INDEX
- The seats are very spacious. The interior has a calm atmosphere.
- The seat is firm enough to prevent fatigue.
- Charging ports on the cocktail tray make it easy to get work done on the plane
- Although it is a domestic flight, it boasts storage facilities that meet international standards.
- Convenient cup holders and storage for small items. Popular with families with children.
- A variety of programs for individual monitors
"It's very spacious. The lighting is calm and comfortable."
The first person to try out the new Class J was Tsuyoshi Otsuka, president of Nippon Design. In addition to being active in a wide range of areas, including designing for local communities, he also runs the "Little Fukuoka" community of Fukuoka residents in Tokyo, and says he returns to his hometown of Fukuoka at least once a month.
"The cabin is very spacious. Because of my job, I'm drawn to design, but because it's a cutting-edge aircraft, they don't use unusual lighting colors to create a futuristic feel. I like the overall chic atmosphere. The walls appear to be made of resin, but they have a wallpaper-like texture, which makes them very relaxing."
The interior design was commissioned to the British company Tangerine, and was created with a theme of traditional Japanese beauty. The train has 369 seats in three classes, creating a spacious space. The windows are also larger than usual, which should give the passengers a feeling of openness.
"The seat has just the right firmness."
"I also liked the seats. They are just the right amount of firmness to support your body, so you don't get tired easily. The seats are wide and there is plenty of leg room. I usually sit in regular seats, but I would definitely choose these. They are comfortable enough that you don't even need to recline, but I think if I reclined a bit I would be able to sleep well."
The seats in Class J and standard seats are newly developed by Recaro, a German company famous for its sports car seats. They are designed to be comfortable, and also feature leg rests that can be adjusted precisely. The seats are also arranged with a seat pitch of about 97cm front to back, which is about 18cm wider than standard seats. With plenty of personal space, Otsuka says, "I feel like I'll be able to get work done."
"A surprisingly useful cocktail tray. Very handy when you're at work."
"When you spread out your documents on the plane, it can be hard to find a place to put your drink, so the cocktail tray is very convenient. There's also an AC power outlet at your feet, and a USB port under the monitor, so you can charge your PC and smartphone at the same time. This is quite important, isn't it?"
"I also really appreciate that there are reading lights in addition to the spotlights. I also like how the brightness can be adjusted."
AC power outlets and USB ports are standard equipment in all seats, including economy class seats.Free Wi-Fi is also available on board, so you can connect to the Internet as soon as the plane starts taking off.
"It's really quiet. There's very little vibration or noise during takeoff, so it doesn't get in the way of my work. If I was seated close to the engines during the flight, the sound of the turbines turning would be annoying, but that doesn't happen here. The toilets are also spacious and clean."
"If I could choose my flight schedule, I would definitely use it," he said, appearing to be very satisfied with the A350.
"For a domestic flight, the storage space is surprisingly spacious!"
Next up is the Inokuma family, who had just enjoyed a family trip. On the day they visited Ainoshima, a small island in the Genkai Sea in Fukuoka Prefecture where many cats live, they boarded an A350 in economy class on the return flight from Fukuoka to Tokyo.
"The storage space above the seats is spacious. It's tall and deep, so it's easy to put luggage in. The seats are also very comfortable, so it's really nice to sit in." (Father)
Taking into account the current trends of our customers, the A350 has a wide fuselage, and the overhead storage is large enough to hold a carry-on size trunk standing upright. It is also equipped with an electrically assisted mechanism, which makes it easy to open and close. The newly designed seats are also international specifications, and are even more comfortable than the seats on conventional domestic flights.
"In addition to the convenient cup holders and storage compartments, the legroom is spacious, which is a nice touch for families with children."
"The legroom is spacious and comfortable. When you have children it's easy to drop things, but this makes it easy to pick them up." (Mother)
Children will be presented with a model A350 by the cabin attendants (please note that numbers are limited). My eldest son, 7 years old and a huge airplane enthusiast, immediately put the model together.
"This table is very convenient because it can be folded in half. Even when folded compactly in half, there is a recess where you can place a drink, which is convenient for placing your smartphone or other small items. I also like that the drink holder can be used even when the table is stored. I also like that there is a small item holder in the seat pocket." (Mother)
"The kids were so excited watching the takeoff and landing on their personal monitors!"
One thing that everyone seemed to enjoy was the personal monitors installed in every seat. Cameras on the tail and under the fuselage allowed them to see real-time footage of the outside world. The takeoff and landing were particularly impressive, and the two children were glued to the screen.
"My child gets bored very quickly, so it's hard to keep him quiet in his seat. The flight there wasn't an A350, but I brought lots of snacks with me and gave them one after another to keep him entertained. If there are personal monitors, he watches them on his own, so it's a lot easier for me as a parent (laughs)." (Mother)
On the individual monitors, you can enjoy a variety of content, including movies, animations, in-flight magazines, general magazines, and even picture books. When a movie program stops, an 8-digit code is issued, and you can enter this code on the return flight or other trip to resume playback from where you left off. (A350 and domestic 787* only). *The Tokyo-Itami route is scheduled to begin on October 27th.
"I think any parent would understand, but when taking small children on a plane, the biggest worry is that they'll make a lot of noise. So it's really helpful to have all the different videos available. Plus, adults can enjoy it too," said a father.
"Flights with kids have gone from 'long' to 'fun'"
Before landing at Haneda Airport, the children were sleeping soundly in the quiet cabin with engine noise suppressed.
"It seems like it's rare to find a domestic flight of this quality. It's easy to get bored on an airplane, but the A350 is comfortable and has plenty of entertainment options, so you can use the flight time effectively. When flying with children, there's a lot of looking after them, so the flight feels long. But with this, instead of thinking, 'That was long...' I think, 'That was fun!' and it becomes a fond memory." (Father)
In addition to the Class J and economy class seats that we boarded this time, you can also choose First Class. The A350 was designed with attention to detail in every aspect, including quietness, comfort, and entertainment, so you will surely feel the evolution of airplanes. On October 27th, some flights between Haneda and New Chitose Airport will start operating, and the number of flights will gradually increase. We look forward to seeing you on our flight, whether you are traveling or on business.
The contents published are accurate at the time of publication and are subject to change.
