F 789 or 388
Aug 1, 2016, 5:34 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Israel (some of the time)
Programs: BA GGL, CCR; AF/KLM FB Silver; M&M LH FTL; LY GLD; HH Diamond; SPG Gold; A-Club Silver; Avis PCI
Posts: 2,054
F 789 or 388
I have flown F a few times LHR-SFO on the 380 and I really like the cabin and seat. I have the option to fly F to SJC on the 789 (1K and 2K both available) which I have not done or stick with the well tried and tested 380.
I need to be in Mountain View so SJC is a much closer and cheaper Uber ride but SFO arrived 1:10 earlier so time wise will probably work out at a similar hotel arrival time.
What would you do? Especially anyone who has experienced F on both.
Cheers
economyman
I need to be in Mountain View so SJC is a much closer and cheaper Uber ride but SFO arrived 1:10 earlier so time wise will probably work out at a similar hotel arrival time.
What would you do? Especially anyone who has experienced F on both.
Cheers
economyman
Aug 1, 2016, 6:29 am
#3
Join Date: May 2007
Location: London, UK
Programs: BA Gold, AA EXP
Posts: 1,140
Definitely try the 789 if you haven't had chance to yet and have done the 380 a few times already.
I've only done the 789 once in F so don't have much to go on. There were a lot of things I liked about it but overall I think I prefer the 380. The service was a bit of a shambles when I tried the 789 so I want to try it again to see whether with a good service, I come away feeling any differently.
I've only done the 789 once in F so don't have much to go on. There were a lot of things I liked about it but overall I think I prefer the 380. The service was a bit of a shambles when I tried the 789 so I want to try it again to see whether with a good service, I come away feeling any differently.
Aug 1, 2016, 6:35 am
#4
Join Date: Jul 2016
Programs: BAEC Gold, Accor Platinum
Posts: 109
Can I lower the bar by 2 levels and ask exactly the same question but for someone travelling WTP ?
There's a world of difference flying on A380 vs 777 - I've never been on a 789 before, and would like to know how it compares on my favourite J & K seats
There's a world of difference flying on A380 vs 777 - I've never been on a 789 before, and would like to know how it compares on my favourite J & K seats
Aug 1, 2016, 6:54 am
#6
Join Date: Feb 2012
Programs: ex BD(LG),HH(D),SPG(P)/(LG), BA(G)
Posts: 215
Aug 1, 2016, 6:57 am
#7
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Bloomsbury
Programs: BA Silver, AF Ivory
Posts: 2,202
Have been in WTP in both and have no clear preference - obviously both have the latest WTP product which is a big improvement; 787 being a smaller plane perhaps has better ambiance but not much in it
Aug 1, 2016, 7:13 am
#9
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: London
Programs: MUCCI; BAEC Lifetime Gold; Marriott Bonvoy Emeritus Titanium; Hertz#1, Avis President’s Club
Posts: 3,214
I think the seat on the 789 is better than the 388 so long as you don't need the "buddy seat". With regard to the toilet ratio being 1:8 which is slightly worse than on other planes, the situation is made worse by the fact that if you do have to wait you can't help but be in the way of the crew in the cramped galley area.
Aug 1, 2016, 7:19 am
#10
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: LHR
Programs: BA Gold, TG Gold, HHonors Diamond, SPG Plat
Posts: 8,665
Actually, its one toilet for eight F seats + cockpit crew + cabin crew in the forward galley.
Having two toilets means that if one person requires long use of the toilet (don't ask why) the other toilet is still servicing people.
Definitely not flying F on a A787-900 for this reason. Shows that BA just do not care about providing F passengers with the level of comfort and luxury that they have paid for, either with cash or Avios.
Having two toilets means that if one person requires long use of the toilet (don't ask why) the other toilet is still servicing people.
Definitely not flying F on a A787-900 for this reason. Shows that BA just do not care about providing F passengers with the level of comfort and luxury that they have paid for, either with cash or Avios.
Aug 1, 2016, 7:19 am
#11
Join Date: May 2010
Location: UK
Posts: 5,380
Plus the flight crew and at least 2 of the cabin crew which makes it 1:12 versus 1:9.
Also, the probability of finding 100% of the F loos engaged is significantly greater on the 789, especially at peak times.
Edited to add: Ah, beaten to it by KenJohn!
Also, the probability of finding 100% of the F loos engaged is significantly greater on the 789, especially at peak times.
Edited to add: Ah, beaten to it by KenJohn!
Aug 1, 2016, 8:21 am
#13
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2014
Location: UK
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 12,255
I'd really not make a decision based on people per toilet ratio 
It's a cracking aircraft and a lovely seat. Absolutely go for it. The very worst might happen; you'll need to walk a few feet and use one of the J toilets
It's a cracking aircraft and a lovely seat. Absolutely go for it. The very worst might happen; you'll need to walk a few feet and use one of the J toilets
Aug 1, 2016, 9:28 am
#14
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: London
Programs: BAEC Gold
Posts: 96
well I was thinking the same thing, is there much to pick between the two so have booked to go out to SJC in F and then back from SFO in F for New Year in Vegas all thanks to an Amex 241 
Ill to a TR once its done!
Ill to a TR once its done!
Aug 1, 2016, 9:39 am
#15
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: LHR
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 339
I actually flew back from SJC in F on Friday. It was a great flight. Didn't feel quite as "special" as on the 388, to be honest, but that may just be because the lounge at SJC is a lot less nice than the QF lounge at LAX.
There was a bit of a queue for the toilet at peaks times, but the seat is terrific. The 388 is more private, because the walls are higher - it feels more like your own little room. It was perfectly nice on the 789, but felt more like a seat with partitions, as it really is.
However, the biggest deciding factor for me is the flight time: at SFO, the early flight is only 30 minutes after the Emriates 388 departs, so security, which as I'm sure you know isn't great at the best of times, is terrible. The later flight out of SFO is much better. I forget which one of the two the 388 serves, but if it's the early one, I'd definitely go from SJC to avoid the queues at SFO. If the 388 is the late flight from SFO, then flip a coin
There was a bit of a queue for the toilet at peaks times, but the seat is terrific. The 388 is more private, because the walls are higher - it feels more like your own little room. It was perfectly nice on the 789, but felt more like a seat with partitions, as it really is.
However, the biggest deciding factor for me is the flight time: at SFO, the early flight is only 30 minutes after the Emriates 388 departs, so security, which as I'm sure you know isn't great at the best of times, is terrible. The later flight out of SFO is much better. I forget which one of the two the 388 serves, but if it's the early one, I'd definitely go from SJC to avoid the queues at SFO. If the 388 is the late flight from SFO, then flip a coin