Veeery Long!!
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Veeery Long!!
Singapore Airlines broke its own nonstop flight distance record this week with an A340-500 flight from Singapore to Newark. The 9,000-nm flight was completed in 18 hr. 18 min. The previous record was set in Feb. by an SIA flight from Singapore to Los Angeles. On that occasion the A340-500 completed the 7,609-nm flight in 14 hr. 42 min.
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Are all of these extended flights going to be with increased seating space and reduced passenger numbers, as with the Singapore flight?
LHR-LAX isn't particularly pleasant down the back, especially if your in the middle bank of seats, and I would hate to travel for 18+ hours like that.
LHR-LAX isn't particularly pleasant down the back, especially if your in the middle bank of seats, and I would hate to travel for 18+ hours like that.
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Yep, way too long. Can't believe crew or pax will enjoy it. It might be convenient for business men but I would bet they don't enjoy it either.
What comes to my mind is that there is nothing on the horizon to counter ever longer and longer flights. Faster is better but faster is not out there.
What comes to my mind is that there is nothing on the horizon to counter ever longer and longer flights. Faster is better but faster is not out there.
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Rolling Thunder
It's all about perception on the pax's part. They are doing the journey already, but they have to make a stop en-route on the current schedules. Most people, when looking at a journey, will see non-stop 18hrs versus stopping 25-30 hrs and go for the non-stop option. The reality of what it's like to be cooped up in an aluminium tube for 18hrs won't really hit until they are 2 hours into the flight, with 16hrs to go.
As for the crew, it all depends on what rest facilities are provided. A comfy mattress, nice and quiet, changing area with facilities to wash and (if required) shave can make all the difference. However, a hard bench with a thin bit of foam located just behind the engines isn't really conducive to satisfactory rest IMHO.
It's all about perception on the pax's part. They are doing the journey already, but they have to make a stop en-route on the current schedules. Most people, when looking at a journey, will see non-stop 18hrs versus stopping 25-30 hrs and go for the non-stop option. The reality of what it's like to be cooped up in an aluminium tube for 18hrs won't really hit until they are 2 hours into the flight, with 16hrs to go.
As for the crew, it all depends on what rest facilities are provided. A comfy mattress, nice and quiet, changing area with facilities to wash and (if required) shave can make all the difference. However, a hard bench with a thin bit of foam located just behind the engines isn't really conducive to satisfactory rest IMHO.
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Yep, way too long. Can't believe crew or pax will enjoy it. It might be convenient for business men but I would bet they don't enjoy it either.
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I read the advert in New York Times (it was 2 full page spread). They got this Exective Econ class. The photos shows more leg room plus they have a standing area for passenagers to use and chat. Looks pretty good but 18 hours is killer. I remember not getting any sleep on a 12 hour flight from HKG to YVR on CX econ class. As for CX's HKG to New York, I haven't heard anything about changes to the econ class seating. Most likely they won't change it.
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Just bear in mind that Singapore only has a 181-seat-configuration with two classes on the Airbus 340-500. Just read at the Airbus-Homepage, that Air Canada will have two classes, but 267 seats.
So there must definitely be more legroom than usual.
So there must definitely be more legroom than usual.
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If you look on Singapore's website, the economy cabin on the A340-500 looks similar to the Premium Economy cabin on Virgin Atlantic's A340-600, i.e. 35-36" legroom, 2-3-2 rather than 2-4-2 seating, and fantastic IFE! At least SIA have made a bit of effort with the 'Leadership' economy cabin. Anyone looked into the cost of the direct vs indirect flight?
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Quote from the press release:
Looks like they've covered the physiological and sociological dangers quite well.
Singapore Airlines' fleet of five A340-500s is configured with 64 enhanced Raffles Business Class and 117 Executive Economy Class seats. The cabins for both classes feature special areas and amenities for passengers to stretch their legs, socialize and relax on ultra-long-haul service.
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Emirates solution to ultra-long haul
The Emirates A340-500's amenities include 12 fully enclosed First Class suites with flat beds and sliding doors that can be opened or closed at will for privacy.
Other features include quieter cabins, revolutionary lighting to help reset body clocks and minimize jetlag, the world’s most advanced in-flight entertainment, with 500-plus channels, and Room Service, an Emirates first. Customers phone the galley to order meals, served at their seat at the time of their choice. Inside the aircraft, the quietest in service, noise-cancelling headsets will help them enjoy the huge variety of in-flight programs, from classic films to opera.
Business Class seats are laid out 2-2-2, putting everyone beside either an aisle or window, and adjust at the touch of a button. Emirates Economy also has been redesigned to make cabins quieter and more restful, with wider, more comfortable 2-4-2 seats and nine-inch personal video screens -- larger than in almost every other Economy class. The aircraft can carry 12 First, 42 Business and 204 Economy customers, a total of 258 people, and some 14 tonnes of airfreight.
Their advertising says "The problem will not be to get people on these flights, but to get them off at the other end because of the fantastic onboard amenities.
Other features include quieter cabins, revolutionary lighting to help reset body clocks and minimize jetlag, the world’s most advanced in-flight entertainment, with 500-plus channels, and Room Service, an Emirates first. Customers phone the galley to order meals, served at their seat at the time of their choice. Inside the aircraft, the quietest in service, noise-cancelling headsets will help them enjoy the huge variety of in-flight programs, from classic films to opera.
Business Class seats are laid out 2-2-2, putting everyone beside either an aisle or window, and adjust at the touch of a button. Emirates Economy also has been redesigned to make cabins quieter and more restful, with wider, more comfortable 2-4-2 seats and nine-inch personal video screens -- larger than in almost every other Economy class. The aircraft can carry 12 First, 42 Business and 204 Economy customers, a total of 258 people, and some 14 tonnes of airfreight.
Their advertising says "The problem will not be to get people on these flights, but to get them off at the other end because of the fantastic onboard amenities.
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MachD
Thats interesting on EK's A340's. My father/aunt are going to Auckland with EK in January. 3 stops on the way out 777 all the way and two coming back with a A340/777 combination. The SYD-DXB leg is listed as 14 hrs 40 minutes. Anyone know how the economy cabin in the EK777's is laid out with regard to seat pitch/layout, IFE etc? Many thanks.
Thats interesting on EK's A340's. My father/aunt are going to Auckland with EK in January. 3 stops on the way out 777 all the way and two coming back with a A340/777 combination. The SYD-DXB leg is listed as 14 hrs 40 minutes. Anyone know how the economy cabin in the EK777's is laid out with regard to seat pitch/layout, IFE etc? Many thanks.
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If I were to take a 16-hour flight; rather be on a SQ "Leadership" than the EK version. The EK version has bog-standard EK Economy that you can find on any other aircraft in the fleet.....same seats, same legroom, same service.
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Go here http://www.emirates.com/ and look under "about emirates" to find the seat plan.
You arent going to be too comfortable in y class I am afraid.
10 abreast and 320 in the 777-300
Better you travel SQ 9 abreast and 265 in y class on the 777
In flight service is great as is the inflight entertainment.
Dunno how many movie/tv/channels there are but its way more then you will be able to watch .
You arent going to be too comfortable in y class I am afraid.
10 abreast and 320 in the 777-300
Better you travel SQ 9 abreast and 265 in y class on the 777
In flight service is great as is the inflight entertainment.
Dunno how many movie/tv/channels there are but its way more then you will be able to watch .
