In this report, we’ll look at the Economy Class experience aboard a Tōkyō-Manila flight operated by Japan’s flag carrier.
Welcome aboard Japan Airlines flight JL 745.
Note: The information set out here pertains only to the specific flight reviewed. Cabin equipment, amenities, meal options and other details may be different on previous or future flights, even if operated by the same airline on the same route and/or under the same flight number.
For the sake of brevity, IATA airline and airport codes have been used throughout this report in place of full names (e.g., “JL” instead of “Japan Airlines”; “NRT” instead of “Narita International Airport”).
This review covers the second, homebound leg (NRT-MNL) of a round-trip MNL-HND/NRT-MNL journey. Click here to read my review of the first, outbound leg (MNL-HND).
ROUTE MAP
OVERVIEW
Note: All times are local. There is a 1-hour time difference between Tōkyō-Narita (GMT+9) and Manila (GMT+8).
Flight details
Airline and flight number : Japan Airlines (JL) 745
Route : Tōkyō-Narita, Japan (IATA code: NRT) to Manila, Philippines (IATA code: MNL)
Route type : International
Date : Monday, 09 October 2023
Scheduled departure time (NRT) : 18:00
Actual departure time (NRT) : 18:19 (pushback) / 18:43 (take-off)
Scheduled arrival time (MNL) : 21:40
Actual arrival time (MNL) : 21:48 (landing) / 21:57 (docked at gate)
Equipment and cabin
Aircraft : Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner
Manufacturer : Boeing
Registration number : JA839J
Passenger capacity : 30 Business, 156 Economy (186 total)
Travel class flown : Economy Class
Seat map : Official website (configuration “E12”)
Delivered in 2015, JA839J underwent a full cabin reconfiguration four years later. The Economy Class seats were upgraded to JL’s current-generation “Sky Wider” equipment, which we’ll have a closer look at further on in the report.
BAGGAGE
My Economy ticket came with a free checked baggage allowance of two pieces weighing 23 kg (50 lb) each, which is the JL standard for this class of travel. Loyalty programme status, special rules for certain routes and other circumstances might yield a different limit for some passengers.
For complete details on JL’s baggage rules, please refer to their official website.
AT THE AIRPORT
Origin
JL flights out of the Greater Tōkyō area – except those using Haneda Airport – are based at Terminal 2 (T2) of Narita International Airport (IATA code: NRT).
Check-in
JL’s check-in facilities keep different hours at different airports, either tied to specific flight schedules or operating continuously from a stated time. (Full details are available on their official website, along with information on T2’s general layout.) At NRT, the JL counters are open from 7:00 in the morning.
After arriving at T2, I approached a member of JL’s ground staff who directed me to a self-service kiosk. Due to an issue with the passport reader, she helped me complete the check-in process at a supervisor’s desk.
Outbound immigration involved passing through an unmanned e-gate. My passport was scanned but not physically stamped.
Boarding
This flight’s assigned berth was Gate 86, which was located all the way over in T2’s isolated satellite concourse.
The main building and the satellite are linked by a long, fully enclosed pier. Up until 2013, the pier housed tracks for an automated people mover system, but that has since been decommissioned and replaced with moving walkways (where arrivals and departures are separated by glass walls).
The long space in the middle of the pier serves as a general waiting lounge, not associated with any specific gate. Here you’ll find a wide variety of seating, including a number of individual rest cubicles with comfortable recliners.
And here were are at the gate.
Boarding was conducted group by group, according to the number printed on each boarding pass. From what I observed, the sequence at NRT is essentially identical to the one employed at MNL, which is as follows (note: the image below is of a sign used for a past flight, JL 746):
Gate 86 was fitted with a double aerobridge, but only the aft jetway was deployed and connected to our waiting aircraft. (Note: The following images are of a similar boarding pier, Gate 95, taken during a previous JL flight.)
ONBOARD EXPERIENCE
Cabin interior and seating
As mentioned above, the Dreamliner that flew me to Tōkyō had been refreshed with JL’s new cabin interiors around four years ago. The result: several hours in the air ensconced within one of the airline’s awesome Sky Wider seats.
The airline claims that these seats offer up to 84 cm of pitch and 48 cm of width on the 787. I didn’t take precise measurements during the flight, but my seat certainly felt roomier than the equivalent on other airlines – considerably roomier, in fact. I’m also pleased to see that rather than squeeze passengers into its Dreamliners like sardines in a tin, JL’s happy to offer a spacious 2-4-2 configuration per row. Apart from translating into more space per person, this means one is never more than a single seat away from the aisle.
If even this amount of space is insufficient, one might consider booking a bulkhead row seat for extra legroom.
And if that’s still too much of a squeeze…well, you’ll have to invest quite a bit more to secure one of the semi-private compartments up in the Business Class cabin.
A remark on the 787’s windows. When the Dreamliner was first introduced more than a decade ago, I was just as excited as many others to see the then-cutting edge “smart glass” panes which smoothly transitioned from transparent to dark at the touch of a button. In actual use…mm, not so impressive. I suppose I’d rather have traditional pull-down shades after all.
Right, that’s the hardware taken care of. Time to examine the soft product.
Amenities
At boarding time, I found a pillow and plastic-wrapped blanket already laid out on my seat.
The seat pocket contained a wrapped set of headphones, an air sickness bag, and the usual assortment of literature.
Catering
Ah yes, the in-flight meal. I always look forward to this part of the airborne experience. 🙂
This being peasant class, there were no fancy foil-lettered menu booklets waiting at my seat when I boarded. But a quick search of the JL website did reveal the following Economy menu for the NRT-MNL route (October 2023 version).
| お食事 [3/1-15・4/1-15] 豚ばら照り焼き 人参金平と青菜ご飯 [3/16-31・4/16-30] チキン味噌デミグラスソース ごぼうバターライス 蒸し鶏蓮根サラダ 香草ソースがけ 厚揚げ豆腐 湯葉餡かけ ブロッコリーとイカの梅おかか和え フレッシュサラダ ドレッシング添え ハーゲンダッツ アイスクリーム コーヒー、紅茶、緑茶 | Menu [3/1-15・4/1-15] Pork Rib Teriyaki, Sautéed Kinpira-style Carrot, Rice with Daikon Radish Leaves [3/16-31・4/16-30] Chicken with Miso Demi-glace Sauce, Buttered Rice with Gobo Burdock Root Steamed Chicken & Lotus Root Salad Garnished with Herb Sauce Deep-fried Tofu with Savoury Yuba Starchy Sauce Broccoli & Squid Dressed with Pickled Japanese Plum & Bonito Flakes Fresh Salad with Dressing Häagen-Dazs Ice Cream Coffee / Tea / Green Tea |
Apart from beverages, no alternative options were offered during meal service. Just one main course – differing between the first and second halves of the month – and a fixed set of side dishes. Special dietary requirements are catered for, but this needs to be arranged before the flight. Once on board, it’s “take it or leave it”.
Let’s tuck in.
Towards the end of service, the cabin crew went around offering tea and coffee. I chose to partake of neither but appreciated being given the option.
In-flight entertainment
Every Economy Class seat on this aircraft was fitted with a personal monitor, controlled directly via the on-screen touch interface.
The supplied headphone set wasn’t noise-cancelling, but that’s just par for the course in Economy Class and it ultimately did the job.
ARRIVING IN THE PHILIPPINES
Virtually all of the Philippine government’s pandemic-era controls have been discontinued. With the exception of the old arrival card transitioning to an electronic version, the entry experience is now essentially back to what it was before the 2020 border closure. You can learn more about the process in my Airport Guide for the arrivals facilities at MNL T1 (this terminal being JL’s base in Manila).
OVERALL IMPRESSION
Despite the flight’s relatively short length, Japan Airlines’ comfortable Economy Class seats and faultless cabin service left little room for complaint.
I’d happily fly with them again on this route.
Cheerio.
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Within striking distance 