747 or A380 to JNB in J
Nov 22, 2019, 10:33 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2015
Posts: 1,355
747 or A380 to JNB in J
I’m planning to fly to JNB in J next May and the schedule has a daily 744 and a daily 380. I’ve flown upper deck 744 countless times and love it, but have never flown on a BA A380. Does one have an advantage over the other in Club World for a couple? BTW, any chance either would have new Club Suite by May? Cheers
Nov 23, 2019, 12:49 am
#4
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Scotland
Programs: BA Exec Club (Silver)
Posts: 454
A380, upper deck, forward cabin. Possibly not as an “exclusive” feel as 747 UD but if you’ve never flown an A380 then it’s definitely worth a try. Possibly not the main deciding factor, the toilets are enormous!
Nov 23, 2019, 1:07 am
#5
FlyerTalk Evangelist, Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Somewhere between 0 and 13,000 metres high
Programs: AF/KL Life Plat, BA GGL+GfL, ALL Plat, Hilton Diam, Marriott Gold, blablablah, etc
Posts: 30,536
744 ud is the little better layout, 388 is by far the better plane. 744 gets extra points if high j with the new entertainment and loses further points otherwise.
Nov 23, 2019, 2:25 am
#7
Join Date: Oct 2015
Posts: 123
I love the A380 which is such a quiet, smooth and roomy aircraft and gets my vote every time and you certainly feel more refreshed than on a B747 or B777.
B747 Upper Deck is very nice but all the B747s I have been on recently are tatty to say the least.
B747 Upper Deck is very nice but all the B747s I have been on recently are tatty to say the least.
Nov 23, 2019, 2:44 am
#8
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Berkshire
Programs: BAEC Silver
Posts: 380
My other half and I had 62J/K on the 747 from CPT recently. She loves it and, of course, so do I even if it was an ancient IFE on CIVK.
On the A380 it has to be 53A/B or 53J/K with roomy loos and a quiet aircraft.
On the A380 it has to be 53A/B or 53J/K with roomy loos and a quiet aircraft.
Nov 23, 2019, 3:34 am
#9
Join Date: Mar 2015
Programs: BA GGL
Posts: 2,447
If you care about in flight entertainment then A380.
Both are large and stable planes, so not a big difference in turbulence sensation.
Upstairs in 747 would be my take for sleep though. Quieter, wider aisle.
Both are overnight flights AFAIK, so maybe do one each way?
If you don't have status be prepared to pay for seats.
Both are large and stable planes, so not a big difference in turbulence sensation.
Upstairs in 747 would be my take for sleep though. Quieter, wider aisle.
Both are overnight flights AFAIK, so maybe do one each way?
If you don't have status be prepared to pay for seats.
Nov 23, 2019, 4:20 am
#10
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: Epsom, Surrey
Programs: BAEC
Posts: 104
I'm doing the same route next September, going for UD 747 on the outbound, as I've never even been on a 747 and one of my mini goals has always been 'to go upstairs'.
380 on the return, which is another new experience for me. I've been on the 380 in PE on the upper deck (LHR-JNB as well) and it was OK, so looking forward to the next cabin up
I have paid to reserve UD seats on 747, but hoping when my silver status comes through (1 flight needed) that I can ask them for a refund of the seat selection fees.
380 on the return, which is another new experience for me. I've been on the 380 in PE on the upper deck (LHR-JNB as well) and it was OK, so looking forward to the next cabin up
I have paid to reserve UD seats on 747, but hoping when my silver status comes through (1 flight needed) that I can ask them for a refund of the seat selection fees.
Nov 23, 2019, 5:00 am
#11
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Cambridgeshire
Programs: Varies
Posts: 1,297
Personally I'd choose UD on the 747 if I wanted to sleep. Most times I've flown UD in the 380 the staff seem to have problems with trolleys and other equipment in the galley resulting in lots of crashing noises. Also they tend to gather in large numbers in the galley and talk loudly. I've not experienced that on the 747. I've also found the service in general to be more pleasant on the 747; obviously dependent on crew but the larger numbers on the 380 seem to result in an us and them mentality. Other factors (scruffiness, IFE) aren't as important to me as service, but your needs may differ
Nov 23, 2019, 6:17 am
#12
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: UK
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 2,422
I’ve stopped selecting seats in the forward section for these reasons. Happier to gamble in row 59 where there is a chance of disruption from PE which is better than the guaranteed disruption in row 53.
Nov 24, 2019, 11:40 am
#15
Join Date: May 2018
Posts: 8
On the A380 I normally nab 53A but it may take an hour to get the first drink and 1h30 -2hrs for food - service is massively faster on a 744 UD and more frequent given the smaller cabin. Also, although 53A means you should be one of the first off the UD, it takes an age for the upper deck airway to be attached at JNB and half of the LD has already disembarked so if looking for a speedy disembark not the best option.