As a Japanese person, I have flown with both ANA and JAL. ANA has the best economy, and when it comes to Premium Economy, JAL is outstanding. I flew them both on international routes and was satisfied
JAL has the widest economy seats. On long haul flights to/from Japan, JAL wins hands down all day, every day. PY is good too but Y is where JAL shines. That said, JAL and ANA keep the cabin notoriously hot so I always bring a small USB fan with me.
@@dafa5911the reason why it’s hot is cuz the airlines is saving money by reusing and purifying the air in the cabin instead of ventilating fresh air from outside 😂
I've only flown JAL once, and ironically the cabin was quite cold. It was an overnight flight from HND to SIN, and I think the FAs did it to help us sleep better (which I appreciate). My family was first to board, and my mother told the FA it felt really cold, so she turned up the cabin temp for her.
@@dafa5911 Yes, JAL still has 9-abreast 777 and 8-abreast 787, whereas ANA has gone 10-abreast 777 and 9-abreast 787. JAL is way more expensive than ANA in economy, so you are paying more for wider seats.
It seems like JAL was the clear winner here, even excluding delays etc. The reason the line was so long for Mark is because they didn't have a seperate line for economy, also at boarding it should've been groups 1-3 and 3+ to make boarding easier
I work for JAL. Guys, you missed a few key things here. JAL offers business class lounge access for premium economy passengers, furthermore they get ramen and soba noodles on demand. Easy WIN for JAL, but I'm biased.
I’ve flown Premium Economy with JAL between LAX and Tokyo, and the experience was fantastic. You have access to lounges in both LA and Tokyo (Haneda). Boarding was great and the seats were awesome. I was in a 2-4-2 and a 2-3-2 seating format. One of my favorite features was the massive amount of overhead bin space (compared to economy).
That's standard PE seat config on every airline though...2-4-2 for 777 and 2-3-2 in 787 even on north American and European airlines so that itself is nothing special at all
For me, JAL has the class and elegance that ANA lacks, in my opinion. I think ANA also lacks with their older cabins without The Room. Finding a route with the new Room business class is still very rare. JAL is like the older sister that likes to dress in more flashy, expensive, mature clothing, but ANA is like the younger sister that dresses in still fashionable, modern/younger clothes. Both are amazing❤️
I was going to comment on JAL PE lounge access. Wife and I flew their product back in November BKK > HND > DFW and it was great! When we landed in HND we were able to access their J Class lounge with PE class ticketing. I have Priority Pass and Plaza Premium with our C1 VX, so not *really* an issue, but the JAL lounge was great. Food was excellent as compared to typical US lounges. I would consider JAL PE inflight food (and I suppose Economy if it's the same service) as junior business class, when comparing to US based carriers. US carriers are pretty trash when it comes to food and somewhat less so on service, but definitely on food, let's be real. The Japanese take their food very seriously and it shines on their flights. Also, in PE for JAL they serve the food with proper flatware and tableware. Since I've never flown ANA, I can't really compare. But, given the video I have no reason to hunt for ANA PE if JAL is there, I'm paying cash, and the prices are comparable. In my area JAL is typically a couple hundred cheaper and I know what I'm getting, so why bother trying to find an ANA substitute itinerary? From what I've read, it looks like each of their J-Class is going to be a closer competition, and when flying out of BKK, sometimes ANA has dirt cheap fares from CGK to either EWR or JFK, I can't remember, for under $2k one-way. As far as PE is concerned, I'm perfectly happy sticking with JAL PE!
@@ryanshannon6963I went JAL PE from DFW-NRT-SGN and it only cost me 1.8K cash roundtrip. What a steal!! I have priority pass and PlazaPremium as well!! Everything was beyond expectations. JAL PE will be my favs from now on lol. Can’t beat it!!
One thing to note if you have a layover in Tokyo. Make sure your connecting flight is in the same airport as your arriving flight as JAL and ANA have two hubs in Tokyo, Narita (NRT) and Haneda (HND). Haneda is closer to Tokyo. If not you will have to take a train or a bus to the other airport, which you have to pay for and is just a hassle.
I am really glad you did this comparison. I fly from NY to Japan 4-6 times a year and usually fly JAL premium economy. I find it the best PE product to Japan. ANA PE is great but JAL PE is something special.
We are going on a cruise next April from Australia to Honolulu. There are only 3 direct flights back home, Hawaiian which we have flown before in extra comfort seats, Qantas which is only business and economy and Jetstar which is the same except their business is more like premium economy. Didn't want to use any of them so opted for JAL in premium economy via Tokyo and am very happy I have booked with them. ANA is a fair bit more expensive for the same route, as were the rest including the American airlines. JAL was the cheapest and best value for money and looks amazing.
JAL and ANA are both really good airlines. They are both 5 star rated on Skytax and both offer excellent service and catering that you can't go wrong with either of them. (I think JAL wins slightly here for food presentation but props to ANA for having air vents) That said, if I was traveling in Economy or Premium Economy internationally and had a choice, it would be JAL easily. Their award winning SKY WIDER seats are just more comfy and have more room. Especially in Economy class where JAL kept the original 8 abreast economy for the Boeing 787 and the 9 abreast for the 777. ANA used to have the 8 abreast for their Boeing 787 but converted to the now common 9 abreast. Same with their Boeing 777's which some of them now have 10 abreast in Economy.
Again, THANK YOU for an in-depth review on Premium Economy, this time comparing two carriers high on my list. This class of service is more within my budget, so I find this video genuinely practical as well as entertaining. I also appreciate PE reviews for really long flights, again very practical. My closest int'l gateway would be Chicago (ORD) so a flight to Japan would be a long one indeed.
Having tried the JAL Premium Economy (long haul) I can confirm it does give you a lot of space compared to the industry standard (including ANA’s Premium economy seat which I’ve only tried short haul). Worth noting is when you recline the shell seat it eats into your legroom a lot but it is still enough for me and I’ll take the extra privacy any day (due to the privacy partition and the seat shell preventing people from the next row from seeing you)
Hi Guys always a treat to watch your videos especially where Japan is involved that culture is amazing and you guys did a great job on both the Japanese airlines.Gowra
JAL the clear winner on the basis of this video. That black and red cabin very distinguished. Service throughout the entire flight a boon. JFK a tough departure experience no matter which airline.
I wish you had gone into the cost of the tickets, both points and cash fares. I definitely preferred the hard product you showed on JAL, but in going over a few routes from my home airport ,JAL PE is almost twice the cost of ANA.
Yeah premium economy for ANA for $5k for two tickets and JAL was going to be $13k for 2 for March. Two completely different ballparks. In no world is JAL premium economy twice as good as ANA premium economy.
@@PoiNickels Flying from London JAL PE passengers get to use the BA galleries lounge and Sydney the Qantas business class lounge I'm not sure which other airports
Maybe at the front of the aircraft; in my experience in 2023, ANA is not better at the back (in fact it's quite miserable compared to JAL!). Cheers, Guy
Japan airlines man they're the best! I flew first class, business class, and economy...their economy has sooo much food..of course business and first class you can order your own food. Very nice people.
Nicky I am honestly loving your Japan content! It is just 😍👌. I love the new Points Guy format which allows for further linking up between the UK Points Guy and the American Points Guy: missing Liam though. When you eventually make your way back to the UK, could you consider maybe doing a review of ANA in First Class to LHR whilst one of your American counterparts reviews JAL first class on their return to the states? It would make for such an awesome The Points Guy | Departures Review. 😊😉👌
In terms of hard product, JAL is undoubtedly better for Y and PE, but ANA leads for J and F imo. Both have impeccable service and great food and drinks.
Agree! Ana’s first class in their new aircraft was simply amazing. The difference between first and business had a large gap in terms of quality, which is understandable. I was left still hungry on business class 😅
I flew ANA from ORD to HND in business class this past March. The boarding process was by far the most hectic and chaotic boarding I have ever seen. It was an amazing flight and the crew was phenomenal, but they could use to reevaluate how they doing their boarding process 😂
I flew JAL from ORD to HND in PE this February. They had one of the most efficient boarding system I've ever seen. We didn't start boarding until 30 minutes before the scheduled departure time, and boarding was completed with about 7 minutes to spare (cabin door closed). That was a 777-300. In contrast, it took over 40 minutes to complete boarding an AA A321 at LAX.
@Love2Cruise I flew the same route in September 2022, but in Economy. There aren't very many differences aboard JL PY and Y from other videos I watched, but the flight and service was superb, and I'd definitely fly on JL again in the future. Still have to try ANA at some point.
I have asked this before, not sure why they don't mention the prices. I know they will differ different airlines and departure points, but it would still be nice to know. I feel that should be part of the comparison.
There’s no contest. In my experience ANA is $2500 a ticket for premium economy with United while JAL is $6500 a ticket for premium economy with American.
@@joesavag That seems a lot, JAL PE from Sydney to London return was only $3800.00 AUD for standard PE I guess a flex fare might be more expensive, we always book 7-8 months ahead to get a good price, all four flights were great
@@rod_at_adelaide5766those prices were for round trip flights. This October I’m doing regular economy with JAL in a 2-4-2 configuration from Houston to Tokyo and it is $2000 round trip per person. I might try out PE later on. I think it was $3,000 per person.
@@rod_at_adelaide5766 those prices were for a single round trip. For October I’m flying JAL regular economy from Texas to Tokyo for $2000 USD each in a 2-4-2 configuration. I think for premium economy it is $3000 each.
Unless you really want the extra space and recline, or you get a good deal, I don't see the need to upgrade to premium economy when flying with JAL. Their economy class is less dense compared to many other airlines and the meals are almost identical. It'll probably make a bigger difference when flying out of Japan, because you get lounge access when flying both JAL and ANA in premium economy. Regardless, can never go wrong with Japanese airlines and it's nice to see someone making high-quality production, and narrated premium economy reviews. This class of service doesn't seem to get a lot of love amongst those who enjoy reviewing flights.
I'm surprised that your JAL Premium Economy didn't include access to their lounge. 2 months ago, we flew roundtrip from LAX to Haneda and it part of the perk was the lounge. LAX lounge was very roommie and comfortable and the food was decent. The Haneda lounge food was AMAZING! The menu had an extensive choice of delicious Japanese meals, which was restaurant quaility, as well as fish & chips (which wasn't very good) they plate it beatifully for you! The regular in flight food was good and I really enjoyed the JAL exclusive Cup of Noodle snack upon request. We would definitely fly JAL Premium Economy again!
I’m a little confused about lounge access with premium economy. Last time I checked in October 2023 ANA had free lounge access for premium economy but JAL did not. As far as PE priority check in lane for ANA, it varies by location. LAX has a dedicated Premium Economy lane but Chicago ORD didn’t. Bangkok had both a priority check in and lounge access as well. I have flown ANA several times and am a fan. Unfortunately, I have never flown JAL because either the features, prices, equipment or timetable didn’t match my needs on a given trip. Also because I was transitioning through Tokyo rather than it being my final destination, sometimes it is more efficient or economical to fly through Taiwan with EVA.
7:06 pretty rude set up here. Feel bad for the lady next to you and everyone in that row. Why not get some video before everyone boards then voice over? Or do it like the first guy and get there early and do your review.
I usually sidestep all boarding madness by just waiting until the end and boarding last. If you're not flying first or business what's the point of boarding just to sit in your seat waiting for everyone else.
I've flown both multiple times every year. JAL has a much better tray table, better movie selection, multiplayer games, better food flying from HND to JFK, better drink selection, better lounge food, better lounge crowd control, free International WIFI for premium economy customers, service is slightly more professional, but strict(dont try to sneak on an extra carry on, or go over the weight limit for check ins), and most importantly they have washlets in the premium economy cabin. ANA's premium economy seats are a bit more modern, no washlet in their premium economy cabin, the seat recline adjustments very unforgiving, requiring super hard presses. ANA's entertainment console is much sleeker, better screen, their overpriced WIFI is barely usable compared to JAL's free wifi, customer service is looser, like they wont charge you for being over a kg for checked in, also ANA doesnt seem to be strict about carry ons, like I've seen people bring on way more than 1 expanded plus like 5 personal items. ANA is suoer easy to upgrade to business from the US side, JAL has this silly ebay bidding system, I have yet to successfully upgrade to business on JAL.
The biggest difference were the airports, not the airlines. The airports in NYC have been sub-par historically. Hopefully with the various renovations, they'll get better.
Just flew Delta HND-DTW in premium economy yesterday, was an amazing experience and probably better than both JAL/ANA. Comfortable, padded seat, memory foam pillows, nice blankets, generous recline, and an enhanced first meal service with table cloth, metal cutlery, real glasses, and an entree from the business class menu. Other amenities, including priority security on the outbound DTW-HND, and Sky Priority services on both directions further added to the experience.
Delta PS on A330 or A350 cannot beat JAL's but it will beat ANA. Food-wise, Delta was also giving out main cabin meal but was supposed to switch to Delta One meal. ANA is generally quite good, I think they deployed premium economy first, so those seats are a bit older now. JAL's seat is used by others as well. I also don't like the foot support and foot rest, it's hard to sleep in those. The issue is Delta PS is priced much higher than ANA/JAL's.
@@_w_w_ I was able to find Delta's premium economy for $2000 roundtrip EWR-HND via DTW, compared with $3500 direct out of JFK for either JAL or ANA. The seats were quite comfortable, with 38 inches of pitch, and the main course was in fact from the business menu, at least on my route, though it was plated differently.
When booking a long flight route, take a look at not only the price but seat configuration. On 787s, many are 3-3-3 configuration. If you find a 2-4-2 configuration, it may be worth the price. That would give each seat a few inches in width. Since the person has the same additional width, your distance doubles from your seat neighbor.
Same! The difference to me is the plane itself. If it's a 787 - a lot less tiring upon arrival due to lower cabin pressure and I can't get enough of the dimming window, but a 787 may not have the range for a JFK to Tokyo flight direct flight, that's why they use the 777 from JFK, and I would guess there are more passengers from JFK than from Frankfurt going to Tokyo.
The boarding process for Premium ECO on ANA definitely needs to change, it's way too crowded to pack with ECO; Also if choosing an aisle side, you will be in Group 5 which is the last group, not much benefits. Watching this video, will try JAL's premium economy next time. Thanks for the awesome video.
I only fly ANA to Haneda (to have better domestic connection within Japan). Why ANA? Because flights are cheaper for both international and domestic to save some $$$. JAL seems to have more leg room and better in flight meal but if you are a petite person, like myself, I choose ANA for saving $$$ for fight so that I can use $$$ for amazing foods while I am in Japan!
Both seem like good flights but JAL Beat ANA All across the board in my opinion and this video helped me decide that ill be flying JAL premium on my vacation soon. Awsome video thanks.
I'm flying ANA PEcon to Japan in a few weeks, JAL is always way more expensive so I've never ended up using them. Frankly both of them look downright palatial compared to Air Canada though... :E
Surprised they chose the ANA flight out of JFK instead of going out of Newark as Star Alliance is all over the airport and One World-Japan Airlines has a good presence at Terminal 8 in JFK
Please advice which app or how do you know which route on same airline is cheaper than other route on same airline. I am planning to do a premium economy trip to South Africa but you mentioned that it could be cheaper from Europe ,rather than from London ?
One thing about most of the japanese duopoly or oligopoly is they are always near miss the same quality in each other so the customers not to be confused to choose. Most of japanese companies are public company so peoples think if the business is good the return is good too.
I’ve been on both from SFO-HND within the past 18 months (it’s July, 2023 as I write this). First off, both airlines have amazing in-flight service staff. It’s a toss-up in terms of which is better. Hard product…..JAL has 42” seat pitch, while ANA has 38”. So, for me, at 6’2” tall, JAL seat pitch is better. In terms of reclining and comfort of the actual seat, I felt ANA was better, and I slept more deeply in the ANA seat. I should note, I flew with my wife. She had the window seat and I had the aisle seat on the right side of each plane. Amenities…..didn’t care, to be honest. Food…..Out of SFO, ANA food was a little better, but Economy/Premium Economy catering at SFO leaves a lot to be desired for every airline I’ve flown from there. Out of Haneda, I give the nod to ANA. I found their food tastier. And on JAL, the second meal about two hours from SFO was some strange noodle dish that seemed to be all about sustainability. The only thing it didn’t sustain was taste, as it was terrible. So that might be the reason for my rating. Lounge access…..both airlines offer lounge access in PE, which is very nice. At SFO, the only decent lounge we’ve been to is the United Polaris Lounge. On our ANA flight, the United Club Lounge was not available due to construction, but they gave us a voucher to be used at some vastly overpriced market. The JAL Lounge at SFO was disappointing, but at least they had one. In Haneda, both lounges are quite nice, though JAL just opened a new business class/PE lounge and converted the old Sakura Lounge (which was fantastic) to a First Class Lounge. Food selections are decent in both the ANA and JAL Lounges, with ANA getting a slight nod for more comfortable seating. Overall, I think it’s a toss-up. Our selection comes down to whichever has the better fare promotions when we book. But you can’t really go wrong with either, and that’s in Economy, PE or Business.
I'm flying to Japan in Nov in economy class and was thinking of upgrading to premium so this video was helpful. Just have to find out how much it costs to upgrade.
Looks like either would work for me, but I would favor JAL. First, because the 787 Dreamliner is a newer aircraft than the 777. And second, because I can fly on JAL without having to schlep from San Diego to LAX.
If you're good with Star Alliance, and you love ANA, then no reason to switch things up, in my humble opinion. For me, with status on One World, JAL is unambiguously better.
@@guybeauregard my only fear is that they are partnership with lufthansa and for some reason they might cancel my flight from paris and replace it with Lufthansa that I hate
@@rafaelodossantos4210 On this point, I simply don't know. But this kind of sudden cancellation by a Japanese airline is unusual, as it would indicate a lack of reliability or sincerity--which Japanese customers hate! Cheers, Guy
Call bell time is impressive! I was on Delta first class flight and I had to flag someone down because I was being ignored for over 10 mins after pressing the call bell 😂 even Singapore airline business class took a few mins to respond to my request to turn my seat into a bed
I haven’t used any of Japanese airlines before, but I feel that ANA is following LH premium Economy service. JAL is using more AF PE experience. You should try out LOT PE I just flew with them to Seoul the service is excellent on board and on the ground, however the seats are a bit outdated and IFE is poor
Soon as I saw the colours in the beginning of video Instantly JAL was is my choice …. Have to declare am a JAL fan have flown them a few time each time a FREE upgrade to Business class both ways and they even phoned up to there Lounge tell them am coming let me in . You should done a return flight with you 2 doing each others so can get a True comparison coz me thinksANA guy will just give JAL the vote as don’t think JAL will vote for ANA .
I feel like based on the video, JAL's premium econ looks better. Honestly, the ANA meal looks like an economy meal, which is kind of dissapointing from a top 5 airline.
Jal ‘s premium economy is very nice,stylish but lacks in confort ,specially in the foot rest compared to ANA 1 class looks ,JaL ,you should upgrade the foot rest ANA is far more luxurious, Jal’s tray table is amazing as the food looks, I remember my Jal’s flight from São Paulo to New York ,the plane continues to Tokyo ,i miss this flight so much, hope JAL will restart its flights to Brazil soon
personally i've never found economy class worth it. The ticket price is always just slightly less than the cost of business class, especially when you are booking well of advance where you can get business class discounts but JAL Premium Economy actually seems to be premium. Could be worth it at a good discount
As a Japanese person, I have flown with both ANA and JAL. ANA has the best economy, and when it comes to Premium Economy, JAL is outstanding. I flew them both on international routes and was satisfied
JAL has the widest economy seats. On long haul flights to/from Japan, JAL wins hands down all day, every day. PY is good too but Y is where JAL shines.
That said, JAL and ANA keep the cabin notoriously hot so I always bring a small USB fan with me.
@@dafa5911the reason why it’s hot is cuz the airlines is saving money by reusing and purifying the air in the cabin instead of ventilating fresh air from outside 😂
私は好きです JAL
I've only flown JAL once, and ironically the cabin was quite cold. It was an overnight flight from HND to SIN, and I think the FAs did it to help us sleep better (which I appreciate). My family was first to board, and my mother told the FA it felt really cold, so she turned up the cabin temp for her.
@@dafa5911 Yes, JAL still has 9-abreast 777 and 8-abreast 787, whereas ANA has gone 10-abreast 777 and 9-abreast 787. JAL is way more expensive than ANA in economy, so you are paying more for wider seats.
It seems like JAL was the clear winner here, even excluding delays etc. The reason the line was so long for Mark is because they didn't have a seperate line for economy, also at boarding it should've been groups 1-3 and 3+ to make boarding easier
To make the comparison truly fair they really need to fly out of the same airport
@@dertfert745 yes JFK sucks
@@bingboyify also terminal 7 is tiny. and doesn't really have a lot of space to work with
I work for JAL. Guys, you missed a few key things here. JAL offers business class lounge access for premium economy passengers, furthermore they get ramen and soba noodles on demand. Easy WIN for JAL, but I'm biased.
My mum used to be a cabin crew of JAL. I love JAL.
How does JAL compare to the American carriers like delta, American or United?
@@ciprianchirilov1039no comparison miles better.
No lounge access @@ciprianchirilov1039
ANA has the same though
** call bell challenge
Japanese airlines: less than 20 seconds with grace
American airlines: 7 minutes with attitudes
AA: You push that button again I'll push you off this flight
Southwest: What button?
Spirit: What attendant?
AA grannies need a while to get up and ambulate. A 10 second JAL response awesome.
@@WaltherPPK909spirit: you need to pay for the bell to work
Tried this on Delta, they never even came.
Truth!
I’ve flown Premium Economy with JAL between LAX and Tokyo, and the experience was fantastic. You have access to lounges in both LA and Tokyo (Haneda). Boarding was great and the seats were awesome. I was in a 2-4-2 and a 2-3-2 seating format. One of my favorite features was the massive amount of overhead bin space (compared to economy).
That's standard PE seat config on every airline though...2-4-2 for 777 and 2-3-2 in 787 even on north American and European airlines so that itself is nothing special at all
Can you access the business class bidet toilets in premium?
For me, JAL has the class and elegance that ANA lacks, in my opinion. I think ANA also lacks with their older cabins without The Room. Finding a route with the new Room business class is still very rare. JAL is like the older sister that likes to dress in more flashy, expensive, mature clothing, but ANA is like the younger sister that dresses in still fashionable, modern/younger clothes. Both are amazing❤️
Imagine being on a plane and they sit next to you filming and talking throughout the entire flight 😂
Yea I always wondered about that. I would personally ask for my seat to be changed.
@@syncsummitagreed
Yeah ikr! I'd be so annoyed. I get that these yters gotta make content but damn they got zero consideration
fk i feel so unconfortable watching it
It's like 10 mins of footage in a 14 hour flight, not like they were vlogging the entire time
Premium Economy has lounge access on both carriers, so that really should've been covered.
Damn imagine if us airlines cared this much lol
I was going to comment on JAL PE lounge access. Wife and I flew their product back in November BKK > HND > DFW and it was great! When we landed in HND we were able to access their J Class lounge with PE class ticketing. I have Priority Pass and Plaza Premium with our C1 VX, so not *really* an issue, but the JAL lounge was great. Food was excellent as compared to typical US lounges.
I would consider JAL PE inflight food (and I suppose Economy if it's the same service) as junior business class, when comparing to US based carriers. US carriers are pretty trash when it comes to food and somewhat less so on service, but definitely on food, let's be real. The Japanese take their food very seriously and it shines on their flights. Also, in PE for JAL they serve the food with proper flatware and tableware.
Since I've never flown ANA, I can't really compare. But, given the video I have no reason to hunt for ANA PE if JAL is there, I'm paying cash, and the prices are comparable. In my area JAL is typically a couple hundred cheaper and I know what I'm getting, so why bother trying to find an ANA substitute itinerary? From what I've read, it looks like each of their J-Class is going to be a closer competition, and when flying out of BKK, sometimes ANA has dirt cheap fares from CGK to either EWR or JFK, I can't remember, for under $2k one-way.
As far as PE is concerned, I'm perfectly happy sticking with JAL PE!
Probably didn’t have a lounge at this airport or they might not of had time for it.
Good to know, didn’t know JAL had lounge access.
@@ryanshannon6963I went JAL PE from DFW-NRT-SGN and it only cost me 1.8K cash roundtrip. What a steal!! I have priority pass and PlazaPremium as well!! Everything was beyond expectations.
JAL PE will be my favs from now on lol. Can’t beat it!!
One thing to note if you have a layover in Tokyo. Make sure your connecting flight is in the same airport as your arriving flight as JAL and ANA have two hubs in Tokyo, Narita (NRT) and Haneda (HND). Haneda is closer to Tokyo. If not you will have to take a train or a bus to the other airport, which you have to pay for and is just a hassle.
I am really glad you did this comparison. I fly from NY to Japan 4-6 times a year and usually fly JAL premium economy. I find it the best PE product to Japan. ANA PE is great but JAL PE is something special.
Do they both fly out of JFK?
@@michiganwannarbor3255 yes they both do.
JAL also includes Sakura lounge access! Flying out of SFO in PE you can go to the lounge!!
I flew JAL premium from Haneda to Singapore last year, and it was the best premium long-haul I've taken - really outstanding.
We are going on a cruise next April from Australia to Honolulu. There are only 3 direct flights back home, Hawaiian which we have flown before in extra comfort seats, Qantas which is only business and economy and Jetstar which is the same except their business is more like premium economy. Didn't want to use any of them so opted for JAL in premium economy via Tokyo and am very happy I have booked with them. ANA is a fair bit more expensive for the same route, as were the rest including the American airlines. JAL was the cheapest and best value for money and looks amazing.
You must have been possessed to fly via Tokyo.
Double the distance to get to your destination.
You’re either retired or must love flying. 🤔
JAL and ANA are both really good airlines. They are both 5 star rated on Skytax and both offer excellent service and catering that you can't go wrong with either of them. (I think JAL wins slightly here for food presentation but props to ANA for having air vents)
That said, if I was traveling in Economy or Premium Economy internationally and had a choice, it would be JAL easily. Their award winning SKY WIDER seats are just more comfy and have more room. Especially in Economy class where JAL kept the original 8 abreast economy for the Boeing 787 and the 9 abreast for the 777.
ANA used to have the 8 abreast for their Boeing 787 but converted to the now common 9 abreast. Same with their Boeing 777's which some of them now have 10 abreast in Economy.
Again, THANK YOU for an in-depth review on Premium Economy, this time comparing two carriers high on my list. This class of service is more within my budget, so I find this video genuinely practical as well as entertaining. I also appreciate PE reviews for really long flights, again very practical. My closest int'l gateway would be Chicago (ORD) so a flight to Japan would be a long one indeed.
1:54 Shame on those people who Marc give grief over arriving ahead of time to the airport. He’s doing the right thing.
P.S. Marc is cool.
Was kinda disappointed to not see Liam but damn Marc is cool. Very likeable personality.
He is a breath of fresh air, absolutely!!
Having tried the JAL Premium Economy (long haul) I can confirm it does give you a lot of space compared to the industry standard (including ANA’s Premium economy seat which I’ve only tried short haul). Worth noting is when you recline the shell seat it eats into your legroom a lot but it is still enough for me and I’ll take the extra privacy any day (due to the privacy partition and the seat shell preventing people from the next row from seeing you)
Hi Guys always a treat to watch your videos especially where Japan is involved that culture is amazing and you guys did a great job on both the Japanese airlines.Gowra
Yo really love the videos keep it up
Excellent. Never flown ANA but looks impressive. Have flown JAL first from NRT to LHR which was outstanding!
JAL the clear winner on the basis of this video. That black and red cabin very distinguished. Service throughout the entire flight a boon. JFK a tough departure experience no matter which airline.
Nicky almost got caught with the “Now we wait…” 😂
I wish you had gone into the cost of the tickets, both points and cash fares. I definitely preferred the hard product you showed on JAL, but in going over a few routes from my home airport ,JAL PE is almost twice the cost of ANA.
Yeah premium economy for ANA for $5k for two tickets and JAL was going to be $13k for 2 for March. Two completely different ballparks. In no world is JAL premium economy twice as good as ANA premium economy.
Thanks for this vlog. Wow. I love Japanese airlines. Have an amazing day! Fly and stay safe. Cheers.
Doesn't both JAL and ANA provide lounge access for their Premium economy passengers?
I think they have access only in the Japan airports
From Australia you get lounge access with both , can’t remember getting priority at customs and immigration but lines are short these days
@@PoiNickels Flying from London JAL PE passengers get to use the BA galleries lounge and Sydney the Qantas business class lounge I'm not sure which other airports
Nicky: “I’m kind of hot.”
Me: “…and water is wet.”
Nicky,
Dig the new guy! Excellent infotainment as always.
Very thorough review. Interestingly, my past experiences with ANA had always been a step better than the same with Japan Airlines.
Maybe at the front of the aircraft; in my experience in 2023, ANA is not better at the back (in fact it's quite miserable compared to JAL!). Cheers, Guy
This proves that Airports make up a big part of the experience as well!
And in this case I was very surprised that he had a good experience in FRA.
Japan airlines man they're the best! I flew first class, business class, and economy...their economy has sooo much food..of course business and first class you can order your own food. Very nice people.
Nicky I am honestly loving your Japan content! It is just 😍👌. I love the new Points Guy format which allows for further linking up between the UK Points Guy and the American Points Guy: missing Liam though. When you eventually make your way back to the UK, could you consider maybe doing a review of ANA in First Class to LHR whilst one of your American counterparts reviews JAL first class on their return to the states? It would make for such an awesome The Points Guy | Departures Review. 😊😉👌
In terms of hard product, JAL is undoubtedly better for Y and PE, but ANA leads for J and F imo. Both have impeccable service and great food and drinks.
what do all the letters mean? Y, J, F?
@@somerandompersonontheinter9211 The classes, Y is Economy, J is business, F is First.
Agree! Ana’s first class in their new aircraft was simply amazing. The difference between first and business had a large gap in terms of quality, which is understandable. I was left still hungry on business class 😅
Not sure with ANA, but JAL also offers lounge access for PEY passengers, which is GREAT!!!
I flew ANA from ORD to HND in business class this past March. The boarding process was by far the most hectic and chaotic boarding I have ever seen. It was an amazing flight and the crew was phenomenal, but they could use to reevaluate how they doing their boarding process 😂
I flew JAL from ORD to HND in PE this February. They had one of the most efficient boarding system I've ever seen. We didn't start boarding until 30 minutes before the scheduled departure time, and boarding was completed with about 7 minutes to spare (cabin door closed). That was a 777-300. In contrast, it took over 40 minutes to complete boarding an AA A321 at LAX.
@Love2Cruise I flew the same route in September 2022, but in Economy. There aren't very many differences aboard JL PY and Y from other videos I watched, but the flight and service was superb, and I'd definitely fly on JL again in the future. Still have to try ANA at some point.
From ORD was hectic? Prob locals board the plane.
I have asked this before, not sure why they don't mention the prices. I know they will differ different airlines and departure points, but it would still be nice to know. I feel that should be part of the comparison.
Hear hear!
There’s no contest. In my experience ANA is $2500 a ticket for premium economy with United while JAL is $6500 a ticket for premium economy with American.
@@joesavag That seems a lot, JAL PE from Sydney to London return was only $3800.00 AUD for standard PE I guess a flex fare might be more expensive, we always book 7-8 months ahead to get a good price, all four flights were great
@@rod_at_adelaide5766those prices were for round trip flights. This October I’m doing regular economy with JAL in a 2-4-2 configuration from Houston to Tokyo and it is $2000 round trip per person. I might try out PE later on. I think it was $3,000 per person.
@@rod_at_adelaide5766 those prices were for a single round trip. For October I’m flying JAL regular economy from Texas to Tokyo for $2000 USD each in a 2-4-2 configuration. I think for premium economy it is $3000 each.
Didn't showcase the lounge? ANA and JAL are the only 2 airlines I know of that gives PY passengers lounge access.
Great Helpful Video Guys !!!! Super Kooooooool !!! Thank you !!!
Unless you really want the extra space and recline, or you get a good deal, I don't see the need to upgrade to premium economy when flying with JAL. Their economy class is less dense compared to many other airlines and the meals are almost identical. It'll probably make a bigger difference when flying out of Japan, because you get lounge access when flying both JAL and ANA in premium economy. Regardless, can never go wrong with Japanese airlines and it's nice to see someone making high-quality production, and narrated premium economy reviews. This class of service doesn't seem to get a lot of love amongst those who enjoy reviewing flights.
I agree but JAL actually give you business lounge access even if you book an economy flex fare which is great value
I can only book a flight after watching you guys. So helpful. Thank you!
I'm surprised that your JAL Premium Economy didn't include access to their lounge. 2 months ago, we flew roundtrip from LAX to Haneda and it part of the perk was the lounge. LAX lounge was very roommie and comfortable and the food was decent. The Haneda lounge food was AMAZING! The menu had an extensive choice of delicious Japanese meals, which was restaurant quaility, as well as fish & chips (which wasn't very good) they plate it beatifully for you! The regular in flight food was good and I really enjoyed the JAL exclusive Cup of Noodle snack upon request. We would definitely fly JAL Premium Economy again!
I’m a little confused about lounge access with premium economy. Last time I checked in October 2023 ANA had free lounge access for premium economy but JAL did not. As far as PE priority check in lane for ANA, it varies by location. LAX has a dedicated Premium Economy lane but Chicago ORD didn’t. Bangkok had both a priority check in and lounge access as well. I have flown ANA several times and am a fan. Unfortunately, I have never flown JAL because either the features, prices, equipment or timetable didn’t match my needs on a given trip. Also because I was transitioning through Tokyo rather than it being my final destination, sometimes it is more efficient or economical to fly through Taiwan with EVA.
7:06 pretty rude set up here. Feel bad for the lady next to you and everyone in that row. Why not get some video before everyone boards then voice over? Or do it like the first guy and get there early and do your review.
Nicky emanates and provides chaotic energy while shooting.
Japan service is the BEST!
I usually sidestep all boarding madness by just waiting until the end and boarding last. If you're not flying first or business what's the point of boarding just to sit in your seat waiting for everyone else.
I've flown both multiple times every year. JAL has a much better tray table, better movie selection, multiplayer games, better food flying from HND to JFK, better drink selection, better lounge food, better lounge crowd control, free International WIFI for premium economy customers, service is slightly more professional, but strict(dont try to sneak on an extra carry on, or go over the weight limit for check ins), and most importantly they have washlets in the premium economy cabin.
ANA's premium economy seats are a bit more modern, no washlet in their premium economy cabin, the seat recline adjustments very unforgiving, requiring super hard presses. ANA's entertainment console is much sleeker, better screen, their overpriced WIFI is barely usable compared to JAL's free wifi, customer service is looser, like they wont charge you for being over a kg for checked in, also ANA doesnt seem to be strict about carry ons, like I've seen people bring on way more than 1 expanded plus like 5 personal items. ANA is suoer easy to upgrade to business from the US side, JAL has this silly ebay bidding system, I have yet to successfully upgrade to business on JAL.
This is more an indictment of American airport culture vs European airport culture.
The first part of this vid is just really illustrating the difference in the process between FRA and JFK
The biggest difference were the airports, not the airlines. The airports in NYC have been sub-par historically. Hopefully with the various renovations, they'll get better.
Just flew Delta HND-DTW in premium economy yesterday, was an amazing experience and probably better than both JAL/ANA. Comfortable, padded seat, memory foam pillows, nice blankets, generous recline, and an enhanced first meal service with table cloth, metal cutlery, real glasses, and an entree from the business class menu. Other amenities, including priority security on the outbound DTW-HND, and Sky Priority services on both directions further added to the experience.
Delta PS on A330 or A350 cannot beat JAL's but it will beat ANA. Food-wise, Delta was also giving out main cabin meal but was supposed to switch to Delta One meal. ANA is generally quite good, I think they deployed premium economy first, so those seats are a bit older now. JAL's seat is used by others as well. I also don't like the foot support and foot rest, it's hard to sleep in those. The issue is Delta PS is priced much higher than ANA/JAL's.
@@_w_w_ I was able to find Delta's premium economy for $2000 roundtrip EWR-HND via DTW, compared with $3500 direct out of JFK for either JAL or ANA. The seats were quite comfortable, with 38 inches of pitch, and the main course was in fact from the business menu, at least on my route, though it was plated differently.
Is food included in premium economy? Please answer.
Yes
When booking a long flight route, take a look at not only the price but seat configuration. On 787s, many are 3-3-3 configuration. If you find a 2-4-2 configuration, it may be worth the price. That would give each seat a few inches in width. Since the person has the same additional width, your distance doubles from your seat neighbor.
Quick question: on ANA, do PRE-ECO pax get to use Business cabin washrooms?
No, it's share with Economy but surprising roomy for certain aircraft
Why the rebrand. I’ll miss points guy uk
Same! The difference to me is the plane itself. If it's a 787 - a lot less tiring upon arrival due to lower cabin pressure and I can't get enough of the dimming window, but a 787 may not have the range for a JFK to Tokyo flight direct flight, that's why they use the 777 from JFK, and I would guess there are more passengers from JFK than from Frankfurt going to Tokyo.
how was the temperature in JAL? There are no air vents right?
2 fantastic airlines. Well done guys
JAL PE means that you often have lounge access - a huge plus for JAL. This is probably the only PE I know that gives lounge access.
Very interesting video!
I prefer Jal’s premium economy seat because it is more private than Ana’s.
The boarding process for Premium ECO on ANA definitely needs to change, it's way too crowded to pack with ECO; Also if choosing an aisle side, you will be in Group 5 which is the last group, not much benefits. Watching this video, will try JAL's premium economy next time. Thanks for the awesome video.
I flew ANA economy, JFK-HND, in May 2023. In this video I learn I get the same food served in Prem Economy.
I only fly ANA to Haneda (to have better domestic connection within Japan). Why ANA? Because flights are cheaper for both international and domestic to save some $$$. JAL seems to have more leg room and better in flight meal but if you are a petite person, like myself, I choose ANA for saving $$$ for fight so that I can use $$$ for amazing foods while I am in Japan!
00:00 *beep* we are in aliabababedababa *beep*
Me: HOW MANY BEEPS ARE IN THIS VID
I’d be more than happy on either airline.
How do they get other passengers around them to tolerate their noise and filming
JAL is unbeatable, economy at its finest, incomparable to other airlines. Very comfy and classy❤❤❤
I agree with this. JAL economy is equal to or if my view better than premium economy on North American airlines (I'm looking at your, Air Canada!).
JGC member here. JAL is renewing their interior this October. As A350-1000 making its debut from Tokyo HND- New York JFK.
you also get lounge access with both airlines on PE
Both seem like good flights but JAL Beat ANA All across the board in my opinion and this video helped me decide that ill be flying JAL premium on my vacation soon. Awsome video thanks.
I'm flying ANA PEcon to Japan in a few weeks, JAL is always way more expensive so I've never ended up using them.
Frankly both of them look downright palatial compared to Air Canada though... :E
Yes they are vastly better than the airline you mentioned, especially with the food served in flight.
Surprised they chose the ANA flight out of JFK instead of going out of Newark as Star Alliance is all over the airport and One World-Japan Airlines has a good presence at Terminal 8 in JFK
I really like Marc getting involved in these videos. Imagine him in one of the races with Liam and Nicky
Good video
Please advice which app or how do you know which route on same airline is cheaper than other route on same airline. I am planning to do a premium economy trip to South Africa but you mentioned that it could be cheaper from Europe ,rather than from London ?
Just go to their website and search different city's as your starting point and see if the prices are better
One thing about most of the japanese duopoly or oligopoly is they are always near miss the same quality in each other so the customers not to be confused to choose. Most of japanese companies are public company so peoples think if the business is good the return is good too.
on premium economy on JAL and ANA you get lounge access
Should we start a gofundme for Marc’s shoes?
Sometimes, you choose flights from Europe and sometimes you choose the railway.
Could you guys do a video on the pros and cons of buying miles from a carrier vs buying it from a points provider?
Great Video...
I think the Premium economy exactly like the Business clase expt the line
JAL looks way more impressive here. Especially the ANA hard product didn't really seem on the same level.
just got back from japan 2 days ago business class upgrade was well worth it for the first time and we got a cheap upgrade in the bidding
I’ve been on both from SFO-HND within the past 18 months (it’s July, 2023 as I write this).
First off, both airlines have amazing in-flight service staff. It’s a toss-up in terms of which is better.
Hard product…..JAL has 42” seat pitch, while ANA has 38”. So, for me, at 6’2” tall, JAL seat pitch is better. In terms of reclining and comfort of the actual seat, I felt ANA was better, and I slept more deeply in the ANA seat. I should note, I flew with my wife. She had the window seat and I had the aisle seat on the right side of each plane.
Amenities…..didn’t care, to be honest.
Food…..Out of SFO, ANA food was a little better, but Economy/Premium Economy catering at SFO leaves a lot to be desired for every airline I’ve flown from there. Out of Haneda, I give the nod to ANA. I found their food tastier. And on JAL, the second meal about two hours from SFO was some strange noodle dish that seemed to be all about sustainability. The only thing it didn’t sustain was taste, as it was terrible. So that might be the reason for my rating.
Lounge access…..both airlines offer lounge access in PE, which is very nice. At SFO, the only decent lounge we’ve been to is the United Polaris Lounge. On our ANA flight, the United Club Lounge was not available due to construction, but they gave us a voucher to be used at some vastly overpriced market. The JAL Lounge at SFO was disappointing, but at least they had one. In Haneda, both lounges are quite nice, though JAL just opened a new business class/PE lounge and converted the old Sakura Lounge (which was fantastic) to a First Class Lounge. Food selections are decent in both the ANA and JAL Lounges, with ANA getting a slight nod for more comfortable seating.
Overall, I think it’s a toss-up. Our selection comes down to whichever has the better fare promotions when we book. But you can’t really go wrong with either, and that’s in Economy, PE or Business.
Thanks again lads for your information , I never really visit Japan but nice to know those airline doing better then English ones . Thumbs up
I'm flying to Japan in Nov in economy class and was thinking of upgrading to premium so this video was helpful. Just have to find out how much it costs to upgrade.
Looks like either would work for me, but I would favor JAL. First, because the 787 Dreamliner is a newer aircraft than the 777. And second, because I can fly on JAL without having to schlep from San Diego to LAX.
AA used to give out slippers in PE when I flew them last a couple of years ago.
I can watch Nicky talk all day :)
Difficult to choose between the 2! I travelled 3 times with ANA, love it, but what about JAL? should I change?
If you're good with Star Alliance, and you love ANA, then no reason to switch things up, in my humble opinion. For me, with status on One World, JAL is unambiguously better.
@@guybeauregard my only fear is that they are partnership with lufthansa and for some reason they might cancel my flight from paris and replace it with Lufthansa that I hate
@@rafaelodossantos4210 On this point, I simply don't know. But this kind of sudden cancellation by a Japanese airline is unusual, as it would indicate a lack of reliability or sincerity--which Japanese customers hate! Cheers, Guy
Call bell time is impressive! I was on Delta first class flight and I had to flag someone down because I was being ignored for over 10 mins after pressing the call bell 😂 even Singapore airline business class took a few mins to respond to my request to turn my seat into a bed
I haven’t used any of Japanese airlines before, but I feel that ANA is following LH premium Economy service. JAL is using more AF PE experience. You should try out LOT PE I just flew with them to Seoul the service is excellent on board and on the ground, however the seats are a bit outdated and IFE is poor
What were the aircrafts you guys took?
JAL flight was was a 787-9; ANA flight was a 777-300ER. Cheers, Guy
Soon as I saw the colours in the beginning of video Instantly JAL was is my choice …. Have to declare am a JAL fan have flown them a few time each time a FREE upgrade to Business class both ways and they even phoned up to there Lounge tell them am coming let me in . You should done a return flight with you 2 doing each others so can get a True comparison coz me thinksANA guy will just give JAL the vote as don’t think JAL will vote for ANA .
No lounge access? Or no time? Both Airlines offer lounge access to PE and full
Fare Economy passengers.
nice video lovely review JAL is coming up
The ANA meal looked anemic
Compared with the image on the menu, definitely. I think part of it was the lack of broccoli, which reduced the colour variation.
I feel like based on the video, JAL's premium econ looks better. Honestly, the ANA meal looks like an economy meal, which is kind of dissapointing from a top 5 airline.
If the city that you’re flying out of has the Sakura lounge, you can take advantage of it when flying premium economy
Jal ‘s premium economy is very nice,stylish but lacks in confort ,specially in the foot rest compared to ANA 1 class looks ,JaL ,you should upgrade the foot rest ANA is far more luxurious, Jal’s tray table is amazing as the food looks, I remember my Jal’s flight from São Paulo to New York ,the plane continues to Tokyo ,i miss this flight so much, hope JAL will restart its flights to Brazil soon
personally i've never found economy class worth it. The ticket price is always just slightly less than the cost of business class, especially when you are booking well of advance where you can get business class discounts
but JAL Premium Economy actually seems to be premium. Could be worth it at a good discount