JAL is the only airline to offer three classes of service on domestic flights around Japan. In addition to economy class, it offers Class J and first class. While Class J doesn’t offer service differentiated from economy class other than a larger seat, domestic first class service is considerably differentiated from the other two classes.
Continue reading to learn all you need to know about JAL’s domestic first class including how much it costs, what aircraft and routes it is available on, what the service is like, and whether it’s worth the extra money.
How Much Does JAL’s Domestic First Class Cost?
When booking in advance, the difference in price between JAL’s economy class, Class J, and domestic first class varies depending on the flight and availability. That said, when upgrading on the day of your departure, the price is fixed and only depends on the route.
Until fairly recently, same-day upgrades from economy class to first class on JAL’s domestic flights used to cost just 8,000 yen regardless of the route. In other words, it used cost the same to upgrade on a sub-one-hour hop from Tokyo to Osaka as it did on a two-hour flight from Tokyo to Naha in Okinawa.
Since then, JAL not only increased the upgrade price but also split the pricing into two groups: Tokyo – Okinawa (Naha/Ishigaki) and all other routes. With that, the current same-day upgrade pricing from domestic economy class to first class is as follows:
- Tokyo – Okinawa: 13,200 yen (approx. 90 dollars)
- All other routes: 11,000 yen (approx. 75 dollars)
Same-day upgrades from Class J to first class cost:
- Tokyo – Okinawa: 9,900 yen (approx. 68 dollars)
- All other routes: 8,800 yen (approx. 60 dollars)
Which Domestic JAL Aircraft Have First Class Seats?
Only some of JAL’s widebody aircraft are equipped with domestic first class seats. All Airbus A350-900s and Boeing 787-8s and some 767-300ERs have them.
Both the 787-8s and 767-300ERs have one row of first class – the former in a 2-2-2 layout for a total of six seats and the latter in a 2-1-2 layout for a total of five seats. The A350-900s are the most premium-heavy domestic aircraft in JAL’s fleet with two rows of first class seats in a 2-2-2 layout for a total of 12 seats.
On the 767-300ERs, JAL uses its previous generation domestic first class seats while the A350-900s and 787-8s feature newer seats. In addition to being larger and reclining further than Class J seats, JAL’s domestic first class seats also offer more privacy, larger in-flight entertainment screens (except for the 767-300ER which doesn’t have them), and more storage space.
The one advantage that first class on the 767 has over the two newer types is the availability of the single seat in the center section of the aircraft.
In addition to the three domestic aircraft types in JAL’s fleet, the airline also sometimes uses its internationally configured 777-300ER on domestic flights. In that case, passengers can enjoy JAL’s international first class seat on short domestic flights like Tokyo – Fukuoka.
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On Which Domestic Routes Does JAL Offer First Class?
JAL offers first class on only a very small portion of its extensive domestic network. The vast majority of the routes connect Tokyo with other major cities in Japan.
Currently, you can enjoy first class on the following domestic routes operated by JAL:
- Osaka – Naha
- Tokyo – Fukuoka
- Tokyo – Hiroshima
- Tokyo – Ishigaki
- Tokyo – Kagoshima
- Tokyo – Naha
- Tokyo – Osaka
- Tokyo – Sapporo
Not all of the flights on the above routes offer first class, though. For example, while essentially all Tokyo – Osaka flights are operated with first class-equipped aircraft, only two-thirds or so of the flights from Tokyo to Hiroshima and Kagoshima offer first class.
What Is JAL Domestic First Class Service Like?
Unlike Class J where the only real differentiation from economy class is seat size, JAL’s domestic first class product is differentiated from the other two classes throughout one’s journey, all the way from the departure airport to the arrival airport.
Ground Service
At Tokyo Haneda, Osaka Itami, Sapporo New Chitose, Fukuoka, and Naha Airports, JAL offers its domestic first class passengers dedicated check-in counters and security check area. These can also be used by oneworld Emerald members traveling in economy class or Class J.
The three other airports that have first class service – Hiroshima, Kagoshima, and Ishigaki – do not have dedicated check-in counters. That said, first class passengers are given priority at the regular check-in counters. These airports do not offer dedicated security check areas either.
JAL domestic first class passengers are also able to be among the first ones onboard their aircraft. Being part of boarding group 1, they can board right after preboarding (families with children, passengers with disabilities, etc.).
Lastly, those traveling on JAL domestic flights in first class get their checked bags handled with priority. This allows them to save some time at their arrival airport.
Baggage Allowance
Passengers traveling in JAL’s domestic first class can check in up to 45 kg of baggage for free as opposed to the 20 kg allowance that economy class and Class J passengers get. The maximum weight of each piece is limited at 32 kg.
The carry-on baggage allowance JAL offers its domestic first class passengers is the same as when traveling in the other two classes – up to 10 kg for a personal item and a larger piece of baggage combined. The maximum permitted dimensions of the carry-on bag are 55 x 40 x 25 cm.
While it would be nice if JAL proactively offered more carry-on baggage allowance to its domestic first class passengers, in practice, I never had an issue with taking all the baggage I needed onboard a JAL domestic flight regardless of my class of travel.
Lounge Access
Prior to departure, domestic first class passengers traveling on JAL can relax or get some work done in a lounge.
At Tokyo Haneda, Osaka Itami, Sapporo New Chitose, Fukuoka, and Naha Airports, JAL’s lounge access policy allows first class passengers to use JAL Diamond Premier Lounges. In addition to offering plenty of seating of all types (and even massage chairs), drinks, and packaged snacks, there are also more substantial bites to eat like bread and rice balls.
This is the one area where JAL completely outshines its competitor ANA as the latter only gives its Premium Class passengers access to its lower-tier ANA Lounges rather than the better ANA Suite Lounges.
At Hiroshima and Kagoshima Airports, only lower-tier JAL Sakura Lounges are available. While similar to the JAL Diamond Premier Lounges, the JAL Sakura Lounges only offer packaged snacks.
No JAL lounge is available at Ishigaki Airport.
JAL domestic first class passengers can enter lounges with one guest. Children under the age of three do not count as guests.
Meal Service
On all domestic first class flights, JAL serves a meal. What exactly is served and how substantial the meal is depends on the flight’s route and departure time. Generally, the following types of meals are served (all presented on a single tray):
- Breakfast on flights departing before 10:30AM
- Lunch on flights departing between 10:30AM and 4:59PM
- Dinner on flights departing at 5:00PM or later (6:00PM or later in the case of flights to/from Okinawa)
Interestingly, between January 1 and 3, JAL serves a special New Year meal to its first class passengers.
On some of the shorter routes, the menu might be slightly simplified (e.g. no soup). On routes other than Tokyo – Osaka and Tokyo – Hiroshima, instant cup noodles (ramen and udon) are offered on request too.
The latest menus can be found here (Japanese only).
Drink Service
Compared to economy class and Class J passengers, JAL’s domestic first class passengers not only get to enjoy an extended selection of soft drinks but also a selection of alcoholic beverages.
Cold soft drinks offered include Minute Maid 100% orange and apple juices, JAL’s signature Sky Time drink (currently with peach and grape flavor), sparkling and still water, Coca-Cola, Coca-Cola Zero, green tea, hojicha (roasted green tea), and ice coffee.
Hot drinks include coffee, black tea, green tea, hojicha, and consomme soup.
Lastly, alcoholic drinks offered in JAL’s domestic first class include champagne, red and white wine, Japanese sake and shochu, a selection of five different beers, and high ball. Non-alcoholic beer, red wine, and lemon sour are available too.
Other Onboard Service
In addition to serving food and drinks, there are some other aspects of JAL domestic first class onboard service worth knowing about. Among other things, the airline:
- Provides slippers and shoe horns
- Provides newspapers on flights departing before 10:30AM
- Provides cushions
- Stores passengers’ jackets
In-Flight Wi-Fi, Entertainment & Charging
Passengers traveling in JAL’s domestic first class can enjoy free onboard wi-fi on all flights (with the exception of those operated by internationally configured aircraft). On A350-900s and 787-8s, in-seat entertainment is available too. Most of the content is in Japanese, though.
First class seats on JAL’s A350-900s and 787-8s are equipped with both USB charging ports and universal power outlets. On the 767-300ERs, on the other hand, they are only equipped with USB charging ports.
Is JAL Domestic First Class Worth It?
In the past when same-day upgrades on all routes were just 8,000 yen, they were a great deal, especially on longer flights like Tokyo to Fukuoka and Tokyo to Naha. Even after the recent round of price increases, JAL domestic first class can still be worth it depending on how much you value the priority you receive along the way, lounge access, and onboard meal.
That said, if all you really care about is having more space than in economy class, then you will most likely be better off saving some money and going with Class J.
Doing so will mean you won’t receive any differentiated service compared to economy class passengers. That said, Class J seats – while not as large as first class seats – are more than comfortable enough for even the longest domestic flights in Japan.
