Hey from New York, as I’m wrapping up my present evaluation journey. I simply had the prospect to fly Japan Airways’ Airbus A350-1000 firstclass from Tokyo to New York. This can be a model new plane for the airline, that includes an all-new passenger expertise.
I had excessive hopes for this product, besides, my expectations have been exceeded by a protracted shot. I’ve been doing this for a very long time, and it’s uncommon {that a} product actually makes me go “WOW!” However that’s precisely what Japan Airways did. That is an expertise that footage don’t do justice. Heck, I’m actually excited to be heading residence and seeing my household, however I didn’t need this flight to finish.
I’ve been fortunate sufficient to fly nearly all the world’s finest firstclass airways, however Japan Airways is absolutely elevating the bar. The one different firstclass exhausting product that’s comparable is Emirates’ “Recreation Changer” 777 firstclass, however I feel Emirates could have been outdone.
My greatest criticism in regards to the flight? Nobody else was ingesting the 2013 Salon champagne, so I felt an immense obligation to shine off the $1,200 bottle, to keep away from it being wasted, regardless that I’m probably not a drinker these days. And I succeeded.
Beneath I needed to share some preliminary ideas on the expertise, after which quickly I’ll have a full journey report.
Japan Airways’ A350 firstclass seats are unreal
Japan Airways’ A350-1000 firstclass cabin has a complete of six seats, unfold throughout two rows, in a 1-1-1 configuration.
We’ve gotten used to the idea of firstclass suites with doorways, however Japan Airways has raised the bar. The suite may simply seat three folks, because the seat is vast sufficient for 2 folks (after which some), whereas there’s additionally a large ottoman on which you’ll be able to sit. When it comes to practical private house, this will solely be outdone by Etihad’s The Residence.
Now, admittedly one may conclude {that a} double seat is a waste of house, because it’s not like you’ll be able to guide two (or three) folks in a single suite. However that’s the place the considerate design shines. The seat again of the second seat lowers, to create a useful console on which you’ll be able to place issues throughout the flight. There’s even an armrest, in order that the seat gained’t be uncomfortably vast (I do know, discuss first world issues!).
You may have a look at the leisure display screen and never assume it’s outstanding, however that’s as a result of the size of the suite is misplaced in footage. The leisure monitor is a large 43″ — for context, beneath is my 15″ MacBook Air subsequent to the display screen. You’re actually sitting in entrance of a giant display screen TV, and it’s wild — you may watch the Taylor Swift Tremendous Bowl on right here!
Watching the A350 tail digital camera on a 43″ display screen whilst you’re flying is pure avgeek euphoria. It stays me of taking part in Microsoft Flight Simulator in my childhood, solely ten instances higher.
The quantity of storage on the seat can also be not like something I’ve seen. Beneath the ottoman is a large compartment the place you’ll be able to retailer your baggage — it match my overstuffed carry-on and backpack, with room to spare.
Then there are three further storage compartments on the seat, so there might be no scarcity of house to put your private belongings.
All of the seat’s features will be managed through a pill and panel subsequent to the seat, starting from the leisure features, to the lighting within the suite.
In mattress mode, this seat couldn’t be extra snug. It’s so lengthy and vast, and on Japan Airways you get improbable bedding. That is comprised of two pillows, a cover, and your alternative of a agency or tender mattress pad.
Additionally, whereas Japan Airways’ A350 firstclass doesn’t have floor-to-ceiling doorways (as you’ll discover in Emirates’ new firstclass), the partitions are 62″ excessive, in order that they do supply an unimaginable quantity of privateness.
Lastly, I haven’t traditionally been an enormous fan of Japan Airways’ cabin finishes. In renderings, I assumed the cabin seemed sort of ugly. Nevertheless, I’ve to say that the burgundy coloration seems to be much more elegant in individual. So whereas this isn’t how I’d select to design a aircraft, the cabin seems to be rather a lot higher than I used to be anticipating.
Japan Airways’ A350 firstclass tech is phenomenal
Japan Airways has unimaginable tech in its Airbus A350 firstclass. The place will we even start?
Every seat has an extraordinary seven charging choices — two USB-A shops, two USB-C shops, two AC energy shops, and one wi-fi charging station.
Japan Airways additionally has an unequalled three choices for having fun with audio via the inflight leisure — you should use the supplied Bang & Olufsen headphones, you should use your personal headphones through bluetooth audio, or you should use the audio system which are constructed into the seat.
That’s proper, Japan Airways has audio system constructed into the headrest, so you’ll be able to get pleasure from leisure with out even utilizing your headphones. I’ll share my ideas on that in a separate publish, since I’ve sufficient to share right here as is.
Japan Airways’ A350-1000 is a pleasure to fly
At present the world’s two finest firstclass exhausting merchandise are Emirates’ 777 firstclass and Japan Airways’ A350 firstclass. So I feel it’s essential to emphasise what a distinction the A350 could make to the passenger expertise.
The aircraft is simply so quiet, it has a tail digital camera (on a 43″ display screen no much less — SWOON!), and it’s pressurized in order that your pores and skin doesn’t really feel as dry. As a lot as I don’t often purchase into advertising hype, I need to point out that I 100% imagine that the 787 and A350 go away you feeling extra refreshed. On this journey, all my lengthy haul flights have been on the 787 and A350, and for the primary time in a very long time, my knuckles don’t really feel tremendous strive, which in any other case appears to occur each time I take one among these wild journeys.
Japan Airways’ firstclass tender product is pleasant
What’s to not love about flying with a Japanese airline? For one, you already know service goes to be constant and wonderful, as was the case on this flight. The crew on this flight couldn’t have been higher, and I used to be notably impressed provided that it was your complete crew’s first flight on the plane (this was solely the aircraft’s second-ever flight to New York). There can typically be a studying curve to new planes, however you wouldn’t have identified primarily based on the crew’s service degree.
Japan Airways’ tender product is unimaginable. The airline serves Salon 2013 in firstclass, retailing for $1,200 per bottle. Now, the airline solely masses one bottle of this, which is a wierd strategy to take. Nevertheless, once you’re the one one ingesting champagne…
However Japan Airways’ drink choice is spectacular past that, together with serving the most costly non-alcoholic drink that you simply’ll discover on any airline on this planet (which I’ll additionally cowl in a separate publish).
Japan Airways gives each western and Japanese meals. I nearly all the time go for the Japanese choices on a Japanese provider, however for the primary meal, the western one sounded extra interesting this time round (the Japanese menu was a bit too blowfish and herring primarily based for my liking).
Thankfully Japanese airways serve a number of the finest and most elaborate western meals of any airline, and this flight was no exception.
The meal started with an amuse bouche of goat milk bavarois.
Subsequent up was an appetizer of shrimp and kobashira with quinoa.
Then there was one more appetizer, comprised of vegetable and scallop mille-feuille.
Then there was the primary essential course, consisting of rockfish and winter greens a la nage, with a preparation you don’t typically see on a aircraft. The fish actually melted in your mouth.
Then the second essential course consisted of a beef sirloin with gratin dauphinois.
Lastly, for dessert was pistachio cream with chocolate cream puffs.
The standard was merely unmatched. No, this wasn’t like Emirates firstclass, there the star of the present is limitless caviar, however right here all the things was so top quality and thoughtfully offered.
For the pre-landing meal, I had the Japanese choice, consisting of salmon with lotus root and bok choy, steamed rice, miso soup, and black pickles.
Then I had the petit dessert tray.
Completely divine…
The place there’s room for enchancment
As you’ll be able to see, I’ve been raving about Japan Airways’ A350-1000 product above, and for good cause. Nevertheless, no product is ideal, so I need to be balanced, and share some areas for enchancment.
To begin, Japan Airways has acknowledged that it’s not happy with a number of the work Safran did with the cabin finishes, as there have been many points with the seats already, from scratches, to panels falling off. So whereas that has been broadly reported, I’ve to say that I didn’t discover any points in anyway with the performance of my seat. Then once more, this was solely the plane’s third business flight ever (I used to be flying the second A350-1000 to be delivered to Japan Airways).
Right here’s what I did discover when it comes to potential areas for enchancment:
- Japan Airways’ leisure system continues to be pretty restricted when it comes to the choice; nonetheless, between the tail digital camera and the free Wi-Fi for firstclass passengers, I used to be blissful as may very well be
- There was a difficulty with the map function, whereby it didn’t replace appropriately. Beginning at in regards to the midway level of the flight, the map simply instructed we have been 8hr30min from arrival, with no further updates
- There’s a pill subsequent to the seat that you simply use to manage the leisure, although I didn’t discover the design to be terribly intuitive when it comes to which buttons to push and when to be able to make alternatives
- That is admittedly a really particular element, however the toilet doorways slam loudly, so one thing must be put in in order that they shut extra gently, and make much less noise
These are all very minor factors, however I need to be balanced, so there ya go…
Backside line
I had excessive expectations of Japan Airways’ new A350 firstclass, however regardless of that, they have been exceeded. As I see it, that is no doubt one of many two finest firstclass exhausting merchandise on the market, together with Emirates’ 777 firstclass (and I’ll do a extra direct comparability of the 2 in a unique publish).
Japan Airways has taken private house to the following degree with its new firstclass, and the tech on the seats is spectacular. Whenever you mix that with Japanese hospitality and wonderful meals and drinks, business aviation actually doesn’t get significantly better than this.
What’s your tackle Japan Airways’ new A350-1000 firstclass?
