As expected, the JAL Sakura lounge at HKG will be closed as a result of cost saving and Japan Airlines (JAL) downsizes its HKG operation to 2 daily flights. From October 5 2010, JAL passengers will be invited to use the Travelers' Lounge instead. There will be a reserved area for JAL passengers. For details, you can refer to JAL website.

Enjoy! JAL Premium Economy Campaign. Image by Japan Airlines

Japan Airlines (JAL) has announced a new campaign allowing JAL Mileage Bank (JMB) members of ALL region to redeem an upgrade award to premium economy class on flights to and from the US (SFO, LAX, ORD, JFK) from October 1 2010 till March 31 2011.

Japan Airlines (JAL) has launched a new credit card for the US based JAL Mileage Bank (JMB) members today called the JAL USA Card. The new card will replace JAL Family Club Premio Card, the current credit card for US based JMB members. The major differences between the two cards are JAL USA card does not require you to be a JAL Family Club member and option of choosing to earn 1 mile per $2 spent and 1 mile per $1 spent. JAL is currently running 4 campaigns to celebrate the launch of the new credit card.

Sample meals served on JAL Haneda red-eye flights. Image by Japan Airlines

JAL Aloha Jet. Image by Japan Airlines

MAGIC-I controller. Image by Japan Airlines,

MAGIC-I is no longer listed on Oct JAL Entertainment Network (JEN) listing. That means JAL will retire all 744 equipped with MAGIC-I IFE by Oct 2010.

I still remember how excited I was when I first board the plane with MAGIC-I installed. It was the state-of-art at that time. Thank you for all the good entertainments you provided over the years but it's time for you to go.

Japan Airlines (JAL) announced a bunch of new codeshare flights tends to improve Haneda's international network. Also, the new AA and AF codeshares will improve the new HND-SFO, HND-HNL, and HND-CDG connectivity. (Finally there's a LAX-SFO codeshare YAY!). You can find the full schedule of the new codeshare flights on JAL Press Release. Reservations on these new codeshare flights start from Oct 1 2010 with the exception of CX codeshares.

Japan Airlines (JAL) and Cathay Pacific (CX) finally found a way to work together as a partner!!! Until now, JAL and CX sees each other more as a competitor than a partner. Before JAL joined oneworld, you can't even earn JMB miles on CX's flights between HKG and Tokyo. According to the press release, this is only the first step JAL will take to improve JAL's network in Asia with the help of CX. Further announcements will come when they have reached more agreements.

FLY JAL! SFO Super Discounted Upgrade Campaign. Picture by Japan Airlines.

Folks at San Francisco are usually the one who got screwed by Japan Airlines (JAL), but not this time (OK if you don't kind the downgrade from 773 to 772 with no F service and JAL Shell Flat seats :P)! In order to celebrate the launch of SFO-Haneda route, JAL is running a special discounted upgrade award campaign for flight JL001 and JL002. You can save up to 20,000 miles on a roundtrip upgrade award!

[Update: Added extra picture and videos]

Today is the launch day of Japan Airlines's (JAL) Arashi Jet. The first flight it performed was JL119. Twitpic user xxx7103xxx managed to snap a picture of the new JAL Arashi Jet before its first flight. You can find the picture here. Below are some videos of the JAL Arashi Jet.

Japan Airlines (JAL) launched a TV commercial earlier this summer to show their determination on a successful restructuring, providing better service and to thank the customers for their support and understanding. The JAL CM features Japanese popular boy band Arashi's song Movin' On, which matches perfectly what JAL is trying to do. To continue on the campaign, JAL has just launch the new JAL Arashi Jet! Starting from today till January 2011, this 777-200, registration JA8982, will be flying Haneda's domestic routes to New Chitose, Itami and Fuokuka. JAL has created a page to show the flights which this Arashi Jet will be flying.

Japan Airlines (JAL) had announced more details on the upcoming launch of Haneda international services. There will be lots of facility improvements and campaigns. One of the major new improvements are of course the new lounges at the new HND international terminal! And there will be JAL's first ever ARRIVAL LOUNGE! Below are the details.

Japan Airlines (JAL) and Rakuten, the No. 1 online retailer in Japan, finally starts working together. Up till now, Rakuten customers can only buy ANA tickets from the site but this is all going to change. Today Rakuten launches a JAL page which customers can buy JAL domestic tickets (Y and class J) and make hotel reservations at the same time! Don't you think the JAL icon on their front page makes it look much better? Now booking on this site is finally one of my options (Yes, I refused to book my hotels from Rakuten just because they only allowed ANA ticket purchases LOL)

This is expected to generate a couple of billion yen of revenue in the current fiscal year and tens of billion yen revenue in the next 5 years according to Sankei

Source: JAL Press Release (in Japanese)

According to Yomiuri Online, Japan Airlines (JAL) will discontinue the birthday discount tickets on its domestic flights.