Comparing First Class: Japanese Airlines vs. American Airlines – A Travel YouTuber’s Insight
Discover the Shocking Services of First Class!
I want to experience it at least once in my lifetime. One of the dreams of luxury that everyone has is flying in first class on an international flight. For us common folks, the realities of first class can be hard to grasp. What kind of services are offered? And is the pricing such that ordinary people can afford it? I spoke with KK, a 33-year-old YouTuber who shares travel and aviation-related videos, to learn more about the first class experience.
KK works for a foreign IT company in Tokyo. He started uploading videos about airplanes and travel five years ago while working in Sydney, Australia. He currently lives in Japan and has countless experiences flying in economy class, as well as about 20 to 30 flights in business class. This time, he shared his experience flying in first class on JAL from Tokyo to Paris during his honeymoon in June.
“The entire journey took about 14 hours. Excluding takeoff and landing, it was roughly 12 hours of flight time. In my case, the in-flight meal was served about an hour after takeoff.”
The in-flight meals can be selected from Japanese or French cuisine, and KK chose Japanese food. There was unlimited champagne available, priced around 200,000 yen per bottle, served in glasses from the renowned wine glass maker Riedel.
“I think the taste is on par with high-end Japanese restaurants. They probably warmed the food just before serving, but it was still quite delicious. I felt they paid great attention to detail, properly heating the meat and other ingredients separately. The presentation was also beautiful, with fresh vegetables artfully arranged on top of the meat. Other airlines’ first class meals can seem a bit careless, but JAL’s commitment was evident here.”
After the meal, he enjoyed a leisurely time with tea and snacks, chatting with his new wife.
“The seats are designed so that the table slides to allow us to sit facing each other. It was wonderful to be able to talk face-to-face without separating during the trip. I was also pleased with the attention to detail. I could enjoy high-quality blended tea, which helped me relax.”
The seats themselves are luxurious and designed for comfort over long hours.
“Of course, the seats are spacious. There’s a significant difference compared to business class. Business class tends to focus on maximizing space, cramming as many seats as possible, with widths around 50 centimeters and configurations that overlap with the space of the person in front. But in first class, there’s a sense of excess in a good way, with no overlap. The feet of the person behind won’t intrude under the armrest. There are partition walls, ensuring privacy unless someone really tries to peek.”
About five hours into the flight, KK took a short nap. Given the seven-hour time difference between Tokyo and Paris, he wanted to sleep well during the 14-hour flight but decided to hold off for the sake of adjusting to the time difference. Instead, he opted for a one-hour nap..
From Pajamas to Bed Making!
“The flight attendants actually make the bed for you. When I said I was ready to sleep, they told me to change into these pajamas, and when I returned from the changing room, my seat had turned into a fully flat bed. It was slightly narrower than a single bed, and the sheets were perfectly arranged.”
After a nap, when I woke up, the plane was flying over the Arctic Ocean. Since it was around the summer solstice, it was daytime around the Arctic.
“When I looked outside, I saw a beautiful sight of icebergs that looked just like the Arctic. I could have watched it forever. In economy or business class, the lights are usually dimmed to accommodate those who want to sleep, so you feel hesitant to open the window to let in light. But in first class, there’s no one sitting next to you. You have the freedom.”
About six hours later, I had my second meal. In first class, you can order light snacks anytime you want.
“As I was looking over the menu, a flight attendant naturally asked me what I would like to have. When I ordered ramen, it arrived in about ten minutes.”
The attentiveness of the flight attendants is such that you don’t even have to call for them. However, some people might feel uncomfortable being constantly observed by the staff.
“They handle it very well. There are usually about three flight attendants circulating around in first class, checking in on passengers naturally, so I never felt uncomfortable. Also, the restroom was spotless every time I used it. They must clean it thoroughly after each use.”
About eight to nine hours after takeoff, I watched a movie in my seat. Naturally, you can watch it at any time.
“When I finished, there were still four to five hours until arrival, but I didn’t feel bored at all. In business class, you might start to feel uncomfortable sitting for so long, but here, it felt just like being on the ground.”
When it was time for the last meal order about two hours before arrival, I ordered soup and was met with an unexpected surprise. The flight attendant learned that it was our honeymoon during casual conversation and wrote “Happy Wedding” on a plate of fruit for us. They even gave us a message card from the crew.
“I hadn’t requested anything in advance. To have a honeymoon plate show up just from ordering a regular meal was surprising. I was really impressed by how they kept track of each passenger and genuinely tried to make us happy.”
This level of attention to detail is unique to Japanese airlines. When KK later flew American Airlines from Paris to New York, the atmosphere felt a bit different.
Reasons Why Japanese Airlines’ First Class is More Comfortable
“American Airlines honestly felt like an extension of business class. It caters to elite business travelers, so the focus is more on providing minimal comfort rather than attention to detail. You certainly won’t get a honeymoon plate unless you ask for it. This level of attentiveness is probably unique to Japan; it reflects the special experience that Japanese people seek.”
This summarizes the overall first-class schedule. So, what about the cost for such a comfortable flight?
“I booked my ticket through OneWorld, which JAL is a member of, and it cost about 1.2 million yen for a round-the-world trip across three continents. A one-way first-class ticket from Tokyo to Paris is around 2 million yen, so I think it’s quite a bargain.”
A first-class round-the-world trip for 1.2 million yen isn’t entirely out of reach for an average salaryman who decides to indulge in a luxurious journey.
“When you travel in first class, it transforms the movement into a ‘travel event’ rather than just a means of transport. The price may be a bit higher, but the cost-performance is definitely not bad.”
KK plans to continue posting videos of his first-class experiences, with his next goal being Emirates’ first class. He wants to try the onboard shower room, available only to first-class passengers, and experience showering at an altitude of 10,000 meters.
KK explains the first class service described in this article in his video!
