Japan Airlines Announces New 777-200ER Business Class Seat

I find it frustrating for an airline to have multiple types of J class seats though...
Isn't it more comforting knowing what you'll get is a must? Like if you're booked on any Cathay long-haul flight, you know it is going to be the standard seat that is fantastic.
But with this you have to choose a particular route on a particular flight to get the product you want, the aircraft might even change last minute!

Too confusing. Too many choices.

Hey Ben,
Just wondering what's your fav business class seats on AA transcon flight? I'll be trying it out for the first time really soon. Thanks in advance! And keep up the great work! 🙂

The Apex product is amazing. It really scratches my head why they would go back to the last-gen Cirrus product when the Apex is clearly superior. The only explanation would be a density concern where the Apex wastes too much floor space.

The argument of newer gen products only works if the new installation is actually a new product. Going backwards from Apex to Cirrus doesn't sound like progress to me.

I am hoping the SIN route will be online by Jan 17 when I fly it. I would think it would be by then.

@Ben do you know by when they will have full rollout on this? They also fly 700-200Ers on their HND-HKG route too. I am booked for 11th Nov so m hoping to try the new product by than.

Great news. I was trying to decide between CX and JAL to get to Bangkok and the JAL flight times were so much better but then I saw 7 hours Tokyo to BKK in angled flat making the decision for CX an easy one. Definitely will have to reconsider and since this is for summer 2017 travel it will likely be installed on the route by then.

Not sure why they'd not go with the config they have on 773s and new 787s but hard to complain about getting a newer seat.

I like the apex suite idea, but when I flew it recently on the Korean 747-8i I found it a bit short in bed mode. I'm 6' and couldn't fully stretch out without my head bumping. Maybe I just had a slightly short seat (exit in front of me)? Anyone else noticed this? Otherwise it was an excellent seat. Love the privacy.

2-4-3 is an interesting development. Of course I'd rather sit in the 2 seat configs.

Ben,
A long time fan who had the chance to meet you a couple of times in DFW seminars. I apologize for posting this comment on a article ...please remove it if you see fit.

Today morning on the Bob and sheri show they were talking about the Emirate 1st class. When she talked about max occupancy = 2, I knew they are reading your review. They have posted a link to your review as well:
http://bobandsheri.com/2016/03/23/first-class-all-the-way/

-Excited and happy for you.

I wonder how much of this seat diversity is to ensure they're not screwed over in the event of another seat manufacturer meltdown ala Zodiac.

I really wish all airlines would work on getting 1 great seat across their whole fleet. Hard to keep up on things! Here's hoping they update my old configuration 787/angled seat before January.

Your readers must have a very small brain capacity if they can't comprehend 3 different J layouts. Talk about a first world problem.

I'm shocked that they're removing seats on Hawaii/ Bangkok flights. Those are low yield routes that need high volume to survive and be profitable.

Do you know what seat they fly YVR-NRT. I believe it used to be a recliner or angle flat, but not sure whether they've switched to an aircraft with newer configuration. Any plans for an upgrade if still angled?

I was just on jal business class from Tokyo to Hong Kong on a 767 and the seats we had were pretty weak. Wish I had some of these seats

http://www.pointswithacrew.com/japan-airlines-business-class-review-tokyo-to-hong-kong/

Becky, I'm with you on the 787 issue. We're flying it in October. Given up hope that new seats will be installed by then.

too bad they did not outfit all their 787 fleet with these, the business seats in the san/bkk flights suck

I find it funny that despite using the gimmicky English names of the cabins (sky suite iii, sky premium, sky wider), the Japanese merely says "business class", "premium economy class" and "economy class".

I assume the Apex suite wasn't used on the 777-200ER because it would be overkill for medium haul flights.

As far as the 787 goes, I'm not sure if all 787-8's will get the new Apex suites or just some 787-8's.

BRAVO to JAL for maintaining 9 across in Economy, compared to all the others who have joined the 10 across bandwagon in this industry. It shows they have some form of respect for humans even in economy, something other airlines can't seem to muster up. If I'm not mistaken, ANA is also still 9 across in economy. And on their 787's, both JAL and ANA are 8 across in Economy compared to others who are 9 across on their 787's. Well Done JAL ! Just as a side note, thought i'd mention it... when the 747 entered service in 1969 or 70, it was 9 across in 2-4-3 configuration for the first few years, until Sir Freddy Laker came on the scene with his Sky Train DC 10 and all airlines had to scramble to compete n pack 'em in, so they switched to 10 across on their 747's in a 3-4-3 config, offering 99 dollars stand by fares to the USA.

@Nathan: One of ANA's 777-300ER's are 10-abreast. Also, some ANA 787's are 9-abreast even in a longhaul configuration.

All of JAL's 787's are 8-abreast.

Airlines use different types of J seats on different aircraft primarily because they only have so much real estate to work within, and the reverse h. seats do not fit within the 763 as one example. There are also contractual issues that sometimes play into which sub fleet gets what. Fuel burn probably plays a part with these 772's getting this type of seat for flights under a certain block period, vs the 773 that has the heavier apex seats for longer block time.

@Nathan/Mike:

6 out of 22 ANA 773ER planes are in 3-4-3 on Y while the rest are in 2-4-3.
As for the 787, sad to say but all of NH's fleet have already been converted to 3-3-3.
Only consolation is that the 789s comes with 34" pitch while the 788s are 31".

So will avoid flying any 787 in Y unless it is JL from now on.

great news!

I get the need for airlines to have different types of business class based on the different aircraft and passengers that fly different routes, but at the least they should brand each one differently so that you know which one you're getting when you buy the ticket without needing to investigate.