Japan Airlines blocking Premium Economy ex-SYD

[MissingScurrah]

I've noticed something odd, and I'm wondering if anyone with a better understanding of airline ticketing practices might be able to explain what's going on here.

JAL has scheduled flights from SYD-HND for its Boeing 777-300ERs a bit later in the year, and I believe this has been in their future flight schedule for some months now.

These aircraft are fitted with a 40-seat Premium Economy cabin, yet if you try to book Premium Economy on this route JAL tells you it can't find anything.

Search on their website and it will simply suggest you buy tickets in another cabin, search on a third party like Google Flights and it will tell you that Premium Economy is not available.

However, these flights are definitely Premium Economy equipped - see here a seat map from the JAL booking page of these flights which displays the cabin.

I can't figure out why they'd be scheduling a route with an aircraft type that offers 40 seats in a certain cabin and then blocking that cabin from sale. Any insights warmly welcome.

 

[Beer_budget]

When later in the year? They filed a preliminary aircraft change on this route to the 787-9 which has fewer PE seats: JAL NW26 Preliminary Sydney Aircraft Changes — AeroRoutes

I've seen a few folks on Facebook complaining about being downgraded to whY, so cabin may be fully booked?

 

[MissingScurrah]

When later in the year? They filed a preliminary aircraft change on this route to the 787-9 which has fewer PE seats: JAL NW26 Preliminary Sydney Aircraft Changes — AeroRoutes

I've seen a few folks on Facebook complaining about being downgraded to whY, so cabin may be fully booked?

These dates are just examples (30 May outbound, 6 Jun inbound) but this is not at all isolated to these dates. The cabin is unbookable on every date that JAL has rostered this aircraft type on between March 29 and October 24. The switch to a 2 cabin 787-8 is currently showing only from October 25. I wonder if this means they are planning to pull a swap to that aircraft type from March 29. I guess that would explain why they're blocking the cabin, but odd because these dates have been unbookable for weeks in W and the aircraft type hasn't changed.

 

[nickfromeastryde]

These dates are just examples (30 May outbound, 6 Jun inbound) but this is not at all isolated to these dates. The cabin is unbookable on every date that JAL has rostered this aircraft type on between March 29 and October 24. The switch to a 2 cabin 787-8 is currently showing only from October 25. I wonder if this means they are planning to pull a swap to that aircraft type from March 29. I guess that would explain why they're blocking the cabin, but odd because these dates have been unbookable for weeks in W and the aircraft type hasn't changed.

Interesting, I have 2 QFF J reward seats booked for 19 April. Just had a look and it looks like First cannot be booked either so maybe they are going to substitute a 787. Expert flyer seat maps seem to show First and PE completely open

Now wondering if we might get downgraded to accommodate any F passengers back to J though it seems from the seat maps that no F or W have likely been sold

 

[sudoer]

I can't figure out why they'd be scheduling a route with an aircraft type that offers 40 seats in a certain cabin and then blocking that cabin from sale. Any insights warmly welcome.

The same reason the F cabin is not for sale - they aren't 100% sure the 77W will actually fly, and don't want to sell seats for a cabin that may not be available on the aircraft that ends up operating the flight.

 

[AuSammy]

Last minute upgrade opportunities ?

 

[sudoer]

Last minute upgrade opportunities ?

For PE, potentially, JAL does offer upgrades at check-in for a fixed 450 AUD ex SYD / 50,000 JPY ex HND.

But JAL should open the inventory at least a few months prior to departure once they have firmed up the aircraft operating.

All of this uncertainty stems from their 77W fleet replacement with the A350, with delivery dates obviously subject to change and plenty of room for delays

 

[Quickstatus]

JAL does offer upgrades at check-in for a fixed 450 AUD ex SYD / 50,000 JPY ex HND.

From Y to PE
Any similar to J?

 

[nickfromeastryde]

Interesting, I have 2 QFF J reward seats booked for 19 April. Just had a look and it looks like First cannot be booked either so maybe they are going to substitute a 787. Expert flyer seat maps seem to show First and PE completely open

Now wondering if we might get downgraded to accommodate any F passengers back to J though it seems from the seat maps that no F or W have likely been sold

Email advice over night of seat change. The 77W has now been substituted with a 787 for our flight on the 19th April.

 

[LionKing]

Email advice over night of seat change. The 77W has now been substituted with a 787 for our flight on the 19th April.

NS26 schedule released.

Japanese gold digging express JL51/52 will be down gauged to B788, losing First Class and potentially making reward seats unavailable.

JL773/774 will reduce to 3x Weekly.

It is so sad that demand for Australia - Japan is weak over Summer period.

Perhaps young Japanese should be aware that working the same job in Australia will result in 2-3x wages higher than in Japan so more people will come over.

 

[clifford]

Perhaps young Japanese should be aware that working the same job in Australia will result in 2-3x wages higher than in Japan so more people will come over.

So they can just walk into a high paying job here?

 

[XavierP]

NS26 schedule released.

Japanese gold digging express JL51/52 will be down gauged to B788, losing First Class and potentially making reward seats unavailable.

JL773/774 will reduce to 3x Weekly.

It is so sad that demand for Australia - Japan is weak over Summer period.

Perhaps young Japanese should be aware that working the same job in Australia will result in 2-3x wages higher than in Japan so more people will come over.

Sad news really; was hoping to do at least once this year.

 

[sudoer]

Perhaps young Japanese should be aware that working the same job in Australia will result in 2-3x wages higher than in Japan so more people will come over.

The main route for young Japanese people to just 'come over and work' as casually as you describe is the 462 working holiday program, but due to the six month limitation per employer, it's extremely difficult to land a job in professions paying more than minimum wage.

Agriculture and hospitality end up employing the vast majority of working holiday makers, but both industries are rife with exploitation, and non-native English speakers are particularly vulnerable. Japan has one of the lowest levels of English proficiency of all first world countries, and the 462 visa only requires an IELTS score of 4.5 (a very limited command of English.)

There are a significant number of young Japanese people who've done exactly what you've suggested, only to struggle to find work that pays minimum wage (it's common to find foreign language job boards advertising cash-in-hand under min wage) and quickly burn through their savings, which don't go far with the current JPYAUD rate. This exact situation is a big enough issue to have been featured in major Japanese print and TV news publications.

But sure, let's encourage more young Japanese people to visit Australia in search of work, just so you can get your F awards back!

 

[elanshin]

Perhaps young Japanese should be aware that working the same job in Australia will result in 2-3x wages higher than in Japan so more people will come over.

So they can just walk into a high paying job here?

The main route for young Japanese people to just 'come over and work' as casually as you describe is the 462 working holiday program, but due to the six month limitation per employer, it's extremely difficult to land a job in professions paying more than minimum wage.

Agriculture and hospitality end up employing the vast majority of working holiday makers, but both industries are rife with exploitation, and non-native English speakers are particularly vulnerable. Japan has one of the lowest levels of English proficiency of all first world countries, and the 462 visa only requires an IELTS score of 4.5 (a very limited command of English.)

There are a significant number of young Japanese people who've done exactly what you've suggested, only to struggle to find work that pays minimum wage (it's common to find foreign language job boards advertising cash-in-hand under min wage) and quickly burn through their savings, which don't go far with the current JPYAUD rate. This exact situation is a big enough issue to have been featured in major Japanese print and TV news publications.

But sure, let's encourage more young Japanese people to visit Australia in search of work, just so you can get your F awards back!

Latest trend is actually loads of Japanese younger people coming here and working on WHV. Plenty of young salarymen have quit for a year (or more through extention methods) because our minimum wage is that much higher.

My friend is a concierge at a building next to Novotel Darling Harbour which often has a lot of share mates (and airbnb). He's got a whole bunch of young JP workers and when he asked why they're here - better pay (even as a supermarket restocker) and fixed hours. Given how black some office jobs are i wouldn't be surprised if at their age our minimum casual wage ends up being 3x their salary back home (per hour) or more. They just have to live a bit more frugally rather than yolo party mode - which seems like the new wave are doing.

Also social media has made this a much better known thing.

 

[LionKing]

Latest trend is actually loads of Japanese younger people coming here and working on WHV. Plenty of young salarymen have quit for a year (or more through extention methods) because our minimum wage is that much higher.

My friend is a concierge at a building next to Novotel Darling Harbour which often has a lot of share mates (and airbnb). He's got a whole bunch of young JP workers and when he asked why they're here - better pay (even as a supermarket restocker) and fixed hours. Given how black some office jobs are i wouldn't be surprised if at their age our minimum casual wage ends up being 3x their salary back home (per hour) or more. They just have to live a bit more frugally rather than yolo party mode - which seems like the new wave are doing.

Also social media has made this a much better known thing.

Exactly.

FYI, waiters in Japan earns 1100 Yen ($11) per hour.

Working in Australia under minimum wage is 2.5x higher than Japan, not even including penalty rates.

 

[elanshin]

Exactly.

FYI, waiters in Japan earns 1100 Yen ($11) per hour.

Working in Australia under minimum wage is 2.5x higher than Japan, not even including penalty rates.

Starting to be a bit OT but:

Thats for casual jobs. Whilst full time employment offers a higher overall salary per year, the amount of hours worked means it can come out even lower than this and you often dont have much of a life beyond working. Plenty of other off hours work obligations too (like drinking parties etc). They like it here where if you're roasted for 10-6 ... You work 10-6 and you have evening for your own hobbies.