JAL Premium Economy

Japan Airlines Premium Economy felt “just right” for my flight to Japan. I wanted a little more comfort for the long journey, especially at night, without going all the way up to Business Class. Here's how it went.

An easy start at Sakura Lounge

My JAL Premium Economy ticket on this trip included Sakura Lounge access, so there was already something to look forward to before boarding. I had somewhere comfortable to sit, without having to hunt for a seat around the gates.

I preferred the food here to what we'd had in the Middle Eastern airline lounges we'd visited. The Japanese restaurant Nippon-Tei was behind the menu, with Japanese and Thai dishes, snacks and drinks to choose from. It was a nice way to sit down, have something to eat and ease into the journey.

Leg support: the star of this flight

Once aboard, I really liked the seat. It wasn't just wider than Economy; I found it easier to get comfortable, whether I wanted to lean back, rest my legs or shift position along the way.

My favourite part was the leg support. This seat had both a large legrest and a footrest with 3 adjustment levels. On a long flight, being able to find a comfortable position for my legs made quite a difference.

I also liked the way the seat reclined. It slid forward rather than leaning as far back into the next passenger's space, so I felt less awkward about reclining. The trade-off was that it used up some of my own legroom.

The little details along the way

There were a few other things to help me get comfortable too: Audio-Technica noise-cancelling headphones, a reading light and slippers to change into.

The food didn't stand out as much for me. On this trip, I didn't feel it was much of a step up from Economy.

If you'd like a bit more comfort than Economy, I'd put JAL Premium Economy on the list. I enjoyed having the lounge before the flight, but being able to get my legs comfortable was the biggest plus for me. 😄