A week ago American’s Vice President of Planning, Vasu Raja, told employees it would be “in the next several weeks” that the airline would announce their new Tokyo Haneda flights. The holdup was coordinating with joint venture partner Japan Airlines so that the two carriers could together so that in Los Angeles they could offer “a really separated pattern where every 2 or 3 hours there’s an American flight or a JAL flight much like what we have at JFK – Heathrow today.”

The airline did not wait for this and is instead out with details of their two new flights to Tokyo Haneda. Flights will go on sale Monday, September 30 and commence service March 29, 2020.

Route	Departure time*	Arrival time	Aircraft
DFW–HND	12:35 p.m.	3:55 p.m. (next day)	777-300
HND–DFW	6:15 p.m.	4:25 p.m.	777-300
LAX–HND	12:40 a.m.	4:45 a.m. (next day)	787-9
HND–LAX	11:55 a.m.	6:30 a.m.	787-9

Both Delta and United received awards for more flights to Tokyo Haneda than American, with Delta receiving 5 flights and United 4. Delta’s award was enough that, without a connecting partner in Tokyo, they’ll shift their entire operation from Narita to the closer-in Haneda airport and serve the city as a destination rather than connecting point.

As part of this change American will be ending service to Tokyo Narita from Los Angeles and Chicago, but will keep one Dallas Fort-Worth – Narita flight (its only flight to that airport).

With Haneda flights going on sale Monday it will be worth checking for award availability. While American is known not to make premium cabin award space available on its flights (at the saver level), sometimes new routes can be an exception.

• In the excitement they may forget that they don’t offer awards!
  
• What little space might be offered hasn’t been taken yet
  
• When flights start with less of a lead time than this one, they may be expected to be lightly booked

I’m not banking on it with American, the way I would with a carrier like British Airways that does load premium cabin awards at the time a flight’s schedule first becomes available. But it wouldn’t be the worst idea to check.

The Dallas Fort-Worth flight is operated by a Boeing 777-300ER which is the only widebody aircraft in American’s fleet that has a first class cabin. First class passengers will be able to access Flagship First Dining at Dallas Fort-Worth. Business class passengers can access the Flagship lounge there.

American Boeing 777-300ER Business Class

Out of Los Angeles the Boeing 787-9 features a Super Diamond business class seat and on the ground business class passengers will be able to use the LAX Flagship Dining facility.

American Airlines Boeing 787-9 Business Class

American Airlines LAX Flagship Lounge

In recognition of their joint venture with Japan Airlines, American’s Tokyo flights have elevated catering to meet the expectations of Japanese customers. I’d recommend pre-ordering the Japanese meals for departures from Tokyo.