Review: Japan Airlines Economy Class Experience

I recently flew with Japan Airlines (JAL) from Los Angeles to Bangkok, with a stopover in Tokyo. However, my journey didn’t go as smoothly as I had hoped.

Originally, I was booked to fly with Zip Air, JAL’s low-cost airline. Unfortunately, upon arrival at LAX, the check-in staff refused to let me check in because I didn’t have a visa to enter Japan. Despite the fact that I was only transiting in the same terminal, they wouldn’t budge. This was quite frustrating since I had purchased the tickets directly from their website and had checked all the travel requirements beforehand. It was around the time of COVID restrictions, which only added to my annoyance.

To make matters worse, even though the Zip Air PR team had given me permission to take photos and videos during my trip, the check-in staff seemed unaware of this and simply refused me entry.

Left with no choice, I had to wander around LAX trying to find an alternative flight for the same day. Thankfully, ANA and JAL were willing to accommodate me, albeit at an additional cost for a brand-new ticket. Needless to say, I vowed never to fly with Zip Air again.

What disappoints me even more is that it has been almost 9 months since that incident, and I still haven’t received a refund for my original booking. Despite sending numerous messages and emails, all my attempts to reach out have fallen on deaf ears. It seems that while Zip Air is quick to take your money, they are reluctant to provide any form of customer support when things go wrong. This entire experience has left me with no desire to ever fly with them again.

JAL ECONOMY CLASS 2014

On a brighter note, let’s shift our focus to Japan Airlines (JAL). I’ve had the pleasure of flying with them multiple times since 2014, and I must say, their consistency has always impressed me.

KFC & JAL

Indeed, one of JAL’s masterstrokes has been its strategic partnerships with renowned brands to create unique dining experiences onboard.

Back in the day, JAL collaborated with Kentucky Fried Chicken Japan (KFC) to offer KFC meals on select international flights. These special meals came in a unique box and tray designed jointly by KFC and JAL.

The collaboration between KFC and JAL was particularly significant in Japan, where KFC had gained popularity as a Christmas meal option due to a marketing campaign launched in 1974. The idea originated when a foreign customer visited a KFC restaurant on Christmas Day and requested turkey. Although turkey was not a traditional Christmas food in Japan, the customer decided to try KFC instead and was so delighted with the chicken that he spread the word to his friends and family

In 2014, I flew all the way to Japan specifically to experience this inflight collaboration meal, and it remains a memorable part of my trip. It truly set the tone for my Japanese holiday and immersed me in the festive spirit.

Apart from the special KFC meals, JAL consistently offers generous portions and a wide variety of food options on their inflight meal trays. Even during the COVID era, they have managed to maintain their high standards. Let’s take a look at some regular inflight meals from 2014 on routes between Europe and Japan.

LOS ANGELES TO TOKYO

During my 10-hour flight from Los Angeles to Tokyo, JAL provided two meal services along with snacks available in the galley. The journey started with hot towels being offered, followed by the first meal service shortly after takeoff.

For this first meal, passengers could choose between chicken or beef. I opted for the chicken with rice, although it wasn’t particularly outstanding, so I ended up picking around the chicken itself. However, I thoroughly enjoyed the side dishes of Soba noodles, fresh fruit, and turkey.

During the meal collection, the cabin attendant noticed I didn’t touch my meal and apologised, and offered me snacks a little later on. JAL’s economy class service can be exceptional, it’s not every day that a crew member goes out of their way for you.