Best Airline to Japan?
 

Can someone recommend an airline for a trip from South Carolina to Osaka? Since it's a long trip, comfort is my priority. I'm planning to fly business class. Thank you.

It will be a trade-off between travel time and comfort.

The most comfortable flights to Japan in business class are the new business class seats on JAL and ANA: they're shell seats that lay flat. Unfortunately for you, these seats are available only on JAL flights from New York, Chicago, LA, and San Francisco to Tokyo, and the ANA flight from JFK to Tokyo. You would then need to take a connecting flight to Osaka (which may or may not be as simple as it sounds).

You can alternatively fly directly from the US to Kansai Airport in Osaka. JAL has a flight from LAX, and United has flights from Chicago and SF. None of the seats on these flights are as good for sleeping as the JAL or ANA flights I mentioned.

You best routing is going on either UA (via Chicago) or NW (via Detroit). Japan Airlines and Thai Airways fly from LAX to KIX non-stop, but I don't think you have any non-stop from SC to LAX.

Going on JL or ANA to Tokyo isn't a good option either, as there are very few flights between Narita and Osaka (either ITM or KIX). Most domestic flights from Tokyo leave from Haneda. And no direct trains from NRT to Osaka either, requiring a change in Tokyo proper.

As for NW vs UA, NW's World Business Class shouldn't be too bad, and may be slightly better than UA. But I have no experience.

I regularly fly UA in Business CLass to Asia. I've had good service, comfortable seats (although not flat). I haven't flown NW to Asia, but I've heard that NW's entertainment systems aren't as good as United, if that matters to you.

I;ve flown Uniteted and Northwest and have vowed never to do so again if humanly possible. I have found Japan and ANA to be about 100% better whether in economy or business class.

Thai Airways also flys to Osaka. I know they fly out of LA and they used to fly out of Chicago but I'm not sure if they still do the latter. It's a very good airline as well.