Japan Airlines Sky Suite Business Class (777-300ER) Haneda to Heathrow
Apr 15, 2014, 12:22 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Stockholm/Tokyo/Los Angeles
Programs: AA EXP, Hyatt Platinum, SPG Platinum
Posts: 558
Japan Airlines Sky Suite Business Class (777-300ER) Haneda to Heathrow
Hi all, I've just finished up the latest Altimtr air review and thought I'd post it here for your enjoyment. Hopefully it's of some use! You can go to the original article for the full range of photos etc. Thank you for reading and for your comments, as always! Here's the review:
Flight taken: JL401 Tokyo (HND) - London (LHR)
When Japan Airlines announced its latest longhaul product including new seats across all four classes of service, the biggest news came in business class where the airline finally unveiled a fully-flat seat. Up to now JAL has lagged far behind competitors with an uncomfortable angled-flat seat, a seat that's still in place on many of its aircraft including all 787s. This new seat, by contrast, is a revelation, and the window seat in particular is the most private and comfortable for sleeping of any business class seat that we know of.
JAL has been on a drive to improve all aspects of its service, and it's evident..Food is even tastier than in the past, service is friendly and gracious as always, and JAL offers a range of thoughtful touches .such as a very comfy mattress pad .that propel it into the top of the business class rankings. We love that the service items, such as the mid-flight food selection, all feels very Japanese in the best of ways. Needless to say we enjoyed the flight.
The seat has some small issues and the product isn't entirely perfect either..JAL still uses the factory-standard harsh yellow lighting and turns it on two hours prior to landing, ruining the cabin ambience. Service can be slow, and the entertainment system's content could use a serious overhaul.
Having said that, Japan Airlines has done much to improve in recent years and can now compete on an equal basis with rival All Nippon Airways, especially as this product gets installed on more aircraft and JAL shifts more flights to Haneda from Narita. In the end, the Cirrus seat used by Cathay Pacific http://altimtr.com/air/reviews/catha...ness-777-a330/ and American Airlines http://altimtr.com/air/reviews/american-business-77w/ is a better seat. But not by much. And JAL's service just might be our favorite in the world.
Seat & cabin
The seat is a soft, fully flat, spacious 'open' suite in a 2-3-2 layout. The passageways between the aisle and the center and window seats are very narrow. Even very thin people will need to do some sidestepping to pass through it, but we'd gladly accept that in return for the privacy the window seats offer.
Some issues with the seat:.there isn't enough storage space, the aisle seats feel too exposed with an armrest that doesn't come high enough for comfortable lounging, and some of the ledges around its edge aren't quite big enough for a cup, increasing the chance of a spill. But we find it hard not to forgive these issues once the 'Airweave' mattress pad is rolled out. Deceptively thin, it adds the perfect extra bit of softness for a very comfortable rest.
Where to sit
Aisle and window seats are very different in this product. Window seats are very private (and presumably the center seats are as well, but with walls on either side of you might feel a bit hemmed in.) At the window seats you can shut out the rest of the cabin if you like and you'll have three windows to yourself. This is the closest we've felt to a First product in business class. The problem is that the window seats have almost no storage space. The aisle seats benefit from a cubby hole directly adjacent, though they too could use more space to store things. Overall, though, the aisle seats feel too exposed. Though lack of storage is unfortunate, we can't imagine choosing anything other than the window.
Note that row 11 is missing a window at the middle of the three, so might impede panoramic viewing.
We didn't test out the row 5 mini-cabin just behind First and in front of the galley. Galley noise is always a potential issue but we'd imagine JAL flight attendants are some of the more skilled at keeping noise down, and you certainly won't pick up any chatter. Assuming that's the case row 5 could prove very nice and private.
Service - inflight
JAL flight attendants are lovely and we've never seen that to vary. This flight featured two European flight attendants in addition to a whole team of Japanese crew and all did a good, professional job. The service can be slow at times but that's usually because flight attendants are busy providing a meticulous service to someone else.
One thing we really don't like is that the pilots don't say much (true at a number of Asian carriers, alas). In this case there was a brief announcement after we reached cruising altitude, but nothing more. We think the flight crew ought to welcome passengers and give some basic information about the flight, at the very least before takeoff and around thirty minutes prior to landing. It makes a big difference.
Food & drink
JAL has some of the best food in the sky. The Japanese meals are lovely to look at and full of interesting flavors and textures .no small achievement on an airplane. The main Japanese lunch option after takeoff was extensive as well .a starter of nine different small selections that could have been a full meal in itself, then a main course and a delicious Tiramisu dessert as well. For those who worry Japanese menu options may not be filling, this isn't an issue here.
After the main meal passengers can order from a list of interesting food items at any time. Those options include Japanese curry rice in partnership with Tokyo Curry Lab (our favorite), udon and ramen noodles, pork 'katsu' sandwiches, cheeses, fruits, Dean & Deluca ice cream and more. We like to stay up for a few hours ordering everything we can.
There are plenty of alcoholic drinks including Japanese beers, a very nice champagne for business class in the Delamotte Blanc de Blancs, and a tasty Japanese single malt whisky selection including The Hakushu and The Yamazaki (we recommend [The Hakushu](http://www.suntory.com/whisky/en/hakushu/)). Beyond that there's shochu, sake, plum wine, the standard western spirits and aperitifs, and a nice selection of non-alcoholic drinks including cold oolong and green teas. JAL's "Cafι Lines" coffee is very good as well.
Also, we love the little red crane that comes on every meal tray.
If you travel with infants, JAL will offer you a pre-ordered baby food and snack kit and even diapers. If you run out, there's a big black case onboard marked "Baby Kit" and it's filled with food for all different ages. JAL does the baby thing right.
Service - ground
The Tokyo Haneda International Terminal is a lovely place to fly from so although there's not much in the way of ground services, you shouldn't really notice. There's a generally queue-free check-in area for premium passengers and oneworld elites, security and immigration are always quick, and there's a new Sakura lounge that recently opened and offers plenty of space on two levels including all the usual lounge items such as showers, a selection of food and a variety of spaces for work or lounging.
Entertainment
This is a weak point for JAL when compared to the top Asian carriers such as Cathay Pacific and Singapore Airlines. The in-seat screens are very big and have a high resolution, but the content isn't up to scratch. There's a basic selection of predictable movies, one or two television shows and some games, but really it feels as if this as an afterthought for JAL.
Headphones are fine, though nothing special.
The system is navigated by a touchscreen controller mounted next to the seat. It mostly does its job, though as with many touchscreen controllers not made by Apple, we found it a bit finicky and the interface could stand to be more intuitive.
Supposedly it's possible to order food and duty-free items through the entertainment system, but both features weren't working when we tried.
Onboard offerings
JAL doesn't offer amenity kits, which can be disappointing. Instead, flight attendants pass through the cabin with trays containing eye masks, earplugs, and some more obscure options such as "gel sheets" and others we don't fully understand.
The lavatories are regularly stocked with toothbrushes and mouthwash, and each in this case had a nice little note from the flight attendants taped to the counter thanking us for flying with JAL. Not exactly an offering, but a nice touch.
Otherwise, there are slippers, a comfortable blanket, and the aforementioned Airweave mattress pads which are great.
Where to find it
The seat is installed on some 777-300ERs and is being added to others as we speak. At the moment you can expect to find it on routes between Tokyo and London, Paris, New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, and on some days to Frankfurt. The next route to see the product is reportedly Jakarta.
A list of the flights currently operating with the new product can be found here: http://www.jal.co.jp/en/inflight/inter/rosen/
Flight taken: JL401 Tokyo (HND) - London (LHR)
When Japan Airlines announced its latest longhaul product including new seats across all four classes of service, the biggest news came in business class where the airline finally unveiled a fully-flat seat. Up to now JAL has lagged far behind competitors with an uncomfortable angled-flat seat, a seat that's still in place on many of its aircraft including all 787s. This new seat, by contrast, is a revelation, and the window seat in particular is the most private and comfortable for sleeping of any business class seat that we know of.
JAL has been on a drive to improve all aspects of its service, and it's evident..Food is even tastier than in the past, service is friendly and gracious as always, and JAL offers a range of thoughtful touches .such as a very comfy mattress pad .that propel it into the top of the business class rankings. We love that the service items, such as the mid-flight food selection, all feels very Japanese in the best of ways. Needless to say we enjoyed the flight.
The seat has some small issues and the product isn't entirely perfect either..JAL still uses the factory-standard harsh yellow lighting and turns it on two hours prior to landing, ruining the cabin ambience. Service can be slow, and the entertainment system's content could use a serious overhaul.
Having said that, Japan Airlines has done much to improve in recent years and can now compete on an equal basis with rival All Nippon Airways, especially as this product gets installed on more aircraft and JAL shifts more flights to Haneda from Narita. In the end, the Cirrus seat used by Cathay Pacific http://altimtr.com/air/reviews/catha...ness-777-a330/ and American Airlines http://altimtr.com/air/reviews/american-business-77w/ is a better seat. But not by much. And JAL's service just might be our favorite in the world.
Seat & cabin
The seat is a soft, fully flat, spacious 'open' suite in a 2-3-2 layout. The passageways between the aisle and the center and window seats are very narrow. Even very thin people will need to do some sidestepping to pass through it, but we'd gladly accept that in return for the privacy the window seats offer.
Some issues with the seat:.there isn't enough storage space, the aisle seats feel too exposed with an armrest that doesn't come high enough for comfortable lounging, and some of the ledges around its edge aren't quite big enough for a cup, increasing the chance of a spill. But we find it hard not to forgive these issues once the 'Airweave' mattress pad is rolled out. Deceptively thin, it adds the perfect extra bit of softness for a very comfortable rest.
Where to sit
Aisle and window seats are very different in this product. Window seats are very private (and presumably the center seats are as well, but with walls on either side of you might feel a bit hemmed in.) At the window seats you can shut out the rest of the cabin if you like and you'll have three windows to yourself. This is the closest we've felt to a First product in business class. The problem is that the window seats have almost no storage space. The aisle seats benefit from a cubby hole directly adjacent, though they too could use more space to store things. Overall, though, the aisle seats feel too exposed. Though lack of storage is unfortunate, we can't imagine choosing anything other than the window.
Note that row 11 is missing a window at the middle of the three, so might impede panoramic viewing.
We didn't test out the row 5 mini-cabin just behind First and in front of the galley. Galley noise is always a potential issue but we'd imagine JAL flight attendants are some of the more skilled at keeping noise down, and you certainly won't pick up any chatter. Assuming that's the case row 5 could prove very nice and private.
Service - inflight
JAL flight attendants are lovely and we've never seen that to vary. This flight featured two European flight attendants in addition to a whole team of Japanese crew and all did a good, professional job. The service can be slow at times but that's usually because flight attendants are busy providing a meticulous service to someone else.
One thing we really don't like is that the pilots don't say much (true at a number of Asian carriers, alas). In this case there was a brief announcement after we reached cruising altitude, but nothing more. We think the flight crew ought to welcome passengers and give some basic information about the flight, at the very least before takeoff and around thirty minutes prior to landing. It makes a big difference.
Food & drink
JAL has some of the best food in the sky. The Japanese meals are lovely to look at and full of interesting flavors and textures .no small achievement on an airplane. The main Japanese lunch option after takeoff was extensive as well .a starter of nine different small selections that could have been a full meal in itself, then a main course and a delicious Tiramisu dessert as well. For those who worry Japanese menu options may not be filling, this isn't an issue here.
After the main meal passengers can order from a list of interesting food items at any time. Those options include Japanese curry rice in partnership with Tokyo Curry Lab (our favorite), udon and ramen noodles, pork 'katsu' sandwiches, cheeses, fruits, Dean & Deluca ice cream and more. We like to stay up for a few hours ordering everything we can.
There are plenty of alcoholic drinks including Japanese beers, a very nice champagne for business class in the Delamotte Blanc de Blancs, and a tasty Japanese single malt whisky selection including The Hakushu and The Yamazaki (we recommend [The Hakushu](http://www.suntory.com/whisky/en/hakushu/)). Beyond that there's shochu, sake, plum wine, the standard western spirits and aperitifs, and a nice selection of non-alcoholic drinks including cold oolong and green teas. JAL's "Cafι Lines" coffee is very good as well.
Also, we love the little red crane that comes on every meal tray.
If you travel with infants, JAL will offer you a pre-ordered baby food and snack kit and even diapers. If you run out, there's a big black case onboard marked "Baby Kit" and it's filled with food for all different ages. JAL does the baby thing right.
Service - ground
The Tokyo Haneda International Terminal is a lovely place to fly from so although there's not much in the way of ground services, you shouldn't really notice. There's a generally queue-free check-in area for premium passengers and oneworld elites, security and immigration are always quick, and there's a new Sakura lounge that recently opened and offers plenty of space on two levels including all the usual lounge items such as showers, a selection of food and a variety of spaces for work or lounging.
Entertainment
This is a weak point for JAL when compared to the top Asian carriers such as Cathay Pacific and Singapore Airlines. The in-seat screens are very big and have a high resolution, but the content isn't up to scratch. There's a basic selection of predictable movies, one or two television shows and some games, but really it feels as if this as an afterthought for JAL.
Headphones are fine, though nothing special.
The system is navigated by a touchscreen controller mounted next to the seat. It mostly does its job, though as with many touchscreen controllers not made by Apple, we found it a bit finicky and the interface could stand to be more intuitive.
Supposedly it's possible to order food and duty-free items through the entertainment system, but both features weren't working when we tried.
Onboard offerings
JAL doesn't offer amenity kits, which can be disappointing. Instead, flight attendants pass through the cabin with trays containing eye masks, earplugs, and some more obscure options such as "gel sheets" and others we don't fully understand.
The lavatories are regularly stocked with toothbrushes and mouthwash, and each in this case had a nice little note from the flight attendants taped to the counter thanking us for flying with JAL. Not exactly an offering, but a nice touch.
Otherwise, there are slippers, a comfortable blanket, and the aforementioned Airweave mattress pads which are great.
Where to find it
The seat is installed on some 777-300ERs and is being added to others as we speak. At the moment you can expect to find it on routes between Tokyo and London, Paris, New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, and on some days to Frankfurt. The next route to see the product is reportedly Jakarta.
A list of the flights currently operating with the new product can be found here: http://www.jal.co.jp/en/inflight/inter/rosen/
Apr 15, 2014, 1:30 pm
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Stockholm/Tokyo/Los Angeles
Programs: AA EXP, Hyatt Platinum, SPG Platinum
Posts: 558
Apr 15, 2014, 9:30 pm
#5
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2004
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Apr 16, 2014, 12:22 am
#6
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: LAX now, previously SEA
Programs: BR Diamond, Marriott Ambassador
Posts: 204
Hi bombayhog - Great report. I'm looking to fly this product soon. Can you comment about how the privacy is from the window seat? I'm specifically wondering about how much you can see your neighbor (or he/she can see you) when the partition is down?
Apr 16, 2014, 1:23 am
#7
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: TYO / WAS / NYC
Programs: American Express got a hit man lookin' for me
Posts: 4,595
Last time I flew ANA to Europe a few years ago, they had a couple of European male FA's working the cabin, who were absolutely professional and courteous in every respect, just like their female Japanese colleagues.
. Great photo's too.
.
Apr 16, 2014, 10:59 am
#11
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Stockholm/Tokyo/Los Angeles
Programs: AA EXP, Hyatt Platinum, SPG Platinum
Posts: 558
As for the European FAs, I actually don't know why they do it. Maybe to make the product feel more accessible to westerners?
Apr 16, 2014, 11:02 am
#12
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Stockholm/Tokyo/Los Angeles
Programs: AA EXP, Hyatt Platinum, SPG Platinum
Posts: 558
Thanks! In the window seat with the partition down it's still very private. The person in the aisle could only see you if they leaned forward and made an effort to do so. They might see your legs if you're reclined, at most. Same for you .you'd have to peer around the corner to look at your neighbor. If you want to communicate, you can, but you're pretty well separated otherwise.
Apr 16, 2014, 11:15 am
#13
Join Date: May 2013
Location: MCO
Programs: Delta Sky Miles, AA Advantage, Marriot Rewards, Hyatt Gold Passport, Hilton HHonors, SPG
Posts: 16
Great trip report. Love the new business class "suite" that they are offering.
Not sure why some business classes still have the angled lie-flat.
Hopefully in the near future I will be able to experience this new JAL hard product.
Thank you for sharing!
Not sure why some business classes still have the angled lie-flat.
Hopefully in the near future I will be able to experience this new JAL hard product.
Thank you for sharing!
