worth and started having an existentialist crisis.
For a second my memory went back to that time when I flew in F with LX many years ago. I have a picture of myself at the seat and I thought about printing that on a shirt with the caption "Ceci n'est pas un grand voyageur".
JL's F section
Showers
I requested a shower and was immediately escorted to one by a staff. I like that AF provides a little pouch with L'Occitane toiletries and a wrapped set of nice towels. The shower room was roomy and well appointed, but the air vent was dusty. The dust accumulates over time so a periodic check from time to time would be advisable.
Buffet
The catering was the same as the other room except for the pralines on the 2nd flr.
My snacks.
The JAL F experience starts now
As much as I wanted to linger in the lounge, I decided to leave for the gate at 50 min. before dept. The terminal was eerily empty except for the gate area. Once there, boarding has already started and I made the line for the F pax. There were two agents checking the boarding passes and passports.
There was a separate jetbridge for F pax and when I got closer to the entrance the purser steps out of the door into the jetbridge and welcomes me by saying "You must be Mr. jetsetpanda - welcome aboard" with a radiant smile. Oh this was going to set the tone for a wonderful flight. I just knew it deep inside me.
Gate area.
Boarding.
Cabin.
Seat.
I tried to store my luggage in the overhead bin and a FA advised me that I was welcomed to place it under the foot stool in front of my seat. The brown leather seat was roomy and as comfortable as it looked. On the side the Bose headphones, Loewe amenity kit and Shiseido skin care set were already placed.
The FA's introduced themselves and welcomed me aboard. I was asked what I wanted for pre-dept. drink and this was brought right away along with an oshibori.
Compartments and controls.
Amenity kit.
The kit was compact and very complete with Loewe branded eau de toilette, packaged towel and lip balm. In addition a packet of tissue, dental set, comb, eyeshade and moisture mask were also provided.
Headphones.
Taxiing and take off
After the door closed, the captain welcomed passengers over the speaker and FA's placed themselves in the front to bow when the announcement finished.
A couple of 787's
Au revoir Paris.
Right after take off a FA noticed that I did not opened my slippers so she took them out of the bag and handed them to me.
MENU
Shortly after menus were distributed.
JAPANESE
WESTERN
À la carte menu
Wine list
Let the feast begin
Amuse bouches - radish with cream cheese & mini quiche served with beverage of choice.
At one point the FA takes my meal order and I chose the duck with foie gras and truffle sauce. I love duck, foie gras and truffle, so this was triple feast. Besides, what could be more representative of a F meal than this dish? I was really looking forward to the main dish when minutes later disaster strikes. The purser comes and kneels besides me. In a very apologetic way she explains to me that only 2 duck dishes were loaded and that 2 of the passengers have pre-ordered this meal ahead of time so my highly anticipated dish was now an unfulfilled wish. Now that I think about it, I should have pre-ordered my meal. I knew about this service but out of laziness and thinking that an airline like JL would have a 100% choice for F pax, I did not do it. My assumption proved to be wrong and lesson learned.
I could see that the purser was terribly sorry and felt uncomfortable with this situation. She offered me the other two dishes or even a mix and match with the Japanese items. In the end I went with a seafood theme and had the cod in boletus broth with the Japanese lobster dumpling.
Set up.
Bread basket.
Sushi "Te-Maki" with Caviar de Sologne.
The FA brings the caviar and shows me how to assemble the first roll with chopsticks. She gets the seaweed, places some rice in the middle, spoons some caviar along the rice and asks me to roll it up and enjoy. I must admit that this is an unconventional way to enjoy caviar, but it actually worked. The crispiness of the seaweed makes a good contrast to the blandness of the rice and the taste of the caviar is somehow enhanced.
Appetizer.
A lovely assortment of different items.
Another round of bread.
Cod with boletus broth.
Delicious fish with firm flesh and cooked just right. The broth was flavorful and I used the bread to soak it up. I thought that there was too much salad on top though.
This was followed by the Japanese main dish which was served with miso soup. There was a comforting quality to this dish and the pairing with pickles was brilliant.
Lobster dumpling with white miso and deep fried taro & spinach.
The FA's kept the glasses refilled and at this point I was drinking Royal Blue tea "Queen of Blue". After the meal the FA brought me both the verrine and Japanese desserts. The terrine was deliciously creamy and the yumochi made with sticky rice had a yuzu (citrus like) flavor which was refreshing. When my tray was cleared I was handed a bottle of water.
I was asked if I wanted a lounge wear but I declined since the plane was not cold at all. As a matter of fact it was a tad warm which is something that I have read Western pax complain about JL. However I didn't refuse the offer to have my bed made and the FA quickly pulled some duvets from the overhead bins and in a blink of an eye my bed was ready.
I couldn't sleep too well and eventually got up to read. A FA saw me awake and chatted with me for a few minutes. When I mentioned that I had trouble sleeping she said that probably the cabin was too warm but I assured her that was not the case and that I always have a hard time sleeping in planes. We started talking about food and I told her that I enjoyed pickles, so a few minutes later she surprised me by bringing me a plum pickle. It is precisely this kind of unexpected service that makes JAL so special and endearing. I called it the "wow" effect.
For those who like to nibble there were a few snacks placed in the galley.
I then went to the WC and the FA opens the door for me as she sees me about to enter the WC. There is a separate trash container for towels and a bidet.
Feeling peckish I order the healthy ramen set. I am given an oshibori to freshen up before the meal.
I browse through the IFE but couldn't find anything that caught my attention so I decided to read a little. Later as we got closer to arrival I tried the curry rice. It was served with salad with two dressings and pickles.
Love napkins with hole.
Curry rice.
A sweet touch to the end of the meal.
Right before arrival FA's bid farewell to each passenger individually. The purser along with the other 3 FA's that were working the F cabin thanked me for flying JL with a bow.
Arriving in HND with Mount Fuji in the background.
Landing.
Taxiing to the gate.
My plane at the gate.
***BONUS***
I made the most of my short 24 hrs layover in Paris and always enjoy my visits to this city. Here are a few places that I visited:
Place des Vosges
Maison Européenne de la Photographie
Andres Serrano's works.
Le Marais
Du Pain et Des Idées
Misc.
See more
Verdict
Japan Airlines
9.5/10
Cabin10.0
Cabin crew10.0
Entertainment/wifi9.0
Meal/catering9.0
Air france Lounge - 2E, Hall K
7.8/10
Comfort8.0
Meal/catering7.5
Entertainment/wifi7.5
Services8.0
Paris - CDG
9.0/10
Efficiency8.5
Access9.0
Services9.0
Cleanliness9.5
Tokyo - HND
10.0/10
Efficiency10.0
Access10.0
Services10.0
Cleanliness10.0
Conclusion
JAL offered a top notch product in F and it was a pleasure to fly with such a professional and attentive crew. The Japanese excel at customer service and it is not surprising that this quality is also found aboard their airline, particular in the uncanny way in which they can anticipate customer's desires and expectations.
Catering was excellent with meals that were well presented and delicious. The issue that I encountered was a bit of a letdown and it is always disappointing to not have your first choice of meal, especially when flying F. The crew did its best under these circumstances and this could have been avoided if I had pre-ordered my meal in advance. I was always under the impression that JL catered a full choice for all passengers in its F cabin but it seems that is no longer the case.
I'm glad that I was able to take advantage of the old mileage redemption for this trip through AA. Even at today's higher redemption rates, flying F with a world class carriers is worth every penny or mile.
17 LIKESLIKE TO THANK THE AUTHORTHANKS ! FLIGHT-REPORT LIKED
Hello and thank you for sharing this great report with us. The cabin looks nice but may be not as luxurious and private as on some other airlines. The catering is absolutely amazing in terms of presentation and you completely forget that you are on board an airplane and feel rather in a 3 stars restaurant. I can understand you disappointment for not getting your choice of meal , this should not happen in P. From your rating and comments the Flight Attendant seem to have been perfect. The K lounge in CDG is good for business passengers but it's too bad that JAL does not allow passengers to enter the air France Première lounge , probably of of the 3 best in the world. ( or maybe AF does not allow JAL passengers!) It's fun to see my neighborhood in the bonus and you were a few steps from my place when in place des Vosges ! next time I hope we can meet.
"The cabin looks nice but may be not as luxurious and private as on some other airlines." - Compared with AF which is its major competitor with this route, the French carrier wins in terms of ground experience and cabin (in my opinion it looks more luxurious). But JAL has a golden reputation when it comes to inflight service and I was not disappointed with that aspect of my experience.
"I can understand you disappointment for not getting your choice of meal , this should not happen in P. " - No one is perfect, not even JL. ;) Perfection is an elusive quality and all we can do is get as close to it as possible.
"From your rating and comments the Flight Attendant seem to have been perfect." - 10+.
" or maybe AF does not allow JAL passengers" - The harder it is to attain, the more desirable it becomes. :P First on some airlines might not be up to par and it would be understandable that an admission to the exclusive AF Premiere lounge is not included, but on JL it is nothing to sneeze at. Perhaps JL has been stricken with the cost cutting fever. It seemed to show signs of it for a short time when F pax received the same amenity kit as those in J.
"It's fun to see my neighborhood in the bonus and you were a few steps from my place when in place des Vosges ! next time I hope we can meet." - You are a fortunate Parisian citizen indeed. I look forward to meeting you in the future. It's always enriching to find others who share similar values to one's own.
Thanks for sharing this FR and Happy New Year 2017
"Why on earth would they design such an impractical machine? " Because the French "Elite" is never using public transportation !
"the patience of a saint." I thought that you were one pf them ;) Your experience is unfortunately common and usual
What an ugly board pass for a First Class BP !
The food offer is a disgrace even for a J pax, don't say about a First Class pax But even the less worst AF lounge (M gates) is not that great
The JL's First Class mini room is just pathetic :(
The amenity kit looks better than the one I got but not really classy ;)
"I knew about this service but out of laziness and thinking that an airline like JL would have a 100% choice for F pax" And that should be like that : it's a very bad cost-cutting from JL :(
"that only 2 duck dishes were loaded and that 2 of the passengers have pre-ordered this meal" Even worst : they knew from the start that they couldn't offer one menu item !! It's not First Class attitude : your catering mark is way too kind
Anyway catering is very good(taste and presentation) and the service top notch Wine offer is at the top too
Such flights are always too short
"this could have been avoided if I had pre-ordered my meal in advance" I disagree with you as they should have been able to offer you the duck especially as the two available were pre-ordered A big fail in my opinion
"Because the French "Elite" is never using public transportation !" - I thought "equality" was a cornerstone foundation of French society. ;)
"I thought that you were one pf them ;) " - Is that the way you think of me? How flattering. ;)
"What an ugly board pass for a First Class BP !" - AF should design more stylish ones. After all "style" is a French quality.
"The food offer is a disgrace even for a J pax, don't say about a First Class pax" - That was a very limited offer at the lounge. It looked more like a breakfast display.
"The JL's First Class mini room is just pathetic :(" - It's the smallest F lounge that I've been to. :P
"The amenity kit looks better than the one I got but not really classy ;)" - At least it is not the J one. I've read in another site that people were getting them but I was relieved that was not my case. The user is the one that brings the "class", not the kit. ;)
"it's a very bad cost-cutting from JL :( " - It's very uncharacteristic of it. :(
"It's not First Class attitude : your catering mark is way too kind" - I was satisfied with the way that it was handled and in the end I tried two main dishes - one Western and the other one Japanese. Besides I also received double dessert. The food was great and beautifully presented so I stand by my score. Otherwise it would have been a 10.
"Wine offer is at the top too" - If you approve it must be great. ;)
"Such flights are always too short" - Especially for avgeeks like us. :P
" JL is not giving PJs any more ?" - Not anymore. The cost cutting fever is contagious.
What a disappointment with the use of AF Business lounge in CDG. ;( Why JL is not in T2A/T2C together with AA and CX ?
"The catering was light and I was expecting a more generous display." -> At least there is champagne. lol
It's funny to see 2 different remote controls at the seat : Probably the oldest one is not in use anymore ?
Very nice wine list : From Salon to Château Talbot every bottle is appealing. :P Was there any Japanese whisky on offer ?
What a service mistake with the duck meal already reserved. At least the FA should have told you before handind out the menu that the duck was "unfortunately" not available.
"Taking a RER B ride is always an experience. ;)" - I wonder if the experience at night is vastly different. :P
"Why JL is not in T2A/T2C together with AA and CX ?" - It would make more sense from an alliance perspective, but I think that this partnership between JL and AF dates back a long time ago and they have grown very comfortable to each other.
"At least there is champagne. lol" The glass is always half full. I have to say that to myself every morning. :P
"Probably the oldest one is not in use anymore ?" - The FA mentioned that one was a telephone. O_o
"Was there any Japanese whisky on offer ?" - Suntory Hibiki 17 yrs old. I will include that page in the report.
"At least the FA should have told you before handind out the menu that the duck was "unfortunately" not available." - Don't you think that would have been more "shocking"? At least I was given the illusion of being able to order anything on the menu. :P
Poor Adan. I sympathize with you as it's not always easy for a non-speaking french tourist to easily wander in the public transportation in Paris.
Ground experience with JL not on par with the amazing you can get if you travelled Air France First: no personal escort and beautiful lounge in CDG.
"Eventually another guest approached her and asked her to be quiet"=> how embarrassing for her!!!! Shame! Shame! Shame!
Catering, design, comfort in AF lounge: truly NOT a First Class experience.
How disappointing you didn't get the duck with foie gras and truffle sauce. In my opinion, pre-ordered meal shouldn't be an option in First Class. If it's a smal hiccup in Business Class, it's a big faux pas in First Class.
Too bad because cabin crew was outstanding and the rest of the catering amazing. Big faux pas which deserves, in my opinion 8 for the catering.
" I sympathize with you as it's not always easy for a non-speaking french tourist to easily wander in the public transportation in Paris." - Please don't use all your Kleenex tissues. :P It's not the language but the inefficiency of it all. Perhaps I should follow the example of others and have a chauffeur drive me directly in the future. ;)
"no personal escort and beautiful lounge in CDG." - Not expected from a premium airline.
"how embarrassing for her!!!! Shame! Shame! Shame!" - I thought that these things don't happen in Paris. I was proven wrong. For the record, the offender and the offended spoke in French.
"Catering, design, comfort in AF lounge: truly NOT a First Class experience." - I felt like a stepchild. :P
"If it's a smal hiccup in Business Class, it's a big faux pas in First Class." - Amen.
"Big faux pas which deserves, in my opinion 8 for the catering." - They recovered nicely in my opinion by giving me 2 main dishes and 2 desserts. The food was delicious and as expected of a F cabin. I stand by my score. Had I chosen the fish this would have been a 10 in catering. ;)
Well, the RER B is one of the worst mean of transportation to go to/from an airport ! When it's not about strikes, it's about breakdowns,... As a tourist, it's even more difficult.
Shame you didn't receive a JL Boarding pass. Also, the ground service is not that good, and as Bernard said, it would have been a bette value to have access to the marvelous AF F lounge !
On board, I like the cabin, the colors !
Such a great champagne ! It costs around 350€ a bottle, so a great perk and something you wouldn't experience at home ^^ (I hope you enjoyed it !)
So disappointing that you couldn't secure the duck. I don't mind pre-ordered meal, but it should be a "plus" and not something chosen from the "on board" menu !
Like Clément asked, was there any whiskies on the menu ?
Crew made this a fantastic experience ! Should be a 12 out of 10 ^^
"When it's not about strikes, it's about breakdowns,... As a tourist, it's even more difficult." - I'd like to think of myself as a "seasoned" traveler who has been "roasted" by experience. ;)
"Also, the ground service is not that good, and as Bernard said, it would have been a bette value to have access to the marvelous AF F lounge !" - It's a pity but that is life. i drowned my sorrow with champagne. :P
"On board, I like the cabin, the colors !" - I also like the warm earthly tones.
"(I hope you enjoyed it !)" - Every single drop. ;)
"I don't mind pre-ordered meal, but it should be a "plus" and not something chosen from the "on board" menu !" - Pre-order menu = tighter inventory control and less choices.
"Like Clément asked, was there any whiskies on the menu ?" - Like my reply - Suntory Hibiki 17 yrs. old. :P You are a real fan of whisky.
"Crew made this a fantastic experience !" - They were amazing.
Wow! Great report, Adan. JL First Class looks amazing and the food looks incredible! Thank you for sharing, and nice to see your photos from your short stay in Paris as well too.
Ah, Voilà! The pièce de résistence of the itinerary!
" It now costs 90,000 for a F class award from Europe to Japan." - 70K was a steal while it still existed (DL usually charges more than that for J!). Nevertheless, 90K is still not bad for F. I believe AF charges something like 180K ow for F on TATL. Considering this is a 12+ hour flight, 90K isn't terrible. But Shhhh...don't tell AA that or they'll jack up the price even more! ^^
OMG, I'm dying at the fact that you took the RER from Gare du Nord to the airport for a flight in International First. How bohemian of you :-P
Have to say, the ground services aren't very convincing. I mean I know of lot of carriers don't do anything particularly spectacular on the ground for F pax, aside from an F lounge, but in AF's CDG hub (a JL partner on this route btw), where AF provide F pax escort and car service to the exclusive La Première lounge and to the gate, and a personal attendant in the lounge....the JL ground service just seems a bit womp womp in comparison.
"Access no1 with friendly agents and officer. How refreshing!" - The security agents at CDG have been surprisingly friendly and helpful the last several times I've flown through. They've definitely improved.
"Unfortunately there was only 1 booth that was staffed for "priority" pax " - Like I said...womp womp
"I felt an assault on my self worth and started having an existentialist crisis." - How French of you ^^
"FA's placed themselves in the front to bow when the announcement finished. " - I love it!
"I love duck, foie gras and truffle, so this was triple feast." - So much goodness
"Besides, what could be more representative of a F meal than this dish?" - Along with caviar it would have been the epitome of F dining. What a shame that it wasn't available. That should never happen in Intl F! I mean maybe on like AA or UA...but you know they ain't serving foie gras and caviar though :-/
"As a matter of fact it was a tad warm which is something that I have read Western pax complain about JL." - I find most non-US aircraft too warm. We like the a/c on arctic mode here in the States. LOL
Aside from the little hiccup with the main dish, the onboard experience is really what makes this a true Intl First experience. It's that immaculate attention to detail by the crew that really makes it memorable. I'm itching to redeem some AA miles for a trip in Intl F. I wasn't really considering JL (was mostly thinking CX or QF), but depending on the destination, JL may be a good option!
"Nevertheless, 90K is still not bad for F" - True, especially on JL which is a great premium carrier.
"How bohemian of you :-P" - Sometimes I am a contradiction. Why not? It felt "real". ;)
"the JL ground service just seems a bit womp womp in comparison." - For crying out loud, I was not even informed of the "pet corner" reserved for JL's F pax inside the AF lounge by the staff.
"How French of you ^^" - I might have been French on a previous life. ;)
"We like the a/c on arctic mode here in the States. LOL" - It seems that we like things ice cold. Don't forget the obsession with ice on drinks.
"It's that immaculate attention to detail by the crew that really makes it memorable." - It's one of the JL trademarks.
"I wasn't really considering JL (was mostly thinking CX or QF), but depending on the destination, JL may be a good option!" - It's an excellent option.
Great report Jetsetpanda! It's too bad the lounge wasn't up to your expectations. Much of the FC fun is that experience. I had a similar issue with ANA at O'Hare recently.
"I was asked if I wanted a lounge wear but I declined since the plane was not cold at all." Don't they have sleep suits for FC passengers to take with? I know JL and ANA have those silly sweaters they give in business, but nothing in First? Or did I miss something?
I too flew JL recently in business on their 787. So impressed with their attention to detail in food presentation. It's more like an art to them.
Thanks Adan for sharing this flight report with stunning pictures! Sorry for late reply as I am busy in payroll this week. I still haven’t time to reply my report comments lol
The AF Lounge food selections look adequate but for its interior design is just average and I think the JFK one is more fancy. Before reading I thought JL will use the CX Lounge while later I found out they are not in the same Terminal lol (I expect same alliance use same terminal). The CX Lounge in CDG looks better.
The JL F seat is very nice. IMO it looks more spacious than NH as it can access the windows. The NH F seat divider blocks half of the windows view!
“As a matter of fact it was a tad warm which is something that I have read Western pax complain about JL.” - As a HK traveler, I think it is optimal and it should be the norm for the Asian carriers.
A bit sad that you cannot choose your meal freely. I don’t know if because of western option, the appetizer outlook is not very F (I expect the food would be placed like an artwork :P). Still the food is very good. I like the idea that JL has different galley snacks for different classes. For CX all classes are the same.
Overall it is a very good flight with excellent catering and crew services (but as a Japan carrier, food and crew services cannot be bad^^)
Nice travel bonus of Paris! Look forward to your next report!
No worries. We all have busy lifestyles so I understand. ;)
" The AF Lounge food selections look adequate but for its interior design is just average and I think the JFK one is more fancy." - AF has several lounges @ CDG and I understand that the one located in the "M" gates is the best of the lot. Perhaps I will get the chance to visit in the future.
"Before reading I thought JL will use the CX Lounge while later I found out they are not in the same Terminal lol " - It is somewhat surprising, but I think that the CX/AF partnership goes a long way back. At least if JL moved to the same terminal than the rest of Oneworld carriers, pax in F will have access to the F section of the CX or AA lounges.
"The NH F seat divider blocks half of the windows view!" - Good to know.
"As a HK traveler, I think it is optimal and it should be the norm for the Asian carriers." - I know the aversion to anything cold that Asians have. ;)
"A bit sad that you cannot choose your meal freely. I don’t know if because of western option, the appetizer outlook is not very F (I expect the food would be placed like an artwork :P)." - That was the only drawback of my experience. I was happy with the appetizer because it had a little bit of everything. Maybe it didn't look too orderly but I assure you that the taste was right on.
The hotel room looks good for the price and for the location.
Nice shots of those 788s and great aerials!
It's very disappointing to underload the meals, especially in F... Cost-cutting is evident around most carriers nowadays, even when it comes to top carriers. It's sad to see that these things are the "future" of air-travel but I guess we'll get used to it sooner or later. However, it was nice by the crew to handle the situation very professionally, their service is amazing. Catering looks excellent nonetheless.
"Nice shots of those 788s and great aerials!" - If that was during the day I would have gotten much better results. ;)
"It's sad to see that these things are the "future" of air-travel but I guess we'll get used to it sooner or later. " - I guess more airlines will implement a pre-order meal system in order to get a handle on inventory.
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#10 out of 94 Airlines A minimum of 10 flight-reports within the past two years is required to appear in the rankings.
173 reviews
23 Comments
The cabin looks nice but may be not as luxurious and private as on some other airlines.
The catering is absolutely amazing in terms of presentation and you completely forget that you are on board an airplane and feel rather in a 3 stars restaurant. I can understand you disappointment for not getting your choice of meal , this should not happen in P.
From your rating and comments the Flight Attendant seem to have been perfect.
The K lounge in CDG is good for business passengers but it's too bad that JAL does not allow passengers to enter the air France Première lounge , probably of of the 3 best in the world. ( or maybe AF does not allow JAL passengers!)
It's fun to see my neighborhood in the bonus and you were a few steps from my place when in place des Vosges ! next time I hope we can meet.
"The cabin looks nice but may be not as luxurious and private as on some other airlines."
- Compared with AF which is its major competitor with this route, the French carrier wins in terms of ground experience and cabin (in my opinion it looks more luxurious). But JAL has a golden reputation when it comes to inflight service and I was not disappointed with that aspect of my experience.
"I can understand you disappointment for not getting your choice of meal , this should not happen in P. "
- No one is perfect, not even JL. ;) Perfection is an elusive quality and all we can do is get as close to it as possible.
"From your rating and comments the Flight Attendant seem to have been perfect."
- 10+.
" or maybe AF does not allow JAL passengers"
- The harder it is to attain, the more desirable it becomes. :P First on some airlines might not be up to par and it would be understandable that an admission to the exclusive AF Premiere lounge is not included, but on JL it is nothing to sneeze at. Perhaps JL has been stricken with the cost cutting fever. It seemed to show signs of it for a short time when F pax received the same amenity kit as those in J.
"It's fun to see my neighborhood in the bonus and you were a few steps from my place when in place des Vosges ! next time I hope we can meet."
- You are a fortunate Parisian citizen indeed. I look forward to meeting you in the future. It's always enriching to find others who share similar values to one's own.
Thank you for your comments.
"Why on earth would they design such an impractical machine? "
Because the French "Elite" is never using public transportation !
"the patience of a saint."
I thought that you were one pf them ;)
Your experience is unfortunately common and usual
What an ugly board pass for a First Class BP !
The food offer is a disgrace even for a J pax, don't say about a First Class pax
But even the less worst AF lounge (M gates) is not that great
The JL's First Class mini room is just pathetic :(
The amenity kit looks better than the one I got but not really classy ;)
"I knew about this service but out of laziness and thinking that an airline like JL would have a 100% choice for F pax"
And that should be like that : it's a very bad cost-cutting from JL :(
"that only 2 duck dishes were loaded and that 2 of the passengers have pre-ordered this meal"
Even worst : they knew from the start that they couldn't offer one menu item !!
It's not First Class attitude : your catering mark is way too kind
Anyway catering is very good(taste and presentation) and the service top notch
Wine offer is at the top too
Such flights are always too short
"this could have been avoided if I had pre-ordered my meal in advance"
I disagree with you as they should have been able to offer you the duck especially as the two available were pre-ordered
A big fail in my opinion
Nice bonus pictures in Paris
See you for another report
"Because the French "Elite" is never using public transportation !"
- I thought "equality" was a cornerstone foundation of French society. ;)
"I thought that you were one pf them ;) "
- Is that the way you think of me? How flattering. ;)
"What an ugly board pass for a First Class BP !"
- AF should design more stylish ones. After all "style" is a French quality.
"The food offer is a disgrace even for a J pax, don't say about a First Class pax"
- That was a very limited offer at the lounge. It looked more like a breakfast display.
"The JL's First Class mini room is just pathetic :("
- It's the smallest F lounge that I've been to. :P
"The amenity kit looks better than the one I got but not really classy ;)"
- At least it is not the J one. I've read in another site that people were getting them but I was relieved that was not my case. The user is the one that brings the "class", not the kit. ;)
"it's a very bad cost-cutting from JL :( "
- It's very uncharacteristic of it. :(
"It's not First Class attitude : your catering mark is way too kind"
- I was satisfied with the way that it was handled and in the end I tried two main dishes - one Western and the other one Japanese. Besides I also received double dessert. The food was great and beautifully presented so I stand by my score. Otherwise it would have been a 10.
"Wine offer is at the top too"
- If you approve it must be great. ;)
"Such flights are always too short"
- Especially for avgeeks like us. :P
" JL is not giving PJs any more ?"
- Not anymore. The cost cutting fever is contagious.
Thank you for your visit.
Taking a RER B ride is always an experience. ;)
What a disappointment with the use of AF Business lounge in CDG. ;(
Why JL is not in T2A/T2C together with AA and CX ?
"The catering was light and I was expecting a more generous display." -> At least there is champagne. lol
It's funny to see 2 different remote controls at the seat : Probably the oldest one is not in use anymore ?
Very nice wine list : From Salon to Château Talbot every bottle is appealing. :P
Was there any Japanese whisky on offer ?
What a service mistake with the duck meal already reserved. At least the FA should have told you before handind out the menu that the duck was "unfortunately" not available.
"Taking a RER B ride is always an experience. ;)"
- I wonder if the experience at night is vastly different. :P
"Why JL is not in T2A/T2C together with AA and CX ?"
- It would make more sense from an alliance perspective, but I think that this partnership between JL and AF dates back a long time ago and they have grown very comfortable to each other.
"At least there is champagne. lol"
The glass is always half full. I have to say that to myself every morning. :P
"Probably the oldest one is not in use anymore ?"
- The FA mentioned that one was a telephone. O_o
"Was there any Japanese whisky on offer ?"
- Suntory Hibiki 17 yrs old. I will include that page in the report.
"At least the FA should have told you before handind out the menu that the duck was "unfortunately" not available."
- Don't you think that would have been more "shocking"? At least I was given the illusion of being able to order anything on the menu. :P
Thank you Clement.
Ground experience with JL not on par with the amazing you can get if you travelled Air France First: no personal escort and beautiful lounge in CDG.
"Eventually another guest approached her and asked her to be quiet"=> how embarrassing for her!!!! Shame! Shame! Shame!
Catering, design, comfort in AF lounge: truly NOT a First Class experience.
How disappointing you didn't get the duck with foie gras and truffle sauce. In my opinion, pre-ordered meal shouldn't be an option in First Class. If it's a smal hiccup in Business Class, it's a big faux pas in First Class.
Too bad because cabin crew was outstanding and the rest of the catering amazing. Big faux pas which deserves, in my opinion 8 for the catering.
Thank you Adan
" I sympathize with you as it's not always easy for a non-speaking french tourist to easily wander in the public transportation in Paris."
- Please don't use all your Kleenex tissues. :P It's not the language but the inefficiency of it all. Perhaps I should follow the example of others and have a chauffeur drive me directly in the future. ;)
"no personal escort and beautiful lounge in CDG."
- Not expected from a premium airline.
"how embarrassing for her!!!! Shame! Shame! Shame!"
- I thought that these things don't happen in Paris. I was proven wrong. For the record, the offender and the offended spoke in French.
"Catering, design, comfort in AF lounge: truly NOT a First Class experience."
- I felt like a stepchild. :P
"If it's a smal hiccup in Business Class, it's a big faux pas in First Class."
- Amen.
"Big faux pas which deserves, in my opinion 8 for the catering."
- They recovered nicely in my opinion by giving me 2 main dishes and 2 desserts. The food was delicious and as expected of a F cabin. I stand by my score. Had I chosen the fish this would have been a 10 in catering. ;)
Thanks for your support.
Well, the RER B is one of the worst mean of transportation to go to/from an airport ! When it's not about strikes, it's about breakdowns,... As a tourist, it's even more difficult.
Shame you didn't receive a JL Boarding pass. Also, the ground service is not that good, and as Bernard said, it would have been a bette value to have access to the marvelous AF F lounge !
On board, I like the cabin, the colors !
Such a great champagne ! It costs around 350€ a bottle, so a great perk and something you wouldn't experience at home ^^ (I hope you enjoyed it !)
So disappointing that you couldn't secure the duck. I don't mind pre-ordered meal, but it should be a "plus" and not something chosen from the "on board" menu !
Like Clément asked, was there any whiskies on the menu ?
Crew made this a fantastic experience ! Should be a 12 out of 10 ^^
Thank you very much, and all the best in 2017 !
"When it's not about strikes, it's about breakdowns,... As a tourist, it's even more difficult."
- I'd like to think of myself as a "seasoned" traveler who has been "roasted" by experience. ;)
"Also, the ground service is not that good, and as Bernard said, it would have been a bette value to have access to the marvelous AF F lounge !"
- It's a pity but that is life. i drowned my sorrow with champagne. :P
"On board, I like the cabin, the colors !"
- I also like the warm earthly tones.
"(I hope you enjoyed it !)"
- Every single drop. ;)
"I don't mind pre-ordered meal, but it should be a "plus" and not something chosen from the "on board" menu !"
- Pre-order menu = tighter inventory control and less choices.
"Like Clément asked, was there any whiskies on the menu ?"
- Like my reply - Suntory Hibiki 17 yrs. old. :P You are a real fan of whisky.
"Crew made this a fantastic experience !"
- They were amazing.
Best to you too Jules. Merci.
Looking forward to the next part.
Matthew
Thank you very much for reading and I'm glad that you liked the pics of the service and bonus.
Take care.
" It now costs 90,000 for a F class award from Europe to Japan."
- 70K was a steal while it still existed (DL usually charges more than that for J!). Nevertheless, 90K is still not bad for F. I believe AF charges something like 180K ow for F on TATL. Considering this is a 12+ hour flight, 90K isn't terrible. But Shhhh...don't tell AA that or they'll jack up the price even more! ^^
OMG, I'm dying at the fact that you took the RER from Gare du Nord to the airport for a flight in International First. How bohemian of you :-P
Have to say, the ground services aren't very convincing. I mean I know of lot of carriers don't do anything particularly spectacular on the ground for F pax, aside from an F lounge, but in AF's CDG hub (a JL partner on this route btw), where AF provide F pax escort and car service to the exclusive La Première lounge and to the gate, and a personal attendant in the lounge....the JL ground service just seems a bit womp womp in comparison.
"Access no1 with friendly agents and officer. How refreshing!"
- The security agents at CDG have been surprisingly friendly and helpful the last several times I've flown through. They've definitely improved.
"Unfortunately there was only 1 booth that was staffed for "priority" pax "
- Like I said...womp womp
"I felt an assault on my self worth and started having an existentialist crisis."
- How French of you ^^
"FA's placed themselves in the front to bow when the announcement finished. "
- I love it!
"I love duck, foie gras and truffle, so this was triple feast."
- So much goodness
"Besides, what could be more representative of a F meal than this dish?"
- Along with caviar it would have been the epitome of F dining. What a shame that it wasn't available. That should never happen in Intl F! I mean maybe on like AA or UA...but you know they ain't serving foie gras and caviar though :-/
"As a matter of fact it was a tad warm which is something that I have read Western pax complain about JL."
- I find most non-US aircraft too warm. We like the a/c on arctic mode here in the States. LOL
Aside from the little hiccup with the main dish, the onboard experience is really what makes this a true Intl First experience. It's that immaculate attention to detail by the crew that really makes it memorable. I'm itching to redeem some AA miles for a trip in Intl F. I wasn't really considering JL (was mostly thinking CX or QF), but depending on the destination, JL may be a good option!
Thanks for another beautiful FR!
"Nevertheless, 90K is still not bad for F"
- True, especially on JL which is a great premium carrier.
"How bohemian of you :-P"
- Sometimes I am a contradiction. Why not? It felt "real". ;)
"the JL ground service just seems a bit womp womp in comparison."
- For crying out loud, I was not even informed of the "pet corner" reserved for JL's F pax inside the AF lounge by the staff.
"How French of you ^^"
- I might have been French on a previous life. ;)
"We like the a/c on arctic mode here in the States. LOL"
- It seems that we like things ice cold. Don't forget the obsession with ice on drinks.
"It's that immaculate attention to detail by the crew that really makes it memorable."
- It's one of the JL trademarks.
"I wasn't really considering JL (was mostly thinking CX or QF), but depending on the destination, JL may be a good option!"
- It's an excellent option.
Thanks for your comments Kevin.
"I was asked if I wanted a lounge wear but I declined since the plane was not cold at all."
Don't they have sleep suits for FC passengers to take with? I know JL and ANA have those silly sweaters they give in business, but nothing in First? Or did I miss something?
I too flew JL recently in business on their 787. So impressed with their attention to detail in food presentation. It's more like an art to them.
"I had a similar issue with ANA at O'Hare recently. "
I think ANA @ SFO also has similar issues. ;)
"Don't they have sleep suits for FC passengers to take with? "
- Not anymore. I didn't see any pajamas being offered at all.
"So impressed with their attention to detail in food presentation. It's more like an art to them."
- It sets them apart for sure.
Thanks for your visit.
The AF Lounge food selections look adequate but for its interior design is just average and I think the JFK one is more fancy. Before reading I thought JL will use the CX Lounge while later I found out they are not in the same Terminal lol (I expect same alliance use same terminal). The CX Lounge in CDG looks better.
The JL F seat is very nice. IMO it looks more spacious than NH as it can access the windows. The NH F seat divider blocks half of the windows view!
“As a matter of fact it was a tad warm which is something that I have read Western pax complain about JL.”
- As a HK traveler, I think it is optimal and it should be the norm for the Asian carriers.
A bit sad that you cannot choose your meal freely. I don’t know if because of western option, the appetizer outlook is not very F (I expect the food would be placed like an artwork :P). Still the food is very good. I like the idea that JL has different galley snacks for different classes. For CX all classes are the same.
Overall it is a very good flight with excellent catering and crew services (but as a Japan carrier, food and crew services cannot be bad^^)
Nice travel bonus of Paris! Look forward to your next report!
No worries. We all have busy lifestyles so I understand. ;)
" The AF Lounge food selections look adequate but for its interior design is just average and I think the JFK one is more fancy."
- AF has several lounges @ CDG and I understand that the one located in the "M" gates is the best of the lot. Perhaps I will get the chance to visit in the future.
"Before reading I thought JL will use the CX Lounge while later I found out they are not in the same Terminal lol "
- It is somewhat surprising, but I think that the CX/AF partnership goes a long way back. At least if JL moved to the same terminal than the rest of Oneworld carriers, pax in F will have access to the F section of the CX or AA lounges.
"The NH F seat divider blocks half of the windows view!"
- Good to know.
"As a HK traveler, I think it is optimal and it should be the norm for the Asian carriers."
- I know the aversion to anything cold that Asians have. ;)
"A bit sad that you cannot choose your meal freely. I don’t know if because of western option, the appetizer outlook is not very F (I expect the food would be placed like an artwork :P)."
- That was the only drawback of my experience. I was happy with the appetizer because it had a little bit of everything. Maybe it didn't look too orderly but I assure you that the taste was right on.
Thanks for your comments.
The hotel room looks good for the price and for the location.
Nice shots of those 788s and great aerials!
It's very disappointing to underload the meals, especially in F... Cost-cutting is evident around most carriers nowadays, even when it comes to top carriers. It's sad to see that these things are the "future" of air-travel but I guess we'll get used to it sooner or later. However, it was nice by the crew to handle the situation very professionally, their service is amazing. Catering looks excellent nonetheless.
Great aerial shots prior to arrival.
Nice spotting shots at HND!
Thank you for the bonus.
Have a good one, see you!
"Nice shots of those 788s and great aerials!"
- If that was during the day I would have gotten much better results. ;)
"It's sad to see that these things are the "future" of air-travel but I guess we'll get used to it sooner or later. "
- I guess more airlines will implement a pre-order meal system in order to get a handle on inventory.
Approaching HND on a clear day is priceless.
Thanks for stopping.
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