Japan Airlines JL79 Business Class - Boeing 787-800 - HND to SGN
Japanese Breakfast
Japan Airlines JL79 Business Class - Boeing 787-800 - HND to SGN
Airline: Japan Airlines | Aircraft: Boeing 787-800 | Flight: JL79 (HND-SGN) | Class: Business | Seat: 3C
Sad to leave Japan which is our virgin trip there for 20 days, but all good things must come to an end, and time to board our outgoing flight to Ho Chi Minh City.
This flight is on Japan Airlines’ Shell Flat Neo business class cabin with a 2-2-2 seating configuration. No direct aisle access for every seat, bed only go angle-flat, and less privacy compared to their better business class configuration which is the Sky Suite.
Pillow, blanket, amenities kit, headphones, water, menu, and coat hanger upon arriving at my seat
Japan Airlines JL79 Business Class - Boeing 787-800 - HND to SGN
TLDR: The JAL Shell Flat Neo is an inferior hard product compared to Sky Suite III, if soft product and food are equal. Both comparisons of mine are red-eye flights and similar flight time with 1 main and 1 snack meal.
Now for the full post!
All the standard items are on the seat upon arriving at my seat, with the exception of the coat hanger. The obvious difference compared to the Sky Suite III seat, will be the minimal privacy and no direct aisle access for all seats.
2 windows for viewing
Japan Airlines JL79 Business Class - Boeing 787-800 - HND to SGN
For people who like to look out at the skies, not much to see for me (more like too tired for sunrise viewing) during this red-eye flight.
Space left when the seat is in normal mode
Japan Airlines JL79 Business Class - Boeing 787-800 - HND to SGN
I’m 1.73m for reference, definitely enough space even for tall people for seat in normal mode.
Touchscreen IFE System
Japan Airlines JL79 Business Class - Boeing 787-800 - HND to SGN
The IFE system is also an inferior version compared to Sky Suite III ones, 15.4” vs 17” screen, lesser touchscreen settings at the bottom of the screen too. Can’t recall whether is it even less-responsive compared to SS3, too long has passed since this flight (Nov 2019).
Magazine rack
Japan Airlines JL79 Business Class - Boeing 787-800 - HND to SGN
Coat hook
Japan Airlines JL79 Business Class - Boeing 787-800 - HND to SGN
Seat controls panel
Japan Airlines JL79 Business Class - Boeing 787-800 - HND to SGN
More detailed seat controls settings compared to SS3, which are on the leg rest and neck support part.
Universal power
Japan Airlines JL79 Business Class - Boeing 787-800 - HND to SGN
Standard universal power socket but no USB socket, and it is located at the bottom of the seat. Not my preferred location for sure.
Audio output socket
Japan Airlines JL79 Business Class - Boeing 787-800 - HND to SGN
Audio output socket is located near the reading light.
IFE controller slot, and a small tray beside to put misc items or in this context water and headphones
Japan Airlines JL79 Business Class - Boeing 787-800 - HND to SGN
IFE controller in it’s default housing, and beside it is a tray to put misc items and bottled water.
Asahi mineral water
Japan Airlines JL79 Business Class - Boeing 787-800 - HND to SGN
Tray table
Japan Airlines JL79 Business Class - Boeing 787-800 - HND to SGN
Standard tray table, but no swerve function compared to SS3.
Amenities Kit
Japan Airlines JL79 Business Class - Boeing 787-800 - HND to SGN
Amenities Kit
Japan Airlines JL79 Business Class - Boeing 787-800 - HND to SGN
Amenities Kit
Japan Airlines JL79 Business Class - Boeing 787-800 - HND to SGN
Similar amenities kit compared to the SS3 flight (JL38), consists of moisture mask, eye mask, toothbrush, and a fabric pouch. Just missing the ear plugs.
Same sentiment as per my JL38 flight, it feels super basic/budget to me for a long haul flight (although on the lower end of spectrum at 6.5 hours).
Slippers and shoehorn
Japan Airlines JL79 Business Class - Boeing 787-800 - HND to SGN
Same slippers as JL38 flight, decent slippers with some cushion support.
Menu
Japan Airlines JL79 Business Class - Boeing 787-800 - HND to SGN
Menu
Japan Airlines JL79 Business Class - Boeing 787-800 - HND to SGN
Menu
Japan Airlines JL79 Business Class - Boeing 787-800 - HND to SGN
Menu
Japan Airlines JL79 Business Class - Boeing 787-800 - HND to SGN
Menu
Japan Airlines JL79 Business Class - Boeing 787-800 - HND to SGN
Menu
Japan Airlines JL79 Business Class - Boeing 787-800 - HND to SGN
The menu “BEDD - Sky Auberge by JAL” of this flight, click the photo to zoom in on the details.
Similar style of either Japanese or Western breakfast, but with the addition of Kara Mandarin Juice on this flight.
Night ambient light
Japan Airlines JL79 Business Class - Boeing 787-800 - HND to SGN
Reading light on in darkness
Japan Airlines JL79 Business Class - Boeing 787-800 - HND to SGN
IFE Controller - Main controls side
Japan Airlines JL79 Business Class - Boeing 787-800 - HND to SGN
IFE Controller - Keypad side
Japan Airlines JL79 Business Class - Boeing 787-800 - HND to SGN
Late Night Snack
Japan Airlines JL79 Business Class - Boeing 787-800 - HND to SGN
Champagne and Japanese crackers.
Lavatory
Japan Airlines JL79 Business Class - Boeing 787-800 - HND to SGN
Lavatory
Japan Airlines JL79 Business Class - Boeing 787-800 - HND to SGN
Lavatory
Japan Airlines JL79 Business Class - Boeing 787-800 - HND to SGN
Lavatory
Japan Airlines JL79 Business Class - Boeing 787-800 - HND to SGN
The usual before sleeping, time for a trip to the toilet and always happy to see BIDET function!
Mouthwash, toothbrush, and paper cups can be found, but this flight seems to be missing the Shiseido moisture emulsion and lotion.
There’s an addition of a handwritten note thanking the passengers for flying with them.
Thank you for flying with us.
JL 79
Tray table cloth
Japan Airlines JL79 Business Class - Boeing 787-800 - HND to SGN
Japanese Breakfast
Japan Airlines JL79 Business Class - Boeing 787-800 - HND to SGN
Breakfast time! The set consists of:
From the top left corner (sides & fruits) in clockwise order: Japanese Pickles, Soy-simmered Sand Lance, Fresh Fruits, Pork “Shabu-shabu” with Grated Radish Sauce, Sliced Konjac “Sashimi” Style with Mustard Vinegar Miso.
On to the bottom right corner is the Grilled Salmon with Miso Paste.
Of course it comes with the standard Japanese rice and miso soup.
Dainomono - Japanese Breakfast
Japan Airlines JL79 Business Class - Boeing 787-800 - HND to SGN
Sides & Fruits - Japanese Breakfast
Japan Airlines JL79 Business Class - Boeing 787-800 - HND to SGN
Kara Mandarin Juice
Japan Airlines JL79 Business Class - Boeing 787-800 - HND to SGN
Just to quote the menu for the Kara Mandarin Juice:
Kara Mandarin is a crossbred citrus fruit which possesses the rich sweetness of satsuma oranges and the refreshingness of king mandarins.
Seat in angle-flat bed mode
Japan Airlines JL79 Business Class - Boeing 787-800 - HND to SGN
Footwell and seat in angle-flat bed mode
Japan Airlines JL79 Business Class - Boeing 787-800 - HND to SGN
Other than an obvious con of being an angle-flat bed only, I feel the width is lesser compared to SS3 fully-flat bed. Because while I was sleeping I will bump the sides whenever I try to turn/move my body a bit, maybe a sign that I need to exercise more.
But might be due to the SS3 fully-flat bed handles are lowered together to be flush with the bed, so it feels wider. Nevertheless, SS3 is definitely more comfortable and the better choice in comparison.
Overall
Hard product: Inferior compared to SS3, no direct aisle access for all seats, lousier seat/bed, lesser privacy, smaller IFE screen at 15.4” vs 17”, and 2-2-2 vs 1-2-1 seat configuration.
Soft product: This time round, it was a pleasant or more like an uneventful flight, unlike the first flight which I flew into HND. As usual for a red-eye flight I don’t request much (if any), other than once for a Coke Light drink. But then the FA serving my seat was the lao jiao (veteran in Singlish/Hokkien) of the flight, the chief stewardess basing on the white uniform colour.
Food: Same experience as the JL38 flight, food is pretty decent but nothing exceptional.
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