So my "first time" flying fully-flat J was last May on DL's ATL-JNB route. And, I've done 3 subsequent flights (a mix of CX and DL) since then. Reflecting 10 years of flying international J prior to that, I can't believe how much more comfortable and faster the flights have been. Now, I feel fully rested and relaxed after the flight, as if I wasn't crammed in a metal tube. On fully-flat J, I was able to enter REM sleep (evidenced by dreaming) and sleep continuously for at least 6 hours. Followed by another 3-4 hours of sleep. The interruption/"intermission" in sleep was due to meal service.

Prior to that, I could only compare my experience flying lie-flat and recliner J to my high school and elementary school days of flying in Y. While it felt much better to be in lie-flat and recliner J, I still felt a little fatigued after the flight and needed more rest. Between the two styles of J, I never noticed the difference in quality of rest and relaxation. On lie-flat and recliner J, I remember waking up every 2-3 hours and not dreaming at all. (Though, that's not sufficient evidence of not having REM sleep.)

Does anyone else feel that way?

I've read some trip reports and postings here of people complaining about the flat beds, some wishing of doing back to the days of either lie-flat J or recliner J.

What are your thoughts?

What else could be done to improve J now that the seats are flat? An in-seat beer dispenser? I'm content the way things are now, given the prices of tickets and the ease of redeeming miles.