Cabin Temperature
#16
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: England - UK
Posts: 512
A quick tip. If the cabin is really hot when your boarding don't start fanning yourself or ask if the heating can be turned down until you take off. I was sitting in Finnair's A350 at Heathrow earlier this year and it was so hot I started to fan myself. The FA came over to me and asked if I was feeling well. I said yes it was just a little too warm. She stared at me with a concerned face and went to ask a colleague for a second opinion if I was fit to travel. You don't need these sort of surprises however well meant.
#17
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: London(ish)
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 562
A quick tip. If the cabin is really hot when your boarding don't start fanning yourself or ask if the heating can be turned down until you take off. I was sitting in Finnair's A350 at Heathrow earlier this year and it was so hot I started to fan myself. The FA came over to me and asked if I was feeling well. I said yes it was just a little too warm. She stared at me with a concerned face and went to ask a colleague for a second opinion if I was fit to travel. You don't need these sort of surprises however well meant.
#18
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: 30 miles from London
Programs: BAEC Gold, MUCCI, Elite Fan of MO, ALL Accor Live Gold
Posts: 1,475
QR seem to get the temperature right every time I have flown with them.
BA nearly always a problem. As others have said if you are too cold put a jumper on and wrap up in the blanket, then rest of us can stop sweating and ending up with a headache
BA nearly always a problem. As others have said if you are too cold put a jumper on and wrap up in the blanket, then rest of us can stop sweating and ending up with a headache
#19
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: London(ish)
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 562
QR seem to get the temperature right every time I have flown with them.
BA nearly always a problem. As others have said if you are too cold put a jumper on and wrap up in the blanket, then rest of us can stop sweating and ending up with a headache, sore nose, throat, dry lips, exhausted and smelly!
BA nearly always a problem. As others have said if you are too cold put a jumper on and wrap up in the blanket, then rest of us can stop sweating and ending up with a headache, sore nose, throat, dry lips, exhausted and smelly!
#20
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: UK
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 590
Flying back from JED last week on a 787-9 it was the coldest I have been on a plane. Normally I'm fine in short sleeves, but needed to get hoodie out of my bag, and noticed lots of folk under blankets when I went to the loo. Day flight as well, maybe to do with the overheating brakes that the captain reported later on?
#21
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: UK
Programs: BA GGL, BA LTG/GFL, Honors Diamond, Accor Platinum, Bonvoy Silver
Posts: 712
As most longhaul BA aircraft are not specced with individual air vents, I carry a small (2 coin size but square) thermometer from eBay, in my bag of wires / power adapters. If it exceeds 21.9 I politely ask for the temperature setting to be turned down to whatever is needed (which may bear no resemblance to the actual achieved temperature) to achieve 21 in the passenger cabin, commenting that I understand that the air flow patterns are not uniform within the aircraft, and vary from aircraft to aircraft of the same type, whilst showing the thermometer display. ETA: Personally Id love it to be 18 but thats subjective.
I wait for 20 mins post take off to avoid the it takes time after takeoff reply. Any further fob off at that point elicits a complaint on BA.com - not that that has ever achieved anything other than a generic apology email.
Also useful evidence in certain hotels with those ridiculous PIR activated air con controllers that turn off the air con if motion is not detected - eg at night. Sometimes that can be overridden in the setup menu of the thermostat.
I wait for 20 mins post take off to avoid the it takes time after takeoff reply. Any further fob off at that point elicits a complaint on BA.com - not that that has ever achieved anything other than a generic apology email.
Also useful evidence in certain hotels with those ridiculous PIR activated air con controllers that turn off the air con if motion is not detected - eg at night. Sometimes that can be overridden in the setup menu of the thermostat.
Last edited by rjn21; Oct 24, 2018 at 1:38 pm
#23
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Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: London(ish)
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 562
#25
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Betwixt SEA and LHR
Programs: BAEC GGL/CCR, AS Gold MVP, IC RA, IHG Spire Elite, HH Diamond, Dennis The Menace Fan Club
Posts: 1,354
Aircraft, meanwhile, have: some people asleep and some not, people not all from a temperate region, not asleep in a bed with typical bed linen (especially in economy), in an environment with strong airflow.
So 21C, the typical design temperature for buildings in most of the world for waking activity, is a much more reasonable compromise.
So 21C, the typical design temperature for buildings in most of the world for waking activity, is a much more reasonable compromise.
Most modern aircraft have the ability to selectively cool or heat zones of the plane, so passengers in Y can be kept a few degrees warmer than those cosseted in J and F. You're right that not everyone will want to sleep during a night flight, and some people will want to sleep on day flight, but the airline should cater generally to the majority of the passengers, not to outliers. Keep it warmer (21C) on day flights, and keep it cooler (19C-18C) on night flights. Ensure each passenger has a blanket if they require one, I'm reasonably sure BA manage to do this even in Y. Passenger comfort would be significantly improved.
FWIW, never had a problem with JAL - though I've only flown with them perhaps 10 times, and mostly longhaul in J/F.
Last edited by opalfruit; Oct 24, 2018 at 12:35 pm
#26
Join Date: May 2016
Location: London WC1
Programs: BAEC Gold
Posts: 430
21C is indeed the correct temperature for waking activity - workers in office buildings and the like, and fine for daytime activity on aeroplanes, but it is too warm for sleeping. It's true, of course, that not all regions of the world have uniform temperatures, and people will adjust and acclimatise to their locality over time - but it still doesn't mean that it is optimal for you or your body. People who live in very warm climates often do not utilise bedclothes or sheets or blankets as there's no need for them, and they may find 18C to be chilly - and that's *exactly* what blankets and pillows are there for. If you are still uncomfortably cold, when under a blanket, with all your clothes on, when the ambient temperature is 18C, then - frankly - something is wrong with you.
Most modern aircraft have the ability to selectively cool or heat zones of the plane, so passengers in Y can be kept a few degrees warmer than those cosseted in J and F. You're right that not everyone will want to sleep during a night flight, and some people will want to sleep on day flight, but the airline should cater generally to the majority of the passengers, not to outliers. Keep it warmer (21C) on day flights, and keep it cooler (19C-18C) on night flights. Ensure each passenger has a blanket if they require one, I'm reasonably sure BA manage to do this even in Y. Passenger comfort would be significantly improved.
FWIW, never had a problem with JAL - though I've only flown with them perhaps 10 times, and mostly longhaul in J/F.
Most modern aircraft have the ability to selectively cool or heat zones of the plane, so passengers in Y can be kept a few degrees warmer than those cosseted in J and F. You're right that not everyone will want to sleep during a night flight, and some people will want to sleep on day flight, but the airline should cater generally to the majority of the passengers, not to outliers. Keep it warmer (21C) on day flights, and keep it cooler (19C-18C) on night flights. Ensure each passenger has a blanket if they require one, I'm reasonably sure BA manage to do this even in Y. Passenger comfort would be significantly improved.
FWIW, never had a problem with JAL - though I've only flown with them perhaps 10 times, and mostly longhaul in J/F.
For the first time ever last month I was cold on a plane (QR J 788) - it was wonderful! Rather easily fixed with a blanket. I've sweltered many times on BA although the worst recently was actually in LX J.
#27
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Betwixt SEA and LHR
Programs: BAEC GGL/CCR, AS Gold MVP, IC RA, IHG Spire Elite, HH Diamond, Dennis The Menace Fan Club
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Perhaps 'correct' was a bit too precise. I don't think there is an actual defined standard, because different offices have different people who do different jobs. Studies have shown that people doing repetitive work (like data entry) or creatives and designers work more efficiently with a warmer temperature, whereas the likes of software engineers and architects do better at lower temperatures. The happy medium most places convene on is around 21-22C. For me, personally, anything above about 22-23 and I can't concentrate on my work, and I work in IT.
#28
Join Date: Aug 2008
Posts: 3,888
#29
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Wolverhampton
Programs: BA Silver, Hilton Diamond, Marriot Gold, Radisson Gold, Amex Platinum
Posts: 1,600
If the plane has the little overhead air blowers, then its not a problem, but recently on the 787 and 380 on BA they've not and its been roasting. I mean I can't sit in the temperature in my clothes never mind sleep in it...
Wheras on QR I was quite hot, but both airvents blowing down on me continually for hours cooled me down...
Wheras on QR I was quite hot, but both airvents blowing down on me continually for hours cooled me down...
#30
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: BOS
Programs: SPG
Posts: 67