Seat disappeared for reward booking on JL

[frodo]

So, similar to this thread, my J seat allocation has disappeared, however, it is with a partner airline and not QF.

I had a QF reward booking in J over Easter on JL51/52 - however, it seems like they have now swapped 789 configs for these flights from a 52J/35W/116Y to 28J/21W/190Y.

As a result, my previous seat allocation on the outbound leg (JL52 on 6 April) has disappeared and I am unable to select any seats on the JAL website as business class is now likely overbooked. Luckily they have reallocated me to another J seat on the return leg.

Is there anything I can do to and would checking in early even help given that all the J seats are likely taken?

 

[djkelly69]

Have you checked the seat map on Expert Flyer or similar to see if all/most seats are showing as reserved or not available?

I did my seat selections for my JL flights on RJ.com, so maybe try there or other OW airline websites?

 

[frodo]

There are actually still some seats showing as available on expertflyer but the only seats available are window seats. As I don't have status, window seats in rows 1-7 are blocked by JAL (previously I had a reserved a window seat in the rear J cabin).

Hopefully they haven't actually oversold the flight as there is still a J seat for sale currently for 6 April.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Umm, so, actually, can you go into the JAL website and go into the booking by entering the PNR as provided, by QFF?
Or even tried entering the PNR.
So, its not so much as your booking has disappeared, just your "preferred/picked" seat has disappeared, so smaller plane, so they would probably allocate what ever that is available.
Thought you had really, as in lost a seat.
***
Supposition, is that they have sub(bed) their larger 787 to a smaller 787, there are 2/3 sets in JL/JAL.
Some have no windows in certain sections of the plane, don't pick row 56!
So, not sure, in your case, is that you can't select a J/W/Y seat, I know you are in J, but because its now a smaller 787, they might have put you in W/Y.
I do like windows seats on the 787, and would love to see a sunrise, which the MEL - HND one with JL gives, but the true window seats, as mentioned by some on here, are reserved for JL's higher grade FF, and if they don't have any of those, they then issue out those seats to others, not sure on first come first serve, on the evening, or their (JL's) next high level FF members.
Yours is SYD - HND would be a good view to see the sunset going up, and sunrise coming down.
Not sure of a solution, whether turning up early at SYD T1 might help or not, as the staff are probably Dnata folk, and not JAL staff.
Maybe turning up early might work.
Hard to say where they might put you in the end, do you have a PNR etix, ?
If its just they can't issue you a preferred seat, its not so bad, if they can't find you in the system, that one is bad.
Edit: just had a look, dnata does the ground handling for JAL in Sydney, so even if you appear early, they might not be able to do much, as they are agents for JAL, and follow set procedures.
Not sure if its worth it contacting JAL sales and mentioning your PNR and see if they can find you on the booking (for flight) going up to HND.
787-9 ver 2 was the one you had, with 52 J
787-9 ver 3 is the one they have changed to, with 28 J.
So loss of 6 row of J by change in plane, just had a look on seatguru.

 

[frodo]

Yes, the booking itself is still there and confirmed in CMT.

My initial question was more along the lines of what are the chances that I will be downgraded as a result of the config change and is there any way I can select another seat in J. MMB does not give me an option to do so either on JAL or RJ sites even though there are 5 unoccupied seats showing on EF, as rows 1-7 A/K seats are blocked.

I'll give JAL a call tomorrow and see if they can do anything.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Yes, the booking itself is still there and confirmed in CMT.

My initial question was more along the lines of what are the chances that I will be downgraded as a result of the config change and is there any way I can select another seat in J. MMB does not give me an option to do so either on JAL or RJ sites even though there are 5 unoccupied seats showing on EF, as rows 1-7 A/K seats are blocked.

I'll give JAL a call tomorrow and see if they can do anything.

If you go to JAL’s website can you still book a revenue seat in J for your flight? If ‘yes’ the flight is unlikely to be oversold.

 

[MelbFlyer]

As I don't have status, window seats in rows 1-7 are blocked by JAL

I've got business reward seats (Skysuite) on JL from NRT to MEL (B787-8) and I also see that A and K seats are blocked out - I'm assuming this is due to the fact that I have no status either (I'm just a lowly Bronze).

Unless (wishful thinking), JL uses the same seat map in their manage booking / seat selection portal for both their 1-2-1 and 2-2-2 business layout variants and just block out accordingly?

I'd obviously much rather the Skysuite III with the 1-2-1 layout over the 2-2-2 layout.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Yes the goss on here is its blocked until few days before flight.
JL will aldo charge $10k fir those seats if it was a rev tix.
Saw that for myself while doing dummy bookings few months ago.
Resigned to the fact no window seats for me, if I actually do stump the $ and buy and fly JL J.

 

[encryptededdy]

I'd obviously much rather the Skysuite III with the 1-2-1 layout over the 2-2-2 layout.

In my experience Skysuite III (1-2-1 Zodiac Aries) is worse than Skysuite (2-2-2 Apex Suites).

But yes, JAL will block window seats for elites.

 

[kpro]

I'd obviously much rather the Skysuite III with the 1-2-1 layout over the 2-2-2 layout.

The JAL 1-2-1 layout is one of the tightest reverse herringbone's on the market. The middle pairs overlay the footrests, one on top of the other such that one person reclines low and the other reclines high. I had a JAL 787 from North America subbed from the 2-2-2 config to the 1-2-1, and it was not too pleasant after about half way through (first world problems, I know).

The 2-2-2 is much more spacious and retains direct aisle access through little passage ways.

 

[bcworld]

In my experience Skysuite III (1-2-1 Zodiac Aries) is worse than Skysuite (2-2-2 Apex Suites).

But yes, JAL will block window seats for elites.

Agreed...the 2-2-2 layout is far superior.

 

[frodo]

I've got business reward seats (Skysuite) on JL from NRT to MEL (B787-8) and I also see that A and K seats are blocked out - I'm assuming this is due to the fact that I have no status either (I'm just a lowly Bronze).

NRT to MEL on JL is always scheduled as a 788, and their international 788s are only configured as skysuite or the old flat shell seats.

https://www.jal.co.jp/jp/en/aircraft/conf/787.html

In a previous J reward booking on JL's 788, all the window seats were blocked for me also.

 

[Warragul]

but the true window seats, as mentioned by some on here, are reserved for JL's higher grade FF, and if they don't have any of those, they then issue out those seats to others, not sure on first come first serve, on the evening, or their (JL's) next high level FF members.

On a reward J class booking (flights in October booked almost 12 months prior), I had no issue with requesting 'true' window seats many months in advance. All of row 1 was showing as taken, maybe blocked but everythiing else was available on first investigation which was just after completing the booking. I'm QF gold and not a JL FF, so any blocking of seats seems to take the OW status into account.
The flights were FRA-NRT, ITM-HND & HND-SYD.

 

[MelbFlyer]

In my experience Skysuite III (1-2-1 Zodiac Aries) is worse than Skysuite (2-2-2 Apex Suites).

The JAL 1-2-1 layout is one of the tightest reverse herringbone's on the market. The middle pairs overlay the footrests, one on top of the other such that one person reclines low and the other reclines high. I had a JAL 787 from North America subbed from the 2-2-2 config to the 1-2-1, and it was not too pleasant after about half way through (first world problems, I know).

The 2-2-2 is much more spacious and retains direct aisle access through little passage ways.

Thanks for the feedback, I'll reserve my judgement until taking the flight (still a year away!).

My experience on CX's Reverse Herringbone business seat (A350 from HK to EWR) though was excellent and I had no such issues with the seat being too narrow etc.

Looking at Seatguru, both CXs and JLs 1-2-1 Reverse Herringbone business class suites both are listed as 20" (50.8cm) seat width, so I don't imagine how JLs would be any narrower than usual.

With regards to direct aisle access, I'm aware that even despite the 2-2-2 layout, the window passenger still has direct access via a narrow corridor.

I posted my options (either to take JL or CI) as per below and noted it.

BNE - NRT Award Availability

The J classic redemption NRT-BNE is available when I booked it for MrsAlbatross as part of her itinerary. Now being short of points I want to book myself NRT-BNE as a one way J redemption but it wont show on the website. It will show if I do it as part of a BNE-NRT-BNE itinerary. I wont have...

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

My preference is still 1-2-1 and the Reverse Herringbone layout as I find it's slightly more private, but it is what it is.

For me, the hard product is more important than the soft product especially for long haul, although that doesn't mean that I will accept subpar soft service either!

NRT to MEL on JL is always scheduled as a 788, and their international 788s are only configured as skysuite or the old flat shell seats.
https://www.jal.co.jp/jp/en/aircraft/conf/787.html
In a previous J reward booking on JL's 788, all the window seats were blocked for me also.

I sincerely hope that my flight isn't subbed to the Flat Shell seats, this was specifically what I wanted to avoid when taking QF business and their old Skybed business seats.

Luckily for my route (MEL to SIN and return), only either A330s or B787s are used rather than the A380.

I did have a flight cancellation last month though and the next day's service was subbed to an A380 - which was also the un-refurbished one too. Luckily I was able to get the other SIN to MEL service on a 787 instead.

 

[kpro]

My experience on CX's Reverse Herringbone business seat (A350 from HK to EWR) though was excellent and I had no such issues with the seat being too narrow etc.

Looking at Seatguru, both CXs and JLs 1-2-1 Reverse Herringbone business class suites both are listed as 20" (50.8cm) seat width, so I don't imagine how JLs would be any narrower than usual.

With regards to direct aisle access, I'm aware that even despite the 2-2-2 layout, the window passenger still has direct access via a narrow corridor.

I always take seatguru measurements with a grain of salt these days. The way airlines measure distances can be inconsistent - example here, though this is measuring economy seats.

IMHO having experienced CX herringbone on A350, 777 and A330, I'd prefer the CX seat over the JAL one. Particularly on the A350 and 777 which feel wider then the JAL seat. The seat also has a section that swings up to support your knees, making it overall more comfortable.

I also feel like CX has an edge over JAL in soft product, at least in terms of FA service going the extra mile for being an elite flyer.

 

[bcworld]

Looking at Seatguru, both CXs and JLs 1-2-1 Reverse Herringbone business class suites both are listed as 20" (50.8cm) seat width, so I don't imagine how JLs would be any narrower than usual.

Just FYI...and it probably is still correct for those two aircraft...but Seatguru is defunct...it hasn't received any updates since early 2020. Increasingly seat maps are wrong or missing. When entering a flight and date it randomly picks from seat maps it knows about.

 

[serfty]

Looking at Seatguru, both CXs and JLs 1-2-1 Reverse Herringbone business class suites both are listed as 20" (50.8cm) seat width, so I don't imagine how JLs would be any narrower than usual.

Apropos to recent post, Seat Guru is basically defunct.

AeroLopa is the new kid in town, operated by some FlyerTalkers ...

Article: Where to Find Accurate Airline Seat Maps in 2023

Where to Find Accurate Airline Seat Maps in 2023 is an article written by our new writer, Bronwyn! https://www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au/find-accurate-airline-seat-maps/ You can leave a comment or discuss this topic below.

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

 

[MelbFlyer]

Just FYI...and it probably is still correct for those two aircraft...but Seatguru is defunct...it hasn't received any updates since early 2020. Increasingly seat maps are wrong or missing. When entering a flight and date it randomly picks from seat maps it knows about.

Apropos to recent post, Seat Guru is basically defunct.

AeroLopa is the new kid in town, operated by some FlyerTalkers ...

AL mentions the same thing (20" width), so the above is moot.

Still doesn't differentiate between CX and JL's Reverse Herringbone product - both should be the same width?

Either way, 1-2-1 or 2-2-2 - both should be comfortable.

It's a afternoon flight leaving NRT so it would be nice had it been 1-2-1 (and therefore both of us with window seats), but I guess you can't always win.

 

[encryptededdy]

So the way the Zodiac Aries product works is that it stacks the footwells to achieve higher density. See how in this picture, the right seat footwell (when in lie-flat mode) will be above the left seat footwell. This allows for much tighter seat pitch than a traditional reverse herringbone product.

Note this picture is not of the JAL product, but a demonstration seat from Zodiac



Whilst the width of the seat remains the same, the Cathay seat has a nice flat area on the inside of the seat which the seat joins to in lie-flat mode, but in the JL seat the area under the table between seats is basically all filled in mostly by the footwell of the two seats behind, as they need to take up extra height due to the stacked design.


It's hard to find a photo, but if you look at the area where this man's knees go under the table - that's all missing from the JAL seat. I find that this means that unless you sleep perfectly straight, you won't have enough width to sleep well.

It doesn't look like much but IMO once you sit and try to lie down you'll immediately feel the difference.

 

[kpro]

Just read Lucky's (One Mile at a Time) review on the SkySuite III and was reminded of this thread.

Review: Japan Airlines Business Class Boeing 787 (KIX-LAX)

Detailed review of Japan Airlines' Boeing 787 business class. Here's what to expect from the seats, service, amenities, food, and more.

onemileatatime.com