At the end of last year, I reflected on my points and miles journey. Having joined the travel rewards community in early 2023, I'd successfully redeemed multiple Business Class flights for my wife and me on Turkish, United, and ANA scheduled for 2024. My next goal was clear: experiencing First Class travel. Surprisingly, this aspiration became reality far sooner than expected.
Originally booked in Swiss Business Class from Montreal to Zurich and onward to Tokyo Narita (NRT), we received an upgrade offer at check-in in Zurich. For an additional $1,575 per person, we secured seats in Swiss First Class aboard a Boeing 777-300ER for the 13-hour flight from Zurich (ZRH) to Narita. Considering our initial redemption of 87,500 Aeroplan points plus $220 in fees per person, we decided the upgrade was worth the splurge, especially given that Swiss Business Class appeared somewhat outdated from reviews we'd seen online.
JAL’s A350 First Class is designed by Safran, and the Japanese attention to detail is evident in every aspect of the suite. The rose red leather seats, gold chrome lantern-style lighting, and polished wood finishes create a refined and elegant aesthetic.
Unlike many first-class cabins, JAL’s in-seat speakers actually work without disturbing neighboring passengers, a small but notable touch. The suite itself felt solid and well-built, unlike some first-class products that use cheaper materials.
Amenities included luxurious bedding with a notably thick and comfortable mattress pad and an amenity kit by Zimmerli × SWISS. The kit had a thoughtful Swiss touch—featuring Ricola cough drops, alongside skincare products and essential travel items.
Swiss offered free high-speed Wi-Fi for First Class passengers, with impressive speeds of around 20MB/sec. Connectivity was excellent throughout the entire flight, allowing me to comfortably use iMessage, WhatsApp, browse the web, and access Instagram without any disruptions.
The inflight entertainment selection was decent but lacked external aircraft cameras, which would have been a nice addition.
Dining aboard Swiss First Class was nothing short of exceptional, with service beginning shortly after takeoff. The meal kicked off with a delightful amuse-bouche—an intriguing blend of curry, wood ear mushrooms, peanuts, seaweed, and pretzel sticks.
For appetizers, the Balik Salmon was outstanding and highly recommended, while my wife enjoyed a flavorful potato and kale mousse with beetroot tartare.
For the main course, my wife selected perfectly cooked cod topped with Oona caviar, while I enjoyed a tender, delicious boneless veal with yuzu jus. We complemented our meals with a tasting of all three red wines on board.
Dessert included an underwhelming buckwheat mousse, but the orange vanilla soufflé was a standout—highly recommended.
About 90 minutes before arrival, breakfast service commenced, featuring an impressive spread: fresh bread, jams, yogurt with fruit, oats, freshly squeezed juices, and lattes. Our mains included scrambled eggs with tomato sauce and pine nuts (my choice) and buckwheat pancakes with tomato sauce (my wife's choice), both flavorful and satisfying.
- Food Quality: 10/10
- Drinks Quality: 8/10
- Cleanliness: 10/10
- Cabin Design: 9/10
- Seat: 8/10
- Service: 9/10
