Editors note: I’m catching up on the rest of the world after the Paris Air Show and my work life taking over… again. Expect me to go through stuff that’s ageing nicely and presented as something you haven’t seen before.
Japan Airlines once again bucks the trend with the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner – rather than packing passengers in – they’ve gone another direction.
One that some airlines seem to have forgotten – the direction of comfort.
The new variant will feature Japan Airlines Sky Suite III product (but will be coded as SS9Ⅱ in the timetables).
Firstly, let’s look at the seat map – and for a 787-9 – it’s not packed at all
Japan Airlines Boeing 787-9 SS9Ⅱ layout – Image, Japan Airlines.
So we can see there’s a three class plane featuring:
- 55 JAL Sky Suite III Seats (8 more than the previous version) in a 1-2-1 formation
- 35 JAL Sky Premium Seats (same as previous version) in a 2-3-2 formation
- 116 JAL Sky Wider Economy Seats (same a previous version) in a 2-4-2 formation
- 203 seats in total
Whilst there is more density at the front of the plane, both the premium economy and economy products have retained the seat counts.
More interestingly how non-dense the formations are in the lower classes. 2-3-2 isn’t that dense in Premium Economy, whilst economy have the luxury of what the Boeing 787 was meant to carry in seating terms in the back of the plane – 2-4-2 seating.
Seemingly, it seems Japan Airlines is evolving its 787 product.
Let’s have a look at the seats
The JAL Sky Suite III is a reverse herringbone style seat that seems to be popular these days.
Japan Airlines JAL Sky Suite III – Image, Japan Airlines
The seats will feature
- 17 inch IFE screen
- Full-flat seat convertible into a bed.
- Removable armrest on aisle side with storage for keeping small items
- Retractable privacy partition
- Retractable large dining table
- Universal PC power outlet and USB port
- 4-stage adjustable LED light on all seats
Let’s take a look at the Premium Economy product
Japan Airlines SKY PREMIUM Premium Economy Seat – Image, Japan Airlines
This is very much a Y+ product, that features a few different things from the norm:
- Seat pitch at 42″ (107cm)
- Seat width at 19.2″ (49cm)
- Fixed back seat structure, with a deep sleep slide forward for recline
- A Divider between seats
- Plastic bottle holder, cup holder and a spacious table.
- 12.1″ IFE screen
- Universal PC power outlet and USB port on all seats
Finally, Economy Class.
Japan Airlines Sky Wider Economy Seat – Image, Japan Airlines
We all know economy seats aren’t normally much to write home about, but the 2-4-2 formation is something to write lots about – since every other operator of the Boeing 787 (whatever variant of it they’ve had) has gone to density the planes to the tight 3-3-3 seating formation.
And this has an impact, with 33″ seat pitch (84cm), and an 18.9″ seat width (48cm).
That just blows the entire competition out of the sky when you compare other airlines.
The seat also features:
- 10.6 IFE Screen
- Universal PC power outlet and USB port on all seats
IFE is provided with the Magic IV system, and in-flight connectivity is powered by Panasonic for onboard connectivity.
Initially this configuration is due to the following routes:
- Narita- Kuala Lumpur (except Tuesdays)
- Narita-Dalian (Tuesdays only)
Hopefully more aircraft will be delivered with this product to Japan Airlines to deploy this product further. Because for those who seek comfort in flight – maybe the airlines 787s are a vision of what could be…
… rather than a vision of accountants packing a plane full of densely filled seats.
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Accountants only pack people in because passengers have an insatiable demand for ever cheaper fares. It’s very much the consumers fault.
Having flown in “Sky Wider” from BOS-NRT, it is by far the best way to go transpacific in economy. Not just the impressive pitch and width, decent IFE, tasty food, but one truly outstanding difference is their service. Both ANA and JAL provide impeccable service. I witnessed the flight attendants assisting children, toddlers, elderly, any and all passengers with truly specialized and personal service. Every 10-15 mins on a 14hour flight there was someone cleaning the bathrooms in economy, including lysol wiping the door handles and even scrubbing the door. I’ve always liked JAL for transpacific routes, but this new Sky Wider seat, coupled with their service makes it a no brainer. Even after connecting in NRT to SE Asia switching to a 787-8 the pitch is reduced, but service remains.
Kudos to JAL for caring more about passengers and their comfort, and putting their money where their mouth is. I’m assuming that JAL fares might be slightly higher as result, and I sure hope it pays off for them. I’d definitely pay 10% more for a seat on these 787-9 aircraft given the opportunity.
I was hoping they were going to have Apex Suites like they have on their 77W, but reverse herringbone is still good. And JL has such amazing service in all classes that I’d actually fly in Y even though I’m tall.