Best Airlines To Fly To Japan

Above, the Singapore Airlines Airbus A380 I flew to Japan on in 2015. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Over the past 23 years, I have traveled to Japan eight times. 

I have flown there via several airlines. They include, United Airlines, Singapore Airlines and Korean Airlines. Of these, Korean Airlines is my personal favorite. Their food was great. I had a reasonable amount of legroom in Economy. They also had Astro Boy cartoons to be entertained by.

My last trip to Japan was on a Singapore Airlines Airbus A380. I was disappointed with it. Although the world's biggest passenger plane, the plane's Economy legroom left much to be desired. I felt cramped and had to take walks every half hour.

Travel Noire has an article with their choices of the "best airlines" to travel to Japan with. The article doesn't list prices, though.(

Those planning on joining Daikaiju Enterprises' (G-FAN magazine) G-TOUR 4 this coming October may want to review the article before selecting an airline.

They begin with:

Summer has arrived, and traveling season is in full swing. Are you planning on adding Japan to the bucket list?

Japan is a brilliant and fascinating country, home to over 20 world heritage sites. Through tourism alone, Japan has attracted over 2.5 million international tourists since February of 2024. In recent times, out of 141 countries, they have rank high in cultural resources and business travel.

When traveling to a foreign country, one of the most important decisions you’ll have to make is choosing the airline for your journey. With numerous options, it’s essential to pick an airline that offers comfort, reliability, and unforgettable service.

So what is the best airline to fly to Japan? Let’s weigh our options. 

To read more, go here. 

Most Uncomfortable Airliner Ever Coming To Hawaii

Above, Daniel K. Inouye International Airport in Honolulu. Photo by Armand Vaquer..

Once upon a time, airline travel was luxurious and comfortable. These days, the opposite is true and apparently getting worse for passengers.

In recent years, I found the most uncomfortable aircraft to be the Airbus A380. Despite its large size, economy seating was the worst I've ever experienced. The flight to Japan in one was made worse by the 11-hour flight time (and 9 hours return flight).

Apparently, the new Boeing 737 Max 10 is even worse. And it is being introduced for Hawaii travel.

Beat of Hawaii posted an article on this.

They begin with:

If you thought planes couldn’t get any more uncomfortable, we have Hawaii travel news to report. An aircraft once designed to seat fewer than 100 people comfortably has now been stretched to seat 230 passengers. That sounds both good for the airlines and bad for us passengers.

Last week, Boeing reported that it had been approved to start flight tests toward certification of the 737 MAX 10, the largest and most uncomfortable 737 yet. The plane has its sights set on one location near and dear to us here: Hawaii.

To read more, go here.

Cheap Flights To Japan

Above, a Singapore Air Airbus A380 I flew to Japan on 2015. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Whenever I traveled to Japan, I had several sources for budget-priced flights. My favorite was GatewayLAX. Unfortunately, they are no longer in business.

However, according to an article in Thrifty Traveler, cheap flights to Japan can still be had. One just has to dig around.

They begin with:

The cheapest economy ticket, a comfier premium economy ride, a lie-flat business class seat, and a first class travel experience can all get you the same thing in 2024: A trip to Japan.

All of these experiences in the sky are possible if you have the right combination of cash, points, and miles, but finding cheap flights to Japan isn't so straightforward. Unlike other popular destinations like Mexico, Florida, and even parts of Europe, there aren’t any tried and true flights to Japan. You really have to look – and look often – to find what you want. 

To read more, go here. 

Who To Use For Japan Flight Tickets?

Above, a Singapore Airlines Airbus A380 being readied for a flight to Japan. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Someone asked the question, What is the cheapest airline for flying in and out of Tokyo? over at The Independent (U.K.). Since I am not a subscriber, I could not read the article.

But it did remind me that I got my best airline ticket deals at GatewayLAX, a flight booking company. I used them for several of my trips to Japan (and for some domestic flights). The last time I used them was for my October 2015 trip to Japan.

Some examples from years ago:

Now it seems that they are out of business. The link to them I have is no longer viable and there is no trace of them through Google. 

If I were to travel to Japan in the future (I just renewed my U.S. Passport), I would likely go through Expedia, Priceline or Kayak. I have used Expedia and Priceline, but haven't tried Kayak. 

Some say going directly through an airline's ticketing sites are the best ways to getting good deals. Maybe so. I haven't tried it before. 

We'll have to wait and see what the future unfolds.

Singapore Airlines Unveils Major Network Changes

Above, a Singapore Airlines Airbus A380 at Los Angeles International Airport. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Now that life is slowly creeping back to normal, Singapore Airlines has unveiled major network changes to meet the demand.

Japan Today reported:

Singapore - Singapore Airlines (SIA) has unveiled plans to boost frequencies to destinations across East and South East Asia, resume flights to Busan and increase Airbus A380 services to Australia during the northern summer operating season (March 26 to Oct 29, 2023).

As a result, SIA’s flight frequencies will reach or exceed pre-pandemic levels in multiple destinations across East and Southeast Asia by March 2024, including Bangkok, Thailand; Busan and Seoul, South Korea; Fukuoka, Nagoya and Osaka, Japan; Ho Chi Minh (Saigon), Vietnam; Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; Siem Reap, Cambodia; and Taipei, Taiwan.

In addition, Melbourne will get a new daily A380 service and Sydney will get a second daily A380 service.

JoAnn Tan, Senior Vice President Marketing Planning, Singapore Airlines, said, “Looking ahead to 2023, we see stronger demand for flights to destinations across South East Asia, parts of East Asia, and Australia. As we restore our network to these regions closer to pre pandemic levels, our customers have even more flight options as they make their holiday plans.”

Above, the Economy section of Singapore Airlines Airbus A380. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

As far as Los Angeles to Japan travel is concerned, the article reported:

Flights SQ36 and SQ35 between Singapore and Los Angeles will operate thrice weekly, instead of a daily service, from March 26, 2023. Customers will continue to have the option of two existing daily flights to Los Angeles via the non-stop service SQ38 and SQ37 between the two cities, or flights SQ12 and SQ11, which serve the Singapore-Tokyo (Narita)-Los Angeles route.

To read the full article, go here. 

T + L: Is Flying First Class Worth It?

Above, yours truly tying out an All Nippon Airways Business Class seat at a travel show.

After the long-haul flight from Los Angeles to Tokyo in 2015 aboard a cramped (with poor legroom) Economy seat, I have been considering getting either a Business Class or First Class ticket for the next time I fly to Japan (whenever that will be). I have never flown First or Business Class.

Concerning First Class seating, Travel + Leisure asks, Is Flying First Class Worth It? Good question. They delve into First Class seating of various airlines along with photographs of different airline configurations.

They begin with:

Every time you board a plane, there they are: the flight's first-class passengers. While you were at the gate waiting for your group number to be called (and likely stressing about nabbing space in the overhead compartment), they were getting settled into their extra-large seats with dedicated carry-on space. And as you sulk past them toward your narrow seat in the back of the plane, they snuggle in under a complimentary blanket and sip Champagne.

That, you tell yourself, is what flying should be like.

But is the extra space and next-level service worth the pricey ticket? To explore that very question, we've pulled together what it looks like to fly first class on various U.S. airlines, how flying first class is different from business class and economy, and how the benefits change (in some cases, dramatically) when you book first class on a long-haul international flight.

To read more, go here. 

Airlines Falling Back In Love With The Airbus A380

Above, the Singapore Airlines A380 I flew to Japan on in 2015. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Six years ago this month, I flew to Japan aboard a Singapore Airlines Airbus A380.

While the interior was big, I was not impressed with the seating in Economy. There was hardly any legroom and I was getting leg cramps and had to get up and walk around every half hour. This is dangerous for long overseas flights (it is 11 hours to fly from Los Angeles to Tokyo and 9 coming back) due to the risk of developing blood clots in extremities.

I've been since told that poor legroom is a common issue passengers have with all Airbus Industries jets. 

I decided then that I would never fly aboard an Airbus A380 again. When the pandemic hit, airlines grounded their fleets of A380 jets.

Now that it seems that airlines are "falling in love" again with the Airbus A380 as the pandemic "seems" to be easing.

According to Business Insider:

The world's largest passenger plane is making its comeback as airlines around the world are moving quickly to once again shuttle travelers around the world as pandemic-era travel restrictions continue to fall.

Airbus' behemoth A380 stood out like a sore thumb in a world deprived of air travelers early on in the pandemic. The indulgences in air travel and the ability to fly as many passengers in a single plane that the A380 once represented made it temporarily obsolete.

But long-haul flying is returning as countries open their borders. The A380 is once more facilitating vacations, long-distance reunions, business travel, and the countless other reasons travelers have for flying around the world.

Airlines that sent their Airbus A380s to storage are now dusting off the cobwebs and getting flight crews reacquainted with the aircraft. They'll soon fly hundreds of passengers across two full levels of seats.

Although the Airbus A380 is making a comeback, I still wouldn't fly in one due for the reason I already stated in this blog post.

To read more, go here.

Travel + Leisure: Top 10 International Airlines

Above, a Singapore Airlines A380. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Travel + Leisure re-posted their list of top international airlines for 2020 on Twitter. Since people are out traveling again, it is worth another look.

Singapore Airlines came in at number one. A few years ago, I would have agreed with that, but my 2015 trip to Japan with them soured me a little. Leg room was horrible (my flights were aboard Airbus A380s) and the service wasn't as good as the first time I flew with them in 2004.

My favorite airline to Japan, Korean Air, didn't even make the list. Oh, well.

The list of top 10 international airlines begins with:

This year’s World’s Best Awards survey closed on March 2, just before widespread stay-at-home orders were implemented as a result of COVID-19. The results reflect our readers’ experiences before the pandemic, but we hope that this year’s honorees will inspire your trips to come — whenever they may be.

The best international airlines in the world seem to pull off the nearly impossible: they not only connect travelers with some of the coolest destinations on the planet but also do it with the grace and panache that guests find at some of the world’s best hotels. While Travel + Leisure readers loved the premium cabins that these airlines offer on ultra-long-haul flights, they also had praise for the service, and even the economy-class seats, of these winners.

Every year for our World’s Best Awards survey, T+L asks readers to weigh in on travel experiences around the globe — to share their opinions on the top hotels, resorts, cities, islands, cruise ships, spas, airlines, and more. In the airlines category, readers rated carriers on cabin comfort, service, food, customer service, and value.

To read the list of "best" 10 international airlines, go here. 

Japan Airlines 787s and Legroom

Above, a United Airlines Boeing 787 Dreamliner. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

On my last two trips to Japan, I few on two different planes and with two different airlines.

In 2014, I flew aboard United Airlines Boeing 787 Dreamliners. In 2015, I flew aboard Singapore Airlines Airbus A380s.

Of the two, the Dreamliners were more comfortable with more legroom. The A380 was very cramped and on a 11-hour flight to Japan, that made it a miserable flight. I had to get up and walk about every half hour to "iron out" leg cramps.

According to Simple Flying, there's an airline that has bucked the trend in adding more and smaller seats: Japan Airlines. I have never flown with Japan Airlines, but this will definitely make me take a second look.

They wrote:

Few aircraft types took to the skies with more fanfare and higher expectations than Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner. The plane was going to turn the travel experience on its head. Instead, most passengers were left lamenting the end of the roomy 747 while they were squeezed into tighter seats on the 787. But one airline bucked that trend. Japan Airlines has always had a good reputation. Unlike most airlines, Japan Airlines’ reputation has increased on the back of what it has done with its Dreamliners. 

Since the Dreamliners first started flying, word got around about Japan Airlines’ economy class product. It was good, people were saying. The food was good, the service good, and there was room to stretch out. The killer decision by Japan Airlines was to install a 2-4-2 economy class layout across its Dreamliner fleet.

The article goes into detail on the cabin configurations of Japan Airlines 787s. If one is looking for more comfort for long-haul flights, this article is well worth one's reading time.

To read more, go here.

ANA's Economy Class Seats Gets "Good Design" Award

Above, ANA's Premium Economy seating display at the L.A. Travel and Adventure Show. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

When I saw this story on the All Nippon Airways (ANA) Economy Class seating getting a "Good Design Award" it reminded me of seeing their display at the Los Angeles Travel and Adventure Show in 2013.

At the show, ANA had on display their new seating for overseas travelers.

According to the article in Japan Today:

Tokyo - All Nippon Airways (ANA) and Toyota Boshoku Corp have received the prestigious Good Design Award from the Japan Institute of Design Promotion for its new Economy Class seats. Intended for ANA's domestic aircraft, the seats were created in collaboration with Japan's top automotive seat designer Toyota Boshoku to increase comfort and convenience for passengers. 

The cutting edge seats, which are being introduced on ANA's Boeing 777-200 and 787-8 aircraft, employ the latest ergonomic insights to make the seats as comfortable as possible. The revamped Economy Class seats for domestic flights are the latest in ANA's extensive efforts to improve seating across its entire fleet.

Of all the flights to (and from) Japan, I would have to put the Economy Class seating of Singapore Airlines Airbus A380 at the top of the list for being the most uncomfortable. The seats were small and there was little legroom. I had to get up several times an hour to stretch my legs.

As mentioned, these are on ANA's domestic flights. Some tourists in Japan do fly within the country. They may want to make note of these seats when choosing an airline.

To read more, go here.

The Demise of the Airbus A380

Above, the Airbus A380 I flew to Japan in 2015. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The much-ballyhooed Airbus A380 is on its last leg as a passenger airliner. It turned out to be nothing less than a colossal flop.

The American Spectator wrote:

The other week Airbus SE announced the demise of its 380 aircraft, after 13 years in service. Launched with about $4 billion in government developmental aid in 2000, the program was from the start a vanity project, intended to show Americans that Europe could build a commercial aircraft that would be bigger, faster, and better than the Boeing 747, which has been in service for 50 years. 

Indeed, the 380 was the largest airplane in the world, a double decker with 550 seats. So large in fact that airports could not accommodate it without modifying their runways and gates. So large that it became harder and harder to fill as passengers decided they’d rather take direct flights to smaller regional airports rather than having to transfer to a connecting flight at one of the major hubs. 

And it was so impractically designed that the deficiency of passengers on a flight could not be compensated for by taking on more cargo, as is the case with the 747. This lack of foresight also means that these behemoths cannot be repurposed. They must be sold for scrap.

I flew on the Airbus A380 with Singapore Airlines in 2015 to Japan and back. I found the seating in Economy to be sorely lacking in leg room. It was very uncomfortable. I was not impressed. In contrast, I was always comfortable in a Boeing 747.

To read more, go here.

In-Flight Entertainment Soon To Disappear?

Above, seat-back screens aboard a Singapore Airlines Airbus A380. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

During the past several years, the airline industry has been gouging customers in a number of ways.

Fees are being charged for fuel, luggage, food & drink and seating. Prices have also been rising while service declines. It used to be a luxurious way to travel.

Now there's talk about doing away with in-flight entertainment.

Condé Nast Traveler has posted an article on the arguments, pro and con, about those seat-back screens that provide entertainment to passengers. It is titled, "Why Airlines Should Ditch Seat-Back Screens".

They start it with:

Word at 30,000 feet is that in-flight entertainment systems may be the next casualty of the airline industry. We know. We'll miss the rom-coms too. Blame it on the cost: Ten thousand dollars per seat-back is apparently too much to swing in an era when passengers are increasingly bringing hand-held devices and laptops on board. Travesty? We think so. Well, at least most of us do. Our editors weigh in.

During the past few years, I've noticed that I make less use of the airline-provided entertainment than I used to, with the exception of those long eleven-hour flights to Japan (and the nine-hour return flights). Most of the movies provided are lackluster Hollywood fare (well, at least Korean Air showed Astro Boy cartoons). If anything, if I'm not reading a book or napping, I'll just watch the map of the flight's progress.

To read more, go here.

Furor Over Singapore Airlines' Seatback Cameras

Above, inside a Singapore Airlines Airbus A380. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

My last trip to Japan (October 2015) was aboard a Singapore Airlines Airbus A380. 

As with all modern airlines, the back of the seat in front of me had an entertainment "center". At the time, I did not notice any cameras peering back. But, apparently others have and raised a "stink" over these cameras.

Japan Today reported:

Singapore Airlines insisted Thursday that cameras on its planes' entertainment systems had been disabled after an outcry online from worried passengers who spotted the tiny lenses peering at them. 

Travellers took to Twitter and other social media to raise the alarm over the cameras at the bottom of seatback screens on a number of the Singapore flag carrier's newer aircraft. 

"Just found this interesting sensor looking at me from the seat back on board of Singapore Airlines. Any expert opinion of whether is a camera?" passenger Vitaly Kamluk tweeted. 

His tweet was accompanied by photos of the monitor with the embedded camera.

The airline confirmed that there are fixed cameras, but they had been "disabled".

To read more, go here.

"No Evidence" Smaller Airline Seats A Safety Hazard

Above, the Economy section of an Airbus A380. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

If you were hoping that a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) study would either halt the shrinking of airline seating due to safety issues or make them larger, those hopes were dashed.

TravelPulse reported:

In what Judge Millet dubbed “the case of the incredible shrinking airline seat,” the suit was filed by the organization Flyers Rights, which argued that smaller seat sizes could affect the ability of passengers to evacuate an aircraft safely in case of an emergency. The organization also said smaller seat size could lead to increased risk of blood clots in air travelers.

A three-judge federal panel, led by Millett, ordered the FAA to undergo a “properly reasoned disposition” of safety issues related to seating configurations. 

This week, the hopes of the flying public have been dashed, after the FAA announced it would not impose new restrictions on the airline industry. 

The agency said it “has no evidence that there is an immediate safety issue necessitating rule-making at this time,” in a letter sent Monday. It also cited “research” indicates emergency evacuations aren’t slowed down by tighter seating. Instead, the choke points created by the emergency exits is what slows evacuations.

To read more, go here. 

Airbus A380 Engine Explodes Over The Atlantic

Above, a Singapore Airlines Airbus A380 at LAX. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

An engine on an Air France Airbus A380 jetliner bound for Los Angeles exploded over the Atlantic Ocean, prompting an emergency landing in Canada. There were over 500 passengers on board.

According to Condé Nast Traveler:

Terror struck an Air France flight headed from Paris to Los Angeles yesterday when one of the plane engines fell into the Atlantic ocean during its mid-flight cruise phase. 

According to reports from CNN and The Telegraph, the Airbus A380 plane was just west of Greenland when passengers heard a loud boom and felt a quick drop in altitude, along with a huge vibration. “It definitely was not turbulence so we knew something was wrong," reports one passenger 

The plane shook for another five minutes before the captain stabilized it and made an announcement explaining that one of the four engines had exploded. The flight crew shut down the damaged engine and the plane flew for another hour on three engines until it could make an emergency landing at Goose Bay Airport in Labrador in eastern Canada.

The double-decker Airbus A380 is the largest passenger airliner in the world. I've flown on two of them during my 2015 trip to Japan.

To read more, go here.

The World's Biggest Passenger Jet Could Get Even Bigger

Above, the Airbus A380 I flew to Japan in. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The world's biggest passenger plane, the Airbus A380, could get even bigger.

According to an article in Travel + Leisure:

Airbus has announced its intentions to make the A380, the world’s largest passenger plane, even bigger. 

The plane already measures 262 feet across, however Airbus is considering expanding the plane’s wingspan even more. 

In an attempt to cut drag and increase efficiency, Airbus could tack on 16-foot winglets on either side of the plane. The winglets would reduce fuel burn by 4 percent, something Airbus hopes will make the colossal plane more attractive for customers.

I flew the Airbus A380 two years ago to Japan with Singapore Airlines. It was a smooth ride to and from Japan. Unfortunately, while the plane is the world's biggest, its great size did not translate into more legroom in Economy. In fact, I found it to be the tightest seating arrangement I've ever experienced. I had to get up more frequently as I was getting leg pains.

While I like Singapore Airlines, unless I fly First or Business Class with them, I will fly only with airlines who use Boeing planes, they seem to have more legroom. The lack of legroom, I've been told, is a "chronic" problem with Airbus Industries planes.

To read more, go here.

The Incredible Shrinking Airline Seat

Above, yours truly trying out an ANA Business Class seat at a travel show. 

You're not getting fatter (in some cases, maybe you are), airline seats are getting smaller. This is so that the airlines can squeeze more seats (i.e., more people) in an airliner.

This, naturally, is making flying a lot less comfortable.

According to Travel + Leisure:

What I'm about to say is far from news: Being a fat person on a plane is dreadful. 

As much as I would like to believe we're living in a more body positive world than in the past, there are some areas that have definitely not become more inclusive. We need to recognize the body discrimination taking place on airplanes across the country. 

Airline seats aren't comfortable for anyone — at least not anymore. Seats have gotten smaller since the 1980s to add more passengers to each aircraft. In 2014, author Bill McGee compared seat sizes from 1985 through 2014 on four major airline carriers: American, Delta, United, and Southwest. On average, economy class seat widths decreased 2 to 3 inches, and seat pitch (the distance between your seat and the seat in front of you) decreased 2 to 5 inches. 

And it hasn't stopped. Last year, United found a way to add the equivalent of 14 planes to its fleet by moving seats closer together on its existing aircraft. Earlier this month, American announced it will add 10 more economy seats on each new Boeing 737 MAX by reducing seat pitch. Slimmer seats are supposed to make up for that decrease, according to several airlines, but anyone who has flown recently would be skeptical.

I think the worst seating I've experienced was on a Singapore Airlines Airbus A380 to Japan in 2015. I felt scrunched in and was getting leg pains. It used to be that I would get up about every hour to an hour and a half to stretch my legs. I had to get up roughly every half hour. This is not something one wants to endure during a 11-hour flight to Japan!

To read more, go here.

Essentials For Long-Haul Flights

Above, a view of the economy section of a Singapore Airlines Airbus A380. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Flying to Japan from Los Angeles is an eleven-hour flight. To make yourself more comfortable, there are a few "essentials" you may want to bring with you in your carry-on luggage.

Keep in mind that the article, appearing in Stripes Japan, is written from a woman's point-of-view.

It begins with:

As an expat living overseas, I have done my fair share of long-haul flights and after years of trial and error, I developed a pretty neat list of travel essentials that help me prepare for, as well as comfortably last through the multi-hour flights (especially the red-eye!). I thought it might be useful to share some of my tips and tricks and give a peek into my carry-on bag.

To see what the essentials are, go here.

How Passenger Rights May Change

Above, an Airbus A380 at LAX. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

With the Obama Administration now history, people are beginning to wonder what changes, if any, will take place with the Dept. of Transportation where it concerns airline passenger rights.

According to Condé Nast Traveler:

As the Obama administration leaves Washington, D.C. and power changes hands, travelers might be wondering: What’s going to happen to the dozens of airline passenger protection rules that took effect—and others that are still pending? 

First, some context. During the past eight years, an unusually active team over in the Transportation Department pushed through a slew of new rules affecting air travel, starting with the three-hour tarmac delay requirement, which levied stiff punishments on airlines that held fliers in planes for hours on end. That was followed by other other policies, which allowed passengers to hold reservations for 24 hours before making final payment, increased compensation for passengers who were bumped; and a requirement for airlines to advertise prominently the full price of an airline ticket, including all taxes.

Since President Trump knows the travel industry inside and out, having run hotels and an airline, some are cautiously optimistic that no real changes will be made, especially on protections that have been in place for years and are popular with the traveling public.

To read more, go here.

Medical Emergencies On Planes

Above, the interior of a Singapore Airlines Airbus A380. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Since actress Carrie Fisher's tragic medical emergency on board an in-bound airliner, people are understandably wondering how the airlines deal with medical emergencies. 

Thankfully, I have never witnessed any medical emergency on board an airliner. But it is good to know that the airlines have protocols and training in dealing with any.

Condé Nast Traveler has posted an article on just this topic.

They begin with:

The tragic death of Carrie Fisher, who suffered a heart attack on a plane, reminded travelers of the seriousness of mid-air emergencies. Luckily, airlines and doctors are working together to prevent a catastrophe. 

As airlines compete to offer the world’s longest nonstop flights, travelers might understandably wonder what might happen if they—or fellow passengers—experience a medical emergency during a globe-girdling trip.

To read more, go here.