333 - Is it Mini-J Cabin or J Mini-Cabin?

I'm scheduled on two 333 (YVR-YYZ/YYZ-YVR) flights in a couple of days and am trying for an U/G on both flights. I've noticed the 333 on both flights is the 7-row J type with the 'mini-cabin' for rows 7 & 8 (no row 6 in AC's numbering).

I've only ever flown in the front 'main' J cabin after another UG about a year ago on AC's 333 so haven't seen this mini-cabin but reading on the threads here and on SeatGuru, it seems there are some negative opinions of this mini-cabin. I'm seeing comments like: "smaller seat pitch than the normal cabin", "used as a playground for FAs", etc.

However, I can't seem to find anything definitive for the following:

Just how much smaller is the seat pitch for this section (i.e. is this really "Mini-J" rather than a mini-cabin of J )?

Is there an actual bulkhead or a curtain or what between this section and the main Y section? None of the seat maps seem to show anything there.

When looking for what seats show available in J on my flights with ITN I see only this section available for window seats otherwise it's middle seats for the front section.

I'm hesitant to book in a middle seat given there isn't any overhead storage from what I have read and am likely going to have to bring all my luggage as carry-on as I've booked for the patented Terminal-to-Bus-to-Terminal-to-Customs-to-Security-to-Bus-to-Terminal AC service for a transborder Jazz flight with a tight connection in YYZ.

Anyone been in this area on a recent flight or otherwise have any opinions?

Don't worry about the mini J cabin. YVR-YYZ/YYZ-YVR flights scheduled as 333 are almost always serviced by domestic 767s.

What situations would cause the equipment to be downgraded to a 767 on this flight? I flew the 333 from YYZ to YVR a couple weeks ago. Hope to be on it again Monday night.

Flew in mini-J on a recent FRA-YYZ segment. Row 7 window - definitely less legroom than bulkhead in the very front, so getting out was a bit of a climb over the aisle passenger. Not sure if row 8 would be better. Other than that, the reduced seat pitch was not really noticable. That being said, I did not recline the seat very far, since there was no need to sleep. I presume the difference may become more of an inconvenience during a night flight.

Great service from the FAs. Food service began in mini-J, so we got the cookies while they were at their hottest. Mmmhh. Great atmosphere in the small cabin, feels very private. It's separated from Y with the usual walls and curtains.

Can't exactly recall the availability of overhead storage. I'd definitely book it again if there were no windows left further up front.

I flew in the 333 mini-J cabin last year, CDG-YUL.

No complaints whatsoever. Didn't notice any significant shortage of leg room and, like FRAkid, found the cabin had a more private feel.

One tiny detail: if you pre-board to the mini-J cabin there is a great deal of traffic down the aisles to the Y seats during general boarding. You don't get that if you're in the forward J cabin. Not a big deal, in my opinion.

With pitch adjustments having been made to be the same as the front cabin. I think I remeber this info being shared here, then again I am an old guy...

I'd disagree on that. I have flown that route several times in the past year and have never had plane switched on me.

I'm being a bit cynical. It just seems like every time I'm on AC142 it ends up being a 767. But I'm not a frequent YVR-YYZ pax (only 8 or 9 trips this year) so my sample is small.

But the last time this happened I was giving the in-charge a hard time about it (in a good natured way) and she just rolled her eyes and said "yeah, tell me about it" and proceeded to tell me about what an unreliable a/c she thought the A330 is and how it is constantly being switched to a 767. So I think there's more to it than just my perception.

Just don't take 5K.

It's supposed to be an awesome seat according to SeatGuru, and does have a great pitch. But the freakin' toilet is right behind it, and I spent 8 hrs on one in this seat and while trying to sleep, that's all I could hear.

The mini J cabin can be noisy due to its close proximity to the galley in front and the Economy cabin in the rear.

I'm in 5H on monday, but it's only 4+ hours, but I could see that being annoying.

I trust you could sense the sarcasm from AB?

Lucky you then... I have been downgraded (not at shore9's incredible 80% downgrade rate - 4/5) on the YYZ/YVR route especially on the 333 flights... and I used to do this route almost weekly.

Thanks all for your experiences and comments.

Sounds like I won't suffer if I do end up in the Mini-Cabin for the short-ish YVR-YYZ flight....assuming it actually will be a 330 and I don't get bumped because they run out of J seats for 'real' J pax!

Wonder if they'll provide us cookies on the Eastbound leg (effectively after breakfast!) like they do on the Westbound. I hope so because otherwise I'll be running on empty by the time I get off of my transborder connection (with a 'luxurious' 65 minute connection time in YYZ! )

All YYZ/YVR YVR/YYZ except redeye flights in J offer the cookies 'n ice cream... and yes, even on the early morning flights going eastbound. Unless that has changed since my weekly jaunts ended two months ago.

Really gotta disagree with that. Possibly the most comfortable AC flight I've ever had was in 5K. I have a memo in my Blackberry to do anything to get that seat when on a 330.

I've only sat in 5K once, and perhaps this is not normal, but it was a true 180 degrees lie-flat seat. I really didn't notice the noise from the lav. Perhaps the Bose QC2s helped.

I hate the mini J cabin. I would pick a middle seat in the main J cabin over any seat in the mini J cabin.