Flat bed BF roll out schedule and displays at DO IV
I think the new BF flat-bed seats should get its own thread, as it's one of the most important new products we'll see on CO in 2009 (along with domestic Live TV). And CO brought out the 4-seat (2 seats x 2 rolls) display to tonite's hanger dinner for us to try on.
Rollout schedule and configuration as explained in the 1st "Continental Product" session:
772 - 9/09 to 6/11. 3 aircraft to be completed by end of 09. The rate is about 1/month for the 20 aircraft. Same number of BF seats, which is 50. But during the Larry and Jeff's show, it's revealed that a row (9) of Y seats will have to be taken out. So, it should still be 2-2-2 with 32 seat in the front cabin and 18 in the second.
752 - 11/09 to 8/11. That's about 2 aircraft/mo for the 41 aircraft. Same capacity and configuration - 4 rows of 2-2.
764 - 1/10 to 6/11. This is only for the 12 aircraft that are 35/200, so the rate is one per 1.5 month. There's no plan to convert the 4 20/236 aircraft right now. Same capacity of 35 seats, which suggest 2-1-2, though I didn't ask them to confirm. It seems like they had really spent quite a bit of time with the supplier to make this work.
762 - still thinking.
Many of us tried out the new seats during dinner. Since I have so little experience with international business seats, I'll let others comment. They hooked up temporary controls for the two rear seats, so we could try the different positions.
- Some wonder if there's enough room for taller persons... I see some that are around 6ft with no issues. So, hope the tall guys comment.
- Seats seem a bit narrow, but not too bad. The armrests can be lowered to give extra width.
- To go full flat to sleep, one really have to take off their shoes as the footwell is pretty narrow.
- Over the shoulder is AC plug, USB port and headphone ports for both single and dual-plug type.
- Some wonder if there's enough room for taller persons... I see some that are around 6ft with no issues. So, hope the tall guys comment.
- Seats seem a bit narrow, but not too bad. The armrests can be lowered to give extra width.
- To go full flat to sleep, one really have to take off their shoes as the footwell is pretty narrow.
As someone who is 6'5", the seat felt way too snug. My size 16s didn't want to fit in the footwell, and laid flat it didn't feel too comfortable...
Unless the seats could be a little wider for us tall guys (broad shoulders) and have more foot room, would prefer standard seats that just laid back quite a bit... don't need the lie flat really.
Just felt more like a sardine, laid back fully Unless bulkhead ones had more leg room, then would be nicer...
I doin't like any lie flat, but the new CO set does well well in mid level recline with footrest out allt he way(i.e. FLAT. just the way I like it)
I'd late to be over 6'6" it just may not even be comfortable, I am just over 6' and about as tall as I'd like to be.
However cigerman is a bit taller than me and has said he liked it, so maybe it just depends on personal preference and a bit on body style(long legs or long torso)
The seats were very well cushioned, I hope that material lasts and the padding holds up.
I spoke to the BE Aero rep at the seats about the 764 directly and he said they have the design of the seat done but dont actually have the center seat in any sort of production or even pre production model yet, and they are trying to overcome one obstacle that exists with the current revision of making it too wide for the cart service by about 1.5 inches.(with the tower of 'power')
Just felt more like a sardine, laid back fully Unless bulkhead ones had more leg room, then would be nicer...
ah yes I asked this too! I sat in the front seats and said this looks like a nice bulkhead seat, he told me no power on it there, but that they will be having a much larger bulkhead cutout and for long legs it will be more comfortable than the others. My shoes are size 14 and did not fit unless I put them in a triangle shape, he asked me if I was flying BF would I have my shoes on....I basically said not all the time but my feet aren't much smaller either
ah yes I asked this too! I sat in the front seats and said this looks like a nice bulkhead seat, he told me no power on it there, but that they will be having a much larger bulkhead cutout and for long legs it will be more comfortable than the others.
Awesome, so if I fly a lay flat route, will make sure to get 1A/B, instead of the further back ones
The seat is good overall, but August, 2011, really?
The "scary" thing is that most if not all the 772s, 764s and 752s will already have the seats when the unicorn arrives.
The unicorn will have same configuration as the 772. 2-2-2 in BF, 3-3-3 in economy. Ratio will be similar to "current fleet".
Well, after the 772s get the flat beds, C:Y will be 50:226 or 1:4.52; on the 764s, it'll be 35:200 or 1:5.71. (And the 752s much worse). I forgot to ask which ratio will it be actually closer to.
The "scary" thing is that most if not all the 772s, 764s and 752s will already have the seats when the unicorn arrives.
The unicorn will have same configuration as the 772. 2-2-2 in BF, 3-3-3 in economy. Ratio will be similar to "current fleet".
Well, after the 772s get the flat beds, C:Y will be 50:226 or 1:4.52; on the 764s, it'll be 35:200 or 1:5.71. (And the 752s much worse). I forgot to ask which ratio will it be actually closer to.
No one but DOer's know what unicorn you speak of you should instead say zero fees.....
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Much like any other flight I take, I believe I'll need the bulkhead for these seats to be comfortable. I'm 6'8" with size 16 shoes, and that little hole down there for your feet was not getting the job done. The BAE rep said these seats were the 787 version so the 777 version will be an inch or so wider, which is a good thing, and kinda makes me want to stick with the 777. These seats really didn't feel wide enough.
But, there are also downsides to the bulkhead. The curved devider really cramped my sholders and upper body. I found myself actually putting that under my arm and resting my forearm and hand on the other seat's armrest. I could probably get away with that while flying with my wife but other pax might frown upon it.
Now, I realize that I am much, much larger than everyone else who tried the seats last night so of course they were going to be a little small to me. But that legroom thing was a bit of an issue in that I couldn't get it to recline all the way. That being said, it was a comfortable seat and a half recline would've been ok for me to get a little sleep in on a TATL flight. I don't know how that would work on TPAC, though.
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2011, seriously???
You would think they could complete this job in a timely manner. As it seems now, CO BF will be well behind before they can proclaim "new BF layflats" in their fleet!!
You would think they could complete this job in a timely manner. As it seems now, CO BF will be well behind before they can proclaim "new BF layflats" in their fleet!!
CO has a very highly used fleet of aircraft, they can't afford to take 4-5 out at a time, currently, if the economy keeps it up they may be able to send more in for retrofitting early.
They said they are committed to the retrofit even in BAD economy as this is something that must be done.
I was pretty happy with the new seat myself. I'm just a hair under 6' and thought it was fine. There is A LOT more privacy in these seats than the current BF seats and the AVOD screen is huge.
Unless bulkhead ones had more leg room, then would be nicer...
