Review – Japan Airlines 787 Business Class, Tokyo Narita – Sydney

After flying in from Los Angeles, I was headed home through Sydney. You used to be able to fly to Sydney in JAL First Class but sadly earlier this year JAL removed the 77W from the route and placed the 787 on it. Even though there isn’t First Class available anymore, I’ve noticed that there’s actually more award seats being released than what was previously available.

Before I get too far, I just want to say that I apologise for the length of the review. As I was importing the photo’s half of them were removed for whatever reason.

Japan Airlines 787 Business Class

Boarding started 20 minutes late but was extremely efficient. Possibly the coolest thing about it was that all of the staff stood in a line and bowed to the passengers. The ground staff also do it but I had an aisle seat and it was dark at the time.

Japan Airlines 787 Business Class

Japan Airlines’s 787-9 features 44 Apex suites in a 2-2-2 configuration, 35 Premium Economy seats in a 2-3-2 configuration and 116 Economy seats in a 2-4-2 configuration.

Japan Airlines 787 Business Class

The Apex suites are brilliant seat, easily one of the better hard products out there. If you can get a window seat, it’s almost like having a closed First Class suite on other airlines.

Japan Airlines 787 Business Class

At your seat, you’ll find a pair of slippers with a shoe horn, a pair of headphones (recommend bringing your own) and a blanket. Sadly, Pyjamas aren’t given.

Japan Airlines 787 Business Class

As I mentioned earlier I was only able to get a aisle seat as I booked so late. Even though it’s an aisle seat it was still relatively private with privacy shields.

Japan Airlines 787 Business Class

The seat has a lot of seating preset position and even a massage function. The seating panel also has the button to raise the divider screen.

Japan Airlines 787 Business Class

Above the seating panel you’ll find the IFE remote. It’s the exact same one that’s found in First.

Japan Airlines 787 Business Class

Each seat also has In-seat power and a USB port.

Japan Airlines 787 Business Class

The Apex suites have an abundance of storage and the side area is quite deep. It was able to hold my 13” Macbook, large DSLR, and Ipad.

Japan Airlines 787 Business Class

The flight was decently filled and there were a few middle seats free in the back end of the Business Class cabin.

Japan Airlines 787 Business Class

The meal service started shortly after reaching top of cruise, the meal started with a rather large Amuse Bouche.

Japan Airlines 787 Business Class

Japan Airlines 787 Business Class

Japan Airlines 787 Business Class

The crew would constantly pass through the cabin offering Charles Heidsieck champagne. Even though I couldn’t drink it, I still got a photo of the  bottle.

And for the main meal, I had a Sea Bass which tasted much better than it looks.

The cabin is really quite spacious and clean looking. The aisles are also quite wide which surprised me quite a bit.

Japan Airlines 787 Business Class

Japan Airlines 787 Business Class

Japan Airlines 787 Business Class

Japan Airlines 787 Business Class

After dining, I decided to try and get some sleep. I couldn’t actually sleep but still laid there and it was quite comfortable. I was quite surprised when the flight attendant offered a mattress as I was under the impression they didn’t offer them on the Sydney flights but I was pleasantly surprised.

Japan Airlines 787 Business Class

Japan Airlines 787 Business Class

Bottom Line

JAL Business Class is a pretty fantastic product, both the hard and soft product. It’s comfortable, the food is great, the service is fantastic and best of all, it’s easy to redeem for. Would I fly it again? Absolutely!