First Time in This Class
 

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108th flight UA842 SYD-LAX. 7th international flight, 1st time this sector, 55th Sydney departure, 3rd Los Angeles arrival, 11th #unitedairlines flight, 3rd boeing787-9 Equal-6th longest flight, 12051km, behind IAH-SYD and four iterations of SYD-SFO or the reverse.
Note: I have flown Sydney to Los Angeles previously but it included an unplanned diversion to Honolulu, that's why this is "1st time this sector".
This is the first time I have shelled out for Business Class, and I don't need to tell anyone reading here that it will be tough to go Y again! It is amazing the quality of seat, amenity, food and service that a few thousand can buy, but it also throws a light on how much less of any of that is given to those further back in the plane. Is it right? Would people pay, say, twice as much if that would enable these aircraft to be 2-3-2 and 40-inch pitch from row 42 back?

That's why some airlines have Premium Economy. Compared to economy 1 less seat across the wide body airlcraft and more legroom.
But for many people only 3 things are important with airfares

• price
• price
• price

Glad you enjoyed J class! Fun photos. It’s definitely not easy to return to Y.

Landed LAX 10 minutes before 6, ergo 10 minutes before Customs & Immigration opened. 06:25 was at the baggage carousel. Walked with my 80cm suitcase and rolling carry-on bag from TBIT to Terminal 7. Bag drop, TSA screening, and I had my shoes back on at 07:05.
That's 60 minutes even from exiting my international plane to being in Terminal 7 and clear. I call that a good win! I wish I had anything else good to say about this airport.

Thanks John this brings back bittersweet memories
I remember flying PA815/816 from Syd-Lax return on the 747SP in F with my dad a few times when he worked for Pan Am before UA took over (they kept a lot of the flight numbers)
I remember the crew crying on the last Pan Am Syd-Lax flight which I was on after UA acquired them
You raise many good points about he vicious cost cutting in Y
I have eaten J menus these days that were worse than Y menus in the "old days"!!

On UA forum people are moaning all the time about long-haul J-class food quality. And looking on the pictures they upload there, I have to agree (no personal opinion as I do not fly with UA these days).

No - they would not pay extra - AA More Room Throughout Coach, 2+2 config on Midwest Express DC-9's or TWA Comfort class all failed...

Our first l/h J in 2006 set the tone for subsequent travel. Only J from there on … There is indeed no going back! Just glad we can afford to do it.