BA A380, B787, or B747 in J from LAX?
Jul 16, 2018, 6:30 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: LHR
Programs: BA Gold, Accor Silver
Posts: 159
BA A380, B787, or B747 in J from LAX?
Hi,
I am about to book a LAX-LHR in J for myself and Mrs. Etxebas and would like some advice on what J product/experience might be better? My initial thought is B747 Upper Deck, but the 787 also looks tempting...
Timing is not an issue so I could make any of the available flights. Any advice?
Thanks!
I am about to book a LAX-LHR in J for myself and Mrs. Etxebas and would like some advice on what J product/experience might be better? My initial thought is B747 Upper Deck, but the 787 also looks tempting...
Timing is not an issue so I could make any of the available flights. Any advice?
Thanks!
Jul 16, 2018, 6:39 am
#4
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Flatland
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold 1MM, BA Gold, UA Peon
Posts: 6,105
The 747 upper deck is nice for overnight sleep and good service, but I wouldn't do the main deck on the 747. The A380 upper deck is good in all ways - side storage bins at the windows, it's relatively quiet, good air pressure and humidity, good IFE, windows that actually become opaque when you close them.
I just don't rate the 787 as well as many people, even in Club. The windows are particularly annoying: you can't dim all but one, you can't draw a blind half way down to block direct view of the sun while still having a clear view of the landscape below, and the cabin is never actually dark if the sun is shining outside because the windows do not become opaque, only dark (10% transmission or so). The lack of actual opacity also means the cabin on the sun side, and the people there, warm up a lot whether they like it or not. Also, no side bins for storage. Mind you the 787 IFE is good.
I just don't rate the 787 as well as many people, even in Club. The windows are particularly annoying: you can't dim all but one, you can't draw a blind half way down to block direct view of the sun while still having a clear view of the landscape below, and the cabin is never actually dark if the sun is shining outside because the windows do not become opaque, only dark (10% transmission or so). The lack of actual opacity also means the cabin on the sun side, and the people there, warm up a lot whether they like it or not. Also, no side bins for storage. Mind you the 787 IFE is good.
Jul 16, 2018, 12:04 pm
#6
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: PHX, SEA
Programs: Avis President's Club, Global Entry, Hilton/Marriott Gold. No more DL/AA status.
Posts: 4,421
UD 747 for the four-across seating is best, even if it ends up being the poor IFE. Second for me is 787 since you'll be able to (as Gold) avoid a middle seat which gets too stuffy.
Jul 16, 2018, 12:14 pm
#7
Join Date: May 2007
Location: London, UK
Programs: BA Gold, AA EXP
Posts: 1,140
B747 UD with BA would be my first choice, or look at AA options. Most of my TATL flights have been on AA's 77W aircraft (some 772, A330) but I don't think anything they have in J will be the other bottom of the barrel business cabins BA offer.
Jul 16, 2018, 7:23 pm
#11
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: San Diego
Programs: Plat Pro AAdvantage, but defected to BAEC
Posts: 1,222
I opted for the 747 UD for our flight back to the UK for Christmas as I've never been up on the UD on the 747 before and they are not going to be around for very much longer I fear. It had the earliest departure between the 747, the 787 and the A380 LAX-LHR service, but for once, coming from the West coast I should be on the ground before midday upon arrival, so I get a bit more of the day there.
I'm coming back on the 787, though at the pointy end.
Not too early of a start needed to get to LHR and as I need to fly LAX-SAN to get home, the connecting flight isn't too late, unlike the connection if I took the A380 service. When I booked the flights, it was $2K cheaper to take the LHR-LAX-SAN route vs my usual LHR-SAN route. It was also another $2K cheaper to take the outbound flight on the Thursday before Christmas, rather than waiting till the Friday. I'll burn another day of vacation for that amount of savings!
I'm coming back on the 787, though at the pointy end.
Not too early of a start needed to get to LHR and as I need to fly LAX-SAN to get home, the connecting flight isn't too late, unlike the connection if I took the A380 service. When I booked the flights, it was $2K cheaper to take the LHR-LAX-SAN route vs my usual LHR-SAN route. It was also another $2K cheaper to take the outbound flight on the Thursday before Christmas, rather than waiting till the Friday. I'll burn another day of vacation for that amount of savings!
Jul 18, 2018, 11:10 pm
#13
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: San Diego
Programs: Plat Pro AAdvantage, but defected to BAEC
Posts: 1,222
I opted for the 747 UD for our flight back to the UK for Christmas as I've never been up on the UD on the 747 before and they are not going to be around for very much longer I fear. It had the earliest departure between the 747, the 787 and the A380 LAX-LHR service, but for once, coming from the West coast I should be on the ground before midday upon arrival, so I get a bit more of the day there.
I'm coming back on the 787, though at the pointy end. Not too early of a start needed to get to LHR and as I need to fly LAX-SAN to get home, the connecting flight isn't too late, unlike the connection if I took the A380 service. When I booked the flights, it was $2K cheaper to take the LHR-LAX-SAN route vs my usual LHR-SAN route. It was also another $2K cheaper to take the outbound flight on the Thursday before Christmas, rather than waiting till the Friday. I'll burn another day of vacation for that amount of savings!
I'm coming back on the 787, though at the pointy end.
Not too early of a start needed to get to LHR and as I need to fly LAX-SAN to get home, the connecting flight isn't too late, unlike the connection if I took the A380 service. When I booked the flights, it was $2K cheaper to take the LHR-LAX-SAN route vs my usual LHR-SAN route. It was also another $2K cheaper to take the outbound flight on the Thursday before Christmas, rather than waiting till the Friday. I'll burn another day of vacation for that amount of savings!