Flying the _____________ skies.
December 12, 2011 4:15 PM Subscribe
Comparing airlines' Airbus A380s. Seven commercial carriers fly the A380. Here's a look at how each has used the space aboard the superjumbo jet. [LATimes photogallery].
Honest question: how do the rich defy the laws of physics? The last thing I'd want to be at 20,000ft and in turbulence is naked and soaped up. Why would anyone take a shower on a plane?
posted by reformedjerk at 4:29 PM on December 12, 2011
posted by reformedjerk at 4:29 PM on December 12, 2011
Because they can?
posted by letitrain at 4:29 PM on December 12, 2011 [3 favorites]
posted by letitrain at 4:29 PM on December 12, 2011 [3 favorites]
The last thing I'd want to be at 20,000ft and in turbulence is naked and soaped up.
And I bet you like sardines on dry crackers too.
posted by RobotVoodooPower at 4:31 PM on December 12, 2011 [1 favorite]
And I bet you like sardines on dry crackers too.
posted by RobotVoodooPower at 4:31 PM on December 12, 2011 [1 favorite]
The last thing I'd want to be at 20,000ft and in turbulence is naked and soaped up.
That actually sounds like an excellent way to join the Mile High Club.
posted by localroger at 4:36 PM on December 12, 2011 [4 favorites]
That actually sounds like an excellent way to join the Mile High Club.
posted by localroger at 4:36 PM on December 12, 2011 [4 favorites]
Fun fact from the Wikipedia article: If everyone were coach, the A380 could seat 853 passengers. That'd be cozy.
posted by lantius at 4:45 PM on December 12, 2011
posted by lantius at 4:45 PM on December 12, 2011
Relevant Onion article: United Airlines Exploring Viability Of Stacking Them Like Cordwood
posted by wcfields at 4:50 PM on December 12, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by wcfields at 4:50 PM on December 12, 2011 [1 favorite]
I note that on all airlines the bars are only available to business class and above.
posted by Phredward at 4:52 PM on December 12, 2011
posted by Phredward at 4:52 PM on December 12, 2011
There's a policy at work that we can fly business class if there's a "valid medical reason". Any ideas what ailment I have to come down with to get a doctor's note to not fly coach?
I think two things have finally pushed me over the edge. I fly to Europe for work occasionally (where they still feed you a meal) and if the guy in front of you has leaned his chair back it is physically impossible to maneuver a fork from the tray table to your mouth. Also, the last time I was on a flight, the flight attendants cautioned against leaning back before looking because of all of the broken laptops they've witnessed.
posted by backseatpilot at 5:20 PM on December 12, 2011
I think two things have finally pushed me over the edge. I fly to Europe for work occasionally (where they still feed you a meal) and if the guy in front of you has leaned his chair back it is physically impossible to maneuver a fork from the tray table to your mouth. Also, the last time I was on a flight, the flight attendants cautioned against leaning back before looking because of all of the broken laptops they've witnessed.
posted by backseatpilot at 5:20 PM on December 12, 2011
I went to Lufthansa's website to try and book a first-class ticket on the A380 from SFO to Frankfurt (planned the trip from May 7-14, 2012).
This is how much they want for that flight (for one person):
$20,683.99
I looked up the same itinerary on kayak.com to find the cheapest flight. It is also on Lufthansa. It costs $1114, making first class on the A380 only 19x more expensive than what most of us would consider spending.
posted by tylerkaraszewski at 5:25 PM on December 12, 2011 [2 favorites]
This is how much they want for that flight (for one person):
$20,683.99
I looked up the same itinerary on kayak.com to find the cheapest flight. It is also on Lufthansa. It costs $1114, making first class on the A380 only 19x more expensive than what most of us would consider spending.
posted by tylerkaraszewski at 5:25 PM on December 12, 2011 [2 favorites]
The interior layouts are neat, and I get that the A380 is a super modern, quiet, efficient plane. I just wish it wasn't so damned ugly from the outside. It looks like it should be painted gray and used as a military transport. (Cf. the B747, which is one sexy airplane.)
posted by AkzidenzGrotesk at 5:32 PM on December 12, 2011
posted by AkzidenzGrotesk at 5:32 PM on December 12, 2011
You can see the overall floorplan on seatguru.com. For example, here's the Singapore Air A380.
posted by jedicus at 5:52 PM on December 12, 2011
posted by jedicus at 5:52 PM on December 12, 2011
Re: seatguru
I notice that the upper deck economy has some seats in pairs. 747s usually do this at the back, where the taper is enough to preclude the third seat, and these are always the ones I try to snag -- two seats means no one is in the middle, and there's quite a bit of room on the side where that third seat doesn't quite fit -- you can put stuff down there. Even on long flights from the US to Australia, this isn't that uncomfortable, especially if you get your Ambien and wine ratio just right!
71 H and K look pretty good to me.
posted by Fnarf at 6:03 PM on December 12, 2011 [1 favorite]
I notice that the upper deck economy has some seats in pairs. 747s usually do this at the back, where the taper is enough to preclude the third seat, and these are always the ones I try to snag -- two seats means no one is in the middle, and there's quite a bit of room on the side where that third seat doesn't quite fit -- you can put stuff down there. Even on long flights from the US to Australia, this isn't that uncomfortable, especially if you get your Ambien and wine ratio just right!
71 H and K look pretty good to me.
posted by Fnarf at 6:03 PM on December 12, 2011 [1 favorite]
Any ideas what ailment I have to come down with to get a doctor's note to not fly coach?
Uncontrollable flatulence. Trust me, no one will ask for proof.
posted by Mcable at 6:12 PM on December 12, 2011
Uncontrollable flatulence. Trust me, no one will ask for proof.
posted by Mcable at 6:12 PM on December 12, 2011
I looked up the same itinerary on kayak.com to find the cheapest flight. It is also on Lufthansa. It costs $1114, making first class on the A380 only 19x more expensive than what most of us would consider spending.
From what I understand and have picked up from occasionally browsing on sites like FlyerTalk, very few people actually pay the full price for first class tickets like that. Much more common is frequent flier miles, preferred member upgrades, etc.
I remember looking at flights to Beijing on AA and first class tickets were less than twice economy in terms of miles required whereas in dollars it was closer to 20x. I would assume something similar for other airlines.
Now I just need to figure out how to get about 250k frequent flier miles before our next trip to China... (I got 75k from a credit card deal last year so that + previous miles + a bit extra meant 2 free economy seats for us this year, but damn it'd be nice to do business class or first for that 12+ hour flight. When you're flying internationally, man those miles can become valuable.)
posted by kmz at 6:16 PM on December 12, 2011
From what I understand and have picked up from occasionally browsing on sites like FlyerTalk, very few people actually pay the full price for first class tickets like that. Much more common is frequent flier miles, preferred member upgrades, etc.
I remember looking at flights to Beijing on AA and first class tickets were less than twice economy in terms of miles required whereas in dollars it was closer to 20x. I would assume something similar for other airlines.
Now I just need to figure out how to get about 250k frequent flier miles before our next trip to China... (I got 75k from a credit card deal last year so that + previous miles + a bit extra meant 2 free economy seats for us this year, but damn it'd be nice to do business class or first for that 12+ hour flight. When you're flying internationally, man those miles can become valuable.)
posted by kmz at 6:16 PM on December 12, 2011
As I paged through the photos for some reason I thought I'd end up on a picture of ill-lit and crowded Steerage-class compartments filled with disheveled immigrants, longing for a better life.
posted by Ron Thanagar at 6:27 PM on December 12, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by Ron Thanagar at 6:27 PM on December 12, 2011 [1 favorite]
I flew coach on an Air France A380 from SFO to CDG. It was roomier than most flights I've been on. In fact a little bit too roomy, due to the curve of the aircraft there was a large gap between my window seat and the fuselage. I couldn't lean on a pillow on the fuselage wall like I normally do
posted by schwa at 7:20 PM on December 12, 2011
posted by schwa at 7:20 PM on December 12, 2011
I paid $20K and I have to mix my own martini?!
posted by madajb at 7:57 PM on December 12, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by madajb at 7:57 PM on December 12, 2011 [1 favorite]
Also, still no family/kid class?
Rows of couch-like seats with a fold-down table, or a ball pit, or even just some open space would make me fly your airline every time, even if it was twice the cost.
I mean, seriously, who the hell needs a bar? No one.
Who needs space to burn off energy? Every kid flying more than 3 or 4 hours.
posted by madajb at 8:01 PM on December 12, 2011 [1 favorite]
Rows of couch-like seats with a fold-down table, or a ball pit, or even just some open space would make me fly your airline every time, even if it was twice the cost.
I mean, seriously, who the hell needs a bar? No one.
Who needs space to burn off energy? Every kid flying more than 3 or 4 hours.
posted by madajb at 8:01 PM on December 12, 2011 [1 favorite]
I need a bar.
posted by chrchr at 8:56 PM on December 12, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by chrchr at 8:56 PM on December 12, 2011 [2 favorites]
The Chinese carrier's superjumbo jet features rear and front staircases, mood lighting and several bars.
Having been to many dinners with Chinese clients, I do not want to be in a plane with them where there is a bar.
posted by arcticseal at 9:31 PM on December 12, 2011
Having been to many dinners with Chinese clients, I do not want to be in a plane with them where there is a bar.
posted by arcticseal at 9:31 PM on December 12, 2011
Relevant Onion article: United Airlines Exploring Viability Of Stacking Them Like Cordwood
Honestly? If they could design flights like capsule hotels or whatever, I'd prefer it. I'd much rather be able to lie down and read or sleep than have to sit uncomfortably.
posted by explosion at 9:44 PM on December 12, 2011 [1 favorite]
Honestly? If they could design flights like capsule hotels or whatever, I'd prefer it. I'd much rather be able to lie down and read or sleep than have to sit uncomfortably.
posted by explosion at 9:44 PM on December 12, 2011 [1 favorite]
Having been to many dinners with Chinese clients, I do not want to be in a plane with them where there is a bar.
Karaoke girls included?
posted by atrazine at 2:01 AM on December 13, 2011
Karaoke girls included?
posted by atrazine at 2:01 AM on December 13, 2011
15"+ screens in first class cabins! Nice. The museum touch-screens in Air France are also nice.
Was thinking Korean Air's upholstery would be the worst, but Lufthansa's seats take the cake for dreariness; sitting in a gray cabin for 15+ hours would be... well, not necessarily torture, but I'd prefer a more colourful, or an earthy, hue. I'm quite certain I saw a different decor for Singapore Airlines' seats when I flew their A380 though; it was lighter brown with some hints of blue / purple on the flooring. Pretty much whatever you get on their Boeing 777-300 ER routes.
So they didn't show this in the pictures, but at least on the Singapore Airlines version, the best economy-class seats are apparently those upstairs; instead of the regular 3-5-3 combination, I believe there's a 2 seater row next to the windows on the right side as you enter, lots more legroom there than in the ground-floor cattle-class section. Unfortunately, it's also next to impossible to get those seats; because you can now choose seats when you buy the tickets (and not when you check-in, either online or in person, which is how it used to be), they're the first to go.
Mind you, not saying the "main" economy section at the ground floor is bad - compared to Asia's budget airlines, Air Asia, Tiger or Air India Express - seats are roomy, there's quite a bit of leg-space, and it's all nice. But save for the massive wingspan and the generally massive plane, you don't "feel" any different on SQ's A380 than you would on their Boeing 777. Perhaps a good thing from their perspective, but that's how it is.
posted by the cydonian at 2:14 AM on December 13, 2011
Was thinking Korean Air's upholstery would be the worst, but Lufthansa's seats take the cake for dreariness; sitting in a gray cabin for 15+ hours would be... well, not necessarily torture, but I'd prefer a more colourful, or an earthy, hue. I'm quite certain I saw a different decor for Singapore Airlines' seats when I flew their A380 though; it was lighter brown with some hints of blue / purple on the flooring. Pretty much whatever you get on their Boeing 777-300 ER routes.
So they didn't show this in the pictures, but at least on the Singapore Airlines version, the best economy-class seats are apparently those upstairs; instead of the regular 3-5-3 combination, I believe there's a 2 seater row next to the windows on the right side as you enter, lots more legroom there than in the ground-floor cattle-class section. Unfortunately, it's also next to impossible to get those seats; because you can now choose seats when you buy the tickets (and not when you check-in, either online or in person, which is how it used to be), they're the first to go.
Mind you, not saying the "main" economy section at the ground floor is bad - compared to Asia's budget airlines, Air Asia, Tiger or Air India Express - seats are roomy, there's quite a bit of leg-space, and it's all nice. But save for the massive wingspan and the generally massive plane, you don't "feel" any different on SQ's A380 than you would on their Boeing 777. Perhaps a good thing from their perspective, but that's how it is.
posted by the cydonian at 2:14 AM on December 13, 2011
Karaoke girls included?
Normally they're too blitzed after toasting everyone to make it to KTV (thank deity as I can't sing for toffee).
posted by arcticseal at 2:21 AM on December 13, 2011
Normally they're too blitzed after toasting everyone to make it to KTV (thank deity as I can't sing for toffee).
posted by arcticseal at 2:21 AM on December 13, 2011
I have flown SQ's A380 several times, including in its first month of service. For a while they had a cute message on take off, "For most of you this is the first time on an A380, let me introduce its features to you...." I take a certain amount of geek pride in that my SQ upper deck interior photos were on the airline's Wikipedia page for about 3 years. :)
the cydonian: you are correct about the upper deck config. There are also bins on the window side seat which is super handy to stash an extra bag.
Although I like A380, I prefer 777 - something about the A380 seats is a bit uncomfortable for me.
Damn, I fly too much.
posted by wingless_angel at 4:53 AM on December 13, 2011
the cydonian: you are correct about the upper deck config. There are also bins on the window side seat which is super handy to stash an extra bag.
Although I like A380, I prefer 777 - something about the A380 seats is a bit uncomfortable for me.
Damn, I fly too much.
posted by wingless_angel at 4:53 AM on December 13, 2011
I'm just waiting for some airline to pick up these seats. Just like checked baggage fees, as soon as one does it the rest will follow. Why not make flying even more miserable?
(Seriously, all it would take for me to be 200% more comfortable in coach would be my own armrest. Having someplace to put my elbows that doesn't make my neck and shoulders scream after 30 minutes would be like a little slice of arid, underpressurized heaven.)
posted by fader at 7:06 AM on December 13, 2011
(Seriously, all it would take for me to be 200% more comfortable in coach would be my own armrest. Having someplace to put my elbows that doesn't make my neck and shoulders scream after 30 minutes would be like a little slice of arid, underpressurized heaven.)
posted by fader at 7:06 AM on December 13, 2011
« Older Array Mbira | How porny. Newer »
This thread has been archived and is closed to new comments
The coach class in the Korean Air cabin looked tolerable. They didn't have any pictures of the Air France interior but I bet it is pretty miserable flying a long haul there in coach.
In most cases I would gladly pay an extra 20% airfare for a commensurate increase in personal space. On United I usually pay for Economy Plus - it's too bad that the aisle configuration means it doesn't result in extra shoulder room.
posted by exogenous at 4:26 PM on December 12, 2011