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Japan Airlines vs Qatar Airways

Side-by-side policy and rating comparison — baggage, Wi-Fi, legroom, lounges, and loyalty programmes.

Verdict

Qatar Airways scores higher on FlightLogic at 9.0/10 vs 8.7/10 for Japan Airlines. Policy comparison below covers cabin baggage, checked bags, Wi-Fi, and seat pitch.

Policy comparison

Structured operational tokens — verify current fare rules on each airline before booking.

Policy Japan Airlines Qatar Airways
Cabin baggage IncludedIncluded
Checked baggage 2×23 kg international economy23–32 kg by cabin (Economy 23 kg)
In-flight Wi-Fi PaidPartial (messaging/select routes)
Economy seat pitch 33–34"32"
Loyalty programme JAL Mileage BankPrivilege Club (Avios)
Lounge access Sakura / First lounges; oneworld EmeraldAl Mourjan / Al Safwa at DOH; oneworld Emerald
Changes & refunds Flex fares allow changesFlexible on published fares; fee + difference on restricted tickets

Individual profiles

Japan Airlines

JL · Japan

Expert Editorial Review

FlightLogic score: 8.7/10

Qatar Airways

QR · Qatar

Expert Editorial Review

FlightLogic score: 9.0/10

Editorial profiles

Japan · JL/JAL · #1 in this comparison

Japan Airlines

Fly into tomorrow

#4 Global 5-Star
8.7 / 10
Quick Answer

Japan Airlines scores 8.7/10 on FlightLogic (safety 9.7/10), ranking #4 globally. in-flight Wi-Fi is paid or partial on most long-haul routes. Special meals require pre-order on long-haul. Economy seat pitch: 33–34"; loyalty programme: JAL Mileage Bank. Category breakdowns, passenger policy tables, and fares search follow in the profile below.

Is Japan Airlines a good airline?

Japan Airlines scores 8.7/10 (Excellent) on FlightLogic, ranking #4 globally with a safety score of 9.7/10. Japan Airlines delivers meticulous Japanese hospitality, strong on-time performance, and refreshed Sky Suite business class on long-haul routes across Asia, North America, and Europe. See full profile →

Overall 8.7 Excellent
Safety 9.7 Maximum Safety
Service 9.0 Cabin crew & ground
Value 8.0 Fare vs product
Star rating 5★ FlightLogic tier
Rating basis Editorial FlightLogic methodology

Score breakdown

Customer Service
9.0
Seat Comfort
8.7
Food & Beverage
8.9
In-Flight Entertainment
8.2
On-Time Performance
9.1
Value for Money
8.0

Key facts

Hub
Tokyo Haneda & Narita
Alliance
oneworld
Founded
1951
Fleet
170 aircraft
Region
asia pacific
IATA / ICAO
JL / JAL

Passenger policies

Cabin baggage Included — standard carry-on allowance applies
Checked baggage 2×23 kg international economy
In-flight Wi-Fi Paid Wi-Fi or messaging packages
Economy seat pitch 33–34"
Lounge access Sakura / First lounges; oneworld Emerald
Changes & refunds Flex fares allow changes
Loyalty programme JAL Mileage Bank

Strengths

  • Sky Suite business class with direct aisle access
  • Exceptional Japanese dining
  • Strong Haneda hub access

Weaknesses

  • Narita vs Haneda confusion for transfers
  • Premium pricing on popular routes

Awards & recognition

  • World's Best Economy Class Asia
  • Oneworld founding member

Qatar · QR/QTR · #2 in this comparison

Qatar Airways

World's Best Airline 2025

#1 Global 5-Star
9.0 / 10
Quick Answer

Qatar Airways scores 9.0/10 on FlightLogic (safety 9.8/10), ranking #1 globally. verified in-flight Wi-Fi averages 8 Mbps on measured routes. Catering: Halal standard on all routes; vegan and no-pork bespoke menus pre-ordered 24h ahead with high success on LHR–DOH Economy seat pitch: 32"; loyalty programme: Privilege Club (Avios).

Is Qatar Airways a good airline?

Qatar Airways scores 9.0/10 (Exceptional) on FlightLogic, ranking #1 globally with a safety score of 9.8/10. Qatar Airways leads global rankings with exceptional Qsuite business class, award-winning cabin crew, and a modern widebody fleet serving 170+ destinations. See full profile →

Overall 9.0 Exceptional
Safety 9.8 Maximum Safety
Service 9.4 Cabin crew & ground
Value 8.5 Fare vs product
Star rating 5★ FlightLogic tier
Rating basis Editorial FlightLogic methodology

Score breakdown

Customer Service
9.4
Seat Comfort
9.2
Food & Beverage
9.0
In-Flight Entertainment
9.1
On-Time Performance
8.8
Value for Money
8.5

Key facts

Hub
Hamad International (DOH)
Alliance
oneworld
Founded
1993
Fleet
250 aircraft
Region
middle east
IATA / ICAO
QR / QTR

Passenger policies

Cabin baggage Included — standard carry-on allowance applies
Checked baggage 23–32 kg by cabin (Economy 23 kg)
In-flight Wi-Fi Partial — free messaging or select routes/cabins only
Economy seat pitch 32"
Lounge access Al Mourjan / Al Safwa at DOH; oneworld Emerald
Changes & refunds Flexible on published fares; fee + difference on restricted tickets
Loyalty programme Privilege Club (Avios)

Strengths

  • Qsuite business class with doors
  • Al Mourjan lounge at DOH
  • Excellent long-haul catering

Weaknesses

  • Economy density on some A320s
  • Occasional DOH connection delays

Awards & recognition

  • World's Best Airline 2025
  • Best Business Class
  • Best Airline in Middle East

More comparisons

Compare Japan Airlines (JL) against 1 other airlines
Compare Qatar Airways (QR) against 20 other airlines

FAQ

Which is better — Japan Airlines or Qatar Airways?

Qatar Airways scores higher on FlightLogic at 9.0/10 vs 8.7/10 for Japan Airlines. Policy comparison below covers cabin baggage, checked bags, Wi-Fi, and seat pitch.

Does Japan Airlines or Qatar Airways include a carry-on bag?

Japan Airlines: Included. Qatar Airways: Included.

Which has free Wi-Fi — Japan Airlines or Qatar Airways?

Japan Airlines: Paid. Qatar Airways: Partial (messaging/select routes).

Does Japan Airlines include checked baggage?

Japan Airlines checked baggage: 2×23 kg international economy.

Does Qatar Airways include checked baggage?

Qatar Airways checked baggage: 23–32 kg by cabin (Economy 23 kg).