How does JAL Inflight Internet Service by eXConnect work? (Picture Source: JAL Press Release)

Japan Airlines (JAL) has just announced its plan to offer high-speed internet connection through Wi-Fi on its international flights from mid-2012. JAL has picked the the "eXConnect" technology from Panasonic Avionics, which is a satellite based technology.

Japan Airlines (JAL) has once again update its business class meal service starting this month. Both long haul and short haul business class menus received an update. On top of that, the full a la carte menu finally arrives on LAX route! So now all on the US flights will have the full anything and any time meal service :) Below are more details on the changes rolled out this month

JAL CAFÉ LINES press conference. Image by Japan Airlines.

Japan Airlines (JAL) has been introducing some nice coffee on its domestic flights earlier this year. And they will finally expand the offering and introduce an exclusive line of high-quality coffee called JAL CAFE LINES on all of its flights. From September 1 2011, the JAL CAFE LINES new beverage service will be introduced in all JAL international and domestic flights.

Before this, JAL has been serving Champagne Piper Heidsieck in Business Class and Premium Economy Class. But now, JAL has updated its offering as follow:

Long Haul First Class (except Los Angeles): Champagne Salon S 1999 and Champagne Joseph Perrier Cuvee Josephine 2002
Los Angles and Jakarta First Class: Champagne Cuvée Louise Pommery Blanc 1999 and Champagne Drappier Grande Sendrée 2002
Long/Medium Haul Business Class: Champagne Delamotte Brut
Short Haul Business Class: Champagne Piper Heidsieck or Champagne Pommery Brut Royal
Premium Economy Class: Champagne Pommery Brut Royal

I don't really know much about champagne as I don't really drink them except when I fly :P So is this supposed to be an enhancement over Piper Heidsieck or this is just a cost saving measure?

JAL AIR Mos Burger. Image by Japan Airlines.

Japan Airlines has made some enhancement/changes to its inflight meals recently. One of them is a new collaboration dish with Mos Burger served in Premium Economy and Economy class called "Air Mos Burger". This is only available on flights departing from Japan to New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Frankfurt and London. Looks like this will be a full meal not just snack (because Y doesn't really serve snack like this :p)

For more info, you can visit JAL website (Premium Economy/Economy). Sorry it's in Japanese only.

[Update 3: JAL has yet made another slight modification to the seat map. For the latest version of the seat map, please refer to this post]
[Update 2: JAL has updated the 787 seat map. The seat maps shown on this page is outdated. For the slightly outdated version of the seat map, please refer to this post]
[Update: Added link to JAL NRT-BOS route page]

Japan Airlines (JAL) loaded the seat map of its 787 used on the new NRT-BOS route tonight. It has 2-2-2 configuration in Business Class cabin, and a 2-3-2 configuration in Economy Class cabin. This is just like the 763 cabin! It has a total of 237 seats (30C 207Y). In fact, if you look closer, it has the exact same configuration (minus the galley and lavatory) as the 767-300ER's A41 configuration. Below is the seat map taken from JAL website. (Please note that this is from the booking engine, not from the JAL aircraft configuration page. Therefore it could just be a placeholder until the final seat map is out as some have pointed out 7 seats per row in Y is a bit generous)

Japan Airlines (JAL) and American Airlines (AA) released a joint promotional video to showcase their latest longhaul products. JAL segment starts at 3:51. Enjoy!

JAL will introduce a new coffee on all domestic flights. The new coffee is a collaboration between JAL and some coffee experts in Japan. They repeated tested the new coffee for 6 months and adjusted the coffee repeatedly. They finally come up with this new coffee created specifically for JAL flights. It has a rich flavor, pleasant acidity. JAL will start serving this brand new coffee on all domestic flights from April 28 2011.

On the other hand, JAL will run a special campaign and serve the finest coffee produced by Dr. Kawashima Yoshiaki "Grand Cru Café" on its domestic First Class between April 28 (Thursday) May 31 (Tuesday) 2011

For details, you can refer to JAL website (Japanese only)

Japan Airlines (JAL) announced today that they will introduce the popular Premium Economy service on Tokyo Narita (NRT) - Bangkok (BKK) route on JL717 and JL718 from January 16 2011. Reservation and ticketing starts on November 5 2010. JAL has been using the longhaul configured 772 on this route for a while and giving PY away to elites. It's about time they roll this out on BKK and have people pay for the seat! Right now another route that is operating with a longhaul 772 is HND-HKG and during winter time, it's a 5 hour flight from HND to HKG, will JAL roll out this this route as well? I say why not? Worst case, you op-up the people and not give them the PY service.

Source: JAL Press Release (Japanese, English)

Japan Airlines (JAL) has finally posted a notice on its website regarding the upcoming configuration change on the SFO route (JL001/002). But the period listed on the notice is longer than the one I reported earlier. Now SFO will see 8 more days of older generation products. If you are flying JL001/002 between September 5 and October 8 2010, make sure you check your assigned seats as the aircraft configuration has changed on these days

Source: JAL website

I finally find out where Japan Airlines (JAL) is going to deploy the extra 777-300ER after switching Narita (NRT) - San Francisco (SFO) (JL001/002) from 777-300ER to 777-200ER. From October 31 2010, JAL will start First class service on NRT-Jakarta (CGK), the same day which JAL downsize SFO to 772. Since JAL will be using the SFO aircraft on this route, it is getting the latest and greatest products, i.e. JAL Suite and JAL Flat Shell NEO seats in First and Business class respectively. And don't forget about the Sky Gallery and Self-service bar. I start to feel jealous :P

Also, JAL will discontinue First class service on Hong Kong (HKG) route (JL731/732) from October 1 2010. Currently NRT-HKG is the only short-haul route left with First class service. When JAL switches this flight to Haneda (HND) airport, it will downsize the aircraft from 747-400 to 777-200ER, and therefore discontinuing First class service and finally retire the Sky Sleeper seats (at least no route with regular scheduled Sky Sleeper service). This will also marks an end of short-haul First class service. NRT-CGK will be the shortest route with First class service after this.

On my inbound flights, I noticed some changes to the MAGIC-III system. It now plays a short commercial before SOME of the on-demand movie contents. This is probably a new way for Japan Airlines (JAL) to generate some extra revenue. This happens in both economy and business class! (At first I thought this is only for economy class) To be honest, it is a bit annoying but I can live with that. Below are the videos showing how it looks like...

Japan Airlines (JAL) has uploaded its June inflight entertainment program listing. To be honest, the offering is a bit disappointing this month. You even see repeat of Michael Jackson's This Is It! I guess it's just no good movies came out in the last few months :( Below are the list of movies available on MAGIC-I and II.

Japan Airlines (JAL) has uploaded its May inflight entertainment program listing. As expected, Avatar is still on the May program list and that's the only repeat from last month. Other movies include "Invictus". "Shutter Island", "Leap Year", etc. Below are the list of movies available on MAGIC-I and II.

JAL New JAL business class meal on SE Asia flights: "Samurai Zen”-inspired Japanese meal. Image from Japan Airlines

Japan Airlines (JAL) will enhance the business class meals on its Southeast Asia flights from April 1 2010. If you are flying from Japan to Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok, Jakarta, Bali or New Delhi, you will be the lucky ones who can first try out this new dinning experience.

Japan Airlines has posted more service details of the code share flights operated by Fuji Dream Airlines. Most of the service will be the same as other code share flights except for lounge access and inflight magazine.

April movie list on Japan Airlines international flights is up! The only repeat this month is "Up In the Air" (aka AA commercial LOL). Features include "Avator" (probably in 2D only sorry), "Sherlock Holmes", "Nine", "The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus" (late Heath Ledger's last movie), etc. Below are the list of movies available on MAGIC-I and II.

Japan Airlines and PIA Corporation are collaborating with travel guide publisher, Mais Co. Ltd, to publish a bi-annual travel magazine for foreigners. The magazine is called "JAL x PIA Japan Expert". It features tourist attractions in Tokyo and includes coupons for tourist to use during their stay in Japan. It will be published in both Korean and Chinese. So this is basically a more trendy JAL Guide Tokyo in Chinese/Korean + coupons available in all cabins. The magazine will be available on JAL flights to Tokyo from Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong and China. The first edition, which will be available from February 12 to June 30 2010, will feature Ginza, Nihonbashi, and Yaesu. JAL will also set up a website (site not yet ready) for the digital version of the magazine. It will be launch in early March.

(Picture from JAL Press Release)
Source: JAL Press Release

WOW all of the movies on MAGIC-I and II are new ones in March. No repeat from the previous month. In fact the selections on Japan Airlines international flights are pretty good in March. Below are movies available on JAL's MAGIC-I and II.

JAL Sky Gallery on 777-300ER

Other than the new JAL Shell Flat Neo seats, the Sky Gallery is one of the new features that I have been looking forward to most before my trip. You probably have heard it by now, the Sky Gallery is last year's Good Design Award winner. Basically it's a self-service bar with a photo exhibition panel in Japan Airlines' latest business class cabin.