By Shawn Gallagher
Hello yet again from Tokyo! This is a little change from my normal flights, as I recently flew Japan Airlines on a domestic route. This was a quick 1 hour flight from Tokyo Haneda to Osaka Itami. I flew First Class on this flight, and although it was a quick one, there was a lot that went into it, and turned into a very memorable flight. Read this Japan Airlines First Class review from my recent flight to see what to expect on a domestic route.
At The Airport
Tokyo has 2 major airports, Narita and Haneda, and Haneda handles the majority of Japanese domestic flights. Haneda is without a doubt the more convenient option when flying in and out of Tokyo, so keep that in mind if you’re booking flights.
Domestic flights on Japan Airlines here at Haneda leave from Terminal 1. First class passengers get a dedicated check-in and security area. I made my way there when I got to the terminal.
Inside, the check-in desks are immediately to the left. Behind that is security. There were no lines whatsoever inside here, which is always a huge plus.
After leaving security, we made our way up an escalator and headed to the lounge.
The lounge was very spacious and was not busy at all. There wasn’t a huge food selection, but since it’s a lounge in a domestic terminal, that’s to be expected.
The lounge offered great views.
And that’s me, going over my travel documents again for some reason, while enjoying my breakfast!
The plane of the day, a Boeing 787-8. Widebody aircraft are common on short-haul flights in Japan. Because it’s a dense country, several routes connecting big cities have a demand for these planes.
Related: What Is Class J On Japan Airlines? Osaka To Tokyo Haneda Review
Inflight
Waiting at my seat were slippers, headphones, a small pillow, and the menu.
First Class is laid out in a 2-2-2 configuration. The 787 has just one row (6 seats total), while the A350 (domestic) has two rows (12 seats total). I thought the 6 seats were just right. It resulted in a smaller, quieter cabin and a faster service by the flight attendants. I’m sure the flight attendants have an easier time with the single row First Class too.
The seat controls, which were electric, were on the side. The remote for the IFE was there as well. A small cubby was next to the remote.
The remote for the IFE was necessary since the screen was on the wall. I was surprised to even see an IFE screen in the first place, as this was a domestic flight. Many airlines have been doing away with them on domestic flights, but JAL still has them in place (for the 787 and A350) and at least for now, they’re here to stay.
This was our in-flight meal. The meal changes based on the time of day. This was breakfast, as it was a 9am flight. It was nice and appetizing, and I ended up quite full after eating at the lounge and eating again on the plane not long after.
Related: Japan Airlines Business Class Review, Tokyo To Chicago
We had an early morning and had a long day ahead. That’s me trying to get some rest before landing.
The Bottom Line
There was a lot that went into a quick 1 hour flight, which made this trip fantastic. The ground experience was phenomenal with a private check-in desk, dedicated security lane, and the lounge. The meal on the flight was good, and the service was efficient and polite. I’ll be looking forward to flying this product sometime again in the near future.