Almost lie-flat
 

Is there a reason why some airlines seem to have 'almost' lie flat seats-why stop just short of the coveted 180degree when it's so close. Is it simply a space saver? On some airlines there seems to be space for the final 10-15degrees. Thanks in advance.

My understanding is that it is to save space, your feet can be under the seat ahead. I wouldn't be surprised if newer true lie flat designs haven't managed to do it without taking more space.

You do realize that having 180 flat means on most flights you'll be at -(1-5) degrees, because most planes are tailheavy? I don't know why people harp on so much about 180. I would prefer 175.

Almost lie-flat
 

Ok. I hadn't factored that into the post.

I used to slide down on the old Qantas not quite flat seats. It doesn't seem to happen on the A380s.
Someone will probably pop up now and tell me the angle hasn't changed.

I recently took a Lufthansa biz from KL to FRA and it was not quite flat but contoured so perfectly that I didn't slide down.

As stated above, the nose is usually higher than the tail but even so, I used to slide down over time on the old Qantas seats.

i presume the wings are attached to the fuselage at zero degrees. the plane flys with a 4-5 degree angle of attack. we fly "backwards"(feet first) on ua flatbeds to keep our heads up. many people raise the heads of their beds to keep stomach juices from running into their throats.

I'm probably the only guy on FT who liked the big old UA barcaloungers more than the newer flatbeds. Always felt like my feet had more room.

Only flatbed I kind of like is the window seat upstairs on the 744. At least there, my feet can go up on the little storage unit between the seat and the window. (Sort of between my seat and the seat in front of me.)

Airlines that arew still into the angled lie flat supporters tend to fall into two categories:
1) J or F product has not been updated in the last 10 years.
2) Airline has both J/C and F (ie three cabin aircraft) with F being reserved for 180 degree lie flat. To protect the integrity and value proposition of First Class, J/C class must have angle lie flat seats. However in recent years the J class angled lie flat airline had it is lunch eaten byt the two cabin (Y and J/C) airline running the same route.

what is an angled lie flat? is it a full 2mt long and flat. like a UA biz class flat bed, just crammed in at an angle?

Yes and no, the sleeping surface is flat, but the relative angle to the floor is angled.

This never occured to me before. Thank you for this - I thought I was going crazy. I was in CX J recently and I swore my head was at a downward angle. Don't get me wrong, it was still amazing, but there was a definite downhill feeling. Mr. Fink said I was nuts.

I understood there was a trick to flatten the LH slanted seat - so space can't be the only reason. More about keeping F competitive it seems in LH's case?

I like the old barcalounger style J seats, also, although the entertainment options leave much to be desired. I actually slept really well in those.

I also prefer upper deck window of UA 747s, seat 15K, specifically.

On LH business, I didn't like the almost-flat seats at all when in bed mode. It just wasn't comfortable for whatever reason. I really wanted to like it because the service and food and AVOD were so good. It was also cool flying in the nose of the 747 (2H or 3H, can't recall). Can't have everything, though.

This. Almost any seat upstairs on the 744 is great. I always end up sleeping with my feet up on that ledge by the window.