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Japan Airlines markets its Business Class as “Sky Suites,” a name that promises privacy and luxury. But on a long-haul flight from Tokyo to Helsinki, does this flagship product live up to the hype, or is it falling behind competitors? I put it to the test to find out.
In This Article
How I Booked This Flight
This flight was a standard revenue booking made through Finnair, a Oneworld partner. This leg was part of a round-trip ticket from Stockholm to Tokyo, and the price was around $1,000 (USD). This was significantly cheaper than flying Finnair’s own business class, and after the experience, I think I know why.
Flight Summary
Check-In
The flight departs relatively early in the morning Tokyo time, 7:50 AM, which is quite a convenient time since it lands in the afternoon in Helsinki. Finnair’s flights all depart in the evening Tokyo time which has them arriving very early in the morning in Helsinki. Unfortunately, that’s about where the good parts of the check-in experience end. Due to the early departure time, check-in desks do not open until 6:00 AM, and all passengers must be checked in by 6:50 AM (one hour prior to departure), which creates a tight window for everyone to check-in. Additionally, all passengers are required to print their own bags and boarding passes, including those in business class. This meant that when I arrived at the airport at 5:50 AM, there was already a massive line for the machines.
After navigating the machines, it turns out that not only do you need to print your own bag tags, but there is also only an automated bag drop, which, of course, did not work correctly as it refused to scan my passport. After spending probably around 10 minutes waiting for the one staff member tasked with helping everyone (I was far from the only one having issues), I finally got my bags checked in and was able to enter the security line. In total, the check-in process took around 45 minutes, which is significantly longer than I would expect for a business-class flight. Luckily, the ticket came with Fast Track for the security line, so there was no more waiting after checking in.
Heads Up: Tight Check-in Window at HND
JAL’s 7:50 AM departure has a strict check-in window from 6:00 AM to 6:50 AM. Combined with mandatory self-service kiosks and automated bag drops prone to issues, the process can be slow and stressful.
JAL Sakura Lounge (HND)
The JAL Sakura Lounge at HND is huge and features two floors. Early in the morning, only one of the floors is open, but it fills up quickly. As I was leaving, the upper floor opened, so I took a moment to check it out as well. It features a mix of different seat types, a solid selection of food and drinks, and a nice view of the airport.
Overall, I would say the lounge definitely met my expectations. It was a nice place to relax and wait for the flight, as well as grab a quick breakfast.
Boarding and Pre-Departure Service
The boarding process was very smooth and quick. I was able to board the plane without any issues and was seated in my seat shortly after. The pre-departure drink service was a bit slow, perhaps due to the large cabin and the awkwardness of navigating the “suites” (More on that later). The champagne glass was also tiny, more like a shot glass, but the champagne was tasty and cold, and the flight crew was very friendly.
JAL 777 Sky Suites Cabin & Seat Review
The cabin is the main selling point; it’s under the name Sky Suites. However, Suites is overselling it. What it is is 2-3-2 seating, which is ever so slightly staggered (so that your neighbor isn’t right next to you). A wall and a raisable divider separate the seats. While this creates more privacy (I was in the window seat, which probably offers the ultimate privacy), the fact that they’ve crammed in seven seats abreast is evident. In a time when most airlines have moved to a 1-2-1 layout, sticking to 2-3-2 and the narrow seats that come with it, while not as bad as Lufthansa’s 2-2-2 without aisle access or Turkish’s 2-3-2 with non-lie-flat seats, definitely means JAL is falling behind.
The window seat is designed so that you have a small “corridor” in front of the aisle seat to get to your space next to the window. This “corridor” is, however, extremely narrow, and even though I’m quite a skinny person, it was a bit of a squeeze to get to my seat. It also made it quite awkward for the crew to reach in and serve the meals. Additionally, there is no storage space in arms reach in the window seat, apart from a very narrow shelf to the left! Instead, the “corridor” features a small shelf, and the IFE also has a small shelf in front of it, neither of which is reachable when sitting down. This is a massive oversight from the designers, and I can’t imagine what they were thinking.
Key Issues With The Sky Suite Seat
- No At-Seat Storage: There is virtually no storage within arm’s reach. A tiny shelf and the space in front of the IFE screen are unreachable while seated.
- Narrow and Claustrophobic: The seat itself is narrow. The privacy walls, while good in theory, create a very confined feeling, especially when in lie-flat mode.
- Tiny Tray Table: The tray table is shockingly small, barely large enough for the meal tray and a drink. It felt no bigger than one on a short-haul flight.
In addition to all this, the 2-3-2 seating arrangement, combined with the dividers, means the space is very narrow. The table is tiny, barely fitting the tray with the meal and some drinks; in fact, it’s more or less the same size as on a narrow-body aircraft. And when it comes time to sleep, it’s best you don’t have claustrophobia, as the seats do not allow for much space to move around.
Restroom
The restroom, much like the seats, is very small, similar in size to an economy-size restroom. It did, at least, come with the amenities you’d expect, such as a spare toothbrush and toothpaste.
IFE & WiFi
The IFE is starting to show its age. The screen is small, low resolution, and quite far away from the seat. The UI, in general, is quite dated and laggy and not particularly user-friendly.
Dining: Lunch Service
The first meal was served shortly after take-off and was the highlight of the flight! I opted for a caviar salad as the appetizer and fish as the main course. Both dishes were delicious, and the presentation was beautiful.
The menu did, however, have some oddities when it came to drinks. Initially, it looks like there is a wide selection of wines, even rivaling some airlines’ first-class products. However, if you look in the fine print, it says that some items may not be available, in itself anything unusual since sometimes airlines run out unexpectedly, but that was not the case here. Instead, the flight only had one of each type of wine, so this seemed more like a way of saving money by not having to print separate menus for each destination, simply listing all the wines that the airline carries, and then saying that some may not be available. When you say “some wines,” my expectation is one or two, not 9 out of 12.
A Note on the Wine List
While extensive on paper, the menu lists all wines JAL carries across its network, not what’s available on your specific flight. Expect only one option per wine type (e.g., one red, one white) to be loaded, despite the dozen-plus options listed.
The Lie-Flat Bed and Sleep Experience
I had initially planned not to sleep during this flight, as it’s mainly a daytime flight with a morning departure and a westward route. However, soon after the meal service ended, they dimmed all the lights and asked all the passengers to close the blinds, something which always annoys me on westbound flights where the best way to combat jet lag is to stay awake. This meant I got really sleepy really fast and managed to get a few hours of sleep. However, it was far from comfortable in the cramped seats.
Dining: The On-Demand Second Meal
The second meal was… non-existent! This is the first time I’ve experienced a business-class flight without a second service. Instead, the menu featured an “a la carte” option, which was available on demand at any time until 1.5 hours before landing. Sadly, this part of the menu didn’t really feature any proper meals but rather a combination of prepackaged foods such as instant noodles, sandwiches, and some other snacks (Similar to SAS’ snack cabinet), which the crew would bring to you on a pretty plate.
Warning: No Formal Second Meal
Unlike most long-haul business class products, JAL does not offer a scheduled second meal service before landing. Instead, you must order from a limited “a la carte” snack menu of instant noodles and pre-packaged items at least 90 minutes before arrival.
Amenity Kit
The amenity kit was a highlight, too. Not only does the bag itself look a bit unique, but it also came with a small holder for the phone as well as a Lightning charging cable, which was neatly wrapped. In addition, there were, of course, all the expected amenities, such as a toothbrush, face cream, earplugs, and an eye mask.
Final Verdict: Is JAL Business Class Worth It?
Unless you find an incredible deal, I would avoid JAL’s 777 Business Class. While the soft product (food, amenities, crew) is excellent, the hard product is deeply flawed. The “Sky Suites” are cramped, lack storage, and feel a decade behind the competition. The poor ground experience and disappointing second meal service further detract from the value.
For Oneworld flights to Asia, I would recommend looking at Finnair instead, which offers a much more modern and comfortable business class experience. JAL’s product simply doesn’t live up to the premium price it usually commands.
JAL 777 Business: Pros & Cons
- The Good: Excellent first meal service, a high-quality amenity kit, and friendly, professional flight attendants.
- The Bad: A deeply flawed and dated seat design that is cramped and lacks storage, a poor ground experience at HND, no proper second meal, and an outdated IFE system.
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