JAL has one of my favorite business classes and the Apex suite (window) is still my favorite business class seat in the sky. I’ve never had the opportunity to fly any of the other JAL “Sky Suites” until right now. I am writing this post from a JAL 787-9 en route to SIN and this is my first time on Sky Suite III. For reference, I believe these seats were made by JAMCO, but I’m not sure. (If someone knows, please confirm.)

I know these seats have a reputation and I must say it’s well deserved. Having flown (and catalogued) almost every configuration of Reverse Herringbone ever put on a plane, with the exception of the new Adient seat, I can say this is easily the worst reverse herringbone configuration I’ve ever flown. Issues are as follows:

- No leg rest. This was a bizarre choice for JAL and the manufacturer. Even the most basic versions of the older Zodiac/Safrac Cirrus have an adjustable leg rest. It’s not as if this seat doesn’t have a complex electrical actuation system, and I can’t imagine omitting a leg benefits costs or complexity at the huge expense of comfort (or the stowage space it eliminates.)

- No stowage. There is no stowage under the seat because there is no leg rest, so the whole seat bottom moves to close off any open space when put in bed mode. There is also no stowage on the side table, which I find bizarre. The cabinet stowage is adequate but not any better than some of the Zodiac/Safran configurations.

- Gap between the seat and the side wall. This is a huge no-no. There is a flimsy gap cover, but if one were to put an iPad between the seat and the window, it would fall right through. The only other reverse herringbone seat I’ve ever experienced that has a similar gap is the original Envoy Seat on US Airways/American A330s. That seat gets a pass because it was the first reverse herringbone seat ever made. It’s also now been fully retired.

- Airbag on seat belt + shoulder belt! I’ve never experience a seat having both. Typically you need one or the other to pass certification. I personally prefer having the airbag (I find putting on airplane shoulder belts for takeoff and landing to be a nuisance,) but I understand why most airlines, designers, and manufacturers have abandoned the airbag for the shoulder belt. Simpler, far cheaper, much less to maintain, and I imagine many passengers don’t’ like having the airbag hump. Still — why would a seat need both?

- Seat comfort. It’s fair to say that within the interiors and seats industry, the biggest design and engineering challenge in business class seating is to produce a seat that is equally comfortable as a seat and as a bed. Typically most seats do better as one or the other, and this is why the fanciest products—like the Etihad “Apartment” or the Singapore Suites give you both. (I find Zodiac/Safran seats more comfortable as seats, whereas Collins SuperDiamonds tend to be more comfortable for me as beds.) I’m not sure what the designer was going for (some people I suppose like hard beds,) but the lack of a leg rest makes this both an uncomfortable seat and an uncomfortable bed for me.

The only plus to this seat: I like how the tray table extends away so you can get out of the seat while eating. That is the only thing I like about it.

In closing, I’d be very curious to understand why JAL and the designer made the choices they made for this seat. It’s not like JAL to skimp on cost, and there does not seem to be a density advantage to this seat vs. Collins or Safran. Overall my guess is that this is a clunky first try from a “me too” manufacturer. If there is a V2, I expect it will be much approved. Hopefully JAL doesn’t keep these seats for long.