Excellent description.
I've had it on two TPAC's this year.

I've had a deflated seat on AC5. For the entire flight. I didn't write in and now seeing cow's comp, I hate myself for not doing so.
Funny thing is I figured I was lucky to be in J and just took it in the butt... the flight was fine.

Thank you AC for making my butt a star attraction with my friends of the opposite gender.

Had it happen to the lady across from me SYD-YVR this summer. They moved her behind me, which was the only empty J seat in the cabin.

Happens to me fairly often, and not just on AC...happens on OS and LH too, a not-insignificant number of times, either. Seems endemic these sorts of seats in general. FA's reactions vary from "oh this again" to complete bewilderment to calling maitenence before the doors shut.

I've had AC pro-actively offer me $500 after I brought it to the FA's attention on one occasion this year, only. Nothing on the rest, and nothing from LH or OS this year.

Unfortunately I don't know the secret AC seat codes, since even after coaxing a re-inflate, they seem to deflate again in a while. So, I usually end up using a makeshift pillow seat.

When it happened to me (I fly J TCON or longer very rarely), I had no idea that that wasn't what the seat was supposed to feel like, so it did not occur to me to complain or ask for a fix. But every body part in contact with the platform ("mattress") was numb and painful, and I ended up basically whirling around continuously for the duration of the flight, and did not manage any sleep. Mr. FQ had a great flight, so his seat must have been not-deflated-yet.

Flew an AC 789 TPE-YVR. 1/8 of the J seats were deflated and unfixable. That I know of. If I had paid P/Z/J prices I would expect a lot more than $500 compensation if I was stuck in one for 13 hours.

Based on this thread, I calculate that AC owes me at least $25,000 (Canadian Funds).

However, because my buttocks were made firm and lovely by these seats, I'll call it a wash.

What is the point of inflatable seats in the first place? Never heard of it before.

You can set the level of firmness/softness of the seats on the seat menu display.

This isn't coach we're talking about.

I would suggest that those of us that regularly fly Dash bench seats know how tough your suffering is.;)

On my last TPAC Deflategate flight I was offered two extra pillows to sit on. That was my compensation.

Snideness aside, does it work well? I've flown many airlines in J and F and never wished for this feature, but maybe I don't know what I'm missing.

It allows one to modify the firmness of the seat.....or in this case not.

According to this thread, it never works.

But when it does, it's fine. I usually just keep it whatever it was when I plunk my butt down, unless it's completely deflated meaning I have to reset it.

Fascinating thread. I experienced this on a LHR-YYZ earlier this year. I thought it was just me.