Ok but how many 747 flights as comparison? A380 has lasted less than 13 years... Jumbos ruled the skies for some 40 years! Polar route Aus to Europe via Tokyo was the golden era, IMHO...
That is a bit sad - where were you sitting. We have piled up a lot of time on Emirates not saying that they do not have faults but so much better over time than YKW.
I’m not the most frequent flyer as a pax, but I’ve been on A380 several times in premium economy and business. Easily the quietest and most comfortable aircraft of the lot* Would be my first choice every time. As an aircraft, I love the 777. It’s just a very cool looking thing, and I’ve flown both business and scrubber class in them several times. As much as I love them (and they are way better than A330/340), there is no comparison to the 380 from a passenger experience perspective. *I’ve done a couple of sectors in First on the Dreamliner (787) which blew everything else away. Unbelievably quiet, smooth, and superb. But I suspect that had more to do with being in first than anything else.
Cattle class crowded just before Christmas... return QF was A330 I think and wAAAY more comfortable (mainly due to proper reclining, not sliding, seats). Interestingly, it was the first time in a long time that I’d flown Emirates - what a change from when they first started! HK - Lon in the early 90s with the first in-seat screens seemed so luxurious... Generally stick with CX or SIN these days, but who knows what options will be available by later this year
Pondering how experiences can be different: - size: because I’m so small I really need a footrest to get comfortable on planes as the seat height is generally too high for me. This isn’t an issue for taller people (ie most blokes). I also can’t tolerate ‘flat squabs’ - blame that on a lifetime of Italian cars which always have significant slope. Sliding forward is a killer for me. - sound: I have quite acute hearing and I think females hear certain ranges differently... no idea about the pitch differences between planes but I know which ones I find unpleasant!
That’s fair enough - I think individual size makes a big difference to what’s important. I’m tall-ish 6’+, and have long legs, so leg room is everything to me on an aircraft. I also have dodgy knees and can’t be stuck in the one position for very long before I have to move my legs. As such I’ve found the 380 has the most legroom and ability to move around of all the long-haul aircraft I’ve been on. A330/340 the worst. 777 somewhere in the middle. Having said that, how each airline chooses to configure their aircraft can make all the difference. I imagine being stuck in cattle on a 380 with a poorly designed layout would be no fun at all.
Yeah from a pax point of view it kills the 777 ( so it should as it’s carbon brand new technology). From the pointy end it’s boring like all Buses.. A Boeing is like having a manual gearbox , A Bus is like Steve’s auto box...
Night and day from a noise perspective. 350 is a very quiet aircraft indeed. A350 & 787 are comparable products. 777 has been around a long time now. Gary, are Boeing still going ahead with 777X? That looked great. Love the folding wings!
Not sure what’s happening now Steve. We are in survival mode at the moment. All based tech crew stood down and based cabin crew gone....Who knows how this will end...
There will have to be a point where things start to ramp up again. It’s not like Cathay is going to go under (is it?). Obviously HK would be first on the list to get moving of course. What’s happening with your son? My Jetstar Captain mate has applied for a job in (of all places) China. The feeling is that even when domestic comes back the Adelaide base may not be re-opened. At work last week one pilot who left for Virgin about 18 months ago has made a re-appearance back flying the PC12 on a short term contract, and another who left for Jetstar around the same time is back with RFDS in Perth. They are feeling extremely lucky that they left without burning their bridges. RFDS historically never re-hire anyone who leaves for “greener” pastures.
I don’t think CX will go under Steve...The Swire Group have Billions in their war chest...I do think they may restructure...How I don’t know...Mikey has finished his 350 ground school and sims...He does his first London in a few weeks..Me I’m in heaven restoring the old 1840s barn...Spent today on the Bobcat so no CB’s to dodge...Only the dogs...
Excellent. Sounds like a very exciting time for Mikey - despite the drama now he has a long career ahead of him and the 350 is a very cool aircraft. Good to hear you’ve move on to your “barn” after sorting out Greg’s hedge, Ian’s spa, Carl’s rear entrance, Moretti’s torch, Jon’s dirty old sock on the dash, Adrian’s fuel leak, Peter’s bunsen burner, Simon’s shields, Ian’s chopper, Patrick’s percentages, Wes’s parking, and my solenoid. Don’t know how you ever had the time to fly an airliner, tbh...
It’s important we all do what we can during this crisis, so I’ve been helping the local bottle shop as much as possible... Thankfully I’m back to work on Friday.
"Jon’s dirty old sock on the dash" I laughed so much I almost needed one of PP's incontinence nappies.
