Qantas Frequent Flyer - Is the ride in a380 y any really different

I will be flying LAX/SYD this Saturday on the A380 unfortunately in Y (as an AA EXP this is not going to be easy). Others have reported that the ride even in Y is more comfortable than the 747 and other a/c.

Any experiences or thoughts, or is just the same but more seats. Any favorite seat? Luckily, I am in one of the first rows of Y so I won't need to wait for 200 paxs or so to deplane before me.

I will be flying LAX/SYD this Saturday on the A380 unfortunately in Y (as an AA EXP this is not going to be easy). Others have reported that the ride even in Y is more comfortable than the 747 and other a/c.

Any experiences or thoughts, or is just the same but more seats. Any favorite seat? Luckily, I am in one of the first rows of Y so I won't need to wait for 200 paxs or so to deplane before me. It is actually better, the cabin is pressurised to a lower altitude compared to the 744 (I think it is 5K feet as opposed to 8K feet), and this really does make a lot of difference to the on-board experience.

The QF A380 also has a better AVOD system than the 744's, it is more reliable and has more choices.

Lastly, there are the self-service refreshment bars.

But the big one for me is the lower pressurisation, it actually does make a difference.

(Please note thtough that number_6 will probably wade in here and repeat his oft-repeated mantra about Y on the A380 being better than F on other aircraft - ignore him, it is clearly rubbish!)

Dave

I've only flown once on the A380, but was stuck at just how quiet the cabin is compared to other aircraft.

(Please note thtough that number_6 will probably wade in here and repeat his oft-repeated mantra about Y on the A380 being better than F on other aircraft - ignore him, it is clearly rubbish!)

Dave

Actually after 13 hours in an A380 tube, even in Y, parts of you (respiratory system for one) feel better than in a 744. However I'm sure most of us would prefer the comfort and service in F & 744 than the atmosphere in Y & 388.

[mod hat]

I've done both, and your term "rubbish" is better suited elsewhere.

[/mod hat]

After 2+ years of A380 flights in all 4 classes, I can say that for me there is less jet lag from A380 compared to all other aircraft, no matter which class I fly. I often have to work an hour after arrival, so this is an important factor for me -- not so important for vacation flights.

Less vibration is perhaps an even bigger benefit than the lower noise, combined with better air quality (more fresh air in the mix, higher humidity as well as the greater pressurization). All new aircraft will be built to this standard in the future (B787 is matching the A380 for cabin comfort, for example); but it really makes all older aircraft obsolete, from pax comfort/jet lag standpoint.

The big thing for me is the noise reduction. Until recently, I'd only flown in QF A380s (in all 4 classes).

I flew an SQ A380 recently, but only in Y (short trip). It's still Y - but it's quite a high standard - as you'd expect from a next generation aircraft.

What I noticed was the extremely loud actuator motors on the SQ A380 - but I noticed they were the same on a 777-200 on the way back. These deploy and retract the flaps - really loud!

What I noticed was the extremely loud actuator motors on the SQ A380 - but I noticed they were the same on a 777-200 on the way back. These deploy and retract the flaps - really loud!

They are loud if you are sitting over them (on the 772). Up front, you don't hear them at all ;)

I could have sworn that I read somewhere that it's no different pressurisation than any other aircraft, it's the amount of extra humidity that is allowed due to the way the fuselage is constructed that reduces the jet-lag type effect.

Remember that aircraft are not air-tight. If you don't keep pumping air in from the engines via the a/c pacs, the airplane would de-pressurise. The reason air was kept dry was to avoid excessive corrosion on the fuselage.

Yes it is very different, much better. You can drink alcohol and not feel too awful afterwards, due to the pressurisation differences. The cabin is wider although the config is the same, offering more space (in theory). It's incredibly quiet compared to the 747 and the IFE is miles better.

There are a few Y trip reports around including the first link in my signature.

Yes it is very different, much better. You can drink alcohol and not feel too awful afterwards, due to the pressurisation differences.

It depends on HOW MUCH alcohol you consume ;) I recently flew from DXB to JFK and stood at the bar for the majority of the flight on EK's Big Bird. I thought I was ok until I got off in JFK...

Lesson learned was that I am not as young as I once was and my eyes are definitely bigger than my over worked liver...

Emperor's new clothes ime. 380 or 777 , feel the same whichever I get off of after a long flight

As far as aeroplane goes, I prefer not to go on 380s since they seem to be more popular with others and busier

It depends on HOW MUCH alcohol you consume ;) I recently flew from DXB to JFK and stood at the bar for the majority of the flight on EK's Big Bird. I thought I was ok until I got off in JFK...

Lesson learned was that I am not as young as I once was and my eyes are definitely bigger than my over worked liver...

Fortunately you didn't use your JFK-DXB flight as an example, after several days camping at 'Camp EK' at JFK ;)

I much prefer Y on the A380 to 747. As others have mentioned noise, pressure & climate control are much better. The cabin feels bigger around me too, maybe due to both lighting & design.

The seat feels a bit wider and generally for my body more comfortable. As I recline, the seat bottom slides forward, creating more ability to slide my legs under the seat in front without hurting my kneecaps.

The thing that made me feel really comfortable is the little net footrest you'll find tucked up under the seat in front of you. Put your feet IN it, not on the slim band at the front. I found it was a bit like feeling I was in a hammock, and could actually turn partly onto my side. Also could completely straighten my legs & I'm around 5'11".

My tally is that I've flown over the Pacific in the A380 around 16 times now, and my jetlag & body aches & other fatigue is less than before with dozens of trips on 747s over a decade or so.

Are the A380s flying to LAX again ? You sure ?

MOST of my recent flying on QF has been on A380s. They are so far ahead it is not funny. I recently (saturday) flew BKK to SYD on a 744 in premium and can confirm I would have had far more sleep on an A380 in economy. It simply is a brilliant plane. Provided that the engines work.

Much quieter, better IFE and lower altitude - feel much better at the end.

Are the A380s flying to LAX again ? You sure .

They sure are. Done two trips already.

I must be a weird one... I almost threw up on my last A380 Y flight (on SQ), but I usually sleep well for at least 60% of the time when I'm on an A330.

I also thought the jet lag after the LAX-SYD round-trip was less on an A380, at least compared to flights on an AA 777.

I couldn't believe how refreshed I was getting off the plane in LAX after sitting in Y on the A380... Had a 6 hour drive to Northern California straight after and I was amazingly non-jetlagged.

The only times I have been this refreshed were coming out of F.

That said - I was sitting in 80A - so YMMV....

I flew the A380 with QF in first last year and it marked the best flight I ever had in my lifetime
While the food wasn't as good flying out of Sydney
All aspects of inflight comfort exeeded my expectations
After 15 hours of flying I walked off a plane jet lag free and raring to go
I don't do that on a typically on a transcon
Not sure what all the reasons were
I flew the 777 over in Business this week on V Australia and it was highly satisfactory but not in the same league

V Australia is Business Class Light. I was expecting it to be bad, but was pretty impressed (for the price).

I'm tossing up between QF2 and QF32 from LHR. Traveling in J so prefer the flat beds, but leaving at 11AM doesn't strike me as appealing. What are others' thoughts about jetlag on the return? Arriving home at 8PM means I can go home, take a sleeping tablet and adjust, otherwise I could get back in the morning and attempt to stay awake all day.

V Australia is Business Class Light. I was expecting it to be bad, but was pretty impressed (for the price).

I'm tossing up between QF2 and QF32 from LHR. Traveling in J so prefer the flat beds, but leaving at 11AM doesn't strike me as appealing. What are others' thoughts about jetlag on the return? Arriving home at 8PM means I can go home, take a sleeping tablet and adjust, otherwise I could get back in the morning and attempt to stay awake all day.

11am departure and evening arrival is the best in my opinion. I find that being up all day, then travelling for 22 hours and then arriving in the early morning awful and is like being up for nearly 3 days . leaving at lunchtime gets rid of the long day leading into the flight and the evening arrival is good for sleeping so find it much easier to get back to normality and can go in to work quite happily the next morning

I don't go with the use of tablets and won't take medication for the flight

Dave

I HATE the QF32 with a passion - the flight leaves around lunchtime, so the body-clock of everyone on board is set to lunch-time. and a 14 hour flight means that you arrive in SIN just after midnight (body-clock time) - so nobody really wants to sleep on this leg, even though it is dark outside.

Half the passengers get off in SIN, and are replaced by half a plane-load who have been asleep all night, are fully refreshed, and want to walk around the cabin, talk to each other, leave the shades up (meaning HEAPS of sunlight entering the cabin) - at the exact time that LHR-originating passengers are wanting to get some sleep ( their body-clocks sat it is early morning).

I steer well clear of this flight if I can help it, and would rather take the 744 on other QF flights, even though I prefer the A380.

Dave

Thanks guys. I think I might apply for an upgrade to F so I can sleep on the first sector in an attempt to adjust without being bothered by those around me.

I agree with what's been said.

The A380 is quieter (better sound insulation), the windows seem a little bigger, the seats and general condition of everything (table tray, inflight vid etc) are newer and feel newer, the plane being heavier and bigger probably suffers from turbulance less. I thought boarding would be slower but seems to be about the same as a 747 as they board different levels through different sky bridges.