When Japan Airlines received its first A350-1000s in 2024, the initial route they replaced the 777-300ER on was the one between Tokyo and New York. As a result, this route has been one I’ve had my eye on for a while. With the release of the A350-1000 in 26.3, I finally was able to get around to it (although the 777 may still feature in a trip report to or from JFK as an equipment substitution in the future), and man oh man, I am glad I did. The A35K wears the JAL Tsurumaru beautifully, a minimalist yet stately aircraft, that always makes an impression wherever it flies to, appropriate for one of the world’s best airlines. It was a pleasure to fly this bird to the Big Apple, and I hope you all enjoy this trip report, because there’s more to come soon!
Server: Solo
Airline: Japan Airlines
Aircraft: Airbus A350-1000
Origin: Haneda Airport, Tokyo, Japan (HND)
Destination: John F. Kennedy International Airport, New York City, New York (JFK)
Flight Number: JL6
Route: RJTT-KJFK
Seat: 2K (First Class)
Time En Route: 13 Hours 11 Minutes
Preparing to board our aircraft at Gate 113 on a wet morning at Haneda. The storms that have battered Tokyo for the past few days have left, but the ramp is still damp, with pools of standing water here and there. Arriving flights are still kicking up impressive sprays of water when their thrust reversers doors open, which makes for quite the spectacle. This is going to be our first time on JAL’s relatively brand-new A350-1000, specifically on JA11WJ, the youngest in the fleet, and we are excited to experience the airline’s new first class suites. To say we’re stoked would be a massive understatement.
Crossing Runway 16R/34L as we head to the east side of the airport in a long line of heavies leaving Haneda. We are absolutely blown away by this new suite. The seat, which is really more of a couch, is ensconced in an ultra-private, fully-enclosed suite, with an ottoman on the opposite side of the compartment. This exclusive suite, one of six on board the aircraft, takes up the space of roughly nine economy seats and is spacious enought to make even extremely tall passengers like ourselves feel like we’re rattling around in it.
Heavy takeoff out of Haneda from Runway 16L, with the Japan Airlines maintenance stands, which are occupied with a number of company aircraft, including our aircraft’s sister ship JA07WJ, going by out the window. If there was ever any doubt that the A350-1000 would be a worthy successor to the 777-300ER in the takeoff department, it was dispelled as soon as both Trent XWBs spooled up. While it isn’t the dull roar that isn’t so much heard as felt like with the GE90-115Bs, the Trent XWBs produce a low, fierce growl like a barely-restrained tiger as they haul a few hundred tons of aircraft into the sky.
Climbing over Tokyo Bay to our initial cruising altitude of 35,000 feet. While we’re in the climb phase, we’re looking over the menu for future reference, as we pre-ordered our meal for this flight the first night we were in Tokyo. We’ve ordered the waygu option on this flight, technically reserved for passengers who’ve booked the Western meal before the flight, while the Japanese washoku meal is available as well to order on board. JAL’s dining across all cabins has always been amazing for us, but something is telling us that the food on this flight is going to be particularly outstanding.
After climbing a couple more thousand feet around two hours into the flight, we’re cruising along at FL370. The waygu meal turned out to be just as delicious as we expected it would be, if not more so. Japan Airlines has really outdone themselves this time. Besides the food, our cabin service has been outstanding, with the crew working the first class area being polite, prompt, and more than willing to make small talk.
Waking up over Canada’s Northwest Territories after grabbing a few hours of sleep. Even though our flight isn’t going directly over the Arctic due to the closure of Russian airspace to JAL, we’re still going far enough north to where it doesn’t really get dark out for long this time of year. Sleeping in our seat was fantastic, thanks to the ultra-soft bedding given to us during the turndown service. If there was any turbulence, we didn’t notice it. Now to watch one of the many movies available on the enormous 43-inch IFE screen to pass the time these last few hours of our flight.
“JAPAN AIR 6 HEAVY, winds 15 at 15, cleared to land 13L. Welcome to New York!”
JFK’s enormous fuel tank farm comes into view in the last minute or so of our approach, roughly parallel with the 678 interstate. It’s a beautiful day here in New York, as the big A350-1000 we’re flying on comes in for arrival like a great white albatross. As we’ve neared the airport over the Hudson Valley and North Jersey, we’ve been serenaded by the distinctive sound of A350 flaps lowering. We’ve had such a great experience this flight, we almost don’t want it to end.
Landing on Runway 13L by a predictably busy Terminal 5, packed with JetBlue aircraft. Touchdown was absolutely perfect, with the impacts of the main and nose gear being barely perceptible, relatively speaking, before the thrust reversers opened and this big A350 began to slow down. As we roll to the runway exit, we’ve got our personal item retrieved from the extremely generous storage space and are getting our stuff packed. Can’t plan around a long taxi time after arriving, we’re afraid.
Taxiing by Terminal 4 and Kennedy Tower. We’re not the only A350-1000 here, as there’s an Etihad Airways bird at T4 in between flights to Abu Dhabi. We haven’t encountered many delays while taxiing, but it’d appear that the flight crew has erred on the side of caution, having shut down the starboard engine so as to conserve fuel. Fingers crossed the rest of our taxi goes as smoothly as it’s been so far.
Deplaned at JFK’s Terminal 8 while the ground crew unloads bags. Even off the airplane, we’re still blown away by our experience in first class. Everything we could think of, from the seat, food, service, amenities, and IFE scored top marks in our book. It might not even be a stretch to say that JAL’s new first class on its flagship is the best all-around one in the world. Definitely the best one overall that we’ve been in, at least recently. We’ll certainly be coming back to it in the not-too-distant future!
