Featured ReviewJanuary 19, 2024
Japan Airlines Business Class Reviews (787-9 Sky Suite)
One Japan Airlines cabin so far, and it is the one people search for: the Boeing 787-9 Sky Suite business class between Helsinki and Tokyo Haneda, flight JL48. It is a long day flight, which changes what matters about a seat, and the review is written around that: how the cabin feels to sit and work in for ten hours, what the free unlimited Wi-Fi is actually worth, and how the firm bed holds up when you do try to sleep.
The honest summary is that JAL gets the things right that airlines usually get wrong. Storage under the ottoman is generous, the service is polished without being stiff, and the Japanese menu is the real thing rather than an approximation. The entertainment selection is the weak spot, and the 2-2-2 layout is dated next to the 1-2-1 cabins Qatar and Finnair fly. Our wider business class reviews section has those side by side if you are choosing between them.
Frequently asked questions
What is the JAL Sky Suite seat like on the 787-9?
Spacious, and better thought out than the 2-2-2 layout suggests. There is a lot of storage under the ottoman, which is where most business class seats fall short, and the cabin is quiet. The bed surface is firm, so side sleepers will notice it on a long sector, and the entertainment library is thinner than the seat deserves.
Does Japan Airlines have free Wi-Fi in business class?
On our Helsinki to Tokyo Haneda flight, yes, and unlimited rather than a timed allowance, which is unusual enough to be a genuine reason to pick the airline on a long day flight. Wi-Fi policies do change, so treat it as what we experienced on that flight rather than a permanent guarantee.
Is the 2-2-2 layout a problem on JAL?
Less than it normally is, but it is still a 2-2-2 cabin, so a window seat means stepping past your neighbour to reach the aisle. If direct aisle access matters to you, book an aisle seat rather than the window. Solo travellers who want privacy above all will find the 1-2-1 cabins on Qatar or Finnair a better fit.