Japan Airlines
JL · Founded 1951
4.8
From 5 metrics
Choose your seat: Japan Airlines seat maps on Seats Frog →
Japan Airlines (JL) is based in Tokyo, Japan, hubs at HND, NRT, flying since 1951. Rated 4.8/5 on on-time performance, hospitality, food, and drinks.
Guide by Lounge Frog
- Headquarters
- Tokyo, Japan
- Mileage program
- JAL Mileage Bank ↗
- Elite status
- JAL Mileage Bank
- Customer service
- Unknown
Where they fly
109 nonstop routesNew routesOsaka to HigashikaguraNew
From Tokyo HND· 34
- BangkokBKK
- BeijingPEK
- ChicagoORD
- DalianDLC
- DallasDFW
- DelhiDEL
- DohaDOH
- GuangzhouCAN
- HelsinkiHEL
- HigashikaguraAKJ
- Ho Chi Minh CitySGN
- Hong KongHKG
- HonoluluHNL
- IzumoIZO
- KushiroKUH
- LondonLHR
- Los AngelesLAX
- ManilaMNL
- MisawaMSJ
- NagasakiNGS
- NahaOKA
- New YorkJFK
- ObihiroOBO
- ŌzoraMMB
- ParisCDG
- San FranciscoSFO
- SeoulGMP
- ShanghaiPVG
- ShanghaiSHA
- ShirahamaSHM
- SingaporeSIN
- SydneySYD
- TaipeiTSA
- UbeUBJ
From Tokyo NRT· 25
From Fukuoka FUK· 7
- IzumoIZO
- KagoshimaKOJ
- MatsuyamaMYJ
- MiyazakiKMI
- NankokuKCZ
- TokushimaTKS
- TokyoHND
From Osaka KIX· 6
From Nagoya NGO· 6
- HonoluluHNL
- KushiroKUH
- ObihiroOBO
- TaipeiTSA
- TianjinTSN
- TokyoHND
From Osaka ITM· 3
- HigashikaguraAKJNew
- NahaOKA
- TokyoHND
From Matsuyama MYJ· 3
- KagoshimaKOJ
- OsakaITM
- TokyoHND
From Amami ASJ· 2
- OsakaITM
- TokyoHND
From Tokushima TKS· 2
- SapporoCTS
- TokyoHND
From Aomori AOJ· 1
From Akita AXT· 1
From Higashine GAJ· 1
From Hiroshima HIJ· 1
From Hakodate HKD· 1
From Ishigaki ISG· 1
From Nankoku KCZ· 1
From Kitakyushu KKJ· 1
From Miyazaki KMI· 1
From Kumamoto KMJ· 1
From Kanazawa KMQ· 1
From Kagoshima KOJ· 1
From Oita OIT· 1
From Naha OKA· 1
From Okayama OKJ· 1
From Takamatsu TAK· 1
Route sources (including Wikipedia fallback): en.wikipedia.org ↗ (checked Oct 27, 2026), en.wikipedia.org ↗ (checked Oct 27, 2026), en.wikipedia.org ↗ (checked Oct 27, 2026), en.wikipedia.org ↗ (checked Oct 27, 2026) and 28 more.
Japan Airlines route map: every nonstop, new and ending routes →The same route map on Seats Frog, with seat maps and fleet
Terminals and lounges at 20 airportsHide the list
- CDGParis Charles de Gaulle · Terminal 2E
- DFWDallas/Fort Worth International · Terminal D
- FRAFrankfurt Airport · Terminal 3
- HELHelsinki Airport (Helsinki-Vantaa) · Non-Schengen Area
- HKGHong Kong International · Terminal 1
- HNDTokyo Haneda · Terminal 1, Terminal 3
- HNLDaniel K. Inouye International · Terminal 2
- ICNIncheon International · Terminal 1
- JFKJohn F. Kennedy International · Terminal 8
- KIXKansai International Airport · Terminal 1
- LAXLos Angeles International · Tom Bradley International Terminal
- LHRLondon Heathrow · Terminal 3
- MADAdolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas · Terminal 4S
- NRTTokyo Narita International · Terminal 2
- ORDChicago O'Hare International · Terminal 3
- SANSan Diego International · Terminal 2
- SEASeattle-Tacoma International · South Satellite
- SFOSan Francisco International · International Terminal A
- SINSingapore Changi · Terminal 1
- YVRVancouver International · International Terminal
Ratings
What a 5 means for each metric
- On-time performance
- arrives on schedule
- Hospitality
- crew is friendly and attentive
- Food & beverage
- quality meals and snacks
- Drinks
- good selection, generous pours
- Customer service
- answers the phone and fixes the problem
JAL Mileage Bank status
Full status page ↗JAL Mileage Bank status is earned on FLY ON Points or qualifying flights in a calendar year on JAL and oneworld carriers, alongside the lifetime Life Status scheme introduced in 2024; JAL Global Club membership keeps Sapphire-level benefits for the long term. Japan Airlines is a oneworld member, so Sapphire is oneworld Sapphire and JGC Premier and Diamond are Emerald. Confirm current thresholds on jal.co.jp.
1
Member
No status lounge access. Lounge entry is by cabin, membership, or a card.How to earn it
Free to join.
What it gets you
Earn and redeem miles; no elite benefits.
2
Crystal
oneworld RubyNo alliance lounge access. Any lounge benefit is the airline's own and only on its own flights.How to earn it
30,000 FLY ON Points or 30 flights.
What it gets you
Priority waitlist, an extra bag, a 25% bonus.
3
Sapphire
oneworld SapphireJAL Sakura Lounges with a guest on same-day JAL flights, and oneworld business lounges, with one guest, whenever you fly a oneworld carrier the same day, in any cabin.How to earn it
50,000 FLY ON Points or 50 flights.
What it gets you
Sakura Lounge access, priority check-in and boarding, extra bags, a 35% bonus, and the door to JAL Global Club.
4
JGC Premier
oneworld EmeraldJAL First Class Lounges and Sakura Lounges with a guest on same-day JAL flights, and oneworld first and business lounges, with one guest, whenever you fly a oneworld carrier the same day, in any cabin.How to earn it
80,000 FLY ON Points or 80 flights, as a JAL Global Club member.
What it gets you
First Class lounges, the best seat priority, a 105% bonus.
5
Diamond
oneworld EmeraldJAL First Class Lounges and Sakura Lounges with a guest, and oneworld first and business lounges, with one guest, whenever you fly a oneworld carrier the same day, in any cabin.How to earn it
100,000 FLY ON Points or 120 flights.
What it gets you
Top tier: First Class lounges, priority on everything, a 130% bonus, a dedicated line.
What JAL Mileage Bank miles are worth
All 100 programs ↗Fleet
7 types · ↗ links open the airline's own seat maps · our seat maps
Boeing 787-831Best seats · E03, 30 Business · 176 EconomyBest seats · E12, 30 Business · 156 EconomyBest seats · E21 domestic, 6 First · 58 Class J · 227 Economy
Photo: Anna Zvereva, CC BY-SA 2.0
Boeing 767-300ER27Best seats · A25 domestic, 5 First · 42 Class J · 205 EconomyBest seats · A28 domestic, 42 Class J · 219 EconomyBest seats · A44, 24 Business · 175 Economy
Photo: Masahiro Takagi, CC BY 2.0
Traveller reviews
What people who've been say. One review each; you can update yours.
No reviews yet. Be the first.
From social posts
Attributed posts curated by our editors. These do not affect traveller star averages.
- LeeMacL 📎@leemacl8.bsky.social · Bluesky5/5Sentiment-derived
Positive opinion · Stars estimated from the post, not assigned by its author.
I remember dining on real china and having real silverware, though tiny! I looked forward to traveling. Was introduced to raw fish on a Japan Airlines flight where the snack (!) was a box of sushi! 1968. All the airline food was good but JAL was exceptional.
Read original post ↗ - Zero-3!@jmr0303.bsky.social · Bluesky4/5Sentiment-derived
Positive opinion · Stars estimated from the post, not assigned by its author.
In America, pretzels. But... Sometimes I fly Japan Airlines or ANA, in which case rice crackers are also an option. And Asiana Airlines will give you full size chocolate chip cookies. Those are good too.
Edited excerpt: profanity removed; the original opinion is retained.
Read original post ↗ - bobby@bobbylewis.bsky.social · Bluesky4/5Sentiment-derived
Mixed opinion · Stars estimated from the post, not assigned by its author.
had some yakitori on the japan airlines flight that actually wasn’t terrible but i gotta get the good [expletive] in country
Edited excerpt: profanity removed; the original opinion is retained.
Read original post ↗ - Tony 🏳️🌈🇦🇺@bonitoclub.bsky.social · Bluesky5/5Sentiment-derived
Positive opinion · Stars estimated from the post, not assigned by its author.
JAL are great! We flew JAL after getting rerouted back from Europe when our flight was delayed and we missed a connection home on Cathay.
Read original post ↗ - Gilles Poitras@gillespoitras.bsky.social · Bluesky5/5Sentiment-derived
Positive opinion · Stars estimated from the post, not assigned by its author.
I have to add a disclaimer on the cost. I fly out of SFO so my flights are direct. If you are coming from a greater distance your flight will cost more. BTW I fly JAL which I found to be affordable with good food and lots of movies as I can't sleep on flights.
Read original post ↗ - minami@sakaimii.bsky.social · Bluesky5/5Sentiment-derived
Positive opinion · Stars estimated from the post, not assigned by its author.
I’m back in Japan!!!!!!!!!!! In the end the super roundabout way I was ended up getting back to as a blessing in surprise. I got to meet and hang out with a friend I wasn’t expecting to see for a few years and my flight back was basically business class on JAL, which is amazing
Read original post ↗
Coverage
In the news
Independent reporting and primary sources used to keep this page accurate.
From Lounge Frog
Articles about Japan Airlines
NewsMiami will pitch Japan Airlines on a Tokyo nonstop this month, and may offer a revenue guarantee
NewsJAL picks the Embraer E190-E2 to replace J-AIR's regional jets, with 16 firm orders
NewsJAL business class to Europe for 38,500 miles: JAL's 30% off award sale, and the catches
NewsAsia Miles pauses Japan Airlines awards: existing tickets still work
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