Apr 9, 2016, 5:10 pm
Last edit by: Prospero
Boeing 787-8 (788) Zodiac Concept D Business Suite Business Class Seats Selection Guide & Reviews
There were 20 787-8 Dreamliners at the end of 2018, now gradually expanding to 42 total 788s in the AA fleet.
This thread is dedicated to discussion of the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner with Zodiac Concept D Business Suite Business class seating and service
For the 787-9, see Boeing 787-9 / 789: Business (Rockwell Collins (née B/E) Super Diamond Seat, Service (master thd)
The 787-8 offers 20 modified Zodiac "Concept D" Business Suite all aisle access "podded" seats in 1-2-1 with back to back seating in the center pairs, and alternating front and rear facing window seats. They are said to be 21-26" wide, and have 60-61" pitch upright in pods with full aisle access and 77" in the horizontal "bed" position. True AVOD offering up to 250 movies, 160 TV shows, 13 radio channels, 375 albums and 20 games, is offered via cabled handset controllers to large flat touch screens. Power offered is 110 VAC via universal plugs and 5 VDC USB. Bose QuietComfort headsets with noise reduction are provided (picked up about one hour prior to arrival). Ku-Band satellite WiFi is offered for sale.
The Dreamliner "big sister" model (22 787-9, first in service September 2016, has Collins (née B/E Aerospace) Super Diamond Solo seats that largely avoid the Zodiac problems, is the "big sister"). The second batch of 787-8s (787T) differ from the first batch and are fitted with Collins Super Diamond seats.
Zodiac "Concept D Business Suite" seats connected "at the head" are affected by movement from the seat they are connected to, often referred to on FT as "motion over the ocean". The Business seats that are unconnected and stable in 787-8 J are 1D&H, 5A&L.
Due to the modifications AA required of Zodiac for these seats, there are some peculiarities reported:
Link to photos taken by SFO777 here, from his trip on AA2320 DFW-ORD 07:10 - 09:36 Inaugural flight, shared with 68 FlyerTalkers.
There were 20 787-8 Dreamliners at the end of 2018, now gradually expanding to 42 total 788s in the AA fleet.
This thread is dedicated to discussion of the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner with Zodiac Concept D Business Suite Business class seating and service
For the 787-9, see Boeing 787-9 / 789: Business (Rockwell Collins (née B/E) Super Diamond Seat, Service (master thd)
The 787-8 offers 20 modified Zodiac "Concept D" Business Suite all aisle access "podded" seats in 1-2-1 with back to back seating in the center pairs, and alternating front and rear facing window seats. They are said to be 21-26" wide, and have 60-61" pitch upright in pods with full aisle access and 77" in the horizontal "bed" position. True AVOD offering up to 250 movies, 160 TV shows, 13 radio channels, 375 albums and 20 games, is offered via cabled handset controllers to large flat touch screens. Power offered is 110 VAC via universal plugs and 5 VDC USB. Bose QuietComfort headsets with noise reduction are provided (picked up about one hour prior to arrival). Ku-Band satellite WiFi is offered for sale.
The Dreamliner "big sister" model (22 787-9, first in service September 2016, has Collins (née B/E Aerospace) Super Diamond Solo seats that largely avoid the Zodiac problems, is the "big sister"). The second batch of 787-8s (787T) differ from the first batch and are fitted with Collins Super Diamond seats.
Zodiac "Concept D Business Suite" seats connected "at the head" are affected by movement from the seat they are connected to, often referred to on FT as "motion over the ocean". The Business seats that are unconnected and stable in 787-8 J are 1D&H, 5A&L.
Remedial seat stability fix announced 9 Oct 2016 by John Walton, Runway Girl Network (link)
"Jay Mapston, American’s manager of onboard products, cabin design, spoke to Runway Girl Network with praiseworthy candor about the airline’s current situation and plans. To start, Mapston explains the 787-8 fleet’s (Zodiac) Concept D (Business Suite) will see remedial stability work to fix the much-discussed issue where the seats shake when an adjoining passenger moves."
As of July 2019, no such fix has been put in place. The seat modification has to be designed, submitted to the FAA for certification (STC) and approved, the parts manufactured and seats modified. Normally, the seat manufacturer would do this, but as AA terminated the Zodiac contract for failure to perform. It’s anyone’s guess when and if a fix is forthcoming.
AA canceled the contract with Zodiac for inability to comply with scheduled delivery times, causing seatless Dreamliners to sit out availability idled in the desert and causing considerable delay for the 777-200ER refurbishment. The seats were NOT used for the 787-9 nor more than half the 47 aircraft 772 fleet, and it is likely the newly ordered 788s will be equipped with Super Diamond Seats.
"Jay Mapston, American’s manager of onboard products, cabin design, spoke to Runway Girl Network with praiseworthy candor about the airline’s current situation and plans. To start, Mapston explains the 787-8 fleet’s (Zodiac) Concept D (Business Suite) will see remedial stability work to fix the much-discussed issue where the seats shake when an adjoining passenger moves."
As of July 2019, no such fix has been put in place. The seat modification has to be designed, submitted to the FAA for certification (STC) and approved, the parts manufactured and seats modified. Normally, the seat manufacturer would do this, but as AA terminated the Zodiac contract for failure to perform. It’s anyone’s guess when and if a fix is forthcoming.
AA canceled the contract with Zodiac for inability to comply with scheduled delivery times, causing seatless Dreamliners to sit out availability idled in the desert and causing considerable delay for the 777-200ER refurbishment. The seats were NOT used for the 787-9 nor more than half the 47 aircraft 772 fleet, and it is likely the newly ordered 788s will be equipped with Super Diamond Seats.
- Many seats are interlaced with others - passenger in one moves, the linked seat moves. "Motion over the ocean" is induced by the partner seat attached at the head,
- Forward facing seats may have more restricted shoulder room / width when flat than aft facing
- Middle seat privacy dividers were balky and continually slipped into the retracted position, so they were "fixed" in place so they are not passenger operable. Apparently crew fixes them in several configurations: all up, making them great for privacy but nearly impossible for couples wanting to share conversation; all down, making for lower privacy; facing forward up, facing aft down. Some aircraft have them repaired and passenger operable, some not.
- Rows 1 and 2 center seats have no overhead bins; they were displaced by the crew rest area in the fore fuselage crown.
- 1A and L are close to lav and galley.
- Many prefer seats 5A or L as they are unaffected by other seats / passenger movement in seats.
- 5A and 5L have one window, rather than two.
Link to photos taken by SFO777 here, from his trip on AA2320 DFW-ORD 07:10 - 09:36 Inaugural flight, shared with 68 FlyerTalkers.
Dreamliner 787-8 / 788 Zodiac Business Seats & Reviews (master thd)
Feb 1, 2017, 8:02 pm
#361
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I flew LAX-AKL last week and my SWU only cleared at the gate. This meant I had 6D, a center forward facing aisle in the rear J cabin. This is a decent seat, it did mean I was first off the plane in AKL which is quite nice, but being near the galley was not my favorite. In fact, halfway through the flight I woke up because someone was having a loud conversation with a f/a about him being CK, how much he flew etc. I had to ring the call bell to ask him to quiet down. As far as the seat itself, I was impressed. The flat bed option is good (I slept 7 hours) and it was really comfortable for lounging and very enjoyable to watch TV in. Though the shoulder belt is pretty damn uncomfortable.
Feb 2, 2017, 12:16 am
#362
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Your picture shows forward facing middle seats have partition down and rear facing middle seats behind you (7 DH) have partition up. Wife and I will be on this flight in a month. Any information on ability to raise and lower center partition? Thanks.
Feb 3, 2017, 9:32 am
#363
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Dividers were working in mini-cabin on DFW-SCL earlier this week. Stiff to operate, so I initially thought was locked in down position until trying a firmer touch a second time.
Feb 6, 2017, 9:01 pm
#364
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I flew NRT-ORD (AA154) yesterday on the 788. The dividers were lowered on the even # rows. I was in 5L, otherwise I would've seen if the dividers on the odd # rows would go down.
Feb 6, 2017, 10:11 pm
#365
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I flew LAX-AKL last week and my SWU only cleared at the gate. This meant I had 6D, a center forward facing aisle in the rear J cabin. <snip> The flat bed option is good (I slept 7 hours) and it was really comfortable for lounging and very enjoyable to watch TV in. Though the shoulder belt is pretty damn uncomfortable.
Feb 6, 2017, 11:13 pm
#366
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Flying LAX-HND a couple weeks ago in 1D&H and leaned on the up divider while talking to my wife. To my surprise it suddenly went all the way down. Pressed it again and it popped back up. First time I've seen a divider work the way it was supposed to. Same working dividers on the return flight also. Could put up or down. Perhaps this is a new thing? (By that I mean the sucker actually working)
Feb 7, 2017, 6:44 am
#367
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Flying LAX-HND a couple weeks ago in 1D&H and leaned on the up divider while talking to my wife. To my surprise it suddenly went all the way down. Pressed it again and it popped back up. First time I've seen a divider work the way it was supposed to. Same working dividers on the return flight also. Could put up or down. Perhaps this is a new thing? (By that I mean the sucker actually working)
Feb 7, 2017, 9:56 am
#368
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Flew in 7L on DFW-SCL on Sunday. Only unattached window seat available when I booked.
Flew in an attached seat when they were new and did not like the movement from attached passenger. Have flown 5L&A, 6L&A, and 7L. My preference is for 6L&A with the rear facing seat, but 5L&A and 7L are okay. Galley noise has never been an issue for me - I use ear plugs and my Bose Boise cancelling headphones.
Shoulder width when in the full upright position is the biggest negative for me of these seats. If I could not get an unnatached seat that would be a big issue.
Flew in an attached seat when they were new and did not like the movement from attached passenger. Have flown 5L&A, 6L&A, and 7L. My preference is for 6L&A with the rear facing seat, but 5L&A and 7L are okay. Galley noise has never been an issue for me - I use ear plugs and my Bose Boise cancelling headphones.
Shoulder width when in the full upright position is the biggest negative for me of these seats. If I could not get an unnatached seat that would be a big issue.
Feb 7, 2017, 10:26 am
#369
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Feb 7, 2017, 12:37 pm
#370
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Feb 9, 2017, 12:26 pm
#372
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Feb 22, 2017, 6:14 pm
#373
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As with the aisle arm rest which must be in the lowered position on the ground and on take-off/landing, but can be raised the rest of the flight. Just got my favourite seat, 5L, for Friday's ORD-PEK flight. I've tried the A side but for some reason prefer the L side.
Mar 6, 2017, 11:38 pm
#375
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Wow - wife and I just flew DFW-PEK in 6D&H. Can I just say - holy smokes this seat is horrible! My god. So incredibly uncomfortable. I'm not huge by any chance but it really feels like a coffin. Really disappointed that AA went with this seat instead of the Cirrus or BE Super Diamond. But hey I'm sure they saved $5 so why not. Some obs (probably nothing new):
-Incredibly restrictive in terms of room. I'm barely 6'0" and felt squeezed in terms of length.
-ZERO STORAGE! Compared to the 77W J seat, this was just shocking
-clunky IFE/remote functionality. The TV repeatedly switched to other programs or live TV on it's own - maybe my seat was just possessed?
-The shaking when the pax in 7D moved - good lord, don't even get me started - who the hell thought this through? No one.
-the annoying hook for the shoulder strap that protruded into me when I was trying to sleep
On the bright side, our divider was functional. Was raised when we boarded but it lowered (and we left it lowered) without any issues.
So sure it beats MCE, but needless to say, we will not be seeking out the 787-8 or 77E J class any longer. This seat is so incredibly inferior to the Cirrus, I was stunned. Shockingly, the FAs and soft product were stellar, much better than expected. Can't win em all I guess!
-Incredibly restrictive in terms of room. I'm barely 6'0" and felt squeezed in terms of length.
-ZERO STORAGE! Compared to the 77W J seat, this was just shocking
-clunky IFE/remote functionality. The TV repeatedly switched to other programs or live TV on it's own - maybe my seat was just possessed?
-The shaking when the pax in 7D moved - good lord, don't even get me started - who the hell thought this through? No one.
-the annoying hook for the shoulder strap that protruded into me when I was trying to sleep
On the bright side, our divider was functional. Was raised when we boarded but it lowered (and we left it lowered) without any issues.
So sure it beats MCE, but needless to say, we will not be seeking out the 787-8 or 77E J class any longer. This seat is so incredibly inferior to the Cirrus, I was stunned. Shockingly, the FAs and soft product were stellar, much better than expected. Can't win em all I guess!