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Best Business Seat 777-200 “777” C37 Zodiac (Aft & Fwd) Business

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Old Aug 17, 2015, 9:59 am
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Last edit by: WindowSeatFlyer
NOTE: Discussion here is for the Boeing 777-200ERs refitted with the Zodiac "Concept D" Business Suite (forward and aft facing seats) only.
See the (unofficial) American Fleet Site list for configuration by registration numbers here.



Forward facing seats are overlooked by rear facing occupants across the aisle
Forward facing seats have one armrest (aisle side of seat)
Rear facing seats do not have armrests leading to a "bathtub" effect
Rear facing seats are preferred by many fliers for greater shoulder space
Forward facing seats require use of a shoulder strap in addition to the seat lap belt during takeoff and landing operations

Seat 1A is blocked for pilot rest on flights > 8 hours.
Seats 7A and 7L have restricted views (window blank)
Seats 1A, 1D, 1H, 7A, 7L, 10A, and 10L are not coupled to neighbouring seats and are reported to be less susceptible to "rocking" and "knocking"
Seats 10D and 10H are overlooked by occupants in 13B and 13J respectively.
Seats 5A and 6L are overlooked by galley occupants
Seats 10A and 10L are close to Premium Economy bassinets

Cabin overhead storage bins are capacious and when closed give the aircraft a more open, spacious feel.

In-suite storage is minimal, consisting of a niche with "fence" capable of holding a mobile phone connected to one of the two USB ports and a small area below seat level capable of holding a water bottle and small item. (two 110V AC with a "universal" plug socket is also provided.)

The area under the footrest (too small to be called an ottoman) might be able to store a purse or small item.

General fit and finish has been described as fair at best, with some gaps, misfits, etc.

IFE is AVOD and operates from a hand control. The spacious screen is hinged and can not be tilted vertically.

WiFi is Panasonic satellite international WiFi

Bang & Olufsen noise reducing headsets are provided in Business Class; these are retrieved by crew about an hour prior to landing.

A self-service snack bar is set up in the galley for Business class.

Lavatories seem more open and spacious, and offer higher volume sink basins.


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Best Business Seat 777-200 “777” C37 Zodiac (Aft & Fwd) Business

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Old Jun 2, 2016, 8:54 am
  #181  
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What was the cause for Zodiac's incompetence that got AA to fire them?

Zodiac has been building airline seats for a while, so they're no rookies at this game.

How did things go so wrong that they couldn't produce the seats AA ordered? After delivering the first few seats, what caused them to not be able to ramp up production for the remaining seats?
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Old Jun 2, 2016, 9:41 am
  #182  
 
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Originally Posted by matrixwalker2012
Zodiac has been building airline seats for a while, so they're no rookies at this game.

How did things go so wrong that they couldn't produce the seats AA ordered? After delivering the first few seats, what caused them to not be able to ramp up production for the remaining seats?
Because they built a custom designed seat for AA. This seat was originally going to be installed on the 77W but delays led to the current seat. Management got so fed up with delays and decided it was necessary to move on. The delays got to the point where Boeing basically told AA accept the 787-9 delivery on time or else. (Boeing had to store a few of AA's 787-8s due to the manufacturing delays from Zodiac. Its also why the first two weren't delivered in late 2014 and delivered in January/February 2015.) AA has already filed a lawsuit against Zodiac for their incessant delays. In hindsight, AA probably would have used the B/E SuperDiamond on all of their 772/77W/788/789/A350 fleet for consistency as B/E Aerospace would have been able to meet AA's demands.

However, AA hasn't been the only airline who's had issues with Zodiac. EY and BA have also had to store 787-9s in order to wait for installation of the premium cabins. Its also not just Boeing who has had issues with Zodiac. Airbus has been quite frustrated with the slow deliveries of the A350-900 due to lack of lavatory parts. CX only received their first A350 a few days ago when they should have received in back in February.
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Old Jun 2, 2016, 9:43 am
  #183  
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Originally Posted by Longboater
However, AA hasn't been the only airline who's had issues with Zodiac.
Which is why I just cautioned all the UA people to not get excited about UA's just announced new customized business class seat made by Zodiac until they are actually sitting in it on a plane.
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Old Jun 2, 2016, 10:18 am
  #184  
 
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Originally Posted by Longboater
Because they built a custom designed seat for AA. This seat was originally going to be installed on the 77W but delays led to the current seat.
Who is the manufacturer of the 77W seat? That's probably the best J seat I've flown on.
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Old Jun 2, 2016, 10:22 am
  #185  
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Originally Posted by fredshino
Who is the manufacturer of the 77W seat? That's probably the best J seat I've flown on.
Cirrus
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Old Jun 2, 2016, 10:29 am
  #186  
 
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Originally Posted by wrp96
Cirrus
Why didn't AA stick with that one? So much better than the Zodiac seat. Never tried the B/E one, though.
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Old Jun 2, 2016, 10:59 am
  #187  
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Originally Posted by fredshino
Why didn't AA stick with that one? So much better than the Zodiac seat. Never tried the B/E one, though.
They licensed it from CX and only for the 77W.

Probably wish they'd negotiated to put it on more of the fleet but hindsight is 20/20
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Old Jun 2, 2016, 11:37 am
  #188  
 
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Originally Posted by fredshino
Why didn't AA stick with that one? So much better than the Zodiac seat. Never tried the B/E one, though.
The Cirrus seat is a Zodiac product.

CX's first A350 was delayed because of Zodiac.

The BE SuperDiamond (the new AA seat) is even better than the Cirrus seat.
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Old Jun 2, 2016, 11:40 am
  #189  
 
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Originally Posted by fredshino
Who is the manufacturer of the 77W seat? That's probably the best J seat I've flown on.
Nevermind--LDVFlyer answered above me!
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Old Jun 2, 2016, 10:36 pm
  #190  
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Originally Posted by Longboater
Because they built a custom designed seat for AA. This seat was originally going to be installed on the 77W but delays led to the current seat. Management got so fed up with delays and decided it was necessary to move on. The delays got to the point where Boeing basically told AA accept the 787-9 delivery on time or else. (Boeing had to store a few of AA's 787-8s due to the manufacturing delays from Zodiac. Its also why the first two weren't delivered in late 2014 and delivered in January/February 2015.) AA has already filed a lawsuit against Zodiac for their incessant delays. In hindsight, AA probably would have used the B/E SuperDiamond on all of their 772/77W/788/789/A350 fleet for consistency as B/E Aerospace would have been able to meet AA's demands.

However, AA hasn't been the only airline who's had issues with Zodiac. EY and BA have also had to store 787-9s in order to wait for installation of the premium cabins. Its also not just Boeing who has had issues with Zodiac. Airbus has been quite frustrated with the slow deliveries of the A350-900 due to lack of lavatory parts. CX only received their first A350 a few days ago when they should have received in back in February.
So what's going on at Zodiac that's not letting them pump out products on time? How hard is it to build hundreds of the same seat once the first few have been produced? Is it because Zodiac is unable to source parts further upstream or bad management at Zodiac?

Seems like a lot of these problems are stuff you'd expect from a rookie, not someone who's been in the game for a while.
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Old Jun 3, 2016, 7:04 am
  #191  
 
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Originally Posted by LDVFlyer
The BE SuperDiamond (the new AA seat) is even better than the Cirrus seat.
Which airlines/aircrafts are already flying this new seat?
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Old Jun 3, 2016, 8:03 am
  #192  
 
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Originally Posted by fredshino
Which airlines/aircrafts are already flying this new seat?
QR A359 for one. I'm not certain I concur it is better than the Cirrus seat; that said, I think both are very good products.
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Old Jun 3, 2016, 8:23 am
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Originally Posted by fredshino
Which airlines/aircrafts are already flying this new seat?
http://www.star-telegram.com/news/bu...e75458602.html

Basing on the photo in this post, the seat looks exactly the same like Taiwan based China Airlines Business Class on 77W (and soon 359).

Also similar to Air Canada's new 787 business class.
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Old Jun 3, 2016, 10:21 am
  #194  
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Originally Posted by fredshino
Which airlines/aircrafts are already flying this new seat?
The new VA J that is currently being rolled out is also the B/E Super Diamond
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Old Jun 3, 2016, 1:36 pm
  #195  
 
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Originally Posted by scnzzz
QR A359 for one. I'm not certain I concur it is better than the Cirrus seat; that said, I think both are very good products.
In my opinion, the SuperDiamond has a better inside armrest and a better tray table. It also has a console that doubles as storage. The screen is fixed and therefore usable gate to gate. Overall, it is a much more elegant/clean design with the ports and remote control hidden inside the console.

Whatever the case, both the new AA SuperDiamond and the AA/CX Cirrus are much better than the new United seat. The new United seat is basically a truncated-version of the Cirrus seat in a layout that seems even denser than AA's Concept D seat.

From the looks off it, it may have the same issues with structural stability (i.e., the shaking problem) and uniformity as AA's Concept D seat had. Plus, the United seat also makes compromises with armrests, footwells, the exposed mechanism of the tray table (ouch!), and sight lines. On aesthetics, the transparent, blue plastic trim piece at the top of the new United seat, the hanging panel used to conceal the screen on some seats, and the concrete grey headrest are just bad design or in bad taste.
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