Background
Japan Airlines’ inaugural flight from Doha’s Hamad International airport to Tokyo’s Haneda airport launched in April 2024. Run as a codeshare with fellow oneworld alliance member Qatar Airways, the new daily service was created to cater to the increased demand for business and leisure travel from Doha to Asia, offering the region’s passengers another excellent option to easily connect with the rest of Asia, while also enabling customers from Asia and beyond to seamlessly connect to Africa, Europe, and South America.
The first Japanese airline to operate a nonstop service to and from the Middle East, the flight has a two-seat configuration, with economy and business class seats available.
First Impressions
If you are flying directly from Qatar, the flight is at an ideal timing for a business traveller looking to carry on with work during the the daytime on the way there. Although it has an early start, you’re able to either work, keep yourself entertained, or sleep on the flight to Japan and arrive just in time for a good night’s sleep, before taking on the town the next day.
If you are flying from another GCC country, flying to Doha with fellow oneworld alliance member Qatar Airways means you can check your bags all the way through to your final destination as well.
If you don’t opt to (or have the trip time to be able to) spend the night in Doha the evening before (which will require leaving the airport and coming back), there are incredible lounge facilities and plenty of options to keep yourself fed, watered, and entertained (or even sleep) at the award-winning Hamad International airport, especially if you take advantage of the access to the lounge.
The Lounge
This flight gains you access to Al Mourjan Business Lounge South, which is a seven to 10 minute walk from the gate. One of the largest airport lounges in the world, it has a water feature; areas for quiet, napping, and families; workstations; meeting rooms, a games room and nursery; showers; and dining. It’s worth a visit, not only because it’s stunning and serene, but also as there is less seating available outside of this flight’s gate.
Boarding
Gate entry began eight minutes after the ticket-stated time, and I was in within four minutes. Boarding announcements began 23 minutes later, with Group One (including Diamond and oneworld members) and Two (including business class) going on 12 minutes later, after which I was at my seat in three minutes.
The Seat
Business class is the highest cabin class on this flight. There are 44 fully-flat JAL SKY SUITE III seats laid out in a reverse herringbone pattern. All of them have direct aisle access, and a privacy divider, while window seats have a little more table space than centre seats.
Seats come with a large but flat pillow and good duvet, and optional Airweave mattresses. I can see how it might feel a little cramped for larger passengers, but the massage function in the back rest adds comfort. Entertainment is on a 23-inch monitor controlled by a liquid-crystal touch panel that can be a little fiddly at times, but is straightforward to use, alongside SONY noise-cancelling headphones.
While there isn’t an enormous array of channels to choose from, there is a decent selection of not only new and classic films international and Japanese films, games, music, and more.
A large tray table unfolds from the front panel, and seats have a USB port and AC power outlet. Wifi is chargeable at US$10.15 for an hour, US$14.40 for three hours, or US$18.80 for the whole flight, and getting online required me to jump on through their browser shortcut link (explained on the seat-back guide), but once online, the connectivity was reliable and quick, and the tray table comfortably large for a laptop.
The Flight
I was welcomed with a steam-pack sheet mask and amenity kit designed by Japanese artist-led startup HERALBONY. Each kit contains a toothbrush and paste, ear plugs, a USB charger, eye mask (which could feel a little tight for people with a big head), pocket tissue, and a mobile phone stand. Miller Harris face mist and hand lotion is available in the bathrooms.
Around 30 minutes in, shortly after I’m given a warm towel and the choice of champagne or orange juice, I’m offered “relaxing wear” in the form of a sweater-feel tunic from Japanese towel brand UCHINO.
Food and drink
Food is the star on this flight, as with many JAL flights due to its curation by award-winning chefs, and unique approach that transforms the food and beverage offering from a way to simply feed and hydrate yourself, to something to actually look forward to. You can choose from a Japanese “Washoku” menu or one featuring international cuisine. I went for the former since that’s the speciality.
It started with a selection of Irodori Gozen – small cold plates – that included deep-tried tofu with Japanese sauce and salmon roe, Japanese vegetable omelette, green soybeans with cucumber and King crab, seared tuna with wasabi flavoured bean puree, and an amuse bouche. The main hot course was salmon teriyaki with simmered vegetables, steamed rice, miso soup, and Japanese pickles, followed by a silky pumpkin cheese mousse for dessert. The food was delicious and beautifully-presented, and wouldn’t have been out of place in an on-ground restaurant.
They also offer an “order anytime” à la carte menu until two hours before landing, with salads and soups, three sandwich options, a light meal (such as beef rice bowls and Japanese curry), assorted cheeses, fresh fruits, chocolate, and ice cream, as well as their signature special Tonkatsu-flavoured miso ramen noodle bowl. The latter was tasty and comforting, with wonderfully chewy, bouncy noodles I looked forward to having again on the return flight.
Arrival
The landing was slightly bumpy as we touched down, but the pilots handled it smoothly, and I made it to the arrival gate ahead of schedule. To speed up time in the immigration queue – which can get busy due to Japan’s resurgence of international tourists – it is recommended to fill out a disembarkation and customs declaration form online first through the Visit Japan Web app, but if you forget, the airline staff will provide this in-flight.
Once past the immigration queue, bag retrieval was quick, and the airport has multiple connection options, from taxis and private cars to the metro system, including direct access to the very well-connected Tokyo Monorail and Keikyu Line.
Verdict
A wonderful way to transform the long journey from Doha to Tokyo into a comfortable one that allows for sleep, and a chance to sample Japan’s famous cuisine and hospitality before even arriving.
FACT BOX
- Flight duration 9 hours 5 minutes
- Configuration 1-2-1
- Seat width and pitch 20in/51cm & 27.5in/70cm
- Seat recline Fully-flat
- Bed width and length 20.9in/53cm (or 29.1in/74cm with armrest stowed) & 77.95in/198cm
- Price Internet rates for a round-trip Doha-Tokyo flight in May start from €6,047 (QR 23,452)
- Contact jal.co.jp/jp/en
Words by Yi-Hwa Hanna
