Japan Airlines (JAL) Business Class: NRT-SAN B787-8

After another incredible ski trip to Niseko, it was time to head back home. I booked this Japan Airlines flight from Tokyo Narita (NRT) to San Diego (SAN) through Cathay Pacific for 89,000 Cathay miles plus $260 in taxes. I snagged the award 360 days in advance when Business Class seats were first released. While it costs a few more miles than flying into Los Angeles, landing in San Diego means I’m home within an hour instead of facing the four hour trek from LAX. That convenience alone makes the extra miles worthwhile.

To get to the airport, I took the Narita Express Green Car from Tokyo Station. Unfortunately, my Yamato luggage shipment from Niseko was delayed, so I had to have it delivered to my hotel in Ginza and haul it with me on the train. Thankfully, the extra space and comfort of Green Car made the journey much more manageable.

Check in at Narita was quick and efficient. After dropping my bags, I took care of some duty free shopping before heading to the JAL Business Class Lounge. I grabbed a light bite to eat and enjoyed one of the lounge’s excellent shower suites before making my way to the gate.

Boarding began right on schedule, and I settled into seat 3A. On my previous flight I had been in 1A, but without Oneworld Emerald status this year, 3A was the best available option. As it turned out, it was every bit as private and comfortable as 1A, making it an excellent seat for the overnight flight.

With the evening departure from Tokyo, dinner service began shortly after takeoff. Warm nuts and breadsticks kicked things off, accompanied by a glass of water and a neat pour of Kanosuke Single Malt whisky. The appetizer course featured an impressive assortment of Japanese delicacies, including steamed octopus, snow crab, simmered abalone, grilled black cod, and wagyu beef.

For the main course, I chose the Shiokoji marinated steamed chicken with Ichimi chili pepper, served with steamed rice, miso soup, and Japanese pickles. It was flavorful without being overly heavy, which made it perfect before getting some sleep.

Dessert consisted of Strawberry agar jelly with white sesame cream, a light and refreshing finish to an excellent meal. I checked a few emails using the included inflight WiFi and affter that, it was time to convert the seat into a bed and get some rest.

I managed about six hours of solid sleep before breakfast service began prior to our arrival in San Diego. I selected the Noto beef sukiyaki with steamed rice and a slow cooked egg, accompanied by fresh fruit. It was another outstanding meal and a great way to start the day.

As we descended into San Diego, our flight path passed directly over Marine Corps Air Station Miramar before offering fantastic views of the Coronado Bridge. It was a fitting welcome home.

From the moment I stepped off the aircraft to standing curbside waiting for an Uber took just 22 minutes. Priority baggage handling and Global Entry certainly helped, but San Diego’s international arrivals process is impressively efficient, especially since this was the only international flight arriving at that time.

 

Conclusion: For me, redeeming a few extra award miles to fly directly into San Diego instead of Los Angeles is an easy decision when traveling in Business Class. Being home within an hour of landing instead of facing the drive from LAX is well worth the additional miles. The one exception is Japan Airlines First Class on the A350-1000 from Los Angeles, which is such an outstanding product that I’d happily make the extra journey.

As expected, Japan Airlines once again delivered an excellent Business Class experience. The service was polished, the dining was consistently enjoyable, and the Sky Suite on the 787-8 remains one of my favorite business class seats for a comfortable night’s sleep.