Hi there from Los Angeles! I’ve simply wrapped up a tremendous journey to Japan, and flew Japan Airways’ Boeing 787-9 enterprise class on the brief 9hr20min flight from Osaka to Los Angeles. I booked this for simply 60,000 American AAdvantage miles, which is sort of a deal.
After I’ve flown Japan Airways’ Boeing 787 enterprise class prior to now, I loved the provider’s Apex Suites enterprise class. I rank this one of many world’s greatest enterprise class seats, and the general expertise as among the finest enterprise class merchandise on this planet.
Nicely, this flight was a bit completely different. You see, some lengthy haul Japan Airways Boeing 787s and Boeing 777s don’t have Apex Suites, however relatively have reverse herringbone seats. Sadly these left with a special impression.
On this put up I wished to share my preliminary ideas on the expertise, after which quickly you possibly can count on an in depth journey report on the flight.
Japan Airways’ uncomfortable reverse herringbone seat
My flight was operated by a 787-9 with Japan Airways’ Sky Suite III enterprise class seats, as they’re known as. I’ve seen lots of people on-line complaining about these particular seats, noting how uncomfortable they’re. I figured they have been exaggerating, or one thing, since I’m often a fan of reverse herringbone seats.
Nicely, now I do know what everyone seems to be speaking about. These must be the least snug reverse herringbone seats in service these days.
Once you have a look at the seat, it most likely appears like a fairly common reverse herringbone product, and also you wouldn’t assume it’s notably uncomfortable.
Nevertheless, while you recline, I can promise you that it feels actually, actually slender and tight. Reverse herringbone seats have developed fairly a bit over time, to supply extra space when within the reclined place (simply have a look at Starlux Airways’ new A350 enterprise class). When in mattress mode, this seat felt tremendous slender.
As a facet sleeper, I merely couldn’t get snug on this seat, as my knees have been consistently hitting the facet of the seat. Whereas Japan Airways presents a wonderful mattress pad, what didn’t assist with getting snug was the pillow that was about as thick as a pancake.
Possibly I simply had dangerous luck, however I awoke in ache after sleeping. My again harm, my arm harm, and my fingers harm, in a means I haven’t had in fairly a while. I’m simply grateful that the cabin was saved fairly cool, which regularly isn’t the case on Japan Airways, and that may turn out to be an issue given the dearth of particular person air nozzles.
The puzzling factor is that these seats are nonetheless pretty new to Japan Airways. Why did the airline choose this product, over the opposite superior reverse herringbone seats on the market? It’s unusual…
Japan Airways’ good Wi-Fi, dangerous leisure
Relating to leisure on Japan Airways’ Boeing 787s, there’s excellent news and dangerous information. The excellent news is that the airline presents Panasonic Wi-Fi, and you should purchase a cross for all the flight for $18.80. That’s robust to beat, particularly given the dearth of knowledge caps.
I’m joyful that the Wi-Fi is an effective choice, as a result of Japan Airways’ leisure choice may be very dangerous, at the very least for these of us in search of leisure in English. There’s not even a stable choice of Hollywood sitcoms, as you discover on a overwhelming majority of airways.
Japan Airways’ meals & service are superb
Whereas the onerous product and leisure left a bit to be desired, Japan Airways’ smooth product was nice. As you’d count on from a Japanese airline, service was courteous and pleasant. It’s at all times robust to return to a home US flight after flying with a Japanese airline, given the very completely different service tradition.
Whereas Japan Airways’ western meals are solely okay, the airline does an excellent job with Japanese meals. On this flight I made a decision to have the Japanese meals for each the dinner and breakfast, they usually didn’t disappoint. For the principle service, the meal started with drinks, in addition to combined nuts and olives. I had a glass of champagne (Duval-Leroy) and the peach and grape SKY TIME drink (considered one of my favourite non-alcoholic airplane drinks).
The appetizer consisted of a handful of dishes, together with scallops, tofu, lobster, mackerel, and pike conger, beef, and rooster.
The primary course consisted of rooster and eel, rice, and a miso soup.
Then for dessert there was an apple mango cake and inexperienced tea.
For the pre-landing meal, I had halibut with a Japanese omelet, rice, and miso soup.
Suffice it to say that this was a bit extra intricate than your typical home top notch meal in the USA, and admittedly, a a lot better selection than the western choices.
Backside line
Whereas I’m a giant fan of Japan Airways’ Apex Suites enterprise class, the provider’s reverse herringbone product (often called Sky Suite III), isn’t practically as snug. This must be one of many tightest reverse herringbone seats on the market, particularly in mattress mode. Once you add within the very skinny pillow, it didn’t make for excellent relaxation.
Happily most different features of the expertise have been nice, together with the service, meals, and drinks.
Personally I’d most likely keep away from this product on a protracted haul flight sooner or later, until it’s essentially the most direct choice obtainable. For instance, Japan Airways is the one airline to fly between Osaka and Los Angeles, so there’s one thing to be mentioned for the comfort of that over connecting, assuming you’re touring between the 2 cities.
In the event you’ve flown Japan Airways’ reverse herringbone enterprise class, what was your expertise like?