Returning to California via another route that I was waiting for the JAL 787-8 livery to arrive for before attempting and that got upgauged to the 787-9 this year, at least for the summer months. I still flew it on the shorter of JAL’s two Dreamliner variants, as it’s made an appearance on the route in the last week. Without further ado:
Server: Solo
Airline: Japan Airlines
Aircraft: Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner
Origin: Narita International Airport, Narita, Japan (NRT)
Destination: San Diego International Airport, San Diego, California (SAN)
Flight Number: JL66
Route: RJAA-KSAN
Seat: 24A (Economy)
Time En Route: 10 Hours 39 Minutes
Boarding at Gate 71 across the ramp from the gate we arrived on board JL61 from Los Angeles at. For its part, Japan Airlines has served San Diego since 2012 more or less uninterrupted outside of the COVID-19 Pandemic, a service only made economical with the 787 family. Flown for much of that time with the 787-8, JAL has recently upgauged to the larger -9, making San Diego follow Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, and Boston in increasing capacity to Narita, meaning the Tsurumaru-bearing 787-8 is a much less common sight in the United States than it once was.
We’re getting to watch and listen to the same pre-flight safety video from earlier as we taxi by the “34” end of Runway 16L/34R. For the trip to San Diego, we’re in one of JAL’s comfortable Sky Wider economy seats, one of 156 on this particular Dreamliner configuration, with 30 business class JAL Sky Suites up front.
Taking off for Sandy Eggo past the vast maintenance apron
Approaching the cirrus layer during our climbout
Heading east in a beautiful Pacific evening. Dinner service has begun, and the menu looks delectable.
Making landfall south of Monterey Bay
Descending over LAX as we approach San Diego. Oddly enough, the daily 777-300ER from Haneda operating as JL16 was on final approach to Runway 24R when this picture was taken.
Landing in San Diego just over 20 minutes ahead of schedule. Estimated flight time was 11 hours, but we made it in 10 hours and 39 minutes.
Taxiing over to the Terminal 2 ramp. Besides Japan Airlines, San Diego also sees long-haul service from British Airways, KLM, and Lufthansa.
Deplaned at Gate 51, which has the connection between jetbridge and aircraft some distance away from the terminal
