Air China redefines "The Pointy End"

[TomVexille]

Air China is launching their 748i this week with the novel decision to place F behind J

The first class cabin (shown below) is located in a unique position on the main deck, nestled behind business class and sitting just ahead of the wings and the premium economy cabin.

Personally I think it works.

Photos: Air China's Boeing 747-8 first, business, economy class - Australian Business Traveller

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Air China is launching their 748i this week with the novel decision to place F behind J



Personally I think it works.

Photos: Air China's Boeing 747-8 first, business, economy class - Australian Business Traveller

While the configuration is unique to Air China, it is not unique to the 748. Air China has employed this same configuration on their 744 fleet for some time, except the F cabin takes up the whole space between doors 1 and 2 rather than just part of the cabin.

The layout makes sense for large suite type seating which is better suited to the wider cabin farther back.

BA is another carrier that places a lower class in front of a higher one - with PE on some 744 aircraft located in front of the Club World cabin.

 

[boomy]

Looks nice, would love to try their F one day if it's possible to book using LM.

 

[UP4014]

Looks pretty good, good to see the 747 continuing on in fine form.

My only hesitation is the Air China side of things, but you never know, I might be in board yet.

Matt

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Looks pretty good, good to see the 747 continuing on in fine form.

My only hesitation is the Air China side of things, but you never know, I might be in board yet.

Matt

Air China has some work to do on their soft product - their food can be hit and miss, but service has always been genuine and they try hard.

But some of their new hard product is excellent (particularly the flat beds on their A332s). Their safety record is pretty good with only a single major accident to date.

 

[trippin_the_rift]

Looks pretty good, good to see the 747 continuing on in fine form.

My only hesitation is the Air China side of things, but you never know, I might be in board yet.

Matt

Had an Air China flight last week and it was pretty good. Certainly no better or worse than most airlines out there. I'd fly again.

 

[samh004]

I'd love to see more 747-8 orders, perhaps as part of a 777 order

On this topic though, only issue I can see with muddling up the cabins is if you have a family split between two, such as J and PE/Y... you'd have to walk through F to see them, which would be an inconvenience to those in F. Foot traffic. At least at the front of the plane there is no traffic, as there's no where to go. But it does look good.

 

[eric2011]

I'd love to see more 747-8 orders, perhaps as part of a 777 order

On this topic though, only issue I can see with muddling up the cabins is if you have a family split between two, such as J and PE/Y... you'd have to walk through F to see them, which would be an inconvenience to those in F.

Use the upstairs J cabin and the split family can use the stairs

 

[harvyk]

Use the upstairs J cabin and the split family can use the stairs

???

Don't follow you there, there is only one set of stairs for the upper deck on the 748, not 2 like on the A380. Go upstairs and you stay upstairs. It'd be no good for getting from Y / PE to J.

 

[eric2011]

Sorry harvyk, I am assuming the stairs are behind the F cabin in the Air China article in the ABT report. If that was the case then someone in PE/Y would be able to go up and down the stairs to visit someone in upstairs J cabin. (Once again I am assuming the stairs are between F and PE on the downstairs level) or am I missing something ??? Agree they wouldn't be able to visit J class at the very front of the downstairs area

 

[harvyk]

Sorry harvyk, I am assuming the stairs are behind the F cabin in the Air China article in the ABT report. If that was the case then someone in PE/Y would be able to go up and down the stairs to visit someone in upstairs J cabin. (Once again I am assuming the stairs are between F and PE on the downstairs level) or am I missing something ??? Agree they wouldn't be able to visit J class at the very front of the downstairs area

You're right, I was assuming that you're talking about the J cabin in Zone A... Y/PE can get to upstairs J. However that just makes it worse, it's pretty uncommon to have people split between different cabins (it's certainly not a marriage prolonging experience), however it's very common to have a family split up inside a cabin. I could easily see a scenario where some members are upstairs, and others are in Zone A, and it requires a trip through F to see the others.

 

[eric2011]

You're right, I was assuming that you're talking about the J cabin in Zone A... Y/PE can get to upstairs J. However that just makes it worse, it's pretty uncommon to have people split between different cabins (it's certainly not a marriage prolonging experience), however it's very common to have a family split up inside a cabin. I could easily see a scenario where some members are upstairs, and others are in Zone A, and it requires a trip through F to see the others.

Yep understand what you are saying and agree. Everything's hypothetical but I was just responding to samh004's post which was specifically a PE/ Y and J scenario he was referring too.
LOL " marriage prolonging experience" I'm game to try it. LOL

 

[marki]

Flying first time China Air must say I am impressed fresh helpful cabin crew on CI 58 out of Christchurch boarding like magic proper segregated priority boarding "Sky priority" it just worked. Maybe I am biased as its a fresh new experience ? Business class is empty wow ......

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Flying first time China Air must say I am impressed fresh helpful cabin crew on CI 58 out of Christchurch boarding like magic proper segregated priority boarding "Sky priority" it just worked. Maybe I am biased as its a fresh new experience ? Business class is empty wow ......

No... except wrong airline for this thread

You were flying China Airlines, this thread is Air China.

China Airlines is ok for short hops in business.

 

[Buzzard]

Interesting layout and great to see another carrier going with a 747.

 

[esseeeayeenn]

I must admit if I was paying for F I would expect to sit in the front of the plane where it's quieter.
Having said that, the J mini-cabin on the upper deck looks rather nice.
It prompted me to be curious about the even more exclusive J mini-cabin in the nose on the lower deck.
This photo which wasn't in the AusBT article satisfied my curiousity but made me want to try this out!
If I was flying with a partner I would fancy seats 1A and 1K (?).

 

[marki]

Are flying oops thanks for that

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Are flying oops thanks for that

Thanks for the picture! Looks like they're reupholstered since I last flew with them. The seats are pretty good for short flights and CI is usually excellent value for money. Sometimes cheaper than economy on the major airline flying the route.

Their new 77Ws for long haul have a full flat bed.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I must admit if I was paying for F I would expect to sit in the front of the plane where it's quieter.
Having said that, the J mini-cabin on the upper deck looks rather nice.
It prompted me to be curious about the even more exclusive J mini-cabin in the nose on the lower deck.
This photo which wasn't in the AusBT article satisfied my curiousity but made me want to try this out!
If I was flying with a partner I would fancy seats 1A and 1K (?).

View attachment 59644

That's not actually the current configuration for Air China.

The actual configuration is just three rows of 2+2 - with a whole bunch of empty space in front of the front row of seats. A particularly bad use of space... which I reckon they'll change eventually - maybe to something similar in the picture you've attached?

The current seat map is here: https://www.airchina.com.au/AU/GB/info/aircraft-introduction/boeing747.html

Here's a picture - although not sure if the link works (to airliners.net): http://www.airliners.net/aviation-forums/general_aviation/print.main?id=6203681

 

[esseeeayeenn]

That's not actually the current configuration for Air China.

The actual configuration is just three rows of 2+2 - with a whole bunch of empty space in front of the front row of seats. A particularly bad use of space... which I reckon they'll change eventually - maybe to something similar in the picture you've attached?

The current seat map is here: https://www.airchina.com.au/AU/GB/info/aircraft-introduction/boeing747.html

Here's a picture - although not sure if the link works (to airliners.net): Airliners.net forum: Air China Reveals 747-8i Cabin

Well whatever the cabin pictured actually is I want to try it!
So now to track down the aircraft in the photo!