Both Boeing and Airbus have their good and bad points and you can go around in circles for ever. I flew back to Singapore last week on the 330 and was quite impressed with the comfort and noise level, but for long-haul it's terribly slow. 8 hours 15 for BNE to SIN. My last flight from SYD to SIN on the 744 was only 7 hours and 10. ( I know the winds were probably different). To be stuck behind a 330 coming out of Japan is plain agony, like watching paint dry. What is it, the wing or lack of power? You blokes are not flying around with the gear down are you??