My AWFUL and FILTHY trip on Japan Airlines

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Japan has a well earned reputation as a bastion of civility, cleanliness and efficiency in an increasingly complicated world. And its airlines are no exception – I have been consistently impressed by Japan Airlines (and its competitor ANA) for years. So imagine my surprise and disgust at being confronted with the dirtiest aircraft I've ridden in years – in business class too!

Considering as an outsider looking in they seem to pride themselves as a country with an obsession with cleanliness, that was an odd video to watch in that respect. Weekly videos incoming as well!

I no longer fly with JAL. Chinese airlines are much much cheaper and their service is excellent !! 😉

Hi Paul got to slightly disagree with you on a few things.

I flew the 787-9 from tokyo to delhi yesterday.

– Wifi is free for buisness, i recieved a code via email over 48 hours in advance.
– I flew in seat 1a for this trip and i slept solid for 6 hours bearing in mind im 6ft 2. I agree its not the best, but its not the worst.

Did you mention to the crew its a bit dirty, i think they would take pride in knowing so they could get someone to cleanit. rather than smashing them online about it? i have always found the crew approachable.

I flew an Air Canada 787 from Toronto to Tokyo a few years ago, in premium economy, and I found it to be a wonderful experience. Paul I admire you for being honest but never nasty. It is very surprising that a Japanese airline would be in that condition.

Wow can’t believe Japan airlines. I’m sure they will fix it straight away

I once did an analysis of the JAL experience for JAL. I pointed that inter Asian flights feel less JAL than long haul or popular Japanese destinations like Korea or Hawaii- dirty, lower quality seating, staff response inconsistency and lower food quality. Their response was, “these are business bus routes where a vast number of passengers are mid-sized business people”. My question back to them was, “is your goal not to increase desire to fly via Japan to SEA and China?”

think your camera needs a deep clean too. Why so blurry?

Not surprised in the least…sat JAL from Singapore to Tokyo last year on economy, was bending down to retrieve something I dropped and spied two dusty gummy sweets and an empty plastic mineral water bottle underneath the seat (which was unoccupied) next to mine 🤢

Cabin crew service was still excellent though as usual…anyway, had feedback to JAL about the cleanliness (or none thereof) of the plane in the post-flight survey.

I flew once with Jal from NRT to CGK, side note this is my first time flying with them. Not a great start, they E-mailed me around 4am in the morning while i was getting ready saying that the aircraft is delay until 5pm. My flight was around 9 am and i live 3 hours away from Narita airport so i was already getting ready since 3am but what i don't like is, they didn't E-mailed me earlier or 48 hours before the flight. At that point i was so pissed cause yeah what am i going to do in the airport from morning to afternoon, at the end i got a 4 thousand yen voucher for food and drinks i mean that is alright but still, if they feel is going to be delayed then just E-mail earlier. Lastly i want to talk about the aircraft, my seat was economy and The aircraft that i was riding was a 787-9 the seat in economy was small but in my opinion i say the Jal 767-300 has more leg rooms compare to the 787-9, but overall cleanliness and everything was pretty accurate from what Paul said in the video is almost the same from what i experienced.

Unexpected filth? Two words: Chinese Tourists

It seems to me that standards of everything are falling, people who were once dedicated employees could care less, companies have no loyalty to their staff or customers. Just trying to get things done like international banking are a complete nightmare. Its a sad state of affairs. But I flew JAL from Heathrow to Haneda recently in Eco on the 787-8 and that was to date the best flight I had, the food, staff, comfort were top notch. Your Bus experience looks a bit sad & more so when you factor in the additional fare required.

do you ever fly economy like most people or just business and first thanks to your youtube funders

Wow for Japanese standards that’s unacceptable

I'm surprised as I flew to Tokyo with them in October 2024 in Standard Class and they were immaculate. Aircraft smelt of gentle perfume, which appeared to come out of the vents at the side of seats, without being drafty. It felt roomy too.

A blogger-freind of mine had a a similar experience with this product on JAL. Filthy dirty, cramped, broken IIFE, Only difference, his food was meh.

Interesting to see this. What's up with JAL? Their reputation is usually excellent. It's telling that Pascal from AeronewsGermany also had a very disappointing flight from Hawaii to Tokyo just recently – with the same problems.

I don't know Paul, I have only had positive experiences on all the Japanese carriers.

I had a similar experience. A long saga i won’t bore you with. Nearly all of it can be explained by JAL’s total unwillingness to accept any responsibility for the litany of c@ckups for fear of our old friend “losing face” by admitting fault.

I don’t take YouTubers seriously as they do it for maximum likes. For all you know he could have put the filth and made it look like it was the airline that did it. I always fly JAL and they are far better than most airlines out there.

Geez, that landing was hard!