TL;DR
- Compare widely, book directly. Use meta-search (e.g., Skyscanner/Omio) to compare, then book on the airline’s official site for faster support if plans change.
- Prioritize resilience: frequent schedules, flexible fares, clear refund/change rules.
- Key filters: departure/layover/arrival airports, operating days, total time, price, aircraft type, and cleanliness/amenities.
Start with real-world feedback
Ask friends or colleagues who’ve flown Europe–Japan recently: Which airline? How smooth were check-in, boarding, and baggage?
If you can’t crowdsource, search social platforms for candid takes (e.g., “Emirates review economy,” “Turkish Airlines long haul”). You’ll get a mix of praise and pain points that typical review hubs sometimes miss.
How to choose your airline (step-by-step)
1) Compare routes and fares smartly
Meta-search sites quickly show price, total time, and layovers across many carriers. Shortlist 3–4 options that fit your dates and budget.
Pro move: After comparing, book on the airline’s official website.
Faster refunds/rebooks, guaranteed support, and fewer middle-man delays when disruptions hit.
2) Check the operational cadence
Look at how often the airline runs your route (weekly frequency and time-of-day). If a flight is canceled, airlines usually move you to the next available—frequent schedules mean better alternatives and shorter layovers.
3) Mind the total journey time
From Europe, door-to-door flight times to Japan often range ~12–22h depending on layovers. If you’re sensitive to fatigue, aim for ≤18h total where possible.
4) Read the fare rules before you pay
Confirm:
- Change/refund conditions, fees, and how to request them
- Whether schedule changes let you rebook without penalty
- Seat selection costs and baggage inclusions
5) Peek at the aircraft type
Long hauls are easier on newer wide-bodies (think A350/B787 for quieter cabins and better humidity). Airlines usually list aircraft on the booking page—Google Images or SeatMaps help visualize seating and IFE.
Special notes for disruption-heavy periods
- Save the airline’s app + local phone numbers and opt into notifications.
- Book direct with the airline (again!).
- Prefer carriers with multiple weekly frequencies on your route.
- Keep buffers on tight connections and long layovers if winter weather or strikes are trending.
Airlines by Preference & Travel Style (Europe ↔ Japan)
★★★★★ = Outstanding | ★★★★☆ = Very good | ★★★☆☆ = Average | ★★☆☆☆ = Below average | ★☆☆☆☆ = Poor
Subjective ratings based on my own flights; your mileage may vary by aircraft/subfleet.
| Airline | Cabin Env. | Aircraft | Crew | Meals | Entertainment | Booking/App | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Emirates | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | Dubai hub adds time but experience is superb. |
| Qatar Airways | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | Polished and consistent; slightly more reserved vibe. |
| ANA | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | Clean, calm, reliable; often pricier. |
| Lufthansa | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★☆☆ | Great network; 2021 change/cancel experience was tough. |
| Turkish Airlines | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | Strong frequencies; some aircraft/cabin variance; paid seats on some fares. |
| LOT Polish | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★☆☆☆ | ★★☆☆☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | Solid alternative with a pleasant Warsaw layover. |
Below are my go-to picks by “vibe,” plus candid notes from my own flights.
Emirates (DXB) — Luxury feel, polished experience
Whether you’re in economy or first, Emirates shines if you value comfort and a little glam.
I’ve flown them round-trip about 4 times and could list perks all day.
- Cabin environment: I love the starry-sky lighting at night. Windows dim with a button—very modern.
- Aircraft: Spacious wide-bodies; even economy has generous pitch. On many long-hauls, first class is on the upper deck (yes, with a bar).
- Crew: Super friendly, proactive, and genuinely helpful.
- Meals: Huge range of special meals (vegetarian, vegan, halal, low carb, etc.) and frequent service; snacks available if you’re peckish.
- Entertainment: Massive, up-to-date catalog.
- Booking & app: Smooth, modern app/website; I could preselect special meals and seats for free.
Routing via Dubai can add total travel time for Europe↔Japan, but the overall experience still makes me pick them often.
(Once for a friend’s birthday the crew brought a hat and champagne from first—still one of my favorite memories.)
Qatar Airways (DOH) — Refined service, consistent quality
Personally, I find Qatar Airways almost neck-and-neck with Emirates in quality—just a bit more understated in branding and vibe.
- Cabin environment: Clean, cohesive, chic color palette.
- Aircraft: Comfortable and spacious.
- Crew: Helpful and efficient (a touch less overtly chatty than Emirates in my experience).
- Meals: Excellent variety of special meals; frequent service; snacks when needed.
- Entertainment: Strong selection (my aircraft’s screens felt a tad older at the time—likely refreshed now).
- Booking & app: Modern app/website; advance seat and special-meal selection was easy and free.
ANA (Japan) — Peace-of-mind and cleanliness
When I book ANA, I basically stop worrying. Service is consistently good, so there’s zero dread about surprises—just calm.
(Compared with some carriers, Japanese airlines can be pricier.)
- Cabin environment: Immaculate; that boarding jingle genuinely boosts my mood.
- Aircraft: Comfortable overall; some layouts feel a bit cozier seat-wise depending on type.
- Crew: Warm, professional, and attentive (very “Japan”).
- Meals: Tastes suit Japanese palates; special-meal variety felt a bit narrower than Middle Eastern carriers.
- Entertainment: Plenty of Japanese-language options.
- Booking & app: Seamless app/website experience.
Lufthansa Group (FRA/MUC + partners) — Speed & network
For Europe↔Japan, Lufthansa often hits a sweet spot on speed and price, with strong connectivity (Austrian and SWISS are in the same group).
During 2021, I experienced frequent cancellations/changes (pandemic era), including some impossible layovers and very long holds to fix by phone—rough times!
- Cabin environment: Clean, modern enough—nothing to hate or to rave about.
- Aircraft: Newer frames on my flights; felt great.
- Crew: Solid and professional; many Japan-bound services include Japanese-speaking crew.
- Meals: Fine, with some special options (fewer than Middle Eastern carriers).
- Entertainment: Excellent on newer IFE.
- Booking & app: In 2021 changes were phone-only for me; this is likely improved now, but that memory dings the score.
Turkish Airlines (IST) — Schedule depth & value
Even when other carriers struggled to operate, Turkish Airlines kept schedules relatively stable with lots of frequencies—huge plus during volatile periods.
- Cabin environment: I ran into torn seat pockets and leftover trash once—felt a bit LCC-ish that day; restrooms could have been cleaner.
- Aircraft: 3-3-3 layout instead of 3-4-3 on some long-hauls; feels slightly narrower but still fine.
- Crew: Needed to ask multiple times for a pillow before one finally arrived.
- Meals: Perfectly OK. Bonus: on the Japan→Europe leg, they stocked onigiri as snacks, which made me smile.
- Entertainment: Decent, though my screen felt older.
- Booking & app: Easy to track updates; note that some seat selections are paid.
LOT Polish Airlines (WAW) — Something different
Yes, LOT connects Europe and Japan more than people expect. Some friends (Europe-based) giggled when I said I’d flown them long-haul—maybe they pictured an LCC? But my experience was totally fine:
- Crew: Friendly.
- Layover: Extra time in Warsaw became an impromptu mini-trip.
- Overall: Not a flashy “flagship” feel, but a perfectly decent way to mix things up.
Airport & Layover Checklist ✈️
Choosing the right airports and layover hubs can make or break your long-haul journey. It’s not just about where you start and end—the in-between matters too. A smooth connection saves you stress (and sometimes money), while a poorly chosen hub can add hours of frustration.
- Departure airport: Closest is convenient, but compare check-in times, ground transport, and lounge options.
- Layover hub: Prefer well-equipped hubs for long waits; some Middle Eastern carriers offer meal/hotel vouchers on long connections—check eligibility.
- Arrival airport: If your first-choice city lacks frequency, compare nearby airports plus hotel/transfer costs.
Cleanliness & Onboard Comfort 🧴
After 12+ hours in the air, the little details really add up. A well-cleaned cabin, decent air quality, and even basic amenities like pillows and wipes can mean the difference between landing refreshed—or drained. Top carriers publish their hygiene and amenity standards, but it’s always smart to pack your own mini comfort kit.
- Top carriers publicly outline cleaning routines and amenity policies.
- If hygiene is a concern, check the airline’s cabin care page.
- Bring a small kit: mask, wipes, sanitizer, lip balm.
Tools I Actually Use 🔍
Travel hacks are great, but at the end of the day, I keep it simple. I always start with meta-search engines to compare flights, then I head straight to the airline’s own website to book. That way, I get the best of both worlds: wide visibility on options, plus direct support if things go wrong.
- Compare with meta-search, then book direct with the airline.
- For Europe legs, Omio shows trains/buses/ferries—handy if you need to re-route.
Personal Picks (Situational) 🌍
Different trips call for different priorities. Sometimes I want pure comfort, other times I need flexibility, and occasionally I just want to try something new. Here’s my quick cheat sheet based on mood and need:
- Most “treat yourself” economy: Emirates or Qatar
- Least mental load: ANA
- Fast Europe connections: Lufthansa Group
- Strong frequencies: Turkish Airlines
- Curious traveler, new hub: LOT
