Worst (international) business class seats

[MelbFlyer]

A few come to mind -
JL 787 - Apex Suites (2-2-2)
NZ 777/787 - Aisle facing seats - unless you have a foot fetish
EK 777 - Non-refurbished 2-3-2 product

 

[PineappleSkip]

Wow, I looked at the OMAAT article and found several old work travel friends there. I thought they were all pretty good after my apprenticeship on PX Y class. The ET product was very similar to the LH one, just with more broken seats. Yeah BA was pretty meh but passable in a window. Can't comment on AI, because they cancelled the outward leg of my KBL-DEL flight, then a couple of weeks later they cancelled the return leg. Any of them was better than whY though.

My least inspiring J flight was probably FRA-TBS-GYD, about 7 hours all up in a LH seat just like the one in the article photo, comprised of what felt like a leather cover over steel bars. They did serve nice meals though, ordered from the smallest menu card I ever saw.

cheers skip

 

[Volando]

A few come to mind -
JL 787 - Apex Suites (2-2-2)
NZ 777/787 - Aisle facing seats - unless you have a foot fetish
EK 777 - Non-refurbished 2-3-2 product

I’m curious what it is about the apex suite you don’t like. I’ve flown it on JAL AND Oman Air and apart from limited storage at the seat, it’s one of my favourite J products.

 

[DAC1]

When travelling with a partner, I actually really like LH’s seat. Setting aside privacy and footsie issues, the seats themselves are very very comfortable

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I’m curious what it is about the apex suite you don’t like. I’ve flown it on JAL AND Oman Air and apart from limited storage at the seat, it’s one of my favourite J products.

Totally agree! The apex window seats rival, if not beat, many first class suites in both bed length and a full, unrestricted width with no cubby hole for feet. They weren’t popular with airlines because they take up - IIRC - something like 30% more space than any other business class seat. Bad for economics, but good for passengers!

 

[jrfsp]

The Royal Jordanian 787 business class was pretty disappointing (both the hard and soft product).

The old BA club world is pretty poor but ive always been lucky to get one of the few window seats with direct isle access and maximum privacy.

 

[jase05]

When travelling with a partner, I actually really like LH’s seat. Setting aside privacy and footsie issues, the seats themselves are very very comfortable

Yeah, for nostalgic reasons I chose FRA-IAD on the 747 last year and although the seats and interior were showing there age it was still a very comfortable flight and managed 3hrs of solid sleep.
Crew were absolutely fantastic too by the way

 

[Sporky]

Getting "Qatar'd" where the product you actually get doesn't line up with what you expected to get.

Especially when the airline is sneaky with the aircraft swap. Recently flew Gulf Air expecting apex suites, only to find on check-in that they'd silently swapped in a wet-leased MIAT 787 (EI-MGL). The herringbone seat whilst basic was missing the usual falcon gold amenities.

 

[jase05]

Especially when the airline is sneaky with the aircraft swap. Recently flew Gulf Air expecting apex suites, only to find on check-in that they'd silently swapped in a wet-leased MIAT 787 (EI-MGL). The herringbone seat whilst basic was missing the usual falcon gold amenities

When did you fly?
Gulf Air announced in December that they have wet leased the aircraft from MIAT and will use it exclusively on the MNL-BAH route.
It arrive in BAH mid December already repainted in the Gulf Air livery and seems that it will be leased until their new aircraft arrive which could be quite a while.
I really like the GF 787 J seats so yeah I’d be disappointed too if I got another product.
Is the MIAT seating any good?

 

[Sporky]

When did you fly?
Is the MIAT seating any good?

That explains it. Flew late December so it would have been a new arrangement at the time.
They were proactively offering flight credit on check-in. I wonder if others before had made a fuss.
The MIAT seat was a basic 1-2-1 herringbone . Found it a little firm with no sheets provided. Like something you'd find on ZipAir. Very limited IFE selection as they're still on the MIAT system. Felt like a step down on both service and the hard product.

 

[Quickstatus]

QF Skybed II - droopy foot section
MH Throne seat leg tunnel is so narrow the knees can't bend

 

[elanshin]

I'm not sure if JL's 767 J seats should be on here. Mainly because it's super narrow and I physically couldn't sleep in it on my back with my shoulder hitting the sides and I'm most certainly not big framed. Side sleepers are fine.

Totally agree! The apex window seats rival, if not beat, many first class suites in both bed length and a full, unrestricted width with no cubby hole for feet. They weren’t popular with airlines because they take up - IIRC - something like 30% more space than any other business class seat. Bad for economics, but good for passengers!

Yeh I agree even with the aisle seat whilst less private, its still reasonably big. The only thing I can't do is unload everything and set up a work battle station.

 

[VPS]

EK777 300 with 2 3 2 especially when you have just come off F in an A380

 

[PERLHR]

Nobody tried Batik business yet then?!!

 

[MelbFlyer]

I’m curious what it is about the apex suite you don’t like. I’ve flown it on JAL AND Oman Air and apart from limited storage at the seat, it’s one of my favourite J products.

Where do I begin - I guess at the below.

Post in thread 'CI A350 + Cathay A330 vs JAL 787-8 J'

Nov 3, 2024

Unfortunate to hear that you don't like it (although I would disagree re. the hard product having flown all the products named), but at least it wasn't the Shell Flat Neo I suppose. Hope you have a good flight anyway (despite your experience with the seat).

So my verdict after the flight - I definitely would not recommend JL business class.

The only standout thing for me was the Sakura Lounge at NRT - I really liked the segregation of dining / non-dining areas and the quietness of the lounge due to Japanese custom. Food choices were also pretty good too.

Now though, the cons...

• MelbFlyer

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Whilst the window seat is private, it just lacks storage as you've mentioned and is overall just very tired.

Just my opinion in that I don't like it and likewise I respect your decision that you enjoy it.

 

[RooFlyer]

Getting "Qatar'd" where the product you actually get doesn't line up with what you expected to get.

Especially when the airline is sneaky with the aircraft swap. Recently flew Gulf Air expecting apex suites, only to find on check-in that they'd silently swapped in a wet-leased MIAT 787 (EI-MGL). The herringbone seat whilst basic was missing the usual falcon gold amenities.

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