Kacee

Maybe just semantics, but I'd call it a "modified 2-4-2."

minnyfly

It isn't. Fundamentally they're the same--staggered 1-2-1. But they use different ways to get the same result. It appears this potential version for UA will be more space efficient. That's a good thing for the airline and usually the consumer (more seats, potentially more usable space). Some 1-2-1 designs waste a lot of space.

They could very easily make more with the 40Y seats. Are people going to pay $300-500 more RT for a little more width and better food? Very debatable. What AA is doing is untested waters. Airlines can only guess if it's going to be a profitable venture.

EWR764

I'm not sure I agree with that.

Here's an overview of the Solstys seat (from OZ)



The purported UA seat appears to yield a marginally denser configuration than the original Solstys setup, but I think that comes from a more efficient use of space. In the original Solstys layout, the seat units are the same, either right-handed or left-handed, which allows a gap between all seats on the longitudinal axis for aisle access. This gap is a waste of space for the center/window seats, however, as the gap does not provide access to anything.

Here, they have found a way to eliminate that wasted space. Unlike the Solstys, the UA design uses two types of seats, let's call them A (window/center) and B (aisle). The A seats are end-to-end on the longitudinal axis, and the B seats are contoured and canted slightly to fit into the narrow section of the A seats to permit room for aisle access.

We'll see what kind of impact it has on foot space, storage or bed length (center/window seats may be longer), but I hesitate to write this off from the outset without seeing some renderings or getting a chance to sit in the seat itself. I think it could be a good compromise, allowing UA to roll out a J product with the attributes business travelers are looking for without gutting upgrade probability.

It's definitely not an off-the-shelf design as many have derided the pre-merger CO B/E Aerospace Diamond seat.

DA201

Looks like 1-2-1 with staggered seating, which is an upgrade from 2-4-2. Honestly, I would be perfectly fine with this as long as the seat itself is good.

B747SP

While the thread is about new business class layout, I am disappointed that the Economy Plus section is still 10-abreast. It is not a true premium economy cabin that can compete with the other carriers.

LDVFlyer

AA's configuration is true 1-2-1 and has a well proportioned shell. (All the seats have a console.)

Where is the console on the UA seats? The window seats look like they are shoved against the sidewall. Brrr...

greg99

Historically, quite reliable, as I recall.

sbm12

It isn't.
Which ones? Emirates, which just rolled out a brand new 2-3-2 biz product for its 777s?
QR is 2-2-2 today, though promises a "revolutionary" new product to be announced in November. EK is 2-3-2 on the 777s and a very, very similar layout on the A380s. EY is also similar on its A380s and worse on the Jetihad planes.

These pictures are accurate. They line up with the LOPA as it was described to me many months back but which no one wanted to believe was real.

Definitely agree. Having a "window" seat which is actually on the aisle is crappy.

halls120

Every time I flew BA TATL last year, World Traveller Plus was packed. In one instance, WTP was sold out, and there were World Traveler and Club World seats to be had.

EWR764

It also appears there will be some type of self-serve bar or credenza aft of the mid galley between the two lavs... so no 'stink-shield' seats in J, as it should be.



6 lavs in back, so just north of a 50:1 ratio, about in line with the 787-9 and worse than the 747.

daron4000

Maybe it's the new Recaro seat?

https://acumen-da.com/history-item/r...ss-class-seat/

mduell

Everyone clamoring for "all aisle access", which is a complete eyeroll to me, got what they were asking for.

DL fits 26 between door 1 and 2 on the 777, but they have some galley/closet between the doors unlike this config, so it's about the same density.

This looks like it's going to have a smaller foot/lower leg space, with a deep narrow footwell like the PMCO LFBF product. The PMUA IPTE product has a narrow but very shallow footwell.

MBS MillionMiler

I've flown roughly this configuration on Hong Kong Airlines, and frankly, I love it. The privacy of the true window seats is awesome, and to me, much better than the "open" config of a 1-2-1...I'm able to book far enough in advance where getting the true window won't be an issue for me.

Seems to me that the UA layout will be dense enough to have several seats in a relatively small space, while still providing a more private experience, and still offering a few nice "pairs" for when traveling with a companion. Good news for a cheap P-fare buyer like me, with the occasional GPU.

Isn't the new config on the Hawaiian 777s going to be 28 seats? Does this line up to fit in line with that plan? Is this what the modified ones will be showing up with in just a few months?!?!

cerealmarketer

When I say generation I mean this seat was designed and launched after the AA/US Cirrus, which came out in 2008/2009 and is now 7 years old.

It's the next level of technology in that it accomplishes 95% of what that seat does in 80% of the floor space.

It's also a seat that can work on the 787 - though also has to use rear facing like the Cirrus in that layout.

Here's how it looks there

u600213

I think I'll just keep avoiding UA777 except GF while it still exists. This is still 8 across.