We recently flew Japan Airlines JAL Business Class from San Francisco to Tokyo and back aboard a Boeing 777-300ER. In this JAL Business Class review, I’m covering the JAL Sky Suite seat, the 2-3-2 layout, what the cabin is like for families, food, amenities, and how comfortable it was for the long flight to Japan.
This flight was the start of our 10-night trip to Japan with kids, so being able to arrive in Tokyo rested made a huge difference.
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How to book JAL Business Class with points and miles
There are actually quite a few ways to book Japan Airlines Business Class with points. But this is one area where I would always check current options before transferring anything. Award prices, partner rules, transfer partners, and availability change frequently.
JAL is part of the oneworld alliance, so you don’t necessarily need JAL miles to book a JAL flight. British Airways, Alaska Airlines and American Airlines are among the programs that currently allow members to redeem their miles or points for eligible JAL award flights.
How we booked our Japan Airlines flights
For our nonstop JAL Business Class flight from San Francisco (SFO) to Tokyo (HND), we transferred American Express Membership Rewards to British Airways Executive Club and booked for 77,250 Avios + $146 per person, instead of paying around $4,500 per ticket.
You can read more about How to earn Amex Points: 7 easy ways to maximize Membership Rewards here.
I found the award seats on the British Airways website first and transferred the points only after confirming availability. We had just missed a transfer bonus, so this could have been closer to 60,000 Membership Rewards points per person.
For the return flight from Tokyo to San Francisco, we used Capital One miles with a 30% transfer bonus. The award was 80,000 JAL miles and $190 per person.
Since Capital One transfers to JAL at a 1,000:750 ratio, we would normally need about 107,000 Capital One miles per person. But with the 30% transfer bonus at the time of booking, we ended up using around 80,000 Capital One miles per person, which made the redemption much better.
Transfer bonuses are one of the reasons I like keeping flexible credit-card points instead of automatically transferring them to an airline. When the right bonus lines up with award availability, you can need significantly fewer credit-card points for the same flight.
Ways to book Japan Airlines flights with points
Some of the programs I would check include:
British Airways Avios: JAL award flights can be booked through British Airways because both airlines are Oneworld partners.
Alaska Airlines Atmos Rewards: Alaska currently allows members to book JAL award travel online using Atmos points.
American Airlines AAdvantage: AAdvantage miles can also be redeemed for JAL award flights.
JAL Mileage Bank: another option, especially now that Capital One can transfer directly to JAL, although the current Capital One-to-JAL transfer ratio is not 1:1, it’s 1000:750.
I would not transfer points until you actually see award availability. Transfers are generally irreversible, and the program that was the best deal last year may not be the best deal today.
For a more detailed comparison of the different programs, award prices, transfer partners and booking steps, see my How to Travel to Japan on Points and Miles guide.
British Airways Lounge at San Francisco Airport
Before boarding, we made a quick stop at the British Airways Lounge at SFO, which was conveniently located very close to our gate. Since we had bussiness class tickets, access to the Lounge was complimentary for all of us.
There was a good selection for a pre-flight meal, including hot dishes, deli-style options, snacks, and plenty of drinks.
We didn’t spend too long there since we were about to have a full meal onboard, but it was an easy and comfortable place to wait before the flight. The girls, of course, were especially happy to find cookies before boarding.
JAL Boeing 777-300ER Business Class cabin layout
The Boeing 777-300ER we flew has JAL’s older JAL SKY SUITE Business Class.
The cabin has 49 Business Class seats in rows 5 through 12, arranged in a 2-3-2 configuration.
At first, seeing 2-3-2 in Business Class doesn’t sound particularly appealing. Most newer international Business Class cabins use a 1-2-1 configuration. But JAL’s layout is different from a traditional 2-3-2 cabin.
Every seat still has its own aisle access. The window passenger does not need to step over the passenger sitting next to them (as, for example, in Lufthansa bussiness class we flew last year). JAL specifically markets the Sky Suite as providing aisle access from every seat.
Our seats: 9A, 9C, 10A and 10C
For our family of four, we chose 9A, 9C, 10A and 10C.
We put a child in each A window seat, with a parent directly next to them in the C aisle seat. Each child had a window seat, with a parent immediately next to them if they needed help with meals, entertainment, bedding, or anything else during the flight.
The downside was that we were split between two rows. I was sitting with one child, while my husband and our other child were directly in front of us, but once everyone was seated, I couldn’t really see them. The Sky Suite seats have tall shells and are designed to create individual private spaces.
Next time, I would choose two seats by the window and two seats in the middle in the same row. That way, we could still keep one parent close to each child while being able to see and communicate with each other much more easily.
The JAL Bussiness Class Sky Suite window seat
The window seat is probably the most interesting part of this product. It feels very private because the seat is tucked beside the window, almost behind the aisle seat.
The only downside of the JAL Sky Suite window seat is the very narrow entrance. I put a small water bottle on the floor in the photo to show just how tight the space is.
Still, I prefer this setup to older Business Class products like Lufthansa, where the window passenger may have to climb over a sleeping neighbor. With JAL, you still have your own path to the aisle, so you can get up without disturbing the person next to you.
Sleeping on the JAL 777-300ER
Sleep is one of the biggest reasons I value Business Class on long flights.
JAL’s Sky Suite converts into a fully flat bed, but the detail that really stands out is something surprisingly few airlines provide in Business Class: a mattress.
JAL provides an Airweave mattress and pillow on the Sky Suite. I wish more airlines did this. There is a noticeable difference between simply reclining a Business Class seat into a flat position and actually putting a mattress on top of it.
JAL Business Class amenities
JAL also does the small comfort items very well. We received an amenity pouch with the usual travel essentials, and JAL provides slippers in Business Class.
Slippers may sound like a small thing, but on a long flight they’re incredibly useful. Once I’m settled into my seat, I don’t want to put my shoes back on every time I get up.
The girls also received miniature Japan Airlines aircraft toys!
Japan Airlines Business Class food: Japanese or International menu
One of the things we remembered from our previous JAL Business Class flight was the food.
Passengers can choose between two completely different styles of meal: Japanese or International. That was also the setup on our previous SFO–Tokyo flight.
I like having the option because the Japanese meal is much more than simply choosing a different entrée. It feels like a completely different dining experience.
The Japanese menu is especially fun when you’re flying to Japan because your trip essentially starts before you land.
On the way back, we ordered a kids’ meal for our youngest, and she actually liked it much better than the regular menu. If your child is picky, I’d definitely request the kids’ meal in advance before the flight.
For kids, having the Western option can also make things easier if they aren’t interested in a traditional Japanese meal.
We also loved that there were additional dishes available later in the flight rather than being limited to the main meal service.
JAL 787-9 Sky Suite III vs. 777-300ER Sky Suite
Two years ago, the four of us also flew JAL Business Class from SFO to Tokyo, but that flight was on a Boeing 787-9 with JAL Sky Suite III in a 1-2-1 layout. This time, we flew the Boeing 777-300ER with the original JAL Sky Suite in a 2-3-2 configuration, so the seat layout and overall family experience felt very different.
Having now flown both products between San Francisco and Tokyo, I would choose the 1-2-1 configuration for our family if everything else were equal.
| 787-9 Sky Suite III | 777-300ER Sky Suite | |
|---|---|---|
| Layout | 1-2-1 | 2-3-2 |
| Direct aisle access | Yes | Yes |
| Family of four | Better for sitting in one row | Better for parent + child pairs |
| Window-seat access | Direct | Very narrow private passage |
| Privacy | Good | Very good at window |
| Closing door | No | No |
| Flat bed | Yes | Yes |
| Mattress | Yes | Yes |
| My preference for family travel | Winner |
Bottom line
Our JAL 777-300ER Business Class flights between San Francisco and Tokyo were a comfortable way to start and end our family trip to Japan. The 2-3-2 JAL Sky Suite layout isn’t my favorite for a family of four — I still prefer 1-2-1 so we can sit in the same row and see each other — but JAL’s design gives every passenger aisle access without having to climb over a neighbor.
The private window seats, lie-flat beds, mattress pads, slippers, Japanese and Western menus, and attentive service made the long flight much easier with kids.
Another reason JAL can be such a good option for points travelers is that there are several ways to book these flights with miles and transferable credit-card points. The best option depends on award availability, transfer partners, and current transfer bonuses.
We used British Airways Avios for our flight to Japan and Capital One miles with a 30% transfer bonus for the flight home, bringing the cost down significantly compared with the roughly $4,500 cash fare.
Overall, I would absolutely fly JAL Business Class to Japan with kids again. Between the comfortable sleeping setup, thoughtful service, and multiple ways to book with points, it can be an excellent option for a family trip to Japan.
