Sleeping on (angled) lie-flat J beds - your experiences

[smit0847]

Have a big USDM J trip coming up that involves an overnight leg on a TK A343. This has angled lie-flat beds in J (60" pitch, 22" width). From what I understand this is similar to the QF Skybed MK1's?

Having never flown J before I have absolutely no idea if it will be like sleeping in a bed, or like sitting in a seat when fully reclined. It's a long (11 hour) flight overnight so we would like to get as much sleep as possible. I've heard of people 'sliding down' them and know that some people sleep fine and others dont sleep a wink. Im just interested to see on if the general consensus is whether they are more like a tilted bed, or more like a reclined seat.

Any tips for a decent nights sleep on them?

 

[WindowSeat]

It's much better than a seat fully reclined. Yes it's not as good as fully horizontal but if you've never flown J before the lie-flat beds are 100 times better than economy. Also the quieter cabin etc and just the ability to properly stretch out makes a huge difference - you can get comfortable. The tilt hasn't been a drama for me.

Probably depends how tall you are though, if you're super tall it might be tougher?

But I never have any issues sleeping for 3 or 4 hours without waking on the lie flat angled J Skybeds (which is pretty good I reckon, probably the same as at home).

Tips - have a few drinks or whatever you do to get drowsy (read, movie etc), earplugs and face mask usually does the trick so no different to any other plane trip.

Enjoy!

 

[RooFlyer]

The angled beds get a bad rap these days, compared to the horizontal ones. Before level, flat beds we lived with angled flat beds - and mosty loved 'em compared to the old J recliners.

If you're a good sleeper on planes, you'll not be any worse off angled Vs horizontal. I sleep badly on planes but usually manage to at least nod off on the angled beds.

One tip would be to take some sleeping gear that has some 'grip'. It'll reduce the tendancy to slide down.

 

[anat0l]

I haven't slept on every angle-flat bed in the world, but I have on a few: QF Skybed Mk I, VA old A330 J (OK, not quite angle-flat, more like a recliner that one), UA old J (ditto previous), FJ J (ditto previous again), TG old J and OZ old J.

My general view is that if you are tired enough, you can sleep anywhere - flat, angled, soft, hard, mattress, rock... I'm not suggesting that you will survive your "ordeal" through knocking yourself out with copious amounts of alcohol....


My general tip is to configure the bed so that when you are in your sleeping position, there will be no sliding down because you have already slid as much as you can. This means you should have your feet positioned against the foot rest (usually something at the end of the seat that will stop you from sliding right off it). If you sleep on your back normally, this is heaps easier than if you sleep on your side (though the latter is certainly not impossible).

Essentially, position yourself on your reclined seat and reposition the foot rest so that it stops your from sliding down from your position (and lift it maybe a little more).


My opinion on wearing something which doesn't slip as easily? Makes little difference - I still wear airline-issue PJs which are the quintessential thin "slippery" wear. Essentially you start slipping on your clothes rather than slipping on the seat. Best way is to stop slipping in the first place.

 

[flychrisfly]

I wore jeans whilst on a QF Mk I and found they were cutting me in half when I woke. Suggest comfy soft clothing in case of any slide.

Regarding clothes with "grip" I find they grip when you really don't want them to. Like when you shuffle about in your seat or move to sit up a bit straighter - that's when the grip kicks in and slowly pulls your pants down! (Well, it happened on one trip - still recovering!)

 

[dajop]

I My general tip is to configure the bed so that when you are in your sleeping position, there will be no sliding down because you have already slid as much as you can. This means you should have your feet positioned against the foot rest (usually something at the end of the seat that will stop you from sliding right off it). If you sleep on your back normally, this is heaps easier than if you sleep on your side (though the latter is certainly not impossible).

I find that putting bed into (angled) flat position, and then moving it ever so slightly towards the sitting position, means it is more or less flat but has a slight kink that prevents sliding down.

 

[LadyC]

Can only re-iterate points already made. Get changed into something comfy, use eyeshades and earplugs, try and get an extra blanket or pillow so you can prop your feet up a bit more to get closer to horizontal. I struggle with the sliding sensation also and found propping my feet up really helped.

 

[Cynicor]

I have no issues with the angled beds, but I have noticed a few people forget/don't notice that the footrest needs to be manually extended right at the end. This gives a base plate to arrest your slide.

 

[whughes3]

I have no issues with the angled beds, but I have noticed a few people forget/don't notice that the footrest needs to be manually extended right at the end. This gives a base plate to arrest your slide.

Indeed, this is quite important. Personally, I have no problems with the Mk1 Skybeds; I have no sensation of being on an incline, and I don't "slide" anywhere at all.
IMHO the people who object to them are simply hard up for something to complain about!

 

[eric2011]

Are all Qantas B744, J class seats the angle lie-flat and are they all the same model or do older planes have different seats to the refurbished ones?

 

[moa999]

Qantas has 9 747s that have the angle lie-flat SkyBed Mk I with IFE in the seatback - I think most of these birds still have an F cabin, although often sold as J.
Then it has 9 more recent 747s that have had F ripped out and replaced with the fully-flast SkyBed Mk II with pull-out IFE.

 

[mannej]

Are all Qantas B744, J class seats the angle lie-flat and are they all the same model or do older planes have different seats to the refurbished ones?

The refurbished ones with the fully lie flat seats are the ones that do the DFW runs

 

[smit0847]

Just out of interest, what 747 routes have the MK1's and what have the MK2's?

I think DFW, FRA, SCL and JNB have the MK2's?

 

[smit0847]

Thanks for all your advice everyone. I'm 6"0 and my partner is 5"9 so hopefully at least he will be comfortable!! I can nap for 30 minute periods sitting up in a Y seat but not get any decent blocks so hopefully J will change that.

We'll certainly be having a few glasses of red with dinner as I find this makes me very drowsy. I'm hoping it's not a full load in J so we can steal some extra pillows and blankets to make it more comfortable.

I read on another site a little known fact that with most lie-flats you can prop-up the bottom of the leg-rest (ie where the extension comes up to stop the slide) underneath with something sturdy like a brief case and this will actually make the bed flatter and noticeably less angled. They say to do this very subtely as the cabin crew may notice you are trying to wreck the seat by jamming the bottom up to make it flatter. Anyone tried this?

 

[anat0l]

IMHO the people who object to them are simply hard up for something to complain about!

Ha - try the telling that to the LOTFAPians, especially the bloggers. They will retort and ridicule the inadequacy of your third world airline's "Business Class".

 

[mannej]

Just out of interest, what 747 routes have the MK1's and what have the MK2's?

I think DFW, FRA, SCL and JNB have the MK2's?

DFW and SCL are the two routes that you are guaranteed to have MKII's as they are operated by ER aircraft.

Not sure about the others, theqantassource is a good way to find any patterns in regards to this

 

[mannej]

Ha - try the telling that to the LOTFAPians, especially the bloggers. They will retort and ridicule the inadequacy of your third world airline's "Business Class".

Solution - sit them in coach and tell them to shut it! See how they like it then!

 

[anat0l]

Solution - sit them in coach and tell them to shut it! See how they like it then!

HEY!



In this country, we call it "Economy". :mrgreen:

 

[Bundy Bear]

J even with a slope is better than Y.

 

[eric2011]

DFW and SCL are the two routes that you are guaranteed to have MKII's as they are operated by ER aircraft.

Not sure about the others, theqantassource is a good way to find any patterns in regards to this

Thanks Heaps mannej, Those are the 2 routes I will be doing this year. DFW in August and SCL return in Sept. So I take it the MKII's are good and comfy