Returning to Tokyo aboard a once-common visitor to Los Angeles, now a rarity after it was replaced by the A350-1000 sometime back in June: Japan Airlines’s 777-300ER. From 2010 to 2025 the big Boeings criss-crossed the Pacific between L.A. and Tokyo, initially between LAX and NRT, before moving back into town to HND in 2014, switching the Narita flight over to a 787-8. However, these are some of the oldest 777-300ERs in service, ranging from 20 to 16 years old, and their time wearing the Tsurumaru is running out. As a result, any fans of the Japanese twinjets should get in flights on them while they still can.
Server: Solo
Airline: Japan Airlines
Aircraft: Boeing 777-300ER
Origin: Los Angeles International Airport, Los Angeles, California (LAX)
Destination: Haneda Airport, Tokyo, Japan (HND)
Flight Number: JL15
Route: KLAX-RJTT
Seat: 12K (JAL Sky Suite)
Time En Route: 12 Hours 5 Minutes
Waiting to board at Gate 155 next to a company 787-9 that’ll be leaving shortly after us to Osaka-Kansai. Our aircraft is JAL’s second-youngest 777-300ER, a 16.1-year-old example registered as JA742J.
Beginning our pushback next to JL69 that’s just started the boarding process and a Copa Airlines 737 MAX 8 that just arrived about half an hour late from Panama City as CM360
Starting our starboard engine on the Sepulveda Boulevard bridge, across the field from the Atlantic Aviation and Signature Flight Support FBOs and QR739 arriving from Doha
Lifting off out of LAX by the iconic ATC tower and Theme Building
Climbing to our cruising altitude of 34,000 feet along Highway 1, named the Pacific Coast Highway and known to locals simply as PCH
Halfway across the Pacific and as usual, the Sky Suite does not disappoint. Even though lunch was served a bit later than usual owing to unexpected rough air between the mainland and Hawaii that we passed just north of, the absolutely scrumptious vegetable curry with green beans was worth the wait. Now to stretch out and enjoy the rest of the flight!
Bit of spoiler action as we make our final descent into Tokyo. Even though it’s nowhere near as late as with the American 787-8, we’re landing from the appropriate direction this evening @ShinanoSky_YT.
Decelerating after a typical silky-smooth touchdown from JAL under a moderately cloudy Tokyo sky
Taxiing into the Terminal 3 ramp where the international JL widebodies are parked
Deplaned at the same gate we left from, Gate 111. Bags and belly cargo are being offloaded, and it’s off to the baggage claim and a suite at the Bvlgari Hotel Tokyo before a day of sightseeing in the area before going to Boston aboard a 787-9 from Narita.