Japan Airlines has just unveiled the details of their new onboard products, which they'll be rolling out in January of 2013 as they take delivery of more Boeing 777-300ERs. The new onboard product will apparently debut on the Tokyo Narita to London Heathrow route, and will then be rolled out to other European and North…
Continue reading: Japan Airlines introduces new onboard product
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So, wait: is it the new meal service that's called JAL BEDD, or did the chef dream team design the new seating hard product? I seem to be having a Lost in Translation moment...
@ gba -- 😉
@ JakeD -- No, you're not the one lost in translation here, trust me -- they are!
Whew - thanks, Ben. I feel much better knowing it's not just me (*haha*).
I seriously do love Japan -- and little enigmas like this are among the reasons -- but please, JAL, bring back Seasons! At least we could wrap our brains around that one.
Unfortunately, this seems to happen more often than not with Asian businesses. From your simple mom-and-pop restaurant listing their menu items to this unveiling of a new product by a highly-esteemed global company, grammar and syntax tend to be weak points.
Other case-in-points for airlines include Asiana. And who could forget Korean Air's "primitive energy" snafu with the new service to Nairobi, Kenya!
I think it's interesting that they're announcing this 6 months after taking delivery of the 787 with angled-flat business in a two-class configuration. Do you think the 787 layout was motivated by the the fact that the 787 is designed to serve long-haul routes with somewhat lower demand?
Kind of similar to Lufthansa taking the A380 with their old business product.
@ NYinSF - I think it's possible that the routes targeted for the 787 may have influenced the choice of product, but I also suspect that the 787's production/delivery delay may have much to do with the interiors already seeming somewhat dated. UA has stated that this factored into some of their new 787s' fittings at introduction -- the IFE, if I recall -- and come to think of it, the A380 was a little overdue once it arrived, too...
Once either a) these previously-ordered products have justified their expenditure, or b) or the tide of competitive pressure becomes too great, I think we'll see them replaced with more "current" equipment. Those long, thin routes tend to be rather high margin, and being able to bypass hubs tends to command a premium.
I think I read somewhere that JAL was also making some changes with their Economy class cabin- any word on that yet?
@ Euro -- It looks like the seats are getting slightly wider and there will be slightly more legroom. There will also be a phone holder, bottle holder, multimedia ports, and touchscreen entertainment.
Has JAL announced the launch date for NRT-JFK? I'll be traveling in mid-Jan and if I can sit in their new business class, I'd switch to JAL. But since they launch first NRT-LHR launch is on Jan 13, I'm not hopeful...
@ Dan -- Haven't seen an announcement for JFK debut yet, though highly doubt it will be by mid-January.
Flying nrt-dfw
What do you think about Jal J vs AA J. Or
Jal f vs AA F
How would you get back assuming these were your only choices given nonstop.
@ Siso -- That's a toughie, both products are angled flat and leave a bit to be desired. I'd pay the premium for first class if you can, and would go for JL F over AA F.