JAL Mileage Bank - JAL Prem Economy vs AA 777

headed to Sin and will be in coach. Coming from LAX.

Anyone have direct comparison between JAL Prem Econ seats and the AA 777 coach seats on the LAX-NRT leg?

Seatguru seems to imply that the AA seats are wider, but wasn't sure about actual comfort.

http://www.ar.jal.com/region/en/aboutjal/press/081009.html

Offering 20% more legroom than economy class, the JAL Sky Shell Seat offers a 120 degree angle of recline, an 18.9-inch (48cm) seat width, and a 38-inch (97cm) seat pitch. The hard shell design, inspired by the carriers award-winning JAL Shell Flat Seat in business class, features a sliding seatback that ensures that every passengers private space is maintained throughout the flight, undisturbed even when the seat in front is reclined.

Unless seatguru measure it differently, JAL premium economy seat is wider than AA's. Not the mention the better IFE, food, service, etc on JAL

Don't even contemplate AA Coach if you have the opportunity to travel JAL Premium Economy. As long as you avoid the Center seats, its better IMHO than 98% of AA Domestic First.

http://www.jal.co.jp/en/inflight/inter/premium_y/

Don't even contemplate AA Coach if you have the opportunity to travel JAL Premium Economy. As long as you avoid the Center seats, its better IMHO than 98% of AA Domestic First.

http://www.jal.co.jp/en/inflight/inter/premium_y/

+1 for JAL.

Heck even JAL economy is better than AA Y

With no doubt JL. You're flying Premium Economy, of course it's going to be better than plain Economy.

It's ridiculous that ppl even contemplate on taking AA. Do yourself a favour and book urself with JAL...

headed to Sin and will be in coach. Coming from LAX.

Anyone have direct comparison between JAL Prem Econ seats and the AA 777 coach seats on the LAX-NRT leg?

Seatguru seems to imply that the AA seats are wider, but wasn't sure about actual comfort.


Do you have the miles on AA to upgrade to C class? I would personally take AA for the possibility of an upgrade.

Even if I did not have miles on AA, if there were upgrade inventory in C class on AA available at the time of booking I would consider buying the miles to upgrade.

Upgrades aside, if you are going to be sitting in Y JAL is absolutely the way to go. Although I have never been in it, I am sure that JAL premium economy is far superior in terms of comfort, service, and food than AA Y. If I am not mistaken JAL premium economy passengers get to use business class check in and lounge as well, which is certainly a plus.

The fact that the premium economy seat has a footrest, fewer seats per row, shell design, and more seat pitch = much more comfortable than AA Y.

+1 for JAL.

Heck even JAL economy is better than AA Y

While I found JAL's economy class to be better in terms of:
(1) food
(2) drinks


AA was better for:
(1) traveling as a couple (due to the 2-5-2 arrangement of their seats rather than 3-3-3).
(2) leg room in economy


things that applied to my flights but not to others per se:
(1) JAL's mini-cabin on the second floor was nice
(2) JAL's IFE was worse (I had MAGIC-I)

things that applied to my flights but not to others per se:
(1) JAL's mini-cabin on the second floor was nice
(2) JAL's IFE was worse (I had MAGIC-I)


Neither of those would apply after Sunday. I am glad that the wait is finally over and I can say goodbye to MAGIC-I once and for all on JL061/062 :p But I will definitely miss the upper deck cabin.

It's ridiculous that ppl even contemplate on taking AA. Do yourself a favour and book urself with JAL...

To be fair, if you are only looking for legroom and seat width in Y, AA beats JAL. And seat guru even (incorrectly) suggests JAL's PY seats are narrower than AA's Y.

While I found JAL's economy class to be better in terms of:
(1) food
(2) drinks


AA was better for:
(1) traveling as a couple (due to the 2-5-2 arrangement of their seats rather than 3-3-3).
(2) leg room in economy


things that applied to my flights but not to others per se:
(1) JAL's mini-cabin on the second floor was nice
(2) JAL's IFE was worse (I had MAGIC-I)

As one who has just done 3 DFW-NRT-SIN on AA/JL all 777 I would take JL on all considerations, including leg room. I was in exit rows most of the time but did have one seg each on JL/AA in a standard aisle seat in Y. JL was much more comfortable and I think the leg room was more or seems that way due to the type of seat recline. The IFE seemed to have all the AA selections of movies plus some additional and a greater selection of games. Lavs on JL are miles ahead of AA, especially the L side mid-cabin that is larger and they seem to be kept cleaner.

As one who has just done 3 DFW-NRT-SIN on AA/JL all 777 I would take JL on all considerations, including leg room. I was in exit rows most of the time but did have one seg each on JL/AA in a standard aisle seat in Y. JL was much more comfortable and I think the leg room was more or seems that way due to the type of seat recline. The IFE seemed to have all the AA selections of movies plus some additional and a greater selection of games. Lavs on JL are miles ahead of AA, especially the L side mid-cabin that is larger and they seem to be kept cleaner.

Perhaps on their 777s. But I think there are still a couple routes with 744s.

Maybe the pitch is different on their 777s than than their 744s?
the pitch was much tighter on the JAL 744 than the American 777.


the IFE issue was already mentioned in what I was saying. If you get Magic-I (most 744s), it is worse. If you get Magic-III (777) it is better. If you get Magic-II (do they still have this?), it looks like it's the same technology as the American IFE.

The bathroom was indeed much nicer and cleaner on JAL.

the IFE issue was already mentioned in what I was saying. If you get Magic-I (most 744s), it is worse. If you get Magic-III (777) it is better. If you get Magic-II (do they still have this?), it looks like it's the same technology as the American IFE.

Actually a lot of 744s have MAGIC-II. But most of the 744 used on the US routes (i.e. long-haul config ones) have MAGIC-I.

As one who has just done 3 DFW-NRT-SIN on AA/JL all 777 I would take JL on all considerations, including leg room. I was in exit rows most of the time but did have one seg each on JL/AA in a standard aisle seat in Y. JL was much more comfortable and I think the leg room was more or seems that way due to the type of seat recline. The IFE seemed to have all the AA selections of movies plus some additional and a greater selection of games. Lavs on JL are miles ahead of AA, especially the L side mid-cabin that is larger and they seem to be kept cleaner.
Funny, my experience with the regular Y JAL seats themselves on the 777 was the opposite (I think a few days ago we may have even been on the same flight SIN-NRT).

The legroom seemed to either be equal or slightly reduced, definately not more. The footrests eat up a few inches of legroom and hit my shin if i try to extend my legs all the way under the seat in front of me (which I can do on the AA 777) and force me to angle my legs oddly in order to compensate. I'm only 5'7" but I sort of felt like a borderline giant in those seats.

The IFE seemed a little outdated compared to AA 777, but it doesn't bother me at all because I use my netbook for IFE. Thankfully my netbook gets 5 hours of battery life, because the JAL economy seats don't have power plugs on the 777.

Fortunately, the NRT-SIN and SIN-NRT flights had light enough loads that there were plenty of completely open rows available, so I was able to lie across an entire 3-seat row, basically nullifying my earlier points about seat comfort. Far better than having to deal with completely packed 777s (as was the case AA DFW-NRT and NRT-DFW).

Food was slightly better aboard JAL, though still mediocre (as I was expecting). I loaded up before hand at the NRT T2 Sakura lounge upstairs buffet, which I found quite delightful.

So overall I agree that the JAL experience is better, though most attributable to their far lower flight loads on the routes I have flown with them when comparing Y to Y. Premium Economy over AA Y is a no brainer though.

Actually a lot of 744s have MAGIC-II. But most of the 744 used on the US routes (i.e. long-haul config ones) have MAGIC-I.

I believe all flights from Japan to USA are now 777ER except for NRT-GRU via JFK

I believe all flights from Japan to USA are now 777ER except for NRT-GRU via JFK

Yes, starting October 25 2009 (i.e. yesterday) ;)

Recently I took the AA codeshare on JL/JO NRT-BKK. It was an older 777. The two biz cabins were split with the smaller one serviced as a Y+ cabin - ie Y service only. At least other OW elite was in the cabin (he was ahead me in the elite boarding line) but the remainder seemed to be a pot luck choice of Y passengers.

For a Y seat I couldn't complain but the meal was the worst I have had in quite a while........

Pity my NRT-SIN flights have been on 744s with the minimal seat pitch. Maybe November....

Happy wandering

Fred