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AeroMexico: MEX-JFK on the 787

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  • AeroMexico: MEX-JFK on the 787

    Since the Boeing 787 entered commercial service in 2011, I have been looking out for routes flown by the aircraft which coincide with my travel plans. Finally, I was able to fit in a flight on this innovative new Boeing…

    AM 408
    Boeing 787-8
    N964AM
    MEX-JFK
    01/01/14

    Pre-departure

    AeroMexico (AM) serves JFK several times daily with the 737, except for the 7:25am departure which sees the 787. This was the case when I booked my flight in late 2013, I am not sure if it’s still the same.

    With a 7:25am departure, I arrived at Terminal 2 of Benito Juarez Airport before 5 am. The terminal was fairly alive, with a decent number of passengers catching early morning flights.


    The terminal itself is really modern and reminds me of the main building of Paris CDG 2F, with all that concrete punctuated by holes barely affording any views out of the terminal.


    Check-in and security was smooth and I was in the secure zone in minutes. Unfortunately I couldn’t buy any last-minute gifts from Mexico as none of the shops were open yet. I strode to my gate, at the end of the terminal, and to my relief, the 787 was sitting pretty right there. I was really nervous that there would have been an equipment swap, which would have been a complete waste of flying AM for nothing. I would have picked a Star Alliance carrier like United over AM if not for the 787.


    Before long, boarding commenced.


    The terminal windows were more generous towards the aerobridge, adding to the sense of excitement as I approached this beauty.






    Business Class seats looked pretty standard, I think it’s the same B/E Aerospace ones used by Air China and United (BusinessFIrst).


    Economy Class is configured 3-3-3, unfortunately the norm for 787 operators. I was anticipating if SQ would configure theirs in a more premium 2-4-2 ala ANA, until they transferred the order to Scoot. We’ll have to wait till the 787-10 to find out now. The legroom was nothing to shout about, but I could really feel the tightness in seat width.






    Here we see a ground worker taking a selfie with the 787.
    Last edited by Jumbojet Lover; 14 December 2014, 11:59 AM.

  • #2
    The flight



    After an uneventful taxi, we took off and ascended above foggy Mexico City.


    Over Mexico


    I began exploring the touchscreen IFE. The centre button pulls up the menu. Besides have screen brightness and volume controls on the touchscreen, there were also buttons to call for/cancel service and to control the personal reading light.




    The choice of entertainment was limited, with nothing interesting to watch, so I ended up listening to music instead.


    The only meal served was breakfast. I don’t remember having a choice. I had some sort of vegetable-omelette casserole. It wasn’t fantastic, but what made up for it was the portion size and fact that it was accompanied by fruits, a bun and a chocolate muffin. This certainly exceeded my expectations.


    Now this being the 787, I tried to fiddle with the electronic dimmable windows. Disappointedly, controls seemed to have been restricted by the crew and I could not adjust it along the full range of settings.




    I suppose this was for a uniform brightness/darkness so no one floods the cabin with light. Being such an early flight, there were many passengers sleeping.
    Last edited by Jumbojet Lover; 14 December 2014, 12:00 PM.

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    • #3
      Descent, landing



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      We descended slowly, gracefully, over Jamaica Bay and landed at JFK. While landing, I caught sight of a familiar, proud A380 tail at Terminal 4, the only time that day I saw the bird.


      We taxied past Terminal 7 and 8 before turning in to park at Terminal 1.






      I discovered that the controls of the dimmable windows were finally unlocked. This finally gave me a chance to play with them.




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      After the seatbelt sign was switched off, there was a wait of 15-20 minutes before passengers began to move forward and disembark.


      I took this photo of an AF triple seven before a security officer sternly and loudly called me out and told me photography was not allowed.


      Overall, it was nice to finally experience the 787, but there was nothing very noticeable about it. The dimmable windows were locked for most of the flight, so I did not get much chance to play with it. The seat fabric was comfortable but the seat itself was narrow. The food was good for a North American airline. The IFE selection was poor.

      And now special mention for the poor service. After boarding and the mandatory safety briefing, the crew were only seen during the meal service, and once more doing the safety checks before landing. They were an unenthused bunch, never smiling or doing more than necessary. Once I pushed the attendant button to request for water and one of them returned to hand it to me, unsmilingly, her long glittering faux nails barely gripping the plastic cup.

      I only flew AeroMexico for the 787, but from now on I think I would go out of my way to avoid them if I need to fly to/from Mexico.

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      • #4
        Great job, Jumbojet Lover. I enjoyed your TR! Looking forward to visiting the western hemisphere again in the near future.

        Comment


        • #5
          Originally posted by Jumbojet Lover View Post
          only flew AeroMexico for the 787, but from now on I think I would go out of my way to avoid them if I need to fly to/from Mexico.
          A very good read, Jumbojet Lover, thanks for posting!

          I have never flown a 787 in 9-abreast Y config, but having experienced JAL's 2-4-2 Y, which was excellent, I would go out of my way to avoid 9-abreast 787 Y. Well, maybe I would want to try it once, but I would not fly it on a regular basis.

          It is quite painful to see a wonderful plane like the 787 ruined from the perspective of passenger comfort by configuring it 3-3-3 in Y...

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          • #6
            Originally posted by yflyer View Post
            A very good read, Jumbojet Lover, thanks for posting!

            I have never flown a 787 in 9-abreast Y config, but having experienced JAL's 2-4-2 Y, which was excellent, I would go out of my way to avoid 9-abreast 787 Y. Well, maybe I would want to try it once, but I would not fly it on a regular basis.

            It is quite painful to see a wonderful plane like the 787 ruined from the perspective of passenger comfort by configuring it 3-3-3 in Y...
            I agree that 2-4-2 is good for Y in 787, but I can confirm that 3-3-3 is not. I have flown on NH with this configuration domestically in Japan, and while the service was good the seat was not very comfortable. It rather felt like Y on EK's 777s.

            There was a TR by Carfield on NH's 787-9 inaugural that shows that it also has 3-3-3.

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            • #7
              Originally posted by SQGamespeed View Post
              I agree that 2-4-2 is good for Y in 787, but I can confirm that 3-3-3 is not. I have flown on NH with this configuration domestically in Japan, and while the service was good the seat was not very comfortable. It rather felt like Y on EK's 777s.

              There was a TR by Carfield on NH's 787-9 inaugural that shows that it also has 3-3-3.
              And I just found out from a friend who flew PAL earlier this week that their new A330 is configured 3-3-3. I didn't even know that was feasible!

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              • #8
                Originally posted by yflyer View Post
                And I just found out from a friend who flew PAL earlier this week that their new A330 is configured 3-3-3. I didn't even know that was feasible!
                !

                This reminds of Air Asia X and their A330s and A340s being configured this way (I think). Bloody ridiculous to add more discomfort, regardless of the carrier.
                Last edited by SQGamespeed; 17 December 2014, 05:57 AM.

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