Equipment Change A380 > B747
 

I have just received an e-mail from BA to say that my upcoming flight from MIA has changed from the A380 to the 747 (Layout 1) I had specifically chosen the A380 on the return leg as I find them quieter for sleeping (I usually travel WT+). We are flying CW on this trip and they have automatically assigned seats on the upper deck.
What is this 747 like in CW compared to the A380? I am assuming they have all been refitted to a similar standard? Would it be quieter up there forward of the engines?

Thanks in advance.

747 UD is quiet and peaceful IME. Only slight negative is 'floor bounce' if the CC are heavy-footed.

What seats have you been given?

The engines are louder on the 747, although the Upper Deck (Club World) is relatively quiet - probably a little noisier than the A380, but I have never found it unduly noisy. The Upper Deck 747 generally is a great Club World cabin - relatively few passengers and low foot traffic so a good place to get a good nigh of sleep on a night flight (and a good place for service on a day flight).

I'd be fairly happy with that change, if you have Upper Deck seating. What seats specifically have you been given? There are a few upstairs which are excellent, and also a couple to avoid.

Upper Deck Window Club World is, in my opinion, better than any seat anywhere on the A380

Thanks. We were given 60J,K and 64J,K I have just moved them to 62 A,B,J, K. as that looks like the exit row.

I'm not sure how you've got such great seats as a Blue (unless your profile is wrong?) either way - great seats to choose

The upper deck is normally a very pleasant place to be. Bizarrely the noisiest row for engine noise is 60, the forward most row.
Service starts at the back of the cabin, so aim for row 64.

Yes, my profile is a little out of date, I have Silver now. We were already booked on a 747 flying out to MIA and there wasn`t an option to select upper deck seats at all.

Are the UD on the outbound blocked or already reserved ? If way off they might be available now if you perhaps remove and re enter your exec number

It doesn't give me the option to even view the upper deck at all. The flight is not until 10th Feb 2020.

Peculiar on 10/02/2020 the flights show available UD seats:

18/20 - BA207
17/20 - BA209
20/20 - BA211

Maybe they normally keep them back for Golds and release them nearer the time.I`m assuming as a Silver we may have only been allocated them as a sweetener for the equipment change.

Row 62 is a great choice - 62A/K are (in my view) the best Club World seats in the BA fleet...(closely followed by 64A/K). Exit row, window seats. 62A is a touch better than 62K as you don't have to eye-ball the cabin crew in the jump seat for take-off and landing. But those are nice seats.

Most upper deck seats are otherwise fine - windows being better than aisles (generally speaking). The only two I have reservations about are 64 B/J which are on the aisle and too close to the galley and loo to get proper rest on a night flight.

I will cloud the issue by suggesting Row 63 [if available]. Those in the window seats (A and K) can squeeze out between the seat and the cabin wall without having to climb over anyone. Those in the aisle seats (B and J) are immune from climb-over.

62B/J are both subject to other pax climbing over them.

Here's something I drew up ages ago ...

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...d21c728c79.jpg

That's fairly comprehensive, thanks. I had not considered the possibility of squeezing out the 'other' side of 63 A/K: not seen anyone do that, but I guess feasible if you are reasonably slim!

I have recently had both 60K and 64K - in neither seat have I noticed any real noise from the lavatory.

62A/K by the exit doors can indeed be a little colder than other seats - but for me that's another plus point since I always find airline cabins too hot to sleep comfortably.