Japan Airlines’ Airbus A350-1000 is the airline’s new international flagship aircraft, featuring an all-new First Class suite with high privacy walls, sliding doors, a 43-inch 4K monitor, generous storage, and a spacious sofa-style seat.
I finally had the chance to fly JAL’s new A350-1000 First Class on JL43 from Tokyo Haneda to London Heathrow.
This was a daytime long-haul flight booked with JAL miles.
In this review, I’ll focus on the seat, privacy, cabin layout, amenities, Wi-Fi, and what it actually felt like to spend a long flight in JAL’s newest First Class product.
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In this review
- JAL A350-1000 First Class experience on the Tokyo Haneda–London route
- Seat, privacy, storage, amenities, Wi-Fi, and onboard comfort
- How I booked this flight with miles
- What to know before choosing JAL’s new First Class
Meals and drinks are covered separately in my dedicated dining review.
- Flight details
- How I booked JAL A350-1000 First Class with miles
- Is JAL A350-1000 First Class worth the miles?
- Before departure: First Class Entrance and JAL First Class Lounge
- Boarding JL43 to London
- JAL A350-1000 First Class cabin overview
- JAL A350-1000 First Class seat specifications
- JAL A350-1000 First Class vs Business Class
- The seat: 1A on JAL A350-1000 First Class
- Amenities and onboard services
- Wi-Fi coupon
- Departure from Haneda
- What I liked most about JAL A350-1000 First Class
- Final thoughts: JAL’s new First Class is worth targeting with miles
Flight details
Here are the details of this flight.
| Airline | Japan Airlines |
|---|---|
| Flight number | JL43 |
| Route | Tokyo Haneda (HND) to London Heathrow (LHR) |
| Departure | 09:45 from Tokyo Haneda |
| Arrival | 15:50 in London |
| Flight time | About 14 hours 5 minutes |
| Aircraft | Airbus A350-1000 |
| Class | First Class |
| Seat | 1A |
How I booked JAL A350-1000 First Class with miles
This flight was booked using JAL miles.
A paid one-way First Class ticket on this route can cost around ¥2.5 million, depending on the date and fare conditions. For this flight, I used 140,000 JAL miles plus ¥33,500 in taxes and fees.
Fare example from JAL’s official website
Award availability in JAL First Class is limited, especially on the new A350-1000. However, in my case, last-minute availability was not impossible to find.
If you are flexible with dates and routes, this is definitely a product worth watching for award space.
Is JAL A350-1000 First Class worth the miles?
For me, yes.
The biggest reason is that this does not feel like a slightly better business class seat. The new A350-1000 First Class feels much closer to a private room than a conventional airline seat.
The suite is spacious, the walls are high, the storage is excellent, and the seat can be used in multiple ways: as a sofa, a dining space, a bed, or a private cabin for relaxing during a long-haul flight.
On a 14-hour flight from Tokyo to London, that difference matters.
Before departure: First Class Entrance and JAL First Class Lounge
I arrived at Haneda Airport Terminal 3 early in the morning.
Since this was my first time flying JAL’s new A350-1000 First Class, the aircraft itself was not the only thing I was looking forward to.
JAL has introduced a dedicated First Class Entrance at Haneda for eligible First Class passengers, and this was part of the experience I wanted to try.
The First Class Entrance gives the journey a quiet and exclusive start before security and immigration.
I have reviewed the full First Class Entrance experience in a separate article.
After immigration, I visited the JAL First Class Lounge.
The lounge experience included Sushi Tsurutei, the John Lobb shoe shine service, and JAL’s SALON. I also reviewed the lounge separately.
Boarding JL43 to London
About 30 minutes before departure, I left the lounge and headed to the gate.
Through the window, I could finally see the A350-1000 that would take us to London.
I had been slightly nervous about a possible aircraft change until the very end, so seeing the A350-1000 at the gate was a relief.
The flight departed from Gate 113. First Class passengers boarded in the first priority group, together with JAL Diamond and JGC Premier members.
There was only one boarding bridge.
And here was my first close look at the JAL A350-1000.
JAL A350-1000 First Class cabin overview
JAL’s A350-1000 First Class cabin has only six seats in a 1-1-1 layout.
Seat map from JAL’s official website
Each seat is an enclosed suite, with high walls and a sliding door.
The first thing that stood out was the height of the suite walls.
According to JAL, the walls are 157 cm high. Even though I am around 170 cm tall, I could not easily see across the cabin while standing in the aisle.
Compared with JAL’s previous First Class seat, JAL SUITE, the new A350-1000 First Class offers a much stronger sense of privacy.
I have also flown other enclosed First Class products, including Singapore Airlines Suites, Emirates Boeing 777 First Class, and ANA THE Suite.
In my experience, having a truly private space makes a long flight feel much less tiring.
JAL A350-1000 First Class seat specifications
Here are the main specifications of JAL’s new A350-1000 First Class seat.
| Number of seats | 6 seats, arranged 1-1-1 across two rows |
|---|---|
| Seat width | About 48 inches / 122 cm |
| Seat pitch | About 83 inches / 211 cm |
| Bed | Fully flat bed, about 2 meters long |
| Monitor | 43-inch 4K personal monitor |
| Audio | Headrest-integrated speakers |
| Power | AC outlet, USB-A, USB-C, and wireless charging |
| Wi-Fi | In-flight Wi-Fi available |
| Storage | Personal wardrobe, large ottoman storage, and several smaller storage compartments |
| Other features | Mini bar area and sliding door |
JAL A350-1000 First Class vs Business Class
The A350-1000 also has JAL’s new Business Class, but the First Class cabin feels very different in terms of space, privacy, and how the seat can be used.
| Feature | First Class | Business Class |
|---|---|---|
| Cabin layout | 6 seats, 1-1-1 layout | 54 seats, 1-2-1 layout |
| Space | Closer to a private room than a seat | Comfortable fully flat private seat |
| Privacy | High walls and sliding door create a more enclosed suite | Private, but with a more open design |
| How the seat is used | Main seat and side chair can be used separately | Dining, sleeping, and working are done in one seat |
| Storage | Large storage, wardrobe, and room for carry-on bags | Practical storage, but less spacious than First Class |
| Overall impression | A special long-haul experience | A highly practical and comfortable business class seat |
| Using miles | Worth prioritizing if award space appears | More realistic and easier to target |
Business Class is also excellent, but First Class feels like a different product rather than simply a larger seat.
The seat: 1A on JAL A350-1000 First Class
On this flight, I was seated in 1A.
The seat is upholstered in a deep wine-red leather and has a wide sofa-like design.
There is plenty of space in front of the seat, and the suite feels much wider than a conventional First Class seat.
43-inch 4K monitor
The seat has a large 43-inch 4K personal monitor.
The monitor can be controlled using a tablet-style controller. The external camera views and entertainment system looked sharp on the large screen.
Storage
There are no overhead bins in the First Class cabin. Instead, the suite has a large storage space under the ottoman.
This space can hold carry-on bags, which makes the cabin feel clean and uncluttered.
There is also a personal wardrobe with a mirror.
Below the side cabinet, there is a bottle holder and a deep storage compartment.
There was also a dedicated shoe storage space.
Side chair
One of the most interesting features of the seat is the side chair.
The main seat and side chair can be adjusted separately, making the suite feel more like a small room than a single seat.
The side chair also has its own armrest and small table, which was useful for placing drinks or charging devices.
Bed mode
When fully reclined, the main seat becomes a fully flat bed of around 2 meters.
The bed was made with an airweave mattress pad and a light duvet.
The side chair can also be turned into a flat surface, creating an unusually wide sleeping and lounging area.
It is not the same length as the main bed, but it makes the suite feel very spacious.
Sliding door and privacy
The suite has a sliding door that can be closed during cruise.
With the door closed, it feels very private. From the aisle, it is difficult to see inside the suite during normal movement.
However, it is not a completely sealed room. If someone looks down through the upper opening, the inside can still be seen.
This is worth keeping in mind when changing clothes.
Power outlets and charging
There are several power options around the seat, including AC outlets, USB ports, and wireless charging.
There is also a Qi wireless charging area.
On my flight, the wireless charging was unstable. The charging icon appeared briefly, but it did not work consistently even after removing the phone case.
That said, there were enough wired charging options, so this did not cause any practical problem.
Amenities and onboard services
JAL First Class offers a variety of amenities, including pajamas, an amenity pouch, skincare items, and a Wi-Fi coupon.
Limited-edition RED recovery wear pajamas
From June to August 2025, JAL offered a limited-edition First Class pajama campaign featuring Re:Recovery Wear RED.
When I flew, stock seemed to be limited and only size L was available.
The recommended height for size L was 175 cm and above, so it was slightly large for me. However, the waist was adjustable and the cuffs were elastic, so it was comfortable to wear.
The fabric felt soft, relaxed, and easy to sleep in. I liked it enough that I continued using it after returning home.
HERALBONY amenity pouch
The amenity pouch was a collaboration with HERALBONY, a Japanese brand known for working with artists with disabilities.
The colorful design was distinctive, and the pouch was reversible.
Inside, there were several practical pockets.
The amenity kit included items such as an eye mask, toothbrush set, moisturizing mask, mouthwash, and a USB cable.
The USB cable supported both USB-C and Lightning, which was very useful.
Clé de Peau Beauté skincare
JAL First Class also provided a Clé de Peau Beauté facial care set.
Long-haul flights can be dry and tiring, so this was a nice addition.
Wi-Fi coupon
First Class passengers also receive a complimentary in-flight Wi-Fi coupon.
Having internet access is very useful, especially on a daytime flight like Haneda to London.
Departure from Haneda
The aircraft pushed back around 20 minutes behind schedule.
Soon after, we departed Tokyo for London.
Next: JAL A350-1000 First Class dining review
One of the biggest highlights of JAL First Class is the food and drink service. I cover the full dining experience, including champagne, course meals, and à la carte dishes, in a separate review.
What I liked most about JAL A350-1000 First Class
After flying with JAL’s new First Class suite, these were the strongest points for me.
- Privacy: the high walls and sliding door make the cabin feel much more private than JAL’s older First Class seat.
- Space: the suite is wide, with enough room to relax without feeling confined.
- Storage: the ottoman storage and personal wardrobe make it easy to keep belongings nearby.
- Seat flexibility: the main seat and side chair can be used in different ways throughout the flight.
Final thoughts: JAL’s new First Class is worth targeting with miles
JAL’s A350-1000 First Class is one of the most impressive premium cabin products I have flown.
The seat is spacious, private, and thoughtfully designed, with enough storage and flexibility to make a long-haul flight feel genuinely comfortable.
For passengers booking with miles, 140,000 miles plus taxes and fees is still a significant amount. However, compared with the cash fare and the quality of the onboard experience, I felt this was a very satisfying redemption.
If you can find award space on JAL’s A350-1000 First Class, especially on a long route like Tokyo Haneda to London, it is absolutely worth considering.
Read the JAL A350-1000 First Class dining review here
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