Round trip to Ishigaki in Class J where you can spend like a sofa Last flight boarding record JAL 777-200ER full flat longest route

2023-04-30 10:55:00

Japan Airlines (JAL/JL, 9201) Boeing 777-200ER, which allows passengers to ride full-flat business class seats on domestic flights, is coming to an end. JAL has introduced 11 of these aircraft since 2002, but the number of aircraft it owns has already decreased to 3, and in April, only the 3rd aircraft (registration code JA703J) remains in operation. rice field.

Class J 2K seat of 777-200ER JA703J on flight JL974 from Ishigaki to Haneda = April 2, 2011 PHOTO: Tadayuki YOSHIKAWA/Aviation Wire

Plans call for all planes to be retired in the first half of this fiscal year, but scheduled flights between Haneda and Ishigaki, the longest route on which the 777-200ER can be enjoyed most with full-flat seats, will end on April 2. The outward flight time was over 3 hours, and it was a flight on par with a short-haul international flight.

Unit 3, which entered regular flight service during Golden Week on the 28th, is being used on two routes, Haneda-Sapporo (New Chitose) and Naha, with one round trip per day. It will be used for a charter flight to Shimojishima Airport on May 1, but it is expected to be used on the same flight until the 7th, except for the 2nd.Related article）。

Two years ago, in February 2021, when JAL scooped that the 777-200ER full-flat seat will be put into the intermediate class “Class J” of domestic flights for a limited time until retirement, there was a great response. rice field. I also took the opportunity to board the first class J flight on the Haneda-Ishigaki route on July 16, 2009, but this time I bought a class J ticket only to Ishigaki because I wanted to compare it with ordinary seats.

In the future, the Ishigaki Line may use its successor, the Airbus A350-900, but it is unlikely that there will be many opportunities for international flight aircraft equipped with full-flat seats. I couldn’t confirm whether April 2nd would be the last day for Ishigaki because of the aircraft arrangement, etc., but I prepared a shareholder’s complimentary ticket and booked an airline ticket. This time, I decided to ride Class J for both round trips.

JAL’s 777-200ER JA703J alongside JTA’s Jinbei jet (left) at Ishigaki Airport = April 2, 2011 PHOTO: Tadayuki YOSHIKAWA/Aviation Wire

—Article Summary—
・Successor to the 3-engine MD-11
・Fully flat seat that allows you to sit in a free posture
・Comparing the middle seat and the window seat
・Round trip 79,740 yen + stock award

Successor to the 3-engine MD-11

JAL’s 777-200ER is the successor to the McDonnell Douglas (now Boeing) MD-11, which has three engines. The engine is a GE90-94B made by GE, and after being introduced mainly on medium-distance international flights such as Southeast Asia and Hawaii, five aircraft have been transferred to domestic flights in a limited two-year plan from 2021 to the end of March 2023.

JAL Sky Suite 777, which adopts the business class seat “Sky Suite III” where the foot of the center seat is completely graded intersection = June 10, 2016 PHOTO: Tadayuki YOSHIKAWA/Aviation Wire

There are 312 seats in two classes, with 26 class J seats and 286 ordinary seats. The class J seat is the same as the “Sky Suite III”, which was a business class during the international flight era, and you can experience a full flat seat on domestic flights. It was the first JAL to adopt a herringbone arrangement in which the seats were arranged diagonally, with 4 seats in a row of 1-2-1 seats.

After the conversion of domestic routes, it will be introduced mainly on the three main routes of Haneda-Sapporo, Fukuoka, and Naha. The one-way trip on the Ishigaki Line takes about 3 hours, which is about the same time as a flight from Tokyo to Taipei.

Fully flat seat that allows you to sit in a free posture

April 2nd was the last day for the Haneda-Ishigaki line. Both flights were operated by 777-200ER. The last round trip I took was JL973 (JA703J) bound for Ishigaki, departing from Haneda’s spot 10 (tarmac) at 2:44pm and arriving at Ishigaki’s spot 8 at 5:42pm. . The return flight JL974 to Haneda departed from spot 8 in Ishigaki at 7:23pm and arrived at Haneda at spot 9 at 10:07pm.

Passengers boarding JL flight JL973 bound for JAL Ishigaki at Haneda Airport = April 2, 2011 PHOTO: Tadayuki YOSHIKAWA/Aviation Wire

Class J 7D seat of 777-200ER JA703J on flight JL973 from Haneda to Ishigaki with a 14-inch MacBook Pro on the table = April 2, 2011 PHOTO: Tadayuki YOSHIKAWA/Aviation Wire

The flight to Ishigaki left the spot and took off from runway D (RWY05) around 3:00 pm. I could hear the loud sound of the GE90 from behind, and I felt a little nostalgic, thinking that the takeoff of an international flight a little while ago was like this, but when the altitude reached 15,000 feet, it quieted down. It shook finely from 30,000 feet above Ito City, Shizuoka Prefecture, but it subsided when it passed 36,000 feet over Suruga Bay, and reached 40,000 feet after passing Shizuoka City.

How about the all-important full-flat seat? It is difficult to say whether you will fall asleep on a one-way flight of 3 hours, but if you use it as a bed, you can spend a free posture like a sofa. In my case, on the flight to Ishigaki, I took a picture of the seat,Article on sightseeing flight using Hokkaido Air System (HAC, NTH/JL) “Snow Miku” wrapping machineWriting, editing, and publishing, I spent my time on the ground as I did on the ground.

I was able to use the in-flight internet connection service, and unlike at home, I didn’t have the temptation to snack between meals. Before 5:30pm, the seatbelt sign was turned on before landing, so I had very little time to rummage on the outbound flight, but I was able to spend a free time on the full-flat seat, so I think my fatigue was quite different. I felt it.

I think the biggest advantage of a full-flat seat is that you can sit in a free posture rather than being able to sleep.

Class J 7D seat of 777-200ER JA703J on flight JL973 from Haneda to Ishigaki, fully flattened = April 2, 2011 PHOTO: Tadayuki YOSHIKAWA/Aviation Wire

When I arrived at Ishigaki Airport, although it was still April, I was greeted by a slightly fluffy atmosphere unique to Okinawa. When I went to the observation deck, there was a Japan Transocean Air (JTA/NU) Jinbei jet (737-800, JA05RK) parked next to it, and I was able to take pictures of Ishigaki.

The security checkpoint was quite crowded, although all lanes were in operation. The deadline for the security check is 20 minutes before departure, but it seems better to line up at least 30 minutes, if possible, 40 minutes or more during the busy season.

On the return trip to Haneda, flight JL974, I focused on experiencing a comfortable sleep, except for writing and posting one short article. If you look around you, you will find that many people are going to bed early as they have a night flight, so being able to enjoy a vacation in Ishigaki and then sleep back home is probably the best way to travel.

Comparing the middle seat and the window seat

I also boarded JL031 flight (JA701J) from Haneda to Bangkok on June 18, 2016, which was the first international flight of Sky Suite III. I never sat down. If you miss the last flight in Ishigaki, you will not have the opportunity to experience the comfort of the center seat. Therefore, on the outbound flight JL973, I assigned the last row, 7D, on the left side of the center, and on the return flight, JL974, I assigned the 2K seat on the right window side.

View from Class J 7D seat of JL973 flight 777-200ER JA703J from Haneda to Ishigaki with blue lighting as it approaches the destination = April 2, 2011 PHOTO: Tadayuki YOSHIKAWA/Aviation Wire

Class J 2K seat of 777-200ER JA703J on flight JL974 from Ishigaki to Haneda = April 2, 2011 PHOTO: Tadayuki YOSHIKAWA/Aviation Wire

The first time I sat in the center seat of Sky Suite III, I honestly think that the window seat is better than the center seat because I will be shooting departure, takeoff, landing, and arrival scenes for work reasons. . According to what I hear, the center seat has a structure where the legs cross over, so the D seat is closer to the floor than the window seat, and the G seat is higher, so I have heard that the leg is a little narrow. , As long as I was in the bed position for a short time in the D seat, I didn’t care much.

All seats face the aisle, making it easy to get in and out. I compared the middle seat and the window seat, and in my case, I preferred the window seat.

As a function of Sky Suite III, in addition to becoming a full-flat seat, there is an armrest that can be used in the seat position. It is stowed during takeoff and landing, and the senior flight attendant who was on the round trip on the Ishigaki Line that I boarded this time went around the seat that was not in bed and set the armrest when the seat belt sign went off.

Not only this seat, many business class seats are multi-functional. There are many functions that only those who have ridden many times know about, so I felt that it was good that the cabin crew told me about the existence of armrests.

777-200ER JA703J on flight JL974 from Ishigaki to Haneda, Class J 2K seat armrest = April 2, 2011 PHOTO: Tadayuki YOSHIKAWA/Aviation Wire

Round trip 79,740 yen + stock award

Last time I boarded the first flight on July 16, 2021, the fare for JL973 (JA710J) from Haneda to Ishigaki was 32,190 yen for class J, and 30,000 yen for normal seats for JL974 on the return trip. It was 1190 yen. At that time, I was able to ride in class J for an extra 1,000 yen on a regular seat, so it was more profitable than it is now.

777-200ER JA703J of JL973 bound for Ishigaki waiting for departure at Haneda Airport. Behind is A350-900 = April 2, 2023 PHOTO: Tadayuki YOSHIKAWA/Aviation Wire

From April 2022, the domestic flight fare will be raised, and the price difference for Class J will be increased by 1,000 yen, 2,000 yen, and 3,000 yen depending on the distance. Looking at the difference from the normal seat on the Haneda-Ishigaki line in terms of the upgrade fee on the day of boarding, it was an additional 3,000 yen, the same as on the Naha line.

This time, I couldn’t get rid of the possibility that the 777-200ER’s Ishigaki route might be changed, so I bought a round-trip fare with a shareholder’s discount that allowed me to change my boarding flight. One way is 39,870 yen and round trip is 79,740 yen, which is close to 80,000 yen. At the ticket shop in front of JR Shimbashi Station, I purchased a complimentary shareholder ticket for 1,900 yen, for a total of 3,800 yen, for a total of 83,540 yen. As expected, it is expensive for a one-day interview in Japan, so I decided to pay for 10,000 yen one-way with “eJAL points” converted from miles to save 20,000 yen in cash, but it still exceeds 60,000 yen.

I used points worth 20,000 yen each way on my first flight last time, but coverage in the Okinawa area is expensive anyway. Some media outlets ask airlines to provide airline tickets for interviews like this one, but it is essential from an ethical point of view for the media to keep a certain distance from the interviewee.

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After completing the Shimojishima charter on May 1, the 777-200ER will be active on regular flights for a short period of time. Sixteen of the successor A350s have already been delivered, all of which have been deployed on domestic routes. The first A350-1000 (JA01WJ), which will be JAL’s first A350 international aircraft, will be the 17th aircraft in total, and the generational change will also reach its final stage.

Of JAL’s 777, the 777-200, which was originally introduced as domestic flight equipment, has been retired by March 2021. By retiring the 777-200ER, JAL’s domestic large aircraft will be unified into the A350-900 (3 classes 369 seats, 3 classes 391 seats).

On the 16th after Golden Week, when the first aircraft (JA701J) heads to the United States, where it is sold, it will operate the first charter in Japan using a “ferry flight” that does not carry passengers. The 777-200/-200ER, which has been active on domestic routes mainly on trunk lines, will soon come to an end after 27 years of history.

*46 photos (Ishigaki’s final flight results are posted below the photos).

777-200ER JA703J of flight JL972 from Ishigaki arriving at Haneda Airport = April 2, 2011 PHOTO: Tadayuki YOSHIKAWA/Aviation Wire

Departure information for JL973 flight to JAL Ishigaki at Haneda Airport = April 2, 2011 PHOTO: Tadayuki YOSHIKAWA/Aviation Wire

777-200ER JA703J on JL973 flight from Haneda to Ishigaki = April 2, 2011 PHOTO: Tadayuki YOSHIKAWA/Aviation Wire

Class J of 777-200ER JA703J on flight JL973 from Haneda to Ishigaki = April 2, 2011 PHOTO: Tadayuki YOSHIKAWA/Aviation Wire