Originally Posted by QRC3288

Flew a few segments recently, including 1A on the A380 which I was inquiring about upthread. To summarize simply:

*Space is definitely more limited
*Window is missing (duh)
*Quieter than 4A
*I didn't notice the nuisance of the bar/shower area curtains, as I had my suite door closed most of the time.

I probably wouldn't pick this seat if you don't fly F often and are looking for that "perfect experience" with all the windows and space and whatnot, but if sleeping is your main priority and don't mind the (mostly space-related) drawbacks I mention, I think 1A on the A380 might be a winner.

We had a full house 14/14 and a day flight.

As for size, 1A is definitely smaller as all of you report. I use a 22" Tumi as my primary carryon (that's on the "larger" size of acceptable rollerboards, 20" is a better size). For example, the bed struggled to fully recline with legrest extended due to my Tumi at the foot of the bed. Note I always store this same rollerboard on EK in F and have never had this issue before, albeit I've never sat in 1A on A380 until now (AFAIK, I have brought this suitcase with me on every EK F flight I've taken in the last few years). That's how I could tell space was obviously constrained. The bed not going full isn't a fatal problem if you're average height like me because my feet didn't go that far, but if you're over 6 feet tall it might be. This situation is obviously not as relevant if you don't bring everything on board with you...I rarely check bags if I can avoid it. For another example, my 22" suitcase couldn't properly fit in to use those straps under the TV, which just made it clear to me how this suite was narrower than the other seats. (my Tumi fits into the strap area on the other A380 suites, for example, and all 77W suites). The windowside table / faux wood area is also noticeably smaller in 1A. I also had to pick up my briefcase on the floor and stuff it in the area where the bedding is stored pre-flight, because it couldn't fit once the suite was in bed mode.

Lack of window didn't bother me. The only one missing is the forward one which is the harder one to see out of anyway.

As for quiet and privacy. 1A was great with a caveat that it's only private with the suite doors closed. Again, we had 14/14 and it was a day flight. The crew were busy handling passengers and the galley seemed to be busy the entire flight (at least when I used the aft toilet a few times, there sure was a lot of bustle going on back there and most pax were wide awake, eating and having a grand old time). My other pre-flight window seat option, 4A no doubt had some noise on account of the full flight and daytime timing. I'll also, add, folks were chatting it up in the cabin itself, there were two pairs of friends traveling together and talking a good portion of the flight in the middle seats. Rows 2-3 got much more of that noise than me in 1A. The only time I got some noise was I think there was a baby in economy sitting right near the bottom of the stairs, and the baby wailed a few times loud enough to hear it in F.

Curtains to the shower areas also weren't problematic because I just shut the suite doors. Never noticed once that happened. But if you're the type who likes to leave your suite doors open, indeed these seats have nearly zero privacy at all. Folks walking out of that front bar/shower suite area are staring right at you as they return to the cabin. People could practically stumble into your seat if the doors are open. But once the doors are closed I didn't notice anything.

All in all, glad I picked 1A although I'd probably be more cautious about bringing half my life's possessions next time given the space is definitely tighter.