JAL business class Melbourne - Tokyo. Is it worth it?

[jaseb]

We have optimistically booked JL774 in J for July next year. As per others experiences, all window seats blocked out which doesn't faze us a great deal given we'll be flying through the night.

So these flights didn't eventuate - long story but Qantas clobbered our tickets (not that we would've been able to stopover to Europe via Tokyo in July anyway) and we ended up flying onwards to Europe on QR via BKK instead.

We've now rebooked JAL flights in J for April next year - given the flight departure time of 0005AM - which lounge/s will be available in MEL? Afaik there are no international QF flights departing around this time so I would think the QF J lounge will be shut.

 

[sudoer]

We've now rebooked JAL flights in J for April next year - given the flight departure time of 0005AM - which lounge/s will be available in MEL? Afaik there are no international QF flights departing around this time so I would think the QF J lounge will be shut.

J and F lounges close at 11pm from memory, your only option is the Marhaba lounge directly opposite QF F - which is JAL's contracted lounge in MEL.

Personally I prefer Marhaba over the QF J dungeon as it has tarmac views, but I still wouldn't go out of my way to arrive early.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Having done the 3 QF linked lounges, ...
EK MEL one is the best, salmon, yep, salmon for breakfast (this was pre covid of course, when EK still flew MEL - AKL in the 380 with an F service).
QFi MEL F lounge, very good, no runway views, as it faces the parking bays.
QFi MEL J lounge, is in basement, good for a one look see what its all about, but no outside views, as its on ground level, and maybe they are afraid some "muppet" might break the glass windows to get onto the tarmac, so its all enclosed, with no outside views, not sure what is on the other side of that exterior wall with no windows.
Quite dark and gloomy, really, mind you, its lit, but without any outside light, its not the best time to spend too much time in there.
Haven't done the Maharba, so can't say about that one.
No harm for you to go through immi and int security at 7.30pm, and go to the QFi MEL J lounge, just to see what it looks like, if you haven't been in there before.
Its (the QFi MEL J lounge) is also a bit hard to find, as its no way near the location of the QFi MEL F lounge, or the EK lounge.
Edit: if you want to try the QFi MEL J lounge, go to the middle of "Hospitality", where there are several shops, around gate 3/4/5..6/8/9, if you go up to level 3, its the Maharba and QFi MEL F lounge, but the QFi MEL J lounge is no where near this, its on ground level, so you have to get the lift down to it.
From dep gate level, you can get the escalators up to level 3, where the Maharba is and the QFi MEL F lounge is.

 

[sudoer]

Having done the 3 QF linked lounges, ...

The thread is about JL - their pax can't access the EK lounge.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Point taken #184.

 

[jaseb]

JL774 (MEL-NRT) being rescheduled from a night time (0100AM departure ex-MEL) to a day time (0820AM departure ex-MEL) I guess this changes our lounge options.

We booked J flights on JL using QF points - I suppose this opens up our lounge options ex MEL now given the QF J lounge should be open at this hour. Silver linings I guess.. I was looking forward to the overnight snooze in the JL SkySuite

 

[hachoo]

JL774 (MEL-NRT) being rescheduled from a night time (0100AM departure ex-MEL) to a day time (0820AM departure ex-MEL) I guess this changes our lounge options.

Terrible for people looking to travel from Adelaide. Assume would have to stay overnight to catch that flight now.

 

[Matt_01]

QFi MEL F lounge, very good, no runway views, as it faces the parking bays.

Which QF F lounge do you go to, the times I was there it overlooks the start/ end of the east/west and north/south runway In saying that watching aircraft take off and land is not a drawcard of any lounge.

 

[Guvner]

Can definitely see the runway in the background from the MEL FLounge.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

That day dep will be good for most, but not for me, in my case.
Sad in a way.
But happy for others.
Me being self centred!
===

Which QF F lounge do you go to, last time I was there it overlooks the start/ end of the east/west and north/south runway In saying that watching aircraft take off and land is not a drawcard of any lounge.

I was thinking more so the full runway.
Like facing the main control tower, and the meteorlogical or fire brigade one.
And yes, I know its a side view, me being a pedantic, I prefer the full of everything!

 

[voy]

What would be the best seats to select if window seats are blocked out im flying jl774

 

[Batterytraveller]

What would be the best seats to select if window seats are blocked out im flying jl774

Assuming it’s sky suite then if you want privacy then the middle of the 3 in the middle, otherwise the aisles are all pretty much identical. There are no bad seats really. Windows may open up at check in so be ready at T-24

If it’s shell flat neo, then there are no good seats, so pick any?

 

[RichardMEL]

If it’s shell flat neo, then there are no good seats, so pick any?

I flew 773 back in sep and it was the shell flat Neo. Honestky terrible seats and an old setup.

I would say this though. I was in 2A, but saw some o line pics and thought oh there is not much eiggle room to get out so I moved to 1A (lucky it was still there). Extra legroom at the bulkhead was much aporeciated and I think/hope I didn't bother my seatmate

So I will suggest row 1 if possible in this config for that reason. Row 2 was just as cramped in as I thought.

 

[voy]

Assuming it’s sky suite then if you want privacy then the middle of the 3 in the middle, otherwise the aisles are all pretty much identical. There are no bad seats really. Windows may open up at check in so be ready at T-24

If it’s shell flat neo, then there are no good seats, so pick any?

Is that for business class?

Post automatically merged: Feb 28, 2024

Its 2/2/2 config

 

[sudoer]

Its 2/2/2 config

Can you give us the departure date so we can look at the economy seat map to determine the plane config, and whether J is Sky Suite or Shell Flat Neo.

Both are 2-2-2 in J and have the same seating layout (Row 1-3, 7-8) on some aircraft so it's necessary to look at the economy seat map instead.

 

[voy]

Can you give us the departure date so we can look at the economy seat map to determine the plane config, and whether J is Sky Suite or Shell Flat Neo.

Both are 2-2-2 in J and have the same seating layout (Row 1-3, 7-8) on some aircraft so it's necessary to look at the economy seat map instead.

17th feb 25 jl774
Thanks you

 

[yachty]

It's the Sky Suite for now.

 

[Batterytraveller]

Really no way of knowing right now. There’s two schedule changes between now and next February. Pre-Covid MEL-NRT was a pretty solid skysuite route, post covid and Ukraine war it saw a lot of shell flat neo. What aircraft JAL might send in a year’s time is far from certain. Check your booking every month or so and see what transpires. (Checking far out bookings on the regular is good practice in any case)

 

[sudoer]

There’s two schedule changes between now and next February.

JAL is also taking delivery of another six A350s this calendar year, which should hopefully result in the 773 config sticking around on Aus routes for a little longer

 

[Tannin]

This has just been announced for Sydney, reported in the Age yesterday... not sure how it will translate for Melbourne: "Starting May 31, JAL will fly the larger Boeing 777-300ER aircraft on its Haneda-Sydney service, replacing the 787-9 Dreamliner, with the bigger planes able to offer four classes... Last refurbished 10 years ago, these aircraft feature eight first-class seats, 49 business seats, 40 premium economy and 135 economy seats."