First time on a BA A380

[Hokulea]

Hello, everyone.

It's been a while since I last posted here but still remember all the help and advice I was given many years ago, and still remain grateful for that (http://www.pprune.org/passengers-slf-self-loading-freight/488091-us-uk-citizen-travelling-together-uk-passport-control.html). My partner and I are planning to return to the UK for another special trip.

On this trip (May 2017) we're flying BA 286 from San Francisco to Heathrow (Club World). This is an Airbus 380, an aircraft I've never flown in before. I'm actually quite excited for the new experience! However, I do have one or two questions for those that might have more experience, so hope someone can help.

1) My partner is disabled which is clear in my booking. She can walk but stairs are a problem. We're currently booked in the upper cabin and no matter where I look I've been unable to find any information on boarding the upper cabin at SFO (and departing at Heathrow). Due to that, I've watched several youtube videos which suggest that there is jet bridge to the upper cabin at both airports. Is this correct?

2) We are currently booked in seats 52A & B, i.e., on the port side. I have the window, she has the aisle. The reason for this is that I'm hoping, just on the off chance, that the northern light might be active that night. I know it's a long shot, but it's also the place to watch the sunrise.

I've searched so many places and there are recommendations about various rows and seats in that cabin, plus seats to avoid, but have yet to find anything that mentions those seats. I take that as a good thing but wondered if anyone had a little more info.

All the other stuff is sorted thanks to the help I received here in the past.

Thanks!

[yellowtriumph]

I'm not much help I'm afraid as I have only flown on an A380 once, but it was a CW flight with BA. As I assume this will be an overnight flight try and make sure your seats are as far away from the the kitchen area as you can. The is where the cabin crew will be seated during the quiet time in the flight when everyone will be trying to sleep. We found the constant loud chattering of the crew meant we couldn't drop off to sleep, and that was after approaching them and asking them to keep the noise down.

We flew a return flight from Heathrow and there were independent airbridges for both deck levels. We were on the upper deck and had no need to go to the lower deck at any point. I hope this is of some small help to you.

[Hokulea]

Thank you, YT, that's actually quite helpful. All the CW seats on the right-hand side are still open and it was tempting to pick the pair which allowed direct access to the aisle for the window seat (row 53), but SeatGuru did mention noise from the galley could be bothersome, so it's nice to get some confirmation of that. Yes, it is a redeye.

[Tray Surfer]

When I worked for BA, I was A380 trained and worked SFO flights a lot through trip requests and trip swaps.

Yes, independent boarding to the upper deck at both SFO and LHR, which is why you won't be able to board at the usual BA gates where the BA lounge is. And, on the lounge note, for the A380 flight, the lounge will be packed, more so than usual. 97 business passengers, plus all the other silver card and other one world card holders in there, it will be very, very busy.

In regards to your seating, the upper deck of the A380 is very quiet, everywhere, so you will always hear more noise than on the lower deck. So, if you are going to feel that you will be noise sensitive, move further away from the galley. Rear of the second cabin would be better if that is going to be an issue for you, however, you then have the risk of infants on the other side of the bulkhead to the WT+ cabin.

[Hokulea]

Thanks, Tray Surfer, that's really helpful. I'm not bothered about the lounge, we have a connecting flight to SFO and doubt we'd have much time to enjoy the lounge anyway, so that's not a factor. As for the cabin, seats, and noise, then I think our current seats are probably good ones. They're not next to the galley but close enough that my partner can visit easily if she needs water or assistance with anything (I'll be there as well of course!).

Good to know there's direct access to the upper cabin. CW seating in the lower cabin appears to be over what I assume are massive wings, but I enjoy looking out of the window and the upper cabin seems much better suited for that, especially the forward cabin.

[Tray Surfer]

Yep... The wing root is indeed massive on the A380, and nearly all of the lower deck CW seats look at the wing, so if that is what you want, then upper deck is better.

In regards to the bathrooms too, if your partner can, try and use the bathroom at the front, on the left hand side of the staircase (as you look forward in the aircraft) as there is a seating bench in there too, so useful for getting changed, support for getting up and down and the likes. The bathrooms at the front are very spacious, so no problems moving around etc.

[Hokulea]

Thank you so much, that is great to know and will definitely help my partner!

[Tray Surfer]

No problem.

If you have any other questions, feel free to ask, PM me also if you want to. :ok:

[Background Noise]

We have just done LA and back on a BA380 - both ways on the upper deck, and in 53J and 53K. Coming back overnight we were not overly disturbed by the crew in the galley - although we have had that problem on other flights. There were certainly upper deck jetties at Heathrow.

The front of the upper deck would be my preference as the only through traffic is to the forward bathrooms as they rope off the forward stairs. As said, the bathrooms are huge.

The back row does have unencumbered access to the aisle, but the aisle seat will still have the person from the window seat in the row in front climbing over you to get out. This was more disturbing on our return than any galley noise - mostly because of the biff in the row in front.

The upper deck window seats also have useful storage bins outboard of the seats, as a result of the curvature of the fuselage and there only being 7 seats across vs 8 on the lower deck. The downside of the sloping window is that the view is slightly less good from the upper deck.

[Hokulea]

Thanks, Background Noise, more great information! We're only flying BA from SFO to LHR, but it's good to know we shouldn't have to deal with steps after landing. The flight was booked via American Airlines, so the BA flight is a codeshare. The return trip to the US is on a regular AA flight, a B777, but am more than familiar with that type so know what I'm dealing with there!

[Background Noise]

It's a pleasure - I've sent some more info in a PM.

[angels]

What a lovely thread. Thanks to those kind people who helped Hokulea. You are credits to Pprune! :D

I can offer no help whatsoever, having yet to travel on the 380, but can I just wish Hokulea and his partner a very pleasant trip and hope that you both have a great stay here! :ok:

[Hokulea]

That's very nice of you to say, angels, and yes, everyone has been so helpful - all my questions were answered and any anxieties I had about the flight for my partner have gone!

We both can't wait for the trip. I grew up in the UK, but this will be only the second trip there for her. She absolutely adored it last time and hope this will be the same. This time it's the London area for a couple of days, Snowdonia, across to Dublin and then the southern coast of Ireland before it's back to the UK and Oxford before returning to the west London area (where I grew up and my old Mum still lives!).

I will try and remember to post a brief summary in this thread of how we found the flight after we return - it'll be in a couple of months, though. Hopefully, it will help anyone else with similar concerns when flying the BA A380.

[rjtjrt]

Please do post a follow up summary of your thoughts after the flight.

[Hokulea]

OK, it turns out, after thinking about things, that I do have one more question! What prompted this was a comment from Background Noise:

"The back row does have unencumbered access to the aisle, but the aisle seat will still have the person from the window seat in the row in front climbing over you to get out. This was more disturbing on our return than any galley noise - mostly because of the biff in the row in front."

We're in 52A and B, but was wondering about the option of me sitting in 51A. This would mean I would be the biff that had to climb over her. It would mean we'd both be sitting next to strangers but at least she would only have to complain about me waking her up.

I have to admit I suspect this is not the best option and also reduces the pairs of seats for other couples, but curious if anyone has any thoughts.

[Haven't a clue]

I wouldn't worry about "blocking" seats for other couples. There will be many singles on the upper deck based on my experience. I've used 53A and 50B to avoid waking up my neighbour when in need of a toilet break. Noise from the galley is, as others have reported, an issue with 53A. You can however be disturbed (sometimes physically bumped into - ouch) in 50B by fellow pax heading to the washrooms but leaving that aside it is much quieter. I would have recommended this for your partners needs as it is also the shortest route to the washroom and would have allowed you to sit next to her, but I see from The BA Source seat map comments that 50A has a window by the footstool which defeats your looking out the window objective.

So if you don't want your partner disturbed then your non adjacent seat approach might make sense. Or you might put her in 50B and you take 51A.

I think you will enjoy the 380; I have done many sectors to/from HKG on them, and I much prefer it to the (noisy) 777 that also plies that route.

[Kewbick]

Regarding the Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis), due to the extended twilight in the northern latitudes in mid-May, viewing may be less than spectacular.

[Hokulea]

Thank you, Haven't a clue, lots of good info there to think about. I originally thought about seats 50 A&B, but checked SeatGuru which said that 50A is missing a window, so it never came into consideration. As for the non-adjacent seat idea, it's looking a little less likely now. I checked the seating on BA.com and the CW seats are now starting to fill up for our flight. My partner will manage walking from row 52 to the lavatories at the front, so not too concerned about that - but thank you so much for thinking about that!

Kewbick - yes, I know it's a real long shot. I've only ever seen the aurora once before which was on a flight over the North Atlantic near the Solar Maximum back in 2001 - it was actually in April. It was particularly unspectacular. I even ended up asking a flight attendant if they could check with the flightdeck if it was the aurora. They were kind enough to check and let me know it was. It looked like a swirling bank of fog just above the northern horizon but with no colour.

At least I can say I've seen it, but I'll grab any opportunity to see it again!

[Background Noise]

Don't bank on empty seats - maybe the case to the far east but on our recent trip to/from LAX the aircraft was full both ways.

The problem with the current BA Club World seating is that if you plan to sit together, one of you will always have a problem. If you are at the front, the window occupant will have to climb over someone's feet, if you are at the back the aisle occupant will have someone climbing over them. They are apparently about to unveil some new design which sorts all that out.

Despite all that, and any minor personal preferences, I reckon you will be fine anywhere in the forward section of the upper deck.

[Tray Surfer]

Don't seat her in 50B...

There is a big heavy curtain which is pulled around the end of that seats foot stool area to close out the area at the top of the forward staircase, it is very close to the seat, and as people go through it to go too and from the bathrooms, it often gets moved enough to disturb peoples sleep etc. And, it is almost like sitting in a cupboard with a wardrobe to one side and not being able to see the single window which is within 50A seat space... Just don't do it.

I think you will be absolutely fine where you are...

And, yes Background Noise, the new seat, which was unveiled yesterday is a similar design, but the end where the foot stool is, is closed in, and there is a gap between each "pod" of pairs of seats to allow access without stepping over anyones feet.

[Background Noise]

Sorry, Hokulea, missed your question at post 15. No, I'd always go for a pair of seats together - otherwise you will be staring at a stranger through the divider. The cabin crew often serve through the divider so you can keep it open as a couple and be served together, eat together, pass things through etc. Of course, if you plan to sleep throughout it is slightly different but still we always plan to be in side by side seats. It is just one of those BA CW oddities, and they have got the message and are changing the layout.

[Hokulea]

Thanks again, everyone, you've all been so helpful.

I've settled on sticking with our current seats, we should be just fine there. Both of us can't wait for the trip and I do promise to post a quick report when we return.

All the best to you all!

[Hokulea]

All,

As promised I will write a brief review for those interested about our experience on this flight. We landed yesterday (only to learn of the sad events in Manchester) and basically, the flight itself was a wonderful experience. I'll post that review in a few days when we're not so jet-lagged.

The one thing that really spoiled the experience was the lack of accessibility help once we were at the gate. We had to stay on board for a long time (probably close to half an hour), delaying the flight crew from leaving because no-one turned up with wheelchairs (we were not alone, there were a few others who had to stay on the plane as well).

The flight attendants were wonderful but pleaded with us to write a letter of complaint. I can understand why. This makes them look bad when it's the fault of the airport because as I understand things, in the UK it's not the airline's responsibility for this (it's the airline's responsibility in the US).

I'm happy to write such a letter. Does anyone happen to know who I should write to, is it BAA or someone else? It's not as if this was a last minute request, I added the request for help when I made the booking several months ago. I know I should have asked the flight attendants, but was pretty knackered after a very long journey and just didn't think of it after I said I'd write a letter.

Many thanks in advance.

[DaveReidUK]

I'm happy to write such a letter. Does anyone happen to know who I should write to, is it BAA or someone else

"To help us ensure your journey through Heathrow is as smooth and comfortable as possible, please tell us more about your journey through the airport. You can use the form below to give us feedback, make a complaint or ask a question."

Airport feedback | Heathrow (http://www.heathrow.com/more/contact-us/airport-feedback)

[Hotel Tango]

The delay may have been down to availability. If you arrived at a peak time you can imagine just how many passengers on multiple wide-bodied aircraft may require assistance just at that moment. Demand may vary quite considerably from day to day. I would imagine that there's an obvious financial constraint on the amount of staff they can employ for this particular task. So, some days (or time of day) will be better than others.

[Hokulea]

My apologies. I promised a brief review of the flight and haven't got around to it until now, but a promise is a promise.

Our flight (BA 286, May 22, booked via AA) was fantastic! Firstly, the downside. Both my partner and I are in the TSA Pre programme so thought we could go through security without the usual rigmarole of getting half undressed, but sadly, this was not the case. I had boarding cards issued by American with TSA Pre on them, but apparently if you fly BA from the US, that doesn't count, so we had to return to check in to have no cards issued. Anyway, we got through in the end.

Boarding was easy and the person pushing my partner's wheelchair was allowed on board to help with bags - that was a nice touch and she got a nice tip! There were jet bridges to both decks.

The flight was good and the flight attendants were superb, especially helping my partner with one or two issues. The food was good but the seating arrangement in Club World was an issue on a long flight. It was hard for me to avoid disturbing another passenger in an aisle seat on the odd occasion I had to go to the loo. I think next time I'll certainly look at seat 54A or K. As was mentioned earlier in the thread, I discovered that 50B and J should be avoided, definitely not too private and subject to being disturbed.

The loo at the front on the left was enormous! Even the other was larger than most, and the upper deck was really quiet, it was easy to have a conversation without raising your voice.

As for the seat itself, well, it was comfortable enough but I found it a little cramped when trying to sleep. The AA 772 return flight had a much more comfortable lie-flat seat although the service wasn't in the same league as BA and storage space was almost non-existent. There was access to the aisle, though, even from a window seat which made up for that.

The one big downside was the disability assistance we got from LHR when we landed, which I mentioned in another post. Other than that, we both had an enjoyable and comfortable trip, and I have to say thank you to the flight attendants who were all wonderful!

And my partner adored the whole trip in the UK and Ireland (as did I)! It was nice to get back home for a few weeks for leaisure rather than work.