Couple of days ago, Japan Airlines (JAL) has rolled out the online booking engine for oneworld Yokoso tickets (the super discounted 10,000 yen domestic ticket for visitors). Before, you will have to either go through a travel agent or through JAL reservation center. You will have to pay for the reservation fee if you choose to go through JAL. These all has changed. All you need is your itinerary with e-ticket numbers and you are set (well at least for those who want to book through JAL North America website). But since Yokoso tickets are meant for people who lived outside of Japan and JAL can't really check your country of residence online, JAL has implemented an extra step at check-in to verify your eligibility. At check-in you are required to present an official ID with you foreign address on it. Not sure how it works with IDs without address such as the HKID. But those who have been traveling on Yokoso recently has reported that this check isn't enforced right now. Not sure if that's because they booked the ticket before the roll out of online booking or the agents just aren't aware of the change. Either way, make sure you have your ID with you in case they do check. If you found ineligible for Yokoso, you will be asked to purchase a new ticket which could be expensive ;)

For more details on Yokoso online booking, you can refer to JAL website. Note that other regions haven't rolled out this online booking engine yet. I have only seen this on the North America website so far.

Air Transport Rating Agency released its airlines safety rating today and rates Japan Airlines (JAL) as the safest in Asia. And JAL is the only one that makes it to the top 10 in Asia! The rating is based on 15 criteria including accident figures, average age of the aircraft used and the homogeneity of the fleet. Honestly some of the criteria is a bit odd and they are giving 2011 rating based on 2009 data!? But a win is a win :p Congrats on JAL on job well done in keeping flight safety as their top priority :D

For the complete top 10 rating, you can visit ATRA website.

JAL CAFÉ LINES press conference. Image by Japan Airlines.

Japan Airlines (JAL) has been introducing some nice coffee on its domestic flights earlier this year. And they will finally expand the offering and introduce an exclusive line of high-quality coffee called JAL CAFE LINES on all of its flights. From September 1 2011, the JAL CAFE LINES new beverage service will be introduced in all JAL international and domestic flights.

Japan Airlines (JAL) has just announced their flight frequency plan change for the 2nd half of the current fiscal year. This time they have more increases than decrease in frequency :p Below are the changes effective October 30 2011

As expected, Japan Airlines (JAL) will lower its fuel surcharge from October 1 2011 as the two month average jet fuel price at Singapore has dropped to USD128.02. Therefore, the fuel surcharge for tickets issued between October 1 and November 30 2011 will be using zone G in the fuel surcharge table. In other words, back to May and June 2011's fuel surcharge level. For a one-way Asia-US ticket, fuel surcharge will drop from USD 335 to USD 288. So hold your tickets and wait till Oct 1 to ticket them if you can (well sometimes it's hard to do that especially if JAL kept canceling your upgrade every 5 days :p)

For more details, you can refer to JAL press release (Japanese, English)

So the third time is really a charm and the Jetstar Japan finally comes true. Japan Airlines (JAL) and Qantas (QF) announced today that they will set up a new low cost carrier (LCC), Jetstar Japan, based in Narita. Jetstar Japan will start operation by December 2012.

Today marks the 26th anniversary of Japan Airlines (JAL) flight 123 accident. It is still the world's most deadly single-aircraft accident till today. 524 passengers and crew members were killed with only 4 survivors when the 747 lost control and crashed into Ridge of Osutaka at 6:56PM. Investigation showed the accident was caused by faulty repair conducted by Boeing.

Nikkei Business Daily has reported yet another Japan Airlines (JAL) low cost carrier (LCC) rumor today. According to the paper, JAL and Jetstar will set up a new Narita (NRT) based LCC together with Mitsubishi and this new LCC will start operations by December 2012.

Japan Airlines (JAL) has rolled out an added benefits for JGC members and members with FLY ON service status. From Aug 1 2011, they will be able to enjoy extra benefits when staying at participating JW Marriott, Renaissance Hotels, and Marriott Hotels & Resorts in Asia Pacific region (Australia, China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand, Philippines, and Vietnam) with eligible rate plans (those eligible for JMB miles).

Japan Airlines may (JAL) seek joint venture agreement with Air France (AF) to bolster its European operations. According to the Bloomberg report, JAL will seek other JBV opportunities in Europe if the JBV with British Airways (BA) cannot cover the entire Europe.

We knew Japan Airlines (JAL) is going to has an operating profit this quarter because JAL President told the press about it last month during the monthly press conference. We just didn't know how much. And they finally reveal it today! JAL made a 12.7 billion yen net profit and 17.1 billion yen operating profit in the first quarter of fiscal year 2011! And guess what? Although All Nippon Airways (ANA), JAL's direct competitor, had a much lower drop in passenger numbers than JAL, they still saw an 8.4 billion yen loss :p Below are some highlights of the first quarter results.