Hi I was wondering if someone could
recommend the best seats on the MD11
aircraft. My family of 3, are flying JL471 from NRT-DEL in Exec. Class, for the
first time !

Also wondering if JAL has begun upgrading
their Exec. Class for the MD11's. Thanks !

still hoping for a reply

Can't guarantee that my info is real fresh. I have been on the MD11s several times but not recently.

I don't really have a preference on seat. As I recall, the bulkhead doesn't have much extra room. The pitch is less than on the 744s. Really depends on whether you like bulkhead/rear of cabin/aisle, etc.

I don't they have plans to upgrade these planes to the new seats.

Sorry not to be of more specific help.

Sorry to have taken so long to reply however I have just flown from London to Australia to enjoy Christmas.

I hope however that the info below will be of some use - but there is nothing really interesting in terms of 'great' seats on JAL's MD11s.

Basically, the cabin plans look like this:

For routes within Asia there appears to be two models. In both J class is located in the front 'A' zone, rows 1-6, with the first row being 2+2+2, all the others 2+3+2. No seats look like they have any extra leg room, and indeed as per the other post, there may be no advantage of sitting in row one other than there is one less seat. In the second model, rows 1-6 are the same, but there is a second cabin of 4 rows, again 2+3+2 - none of which appear to have any extra room.

The two aircraft models are MD11/D02 and MD11/D03 (JAL reservations will be able to tell you which model is assigned to your flight).

There is a third model(s) - designated as MD11/D12 and D22, but it looks like these aircraft are used to Europe. On these models there is a very small 'A' zone of just 2/3 rows, followed by a large galley complex. Seating here is row 1 (2+2+2), row 2 (2+3+2) and then row 3 with three seats in the middle only. The second cabin then starts at the second door and has 7 rows of 2+3+2.

The difference between model D12 and D22 (above) is that with model D22 there is a special row 4, which is in the middle of the galley complex (but against the window) and this has 2 seats only by themselves. Looks very exclusive, but if there are three of you travelling then not much use!!

The seating booklet I am using was issued early in 2001, so may be slightly out of date (for example it does not include the new 747 seating).

I can also confirm that JAL doesn't seem to have plans for the new J class on MD11's - with concentration being initially on 747 services to NY and London.

Cheers

WG

Ii is doubtful JAL would invest much money into upgrading its MD-11's, which are to be disposed of starting in 2002.
Also, they mostly operate on 'long-and-thin' routes where the competition does not feature upgraded 744's either.