One of the liveries I was excited for the most to come in 25.1 was the Japan Airlines livery for the 787-8, because I could finally fly the LAX-NRT route realistically. And what does JAL do? They upgauge to the 787-9! So, anyway, here’s the flight.
Server: Solo
Airline: Japan Airlines
Aircraft: Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner
Origin: Los Angeles International Airport, Los Angeles, California (LAX)
Destination: Narita International Airport, Narita, Japan (NRT)
Flight Number: JL61
Route: KLAX-RJAA
Seat: 19A (JAL Sky Premium)
Time En Route: 11 Hours 38 Minutes
Boarding at Gate 153 across from Terminal 4. Japan Airlines has long flown to Los Angeles, serving the West Coast city since 1961. In these 64 years of service, Los Angeles has seen the DC-8, the 747-100/200/300/400, the MD-11, the 777-200ER/300ER, and the 787-8/9 Dreamliner, with the A350-1000 to join them in the coming years. JAL has flown to Los Angeles initially from Tokyo-Haneda, then exclusively from Tokyo-Narita, then both following Haneda’s re-opening to long-haul flights. Additionally, JAL also connects LAX and Osaka and has operated between L.A. and Nagoya in the past.
The pre-flight safety brief begins as the flaps lower in the TBIT/T4 alleyway.
“Welcome onboard. Please watch this safety video and familiarize yourself with the safety instructions…”
Beginning our takeoff roll by Terminal 1 with a Delta Air Lines A319-100 waiting to depart to Portland as DL2551, a Turkish Airlines 787-9 behind it as TK180 to Istanbul, and an Air France 777-300ER behind it as AF21 to Paris-Charles de Gaulle qeued up behind us on the taxiway
Taking off for Tokyo from Runway 24L
Climbing out of the South Bay, leaving Point Vicente and Palos Verdes behind us
Flying north along the California coast on a route that will take us north of the Aleutians
Final descent into Japan, with Mount Fuji rising above the Kanto Plain in the distance
Late-afternoon landing at Narita
Taxiing into the Terminal 2 ramp, which handles JAL and other Oneworld carriers
Off our aircraft at Gate 81 at Terminal 2
