I flew from Osaka (Kansai) to Sydney last week, on a Japan Airlines ticket.
Was most disappointed to learn that whilst it was still listed as a JAL
flight, it was in fact operated by JALways, a JAL Group company (subsidiary,
but operated independently as a separate company with separate
board/chairman etc) with Bangkok-based flight attendants (mix of Japanese
but mostly Thai) and Honolulu-based pilots (Americans). To add insult to
injury, the JALways aircraft (complete with the old livery that was starting
to be phased out 2 years ago) was a 747-300 series, extremely worn and
battered. The interior was like from some cheap motel in the 1970's
(complete with peeling retro wallpaper and worn-out carpets).

Funny how they try and fake it too, the Thai stewardesses had obviously been
handpicked, they chose those that most resembled Japanese, put their
hairstyles in the same JAL standard and try to flog-off an inferior cheap
"product" at JAL premium prices.

I am not complaining about the service, that was quite good, but I do feel
that it is wrong for JAL to exploit cheaper crews, and have the hide to
charge passengers the full premium JAL airfare. Nowhere on my ticket or
itinerary was it published that the flight would be operated by another
airline. Keep it up JAL, I'll try another airline next time.