JAL Airlines from West Coast

[BarrioRunner 0]

Booked on JAL to Bangkok out of LAX.

 

Anyone on here used JAL?

 

Good or bad?

 

Looking for your opinions.

[Soi7 1]

Of all the carriers I have flown and there have been 6 or 7 JAL is the only one I would not use again IMO BAD .

[BarrioRunner 0]

Of all the carriers I have flown and there have been 6 or 7 JAL is the only one I would not use again IMO BAD .

Can you be more specific?

[Soi7 1]

I was unhappy with the service from the staff and the Seats were the Smallest I have ever encountered on any flights this was my take on them maybe they will be ok for you .

[Samsonite 181]

I was unhappy with the service from the staff and the Seats were the Smallest I have ever encountered on any flights this was my take on them maybe they will be ok for you .

I agree 100%. Worst travel experience of my life was on Japan Airlines from SFO to NRT. Left late. Arrived late. 14 hours with my knees firmly up against the seat in front of me. EVEN WORST was on the return from Singapore to NRT on a plane Boeing built for JAL with the firm understanding these planes would not be used outside of the islands of Japan, a 747-400D, "D" for Domestic. The entire plane is Cattle Class and carries 568 passengers. About week after this happened I was speaking to the head of 747 production and he was very upset to learn JAL was using these planes outside of Japan.

Edited October 26, 2005 by Samsonite

[sindre 0]

If you wanna fly Japanese, ANA (All Nippon Airways) are way ahead...

[LBJ 533]

I have flown JAL fron Narita to BKK a couple of times in the last 3 years and I do agree that the seats/legroom are not the best.

 

However, I have no complaints about the service and for my trips from the east coast, they can get me to BKK earlier than any other airline I take.

[Soi7 1]

If you wanna fly Japanese, ANA (All Nippon Airways) are way ahead...

 

I read in a flight Mag on board a ANA flight that they are Asia's largest airline they were good but you don't hear much about them or I have not any way

[MrMango 671]

I am in Trouble – It is Wheels up on Nov 13 from Kona Hawaii via JAL (The only carrier from Kona).

 

I will byte my teeth and advise on the service….

[HammerIT2 0]

Say it isn't so!

JAL would be the last one 2 Bangkok. I just had a round with them on them taking my airmiles from AA and putting them into my JAL account(which I should have never opened) These turkeys(being nice here) will put u in a seat everytime that sucks.

On the last trip, we asked for bulkhead seats, they said they were full. I just happened to sit in the next seat behind them and got 2 talking with them travelers. they got them one hour before takeoff! This was there first flight also

I have one thing to say 2 JAL but can't here

If your flying 2 bangkok on a partner airline try THAI. That will at least get u a leg up so 2 speak.

[Dungheap 243]

I always fly ANA and have no complaints though this time will be flying with Singapore Airlines as they have a promotion for their new direct service to BKK (Used to go via Singapore).

 

JAL portrays the image of Japan's national flag carrier but has been embroiled in a series of maintenance scandals of late and has been officially warned by the Ministry of Transport to pull up its socks.

 

First Class and Biz with JAL is great but in economy they do pack 'em in. If you want more leg room why not ask for aisle seats or the bulkheads?

[packhike 13]

Flown JAL once found it to be alright. I just always show up a 1/2 hr before checkin opens, get in line (normally I'm the first or second in line) and when I check in ask for the aisle emergency row exit. With every airline I have flown I have never been denied the seat (dont know if I'm lucky or they just take pity on me since I'm 6'5") Of course now I only fly Eva air evergreen deluxe and I still do the same thing with them and make sure I get the aisle emergency exit seat. Always get it.

[BarrioRunner 0]

I thank everyone for their opinions on JAL.

 

We have done alot research on JAL and their seating layouts. We are not sure as of tonight which type 747 we are on to Osaka out of LAX.

 

We have made it clear to our travel agent that they needed to ensure thay communicate our requests for seating in the emergency rows for the extra leg room we both need.

[Samsonite 181]

I always fly ANA and have no complaints though this time will be flying with Singapore Airlines as they have a promotion for their new direct service to BKK (Used to go via Singapore).

Great News! ABOUT TIME!!!!

[vegasdave 0]

I found the service to be ok, but the seats where imposibly small. the seat back only came up to my shoulders. thus it was impossible to sleep. I got very lucky in as much as the flight from LAX to narita I had a row of 3 all to myself.

[Soi7 1]

We have made it clear to our travel agent that they needed to ensure thay communicate our requests for seating in the emergency rows for the extra leg room we both need.

 

When I have flown China and Korean Airlines and asked if they could put me in a Emergency row seat I was told by both that those seats are not pre Bookable Hope JAL will do for you

[Emil 0]

I have one thing to say 2 JAL but can't here

If your flying 2 bangkok on a partner airline try THAI. That will at least get u a leg up so 2 speak.

JAL is in the One World alliance along with AA and Cathay Pacific. Thai is in Star alliance with UA, ANA and Singapore.

 

I flew JAL once and thought it was fine. I did get a bulkhead seat so I had plenty of legroom. My only complaint was that I was only able to convert 70% of the miles to my AA acount, maybe because I had a discounted ticket.

 

Now I only fly with UA (unless they put me on a Star alliance carrier). I know they get alot of bad press, but their FF program is great especially when you get to Premier Executive level. I always call the Premier Executive line and get Emergency exit rows after I have booked my flight.

[galt67 2]

I suppose I'm the only one here, but I thought JAL was EXCELLENT the time I flew from LAX-BKK!

 

Very good service, snacks placed in the OPEN (without asking) throughout the flight, etc.

 

Compared to Korean, NWA, Asiana, American, or Cathay they were probably the BEST!

[BarrioRunner 0]

I went to the link someone put on here about the airlines and how people reported on them.

 

I would say that JAL based on what some had said was an OK airlines. Some of the problems they stated could be from any airline.

 

Looking at some of the pics of the 747, it looks "same same" to me.

 

Like the snacks idea a it cuts down on them having to always run around helping the passengers out.

 

Now if ONLY theu would run around in very small swim suits, I would for sure stay awake.

[Samsonite 181]

Looking at some of the pics of the 747, it looks "same same" to me.

Sorry, no. Each airline installs their own choice of seats. The seats on JAL are the smallest I've ever encountered anywhere.

Cathay Pacific and Korean Air are far better airlines than JAL, but then that is just my humble opinion. Think somewhere in this section on airlines I once posted a link to a recent survey of Asian airlines and JAL came in way down toward the bottom of the list.

Edited October 28, 2005 by Samsonite

[Soi7 1]

Sorry, no. Each airline installs their own choice of seats. The seats on JAL are the smallest I've ever encountered anywhere.

 

Yep Sam is right the seats suck and if they had been a little bigger I could have put up with the Shit service

[CheshireTom 1,377]

Dungheap,

 

I always fly ANA and have no complaints though this time will be flying with Singapore Airlines as they have a promotion for their new direct service to BKK (Used to go via Singapore).

 

Any idea what the flight numbers are for the BKK direct flights or is it a Star Alliance codeshare on Thai?

 

Tom

[Emil 0]

Sorry, no.  Each airline installs their own choice of seats.  The seats on JAL are the smallest I've ever encountered anywhere. 

Cathay Pacific and Korean Air are far better airlines than JAL, but then that is just my humble opinion.  Think somewhere in this section on airlines I once posted a link to a recent survey of Asian airlines and JAL came in way down toward the bottom of the list.

Well I know the legroom can vary, but how can the width of the seat. Boeing only build 1 width of 747-400 fuselage and every airline that I've flown uses a 3-4-3 seating in economy. The only way that they could make the seats wider would be to make the aisles smaller.

Edited October 28, 2005 by Emil

[Dungheap 243]

Dungheap,

 

 

 

Any idea what the flight numbers are for the BKK direct flights or is it a Star Alliance codeshare on Thai?

 

Tom

SQ995 NRT-BKK

SQ996 BKK-NRT

 

I fly on Tuesday and will let yas know what I think. Many swear that economy in SQ is better than biz with the others. They also have three times the movies of other airlines.

Edited October 28, 2005 by Dungheap

[CheshireTom 1,377]

Dungheap,

 

Sorry, I thought you were referring to direct flights from the US west coast.

 

Tom