A lifeline for the A380?
I suppose it can depend on the class that one is flying in as to how nice a flight is, or to a degree the corporate culture of each airline. I've not had the pleasure of the 380, but have few complaints about the 777 or 787, except for those BA 777's that were LGW based going to the Carribbean with a laughable foot/legspace area due to the IFE boxes for each seat being in the passenger space. All my handful of 787 experiences have been good, so I'm curious to know what the issues of the road-warriors were, as they would have regular experience to judge one against the other.
Paxing All Over The World
(thread drift) Primarily, I do not like the 787 because of it's windows. It is stated that indvidual windows can have their glass set to 'open' by the CC. I have yet to find this. They tell me that they cannot 'open' the window and, consequently, I cannout see out whenever I want to. For early morning, I tell them that I will place a blanket fully over my head so as not to disturb anyone else. No. Cannot be done.
For me, looking at the world from an aircraft window is very important. At night, I enjoy seeing the stars, moon, thunderstorms and the lights on the ground. I particularly like to watch the sunrise at FL390. I do not want to have my view obstructed by fancy electronic windows dreamt up by someone who thought it would be 'modern' or a carrier trying to impose their rules of lockdown - to coin a phrase! They subject me to a colour show of pastel shades when they want to wake me up for food and the window makes the world look pink.
I may have been happily awake, reading, watching and listening and, ideally, take careful peaks out at the passing scene - with the blanket to stop light spilling. I take my sunglasses with me for this treat.
Secondly, I am not comfortable with the design and build of the aircraft. No major prangs to date but never happy about them having to rejig the battery housing and some other points. But that's another story.
For me, looking at the world from an aircraft window is very important. At night, I enjoy seeing the stars, moon, thunderstorms and the lights on the ground. I particularly like to watch the sunrise at FL390. I do not want to have my view obstructed by fancy electronic windows dreamt up by someone who thought it would be 'modern' or a carrier trying to impose their rules of lockdown - to coin a phrase! They subject me to a colour show of pastel shades when they want to wake me up for food and the window makes the world look pink.
I may have been happily awake, reading, watching and listening and, ideally, take careful peaks out at the passing scene - with the blanket to stop light spilling. I take my sunglasses with me for this treat.
Secondly, I am not comfortable with the design and build of the aircraft. No major prangs to date but never happy about them having to rejig the battery housing and some other points. But that's another story.
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SpringHeeledJack
The 777 is a bit like a pick up truck ie rugged, but noisy I find, and the air circulation is not great in comparison with the Airbus products. Those BA ones at Gatwick as you say are cramped, although I have only flown on that fleet once some years ago. The 787 as PAXboy says disappoints with its window blinds, and also as I flew on them a bit with ANA, who were a launch partner, they had some tech issues, and there is the battery issue which is always in the back of the mind, especially when out over the bigger oceans. They have not yet had a big prang with 787, but I am a little unsure about new Boeing products in general at the moment due to the engineering issues v accountancy led short cuts, which have occurred. Just to balance things re Airbus, the A330 is not a plane I like flying that much, as I used to spend a bit of time on EK ones before they moved more to 777 on the routes I used, and the seats in Business were not as good as the 777. The A340 had also had issues with seats on some carriers, but generally I quite liked it.
As in all things the actual airline can make a big difference in the seats and make up they chose, and the class you fly (luckily Business in my case), and indeed the service provided by their staff, and I take equal care in choosing them as well. Hope that help explains things from my point of view.
The 777 is a bit like a pick up truck ie rugged, but noisy I find, and the air circulation is not great in comparison with the Airbus products. Those BA ones at Gatwick as you say are cramped, although I have only flown on that fleet once some years ago. The 787 as PAXboy says disappoints with its window blinds, and also as I flew on them a bit with ANA, who were a launch partner, they had some tech issues, and there is the battery issue which is always in the back of the mind, especially when out over the bigger oceans. They have not yet had a big prang with 787, but I am a little unsure about new Boeing products in general at the moment due to the engineering issues v accountancy led short cuts, which have occurred. Just to balance things re Airbus, the A330 is not a plane I like flying that much, as I used to spend a bit of time on EK ones before they moved more to 777 on the routes I used, and the seats in Business were not as good as the 777. The A340 had also had issues with seats on some carriers, but generally I quite liked it.
As in all things the actual airline can make a big difference in the seats and make up they chose, and the class you fly (luckily Business in my case), and indeed the service provided by their staff, and I take equal care in choosing them as well. Hope that help explains things from my point of view.
Emirates are heavily committed to the A380, with it making up close to half of their total fleet. They have no option but to keep flying them even if they’re half empty. Cabin refurbishment and a new premium economy product makes them more attractive to pax and keeps the load factors up.
The A380 is now a flagship rather than a serious money maker. It gives the airline status, similar to BA and AF with the Concorde. EK will use it on premium routes and it will pull in pax, it might even run at a small profit but its days are basically over.
The A380 is now a flagship rather than a serious money maker. It gives the airline status, similar to BA and AF with the Concorde. EK will use it on premium routes and it will pull in pax, it might even run at a small profit but its days are basically over.
Thanks to both PAXboy and Mr Mac for your views regarding the 787. Yes, the windows are a pain and the mores of the cabin crew against reasonable personable choice is frustrating and diminishes enjoyment of the flight. I love looking out the window, especially over remote areas noting the topography and other features, making mental notes to look up what 'that' was later (and then forgetting to do so). The battery issues are a theme that I completelt forgot about, there were a spate of them in the first year of the 787, including that Ethiopian Airlines airframe at LHR. Yes, that remembering might have made me sweat a bit on over water flights, I'm glad that that issue has been solved, at least as far as I'm aware.
Of all the problems the 787 has had, the battery issue is not one of them any more. It has been sorted.
The Ethiopean fire was caused by an ELT not an aircraft battery. As far as I know it was an isolated event.
The Ethiopean fire was caused by an ELT not an aircraft battery. As far as I know it was an isolated event.
Son of Slot
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As we do not have much to talk about right now ... I am happy for this thread, initially about the A380, to continue to discuss experiences on all aircraft.
I'm afraid that I believe some (by no means all) crews take their own action over windows. Some years ago, seated next to a window a crew member reached past me with a tray to extend their reach and, without a word, pushed the blind next to me down. I was so surprised and irritated that I immediately snapped it back up which I think caught the crew member off guard because they just walked off.
As fot the 787 my few flight so far haven't given me any problems with the windows. Yes, the crew has control but I've found that when they "turn the blinds down" I can still open them up again and I don't need to open them all the way.
Some years ago I was asked what my least favourite aircraft was. When I replied the 777 the questioner was aghast but I agree with those who say it's noisy inside. I'm very sorry to see the 747 going away (yes, I know there are a few still around). I've been flying long haul since the late 60s and a large proportion of those flights have been on a 747 and about my only complaint was that the further back you were seated the more movement there was even in still air.
As fot the 787 my few flight so far haven't given me any problems with the windows. Yes, the crew has control but I've found that when they "turn the blinds down" I can still open them up again and I don't need to open them all the way.
Some years ago I was asked what my least favourite aircraft was. When I replied the 777 the questioner was aghast but I agree with those who say it's noisy inside. I'm very sorry to see the 747 going away (yes, I know there are a few still around). I've been flying long haul since the late 60s and a large proportion of those flights have been on a 747 and about my only complaint was that the further back you were seated the more movement there was even in still air.
've been flying long haul since the late 60s and a large proportion of those flights have been on a 747 and about my only complaint was that the further back you were seated the more movement there was even in still air.
I'm beginning to think I may have had what might turn out to be a unique 2020 long haul experience....well at least for a chap whose never really grown up from being a teenage plane spotter
In late May, my repatriation flight from CPT-LHR was in BA B747-436 G-CIVO. 4th last ever BA 747 pax service as it turned out and my 58th and last ride in a BA B747 going back to 1978. In late November, the first leg of my return flight home to CPT, (LHR-DXB) was in EK A380-842 A6-EVK. So not only a 747/A380 long haul back to back, but two RR powered 4 holers back to back
The EK PE product looks very smart and when combined with the A380 flying experience, will, I am sure, be popular in a world with returned long haul travel
In late May, my repatriation flight from CPT-LHR was in BA B747-436 G-CIVO. 4th last ever BA 747 pax service as it turned out and my 58th and last ride in a BA B747 going back to 1978. In late November, the first leg of my return flight home to CPT, (LHR-DXB) was in EK A380-842 A6-EVK. So not only a 747/A380 long haul back to back, but two RR powered 4 holers back to back
The EK PE product looks very smart and when combined with the A380 flying experience, will, I am sure, be popular in a world with returned long haul travel
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Springhealedjack
One of my most uncomfortable flights was on a BA 747 in economy at the very back where the tail starts to narrow, so just two seats with door and jump seat behind. I had to come back urgently on a family medical issue, and all was full up front. Unfortunately I was sat next to a young lady coming of a gap year who was pretty unwell, and I elected to sit on Jumps seat / walked most of the way back from Nairobi to give her some room !!
One of my most uncomfortable flights was on a BA 747 in economy at the very back where the tail starts to narrow, so just two seats with door and jump seat behind. I had to come back urgently on a family medical issue, and all was full up front. Unfortunately I was sat next to a young lady coming of a gap year who was pretty unwell, and I elected to sit on Jumps seat / walked most of the way back from Nairobi to give her some room !!
As a solo traveller I always tried to get a seat at the back of the 747 (once smoking sections were eliminated) as you could have a window seat with only one person between myself & the aisle, and there was also space for luggage at the side of the seat. I always lived in hope that others wouldn't want to sit at the back & leave the seat next to me free - that didn't always work. I actually don't mind a noisier aircraft as it masks other noises (sniffing, chewing, etc) that I find annoying. The problem with the back of the 747 is ventilation on the ground - awful when the APU is working & even worse when it isn't.
Although I usually fly with BA, next time I am looking to fly with Virgin on their 350 down to JNB. Not flown it before, and looking forward to it.
My last flight on the 747 was May 2019, on the JNB-LHR BA flight. We got to board it the old fashioned way too, by the stairs/steps. Wonderful! Little did I know it would be the last time 
Paxing All Over The World
Peter47 reminds me of the those back rows in the 747. My Uncle, travelling to JNB on the 741 was a smoker but did not like the film. He observed, "If you wish to smoke, not watch the film and be two sitting together - the 747 is a 12 seat aircraft!"
I had my last flight of 2020 in February, riding back from CPT in a BA 744. Sitting in PE a lovely view over the wing, as illustrated. This also neatly demonstrates why I will not travel on the 787 with it's electronic windows! This is Northbound dawn.
I had my last flight of 2020 in February, riding back from CPT in a BA 744. Sitting in PE a lovely view over the wing, as illustrated. This also neatly demonstrates why I will not travel on the 787 with it's electronic windows! This is Northbound dawn.
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In Feb 2020 I flew LHR-YVR-LHR on a BA 747 - at the time of booking I was disappointed they weren't flying A380s during the winter months. Given what's happened though I'm pleased I got to have what may well be my last flight on the Jumbo.
I have flown on the A380 and I loved it - sad that maybe I won't be on one again either.
I have flown on the A380 and I loved it - sad that maybe I won't be on one again either.
Paxing All Over The World
Thank you RiS. The above was just a snap on my mobile phone. The window has been important to me from my first flight, just over 55 years ago! Even on short haul and into places that I know very well, I want to see what's happening and have a ridculously large collection of photos. Strangely, the only flight that I did not document heavily was my one sector on Concorde! I have a few pics but I just soaked it up - absorbed it, rather than saw it through the viewfinder.
PAXboy, I had a discussion about making pictures just the other day: pics conserve memories while when ones live the moment arguably enjoys more but has little memories left for later. I am enjoying having folders with various events I attended in the past and love to look at them while at the computer.
These days almost everyone is recording the moment and not living it, and more often than not seldom looked at again only to take up space on the hard drive/memory card in the device. I'm always torn if aircraft are involved, filming/photo, or just be in the moment . Perhaps a few photos and then just enjoy it
Still several A380's coming into the UK everyday, so there's hope yet.
Still several A380's coming into the UK everyday, so there's hope yet.