Upping The Game · JAPAN AIRLINES A350 CLASS J 🇯🇵 Tokyo ✈ Sapporo 🇯🇵 Japanese "Business Class"

[@tfft]

Correction: The flight stats graphic should of course read: "HND-CTS" not ITM-HND. Oh and the groaning and heavy breathing during take off and landing... not me! lol.

[@jitkasemt.9548]

What did the guy next to you said when touch down? 😅😅😅

[@konadora]

@@jitkasemt.9548 i think he said "Let's go"? It was so random lol

[@dennisrettke]

Oh man, the 😒emoji at the end had me! Yeah, I would have had that face too, especially during such a serenely pretty landing!

[@robm3074]

Your sense of humor just kills me. I love it. And we all on this planet could learn so much from the Japanese way of doing things.

[@tfft]

Appreciate that!

[@SirPeteWindsor]

5:32 Ground handlers waving and bowing. Priceless. Full on Japanese culture/respect. 大好きです。(love it)

[@tfft]

Same here!

[@RealGaryGibson]

I love the "ground breaking concept" of opening more lines when security lines get long!

[@tfft]

Japanese innovation! haha

[@af_aviation]

The emoji during the “let’s go!” 😂

[@tfft]

😉

[@AmolNimbalkar]

You are so perceptive, you actually knew when you were losing the audience and you totally pulled us back in the video with Mt Fuji, BRILLIANT stuff! 😂

[@tfft]

Haha well I know if I'm losing myself... and I wrote it... well... yah haha.

[@DeniseSommerRoque]

I can’t tell you how much enjoy this Japan series! Even though there wasn’t much interesting content on the soft product, the stunning images more then make up for it. As well as your highly entertaining commentary, the remark being a Canadian for the day made me laugh so hard and even more when we could hear your neighbour during touch down…what a caricature! Thank you for the review and laughter 😆🙏🏼

[@tfft]

I'm the kind of person that absolutly hates- nay, abhors- watching my videos after they're finished, but I always need to just before publishing... but I gotta say even I enjoy these Japan videos haha. A bit of zen at each turn (except for my neighbor lol).

[@tvtriviachampion]

When you said “obnoxious” I was confused because it’s such a pleasure to be surrounded by Japanese people. Then your classic “oh me…I’m Canadian” line explained it perfectly! Also loved your “Look…Mt Fuji “ line. I was laughing out loud. Thai ground staff bow (technically a “wei”) to the plane/pilots before taxiing. Love Japan 🇯🇵 and Thailand 🇹🇭 😊.

[@tfft]

Yeah, the Canadaian thing is a once a month, more or less, thing for me when I'm on the road haha.

[@tvtriviachampion]

@@tfft Lol. Me too!

[@petek5523]

I love the tradition of waving goodbye to everyone, it’s so nice 😊. Great video as always, now time to rewatch your Japan 🇯🇵 hotel reviews as I’m 99% sure that I’ll be visiting next year 🎉🎉.

[@tfft]

Enjoy em!

[@slumberlisa]

This was probably my most favorite review thus far! Love your sense of humor. Kept me laughing! Look, Mount Fuji!

[@tfft]

Appreciate that!

[@get2dachoppa249]

I totally get the “I’m Canadian today”. Even though I’m a Native New Yorker, born and raised, I never get identified as such, so it’s nice to be on the down low riding up front all the time.

[@tfft]

Yeah, I never had these thoughts until I moved out of the US and was shocked to see how 'we' actually acted lol.

[@patriciafuchs5970]

Enjoying this series. Your sarcasm is appreciated. Pretty garden. Lovely clear day. No snacks??? LOL. Nice review.

[@tfft]

Thanks very much 🙏🏻

[@MrTomcat104]

Travel in Japan is very stress-free. Everyone is orderly, polite and disciplined. Everything just works. Not like US airports and airlines, with long lines, surly TSA agents, airlines that nickel-and-dime you for everything, not to mention the frequent delays and cancellations that mess up your travel schedule. Sapporo and Hokkaido in particular are great places to visit in Japan to escape the oppressive summer heat that plagues the rest of Japan in June, July and August.

[@tfft]

Thanks for sharing ✈️

[@nufirmdm]

I've been watching your channel for the past year or so, but over the past day have been binging the channel and admiring the quality. Thanks for the incredible content. It's serving as an excellent resource as I plan for my upcoming trips. Really hoping to see your following blow up (in a good way lol)

[@tfft]

Thank you for clarifying only in the good way haha!

[@davidconley6267]

So what you're saying is you won the seat mate anti-lottery. Happened to me once in about 250 flights. I feel blessed.

[@tfft]

Yeah, in the history of this channel, there are really only 3 who i really really really didn't appreciate sitting next to. Ironically all three were in the first half of this year haha.

[@tonybrise6524]

'Oh look...Mt. Fuji.'...I laughed so hard I scared my family...way to go Kevin!!!!!!!

[@tfft]

When the family and dogs get scared, I know my job is done 😂

[@bookwormfaith]

Thank you for this, this was really helpful, as I will be taking a J class flight myself in a week!

[@aarons5689]

I love JAL. Such a great airline. I also love when they wave goodbye to the plane. When they did that at JFK, I was so happy. Such a small thing, but a fun and kind touch.

[@tfft]

Agreed!

[@jarmstrongytube]

Class J is just a slightly better seat and business-level tier points. It's usually only like $10 more than economy though, so well worth it IMO.

[@tfft]

Yeah, I can't imagine a comparable flight in the west for the same price!

[@superlogistics1]

One of the reason the route is so busy is because the shinkansen hasn’t connected directly to Sapporo. Currently you can only go as far as Hakodate on the high speed rail, then you need to change trains thus making this route one of the busiest in the world

[@tfft]

Fair point, but even if it was directly connected, that would be like a 4-5 hour train ride if im not mistaken. A hard sell for those on a tight schedule.

[@superlogistics1]

@@tfft Roughly around that duration, planes have certain advantages over trains and vice versa depends how time conscious you are at the end of the day and where you are departing/arriving. But always good to have more options, unlike the US where planes are basically your only option for the majority of travel across the country

[@konadora]

Yet another Japan series video! Awesome, cheers Kevin!

[@tfft]

Thanks very much 🙏🏻

[@jimmyjames6492]

Thanks for the great review + video!

[@tfft]

Thanks for watching 🩴

[@raymonandrewkoh7182]

It's always an exciting experience watching your vids & travel adventures. Thank You.

[@tfft]

Appreciate that!

[@rasferrastfarian739]

Love the humor Kevin! Yes imagine opening ANOTHER counter when a line formed! lol! If only our supermarkets would do the same!

[@tfft]

Brillant concept haha

[@tommykay7427]

Is't it great having an obnoxious seat mate? And everyone looking at you too make him/her shut-up. All you want to do is to scream HE'S NOT WITH ME! Kevin you are doing an amazing job. By far the most entertaining traveller blogger out there. Thanks for another great vid!

[@tfft]

At least, since 95% of the cabin was Japanese, I wasn't getting any of those stares haha.

[@Hiro-eb4zx]

Class J is actually marketed as premium economy (from the name, it does look confusing). In this context there are no business class fares existing in any Japanese domestic market, including ANA. The eligibility for domestic lounges is a bit confusing: JAL: Diamond Premier Lounge: OW Emerald and First Class passengers Sakura Lounge: OW Sapphire passengers only ANA: ANA Suite Lounge: ANA Diamond members only (NO Premium Class, ANA's version of domestic first class, passengers allowed!) ANA Lounge: *A Gold passengers and Premium Class passengers

[@tfft]

Yeah, for the name of the cabin, I mean perhaps it would have made more sense to pick any other letter- besides the one that means "business class" haha. Thanks for watching 🩴

[@ISB021]

That Qantas vids gonna be a doozy lol 1:31

[@tfft]

2 of them haha.

[@ISB021]

So looking forward to it. Btw what do the play station symbols mean on the flight availability screen? Cross circle triangle

[@sbor90]

​@@ISB021 circle means wide availability, triangle is limited seats left, the cross is sold out.

[@ISB021]

Thanks mate!

[@SubhadipSen]

Best thumbnail photo yet!

[@tfft]

I kinda agree! haha

[@eNRJ829]

Absolutely loving the Japan series. I'm sorry you had to deal with that seatmate. It's always so mortifying sitting next to one of those foreigners and people lumping you in with them.

[@tfft]

Wish he was more foreign haha. Thanks for watching 🩴

[@StevenYLol]

LOL the Canadian bits really get me haha.

[@tfft]

😅

[@vontaylor472]

Hey Kevin. Love your videos❤❤❤

[@tfft]

Thanks very much 🙏🏻

[@paulkazzer]

Beautiful cinematography. ❤

[@tfft]

Thanks very much 🙏🏻

[@whatdawhatdawhat]

Most informative video on JAL J Class

[@tfft]

Thanks very much 🙏🏻

[@user-roburo]

I am Japanese. The reason why ANA does not have a service like Class J is that in the past, there was a super seat operated by JAL, ANA, and JAS in Japan. It developed into Class J at JAL and into Premium Class at ANA. However, as you can see, JAL's service is inferior to Premium Class, so JAL started offering First Class.

[@tfft]

This makes a lot of sense- but in that case it also tells me ANA has an opportunity to introduce a premium economy product as well.

[@MattBlankenshipPhotography]

Always until the end! Including the ads!

[@tfft]

Appreciate that!

[@NANICU]

Same thing happened to me: I was connecting from an international business class flight to a domestic flight to Okinawa, but on the next day at 8.30am. When I arrived at the lounge, I was denied entry. The lady at the Sakura Lounge counter couldn't explain it to me, but I later found out that J class on connecting flights that depart after 8am the next day does not entitle one to lounge access. Go figure 🤷🏻‍♀️.

[@tfft]

That sounds like the most Japanese rule ever lol.

[@sean_king]

I find that interaction with the lounge agent rather funny. They really tried to not offend you, when some others out there would even scold you in a very in your face kind of manner for "wasting their time"

[@tfft]

Yupp, lots of respect for her!

[@jutzgolf]

Awesome video and channel I’ve subbed

[@tfft]

Thanks for subscribing! 📺

[@gregorybaker330]

Flown that route many times. Before Emerald status,paid F upgrade round 100aud gives you F status credits and lounge. As NH Diamond,all F benefits.

[@tfft]

Yeah, to be fair if this was a leisure trip I'd upgrade in a heartbeat, but wanted to check out Class J.

[@gunvaldsandhaland7757]

Great Video And Info

[@tfft]

Thanks very much 🙏🏻

[@ComSubGru9]

Same Aircraft type to the opposite direction and taking off from the same Runway as the accident. All in all nice video as usual.

[@tfft]

Thanks for sharing ✈️

[@hungo7720]

It is amazing to see a widebody deployed on a short domestic route in Japan like this one between Tokyo and Sapporo. Japan has quite a niche air market, doesn't it?

[@tfft]

It is, but widebodies are very common on short routes in Asia. Dozens per day between Seoul and Jeju or Taipei and Hong Kong. Loads of domestic Chinese flights and 30-50 (near double that during New Year) per day between Hanoi and Saigon.

[@druiz012]

"Oh me? Oh no I'm Canadian today" lol... unfortunately I have a moment like that on just about every international trip.

[@tfft]

Occupational hazard for us haha.

[@hbkba185]

6:28 should be a mishap here, flight route is HND to CTS in lieu of ITM that took off from~ Another great video tho!

[@tfft]

Yah, the correction is in the pinned comment. Thanks for watching 🩴

[@mdjay1000]

I cant wait for the intercontinental sanur video

[@tfft]

Thanks for watching 🩴

[@charliebrown5]

Thank You ✈️

[@tfft]

Thanks for watching 🩴

[@taewonhwang5416]

Their j class is different from actual j class internationally in the sense that the demand for business travelers are little different considering the size of country. Most of the flights are under 2.5 hours so having business class in international standard is not that necessary. But for people like me i was initially fooled by its j class. By the way i suggest you also try gimpo jeju route, not because there are many things to do but because it is the most frequent route in the world.

[@tfft]

Yeah, I have no complaints about the product itself, I just think there are 25 other letters that would have made much more sense than "J" lol

[@jonathanfurtado2191]

Lol. That blitzkrieg bit regarding the business lounge sent me up Mt. Fuji😅 Btw, didn't know that JAL still operates the 767 "passenger aircraft" (10:25). Or was that aircraft just indisposed and probably waiting to enter a museum?

[@get2dachoppa249]

Museum? Exact opposite. They are upgrading them. JALs 76s only average about 17 years, whereas United averages 25 yrs on their 76s.

[@tfft]

Between JAL, ANA and Air Do, there are around 50 767s in use in Japan. I believe JAL is the only one to use them internationally though. They have the same seats you'd find on Delta and Austrian's 767s.

[@theluxurytraveladdict]

Loving this Japan series. We’ll be there in 2 months and will be taking this exact flight. No snacks and no priority boarding is kind of disappointing though 😢

[@tfft]

Perfect excuse to pick up an ekiben in the terminal before boarding!

[@Notourtube]

Japanese premium domestic flights are superior!

[@tfft]

Agreed!

[@Notourtube]

@@tfftANA is far better than Jal tho

[@marcosalterio6306]

Gorg landing....except for the "Let's go" haha

[@tfft]

Agreed!

[@mikejackson1410]

“When lines are long…..” LOL

[@tfft]

Japanese Innovation at it's best lol

[@mozoiboy]

Hey Kevin . Can you suggest a good window mount for filming takeoffs and landings . As an AV Geek I struggle to get cool 😎 takeoff and landing shots .

[@tfft]

Start with a GoPro mount and buy pieces to adapt to an iPhone, then make sure you have plenty of padding to make sure you don't scratch the windows!

[@tommykay7427]

Holy cow....that upcoming itinerary! Make not one, but two complete roundabouts, in Japan: Bagging the question.....did you get a chance to see anything of Japan?

[@tfft]

Haha it keeps going after that! Didn't see much on this trip besides the transport, but have been to Japan many times. One of my favorite places to visit.

[@tacodias]

04:02 - oh look, Mount Fuji

[@tfft]

😅

[@mytraveljourney2024]

May I know at which gate did you see the mountain? It looks breathtaking ❤

[@JekP0rkins]

Can u imagine what all the locals were thinking about ur seat mate but too courteous to say out loud?

[@tfft]

Hopefully nothing related to me lol

[@CallanKilderry]

1:29 Oh, hello Adelaide.

[@tfft]

Read this as "Oh, hello Adele"... twice haha. I need a nap 😅

[@m0s3]

OOOOH MOUNT FUJI

[@tfft]

😅

[@druiz012]

What did he say after "Lets go! Lets go!" Lmao. I have never 3ncountered an individual so excited about landing... on the other hand I have had entire planes gasping, clapping, or cheering (harsh landings, second runway attempts, severe weather)

[@tfft]

One of the multiple conversations he was having with his friend on the other side of the plane was an ongoing bet about the exact time of landing. I guess he won the bet lol.

[@SkyGenshin]

Will you do the JAL Domestic Class F sometime too? Edit: Nvm bro just found your other video!

[@tfft]

I love self answering questions haha.

[@davidbalcon8726]

How can you not have OneWorld status? Surely you can easily earn Sapphire by getting BA Silver (600 Tier Points) with a couple of your previous partner business class flights (140 TPs each if over 2K miles, and as you mentioned on Osaka>HND in F, 60 TPs)…though since your travels appear to be mostly throughout the Asia/Pacific region it might be difficult to get the two BA/IB flights also required.

[@tfft]

I actually do have Sapphire now, as of a couple weeks ago. Around half of my long haul business class flights are typically booked with points- so, I don't get status credit for a lot of the flying that I do.

[@wicked_smaaht]

Feels like Delta’s domestic Comfort Plus with bigger seats. Plus points to Delta, they come with free booze.

[@tfft]

Plus points to JAL for charging a fraction of what Delta would charge for the same product lol.

[@wicked_smaaht]

@@tfftdepends. One way tickets for Flights of similar distances are not much different.

[@shakesnbake]

11:35 did your obnoxious friend audibly sigh? Maybe annoyed they were missng all those stunning views 😅

[@tfft]

Idk, I could hear his heavy breathing throughout the take off and landing haha.

[@konadora]

Class J truly felt like a domestic premium economy, but leaning more towards economy than business. No snacks or food, no priority boarding, no lounge access… feels a bit like Asiana’s Smartium seats, except even those allow priority boarding if my memory serves me correct. A strange product that feels neither here nor there. But for a premium domestic flight, I guess for most that’s what one really needs?

[@tfft]

I've previously heard from a viewer that Class J was meant to compete with Shinkansen Green Class (business class) and so in that very specific regard, it does do it well.

[@konadora]

@@tfft I see, that makes perfect sense then! But honestly at that price difference between Class J and First Class (the one you took from Itami to Tokyo), the First Class seems like a more enticing value preposition 🤔

[@gildovargas]

from SINGAPORE to MELBOURNE on SCOOT

[@tfft]

✅

[@memeranglaut]

Ah Class J. JAL's version of the green car? Because you have better seats than normal economy. Also, I can not giggle whenever I see the ground catering company for JAL. that company name is quite rude in some cultures haha.

[@tfft]

Yes, meant to compete for Green Car passangers.

[@roybackhouse117]

Did your emerald one-world status not get you access?

[@tfft]

I've never had Emerald status and didn't have any status at the time of this flight lol

[@RGHONDO]

Would have been funny if you said squirrel instead of Mt. Fuji 😅

[@tfft]

Ahhh, there's always next time lol

[@ybing]

which month did you travel to Japan?

[@tfft]

Winter of this year.

[@kennethkendall8530]

I'AM LOSING YOU, YOU'RE FUNNY. Class J.

[@tfft]

Thanks very much 🙏🏻

[@moraimon]

Class J is more premium economy class than business class.

[@tfft]

Thanks for watching 🩴

[@KalpeshPatelNL]

1:30 lol

[@tfft]

I speaks the truth haha

[@trivet1970]

probably not enough time to watch movies on these domestics anyway so they figure why bother paying for them.

[@tfft]

Fair point.

[@2THGap]

4 minutes late? That's unacceptable. Just kidding.

[@tfft]

Scandalous! 😅

[@2THGap]

@@tfft 🤣

[@johnt6022]

great video but try and cut down on the amount of talking.

[@tfft]

305 videos in... that's just what I do lol

[@jaimeflowersashley9380]

@@tfftyou are now pretty much the only travel channel I watch now, precisely BECAUSE of your well scripted, well researched, funny “talking.” I get sad when and old video doesn’t have a voice over!

[@Marcburg21]

Japan always has confusing rules that make sense to the person who implemented them and nobody else. Premium Economy always boards last on JAL international which I always found weird.

[@tfft]

My guess (putting my Japanese hat on) is that all economy pax need to walk through Premium Economy in order to get to the rear of the plane, so boarding PE first would delay the process overall.

[@Marcburg21]

@@tfft 100% correct. It makes total sense but JAL is the only airline that I have seen this on. I could be wrong.

[@christianbayerstein5243]

I really hate business class or even first class products without lounge access, airlines offering those products must be excluded from IATA immediately, this concept is unacceptable.😡😡😡😡😡

[@tfft]

You must be joking lol

[@latibass]

I'm surprised they use such a huge plane for a domestic flight

[@tfft]

Just for this route alone, if they used narrow body planes, Tokyo would need to allocate 75-80 additional landing slots every single day. Multiply that by the number of busy routes and it's simply not possible.