Japan Airlines

It is part of the JAL Infrastructure Corporation, which includes J-Air, Japan Air Commuter, JAL Cargo and the JAL mail airmail service. Japan Airlines serves 220 destinations to 35 countries worldwide, if codeshare is counted. The holding company’s planes fly 52 million passengers and more than one million tons of cargo per year.

History of Japan Airlines

Founded in August 1951 by the Government of Japan as a major domestic contractor in the provision of air cargo transportation. The initial capital was only 100 million Yen, and the entire fleet consisted of Douglas DC-3 planes leased from the Philippine government airline. In October of that year, a Martin 2-0-2 named Mokusei was added to the fleet. The pilots were Norwegian specialists.

In August 1953, the airline was restructured to become part of JAL, an infrastructure concern serving routes between Tokyo, Sapporo and Misawa, as well as cargo to Nagoya, Osaka, Iwakuni and Fukuoka. In 1954, the first civilian passenger flight on a Douglas DC-6B from Tokyo to San Francisco took place, and the flights between these cities are still numbered 1 and 2 in honor of this event.

By 1960, the old Douglas DC-6Bs were being replaced by Douglas DC-8 jets, one of which was added to the Japan Airlines fleet and named “Fuji”. This aircraft served flights on the Tokyo-Honolulu-San Francisco route. Over the next ten years, the DC-8 fleet expanded to 51 airliners, the last of which was retired in 1987.

In the 1960s, Japan Airlines established an international route network, which included flights to Moscow, New York and Busan. At the same time, Boeing 727s began to be delivered to the fleet at discounts from the U.S. government, and in 1965 the Japanese company served a number of flights within the Western bloc outside Asia. For example, JAL planes operated flights between San Francisco and New York, and in 1967 the San Francisco-London route was added.

By 1969, JAL had established connections with the Soviet Union and Aeroflot’s machines served a number of destinations. Tupolev 114s flew regularly to Japan and the crew consisted of Japanese and Soviet pilots. In 1970, Japan Airlines began purchasing Boeing 747s and McDonnel Douglas DC-10s to expand its network of international routes. Just 10 years later, almost the entire fleet consisted of Boeing 747-100SE, 747-SUD and 767 models, and the aging Douglas and 727s began to be phased out of the fleet.

In October 1990 Japan Air Charter began operating charter flights using Japanese airlines’ planes, and in September 1996 a special agreement was made between JAL and The Walt Disney Company to operate an exclusive flight from the United States to Tokyo Disneyland. Several Boeing 737s were added to the fleet especially for this purpose. Unfortunately, the economic downturn in the West during this period caused a significant reduction in the company’s revenues.

In 2002, Japan Air System and Japan Airlines merged into a single corporation, Japan Airlines System, which became the new core of JAL. Just two years later, the company again went through a painful rebranding and became Japan Airlines Domestic. Under this name, the carrier joined the OneWorld group in 2005.

In 2008 it was renamed again. This time the name reflected its international format – Japan Asia Airways (JAA) began operating flights between Japan and Taiwan, but the following year JAA filed for bankruptcy and received more than 100 billion yen in public investment and a loan from the Japanese government. During the long rescue procedure, JAA received over 400 billion yen, 730 billion in debt forgiveness and laid off over 15,700 people (about 35% of the staff). This became the 4th largest bankruptcy in Japan’s history.

After the bankruptcy proceedings were finalized, JAL enlisted the support of OneWorld alliance partners, joining forces with Jetstar Japan, British Airways and Finnair.

Japan Airlines fleet

There are 145 planes in the fleet. 39 aircraft have been ordered and will be introduced into the fleet by the end of 2024. Japan Airlines’ fleet is predominantly Boeing aircraft, but there are also several Airbus types, as well as a significant investment in the Boom Overture (an order for 20 planes of this model has already been placed on the waiting list and partially paid for).

Flight directions

At the moment, the airline does not serve destinations in Russia and has suspended flights to Moscow (Domodedovo and Sheremetyevo), Khabarovsk and Vladivostok since 2021. The company’s flights to Europe ply the Arctic Circle around Russian Federation airspace. Japan Airlines has not yet announced a timetable for restoring popular routes to Russia.

Passenger service classes

Standard and Japanese cabin layouts are used here, so the set of services and additional options for different classes of passengers may differ. It depends on the direction of the flight (domestic or international), range, type of airliner and other factors.

Passengers are offered to choose from 4 main classes of service: (1) Economy Class, (2) Premium Economy Class, (3) Business Class and (4) First Class.

JAL Mileage Bank Loyalty Program

The JMB system is organized through a complex partnership between dozens of organizations.

1. Fly Japan Airlines planes and earn miles based on the class of service you choose.
2. Buy products from brands affiliated with OneWorld Alliance and JAL Mileage Bank’s loyalty program.
3. Stay at partner hotels and earn special bonus miles that can be spent on any products within the JAL ecosystem.
4. Pay for services associated with flights (car rentals and bathing at Onsen Ryokan baths).

You can spend your accumulated miles in different ways:

• Donate to charity and immediate humanitarian aid to victims of natural disasters around the world.
• Pay up to 100% of the cost of the flight.
• Pay for sea cruise tickets, nights at partner hotels or other entertainment.

Starting in 2024, the JMB system will have several statuses for regular non-subscription customers (Crystal, Sapphire, JGC Premium and Diamond) and several unannounced ones for customers with subscription or upgraded status purchased with accumulated miles.

Baggage rules and regulations

Japan Airlines utilizes the standard Western unit baggage accounting system with the following restrictions:

• All passengers can take in the cabin hand luggage of 55x40x25 (not more than 115 cm) and weighing up to 10 kg.
• The personal baggage includes 1 personal item (must meet the dimensions and weight limit of the hand baggage).
• Economy and Premium Economy Class passengers can check in 2 pieces of baggage up to 23 kg each (not exceeding 203 cm).
• Business and First Class customers can check in 3 pieces of luggage up to 32 kg each.

There are a few important features that passengers with large luggage should keep in mind:

• The maximum number of baggage items per person is the limit for the class of service and 7 additional items.
• In total, economy and premium economy class passengers are allowed to check in no more than 9 pieces of luggage, while business and first class passengers are allowed to check in up to 10 pieces of luggage.
• The total weight of checked baggage must not exceed 45 kg (a fee is payable if the requirements are not met).
• For departures from Canada and the USA, customers pay for extra baggage in local currency at the exchange rate of the country’s central bank at the time of settlement.

Check-in for Japan Airlines flights

Passengers can take advantage of several ways to check-in for Japan Airlines flights:

1. At the airport counter.
2. Online on the Amadeus platform. Standard check-in 24 hours before departure and automatic check-in (more than 24 hours in advance) are available.
3. Online followed by a boarding pass in Apple Wallet or Google Wallet mobile wallet.
4. On the JAL app mobile app with receipt of a digital boarding pass.
5. At automated kiosks (available at several airports including Haneda, Kansai, Los Angeles, Seattle (Tacoma) and London (Heathrow).

Depending on the method selected, the opening and closing times for registration will vary:

• Online starts 24 hours in advance and ends 60 minutes before departure.
• At counters and kiosks in Europe, Japan, the U.S. and Oceania, it opens 3 hours in advance and closes 60 minutes before departure.
• At most airports in China, it starts 2 hours and 30 minutes before landing.
• In most Southeast Asian airports, it starts 3 to 4 hours before the flight.

Japan Airlines Contacts

At the moment, the carrier is undergoing internal restructuring of some business processes, and therefore communication with support may be difficult. Despite a number of problems with the operation of some communication channels, you can contact representatives of the airline and the customer support department in particular at the following contact details.

It remains possible to use the feedback form on the official website of the company and get an answer by e-mail.