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First-class international award tickets are amongst the most aspirational in the world of points and miles. The chance to fly up front for a fraction of the tens of thousands of dollars cash cost is truly a treat. However, not all first-class cabins are created equal. Among the cream of the crop of first-class cabins are Japan Airlines (JAL) and All Nippon Airways (ANA).
Both Japanese airlines fly internationally from Tokyo and are renowned for their stellar first-class experiences. I had the chance to fly both products during a recent trip to Japan. Here's how the two airlines' premium cabin experiences compare — and how to book these hard-to-find seats for yourself.
My flights:
| JAL | ANA | |
|---|---|---|
| Route | Chicago O'Hare (ORD) - Tokyo Haneda (HND) | Tokyo Narita (NRT) - Chicago O'Hare (ORD) |
| Flight # | JL 9 | NH12 |
| Duration | 13 hours 16 minutes / 6291 miles | 11 hours 10 minutes / 6259 miles |
| Aircraft | Boeing 777-300ER | Boeing 777-300ER |
Check In & Lounges
The pre-flight experience is somewhat subjective, as both airlines have a huge presence in Tokyo compared to a gateway airport in the United States — Chicago-O'Hare (ORD) in my case — where there is only one or two flights a day. That being said, here's what I found at the airport.
JAL: Chicago (ORD) – Tokyo (HND)
Check-in was easy at ORD Terminal 3, with a dedicated first-class line at the Japan Airlines counter and a TSA entry point right next door.
Although Japan Airlines doesn't have its own lounge in Chicago, as a member of the Oneworld airline alliance, first-class passengers get access to the American Airlines Flagship Lounge. This lounge, located between the H and K wings in Terminal 3, has plentiful food and drink options. Even a Bloody Mary bar!
ANA: Tokyo (NRT) – Chicago (ORD)
ANA flies from both Tokyo airports to the U.S., but my particular itinerary was from Tokyo-Narita (NRT) to ORD. The ANA check-in at NRT Terminal 1 is off to the side, away from the usual check-in counters. You enter their private “ANA Suite check-in” area, with attentive service, quick check-in and bag check, and a private security screening area.
The ANA Suite lounge at Narita left a lot to be desired. There was a limited selection of food and drinks, although there was a separate window to order hot curry and noodle dishes. The lounge was small and lacked any endearing qualities that set it apart.
Cabin & Seats
In this case, it's hard to do an apples-to-apples comparison of the airlines' hard product (aircraft, cabin, seats, etc.). While both flights were on the same aircraft, ANA has retrofitted some of its planes with a new business class and first class product called “The Room” and “The Suite” respectively. My ANA flight had this new cabin.
Meanwhile, JAL has also introduced upgraded business and first class seats, but only on its A350-1000 aircraft. Since I was not flying this aircraft, I am comparing JAL's older seat to ANA's newer one.
JAL
The JAL first class cabin was arranged in a 1-2-1 configuration, with eight seats in total. Although this was the older product, I found the area comfortable, with a wide, leather seat, a long cubby area, and a wide footwell.
There was adequate storage, lighting, and charging ports. Even complimentary Wi-Fi was included. However, the suite doesn't have a door to close, so the seats lacked privacy.
Where this product really fell short was with the in-flight entertainment (IFE) system. The screen was a decent 23″, but there wasn't a very large catalog of movies and shows. The most frustrating part was having to scroll through and choose entertainment on a small handheld remote. It was hard to see and navigate, and it didn't even utilize the screen for making selections. The whole system was borderline unusable — not ideal for a 13-hour flight.
Since the cabin was half-full, the flight attendants made up a separate seat as my lie-flat bed, and it was very comfortable. They used a soft mattress cover and pillows that made for a cozy sleep.
ANA
As you can imagine with a refreshed cabin, this product was exceptional. The seat was comfortable, the finishes sleek, and the whole setup more private. It has a sliding door as well as a large footwell.
Where this seat wowed was with the IFE screen. The screen was the width of the seat, measuring 42″! This seat also used a remote to choose your entertainment, but the options appeared on screen — a much easier experience.
Like on my JAL flight, the crew prepared an empty seat into a bed for me. Although this bed was very comfortable and enclosed due to the door, the JAL bed felt better and made for a more restful sleep.
Related: How to Use Points and Miles to Book the Best First Class Flights
Service & Dining
Both JAL and ANA have a reputation for excellence in the soft product — the in-flight experience, such as service and dining — and my experience aligned with that.
JAL
The JAL flight crew was extremely attentive throughout the flight. I was offered a Japanese welcome fruit drink and a hot towel upon boarding. Throughout the flight, the crew was constantly stopping by to check if I needed anything.
I chose the Japanese menu for my first meal, which consisted of a seven-course meal of various Japanese foods highlighted below.
The wine selection was impressive. I tried several different offerings. Sadly, the swanky Salon Champagne is only served leaving Tokyo, so I didn't get a chance to try it.
The meal before landing was à la carte with a variety of selections. The lobster roll was particularly tasty.
The Heralbony amenity kit had all the necessary items for sleeping and freshening up, but didn't particularly impress.
Overall, I was genuinely impressed by both the quality of service and the exceptional dining experience provided by Japan Airlines. Every aspect of the trip reflected a strong commitment to hospitality and attention to detail. With the first class cabin operating at only about half capacity, the flight attendants were especially proactive and available, making sure passengers were well taken care of.
ANA
On my ANA flight, the flight attendants were equally attentive and engaged, taking a very hands-on approach from the moment I arrived at my seat. They walked me through the various features and functions of the seat, ensuring I was fully comfortable and familiar with everything it had to offer, and they warmly welcomed me aboard with a glass of champagne.
I opted for the International Menu this time around, consisting of several courses, including multiple appetizer plates, a main dish, and dessert.
After sleeping, the second meal was on demand and included several Japanese options as well as the chicken and mushroom risotto that I had below. It was excellent. There was also bread and fruit selections.
The wine selection was varied, but I thought not to the same level as Japan Airlines. Luckily, they were offering Hibiki 100th Anniversary Japanese whisky on this flight, so I purchased a bottle for 50,000 yen ($322).
The amenity kit didn't wow either, but did include a fine selection of Sensai lotions.
JAL First Class vs ANA First Class: Which is Better?
As you can probably guess, the new ANA first class cabin outdid the older JAL first class cabin in this comparison. The new finishes, gigantic screen, and privacy door were all winners. Putting the new JAL first-class cabin on the Boeing A350 up against this ANA “The Suite” would be a better match.
However, JAL really knocked it out of the park in the service and food department. The overall taste and selections of the food and drinks made for quite the culinary experience in the sky.
Finally, what you may have really been wondering about: the pajamas. Both airlines offered comfortable PJs for lounging and sleeping in, with ANA even providing a separate “cardigan” to go over the sleep shirt. Despite that, I would say the JAL pajamas were more comfortable. Plus, the ANA pajamas shrank two sizes when I washed them, rendering them unusable. The winner here is JAL. I still wear them around the house; my kids affectionately refer to them as my “JAL jammies.”
Both were incredible flying experiences. If Japan is on your radar, both airlines should be ones you look into, whether in first class or business.
How I Booked It
Before I started pursuing award travel, I could never dreamed of having a first-class experience like this. Points and miles can make a trip like this a reality.
JAL
I began searching for flights about a year out. How far in advance you can book award flights depends on the airline. It's possible to book JAL flights 331 days out through Oneworld partner American Airlines. Although this is later than you can book the same flights through Cathay Pacific (360 days) and British Airways (354 days), booking through American is the cheapest at 60,000 AAdvantage miles in business class and 80,000 in first.
With that in mind, I stalked availability from the cities JAL flies from as American Airlines opened each new day on the calendar. I found they released each day somewhere between midnight and 3 a.m. ET, and eventually I was able to snag a first-class seat from Chicago to Tokyo for 80,000 miles. On the return — for a date that worked for me — I only found JAL in business for 60,000 AA miles. These booking patterns can be inconsistent, so using an award search tool and setting up alerts can help you snag these high-demand flights.
ANA
How then did my ANA first-class flight come about? I knew about Virgin Atlantic's sweet spot for booking ANA premium cabins, so I set alerts at seats.aero and waited it out. I had to set alerts for ANA availability through United and Air Canada, since ANA awards aren't searchable or bookable through Virgin Atlantic's website.
Seats.aero even has an ANA First Class finder that can help with finding scarcely available seats.
Sure enough, about six weeks before my flight, I got an alert. I then called up Virgin to book, and luckily, there was a 40% transfer bonus from American Express Membership Rewards to Virgin Atlantic at the time. I turned 61,000 Amex Membership Rewards into 85,000 Virgin miles — the amount needed for an ANA first class award. This is one of Virgin's best sweets spots. I was able to cancel the JAL business class seat I had booked through American Airlines with no penalty, thanks to their generous cancellation policy.
Final Thoughts
Japanese airlines JAL and ANA offer two of the best first-class experiences in the sky. ANA may have edged out JAL with its new “The Suite” first-class product. But from the lie-flat seats to the service to the multi-course meals, both airlines met and even exceeded expectations.
While these first-class seats are notoriously hard to book with points and miles, if you stay persistent and use the tools and tricks at your disposal, they are attainable. It also helps to have a diversified stash of points and miles so you can strike when these coveted seats become available.
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