EL AL 787 Master Thread
Nov 13, 2017, 11:58 pm
#211
Suspended
Join Date: Nov 1999
Posts: 24,153
Had my first experience with the LY 789 and here are my impressions:
- Cramped. No other way to put it. The whole ac just felt cramped. Tight aisles and spaces. Just cramped, almost claustrophobic.
- The closets for hanging stuff in the front are short....typical garment bag won't hang straight.
- Bathrooms actually slightly wider/bigger than the 777. Also liked the sensor flush and faucet - less germy stuff to touch.
- IFE - finally a decent and industry standard offering from LY. Yes, you can binge watch an entire season of The Good Wife or House of Cards.
- I sat in Premium Economy. Its pretty much comparable to what the American carriers call F on their domestic routes. Seat is wider. Reclines a bit farther. There is a leg rest but it doesn't really do the trick. The meal service is a notch below what LY do in 777 C (menu, non-paper dishes, choice of 3 entrees, wine selection). With all that was unimpressed that the wine they did serve was poured into plastic cups - of all the places to go cheap. The FA attention was similar to economy (nobody home) as opposed to business (jump at every beck and call). Good blanket (same as the 777 C blanket from Hollandia).
- Took a walk into C - looks just like US and DL. I know there is lots of personal space and privacy, but the overall cabin feel is just cramped, cramped, cramped. Ugh. I hear lots of LY FF's have been complaining that the C seat is too tight. Are LY flyers fatter than most?
- Also took a walk down to Y - whoever it was that said "they took the meat off the bone" hit the nail on the head. Pax packed in like sardines. Really narrow aisles with 9 across.
I don't know.....I was expecting more from this plane. A bit disappointed. But I suppose can't blame LY for this one. Its the industry.
- Cramped. No other way to put it. The whole ac just felt cramped. Tight aisles and spaces. Just cramped, almost claustrophobic.
- The closets for hanging stuff in the front are short....typical garment bag won't hang straight.
- Bathrooms actually slightly wider/bigger than the 777. Also liked the sensor flush and faucet - less germy stuff to touch.
- IFE - finally a decent and industry standard offering from LY. Yes, you can binge watch an entire season of The Good Wife or House of Cards.
- I sat in Premium Economy. Its pretty much comparable to what the American carriers call F on their domestic routes. Seat is wider. Reclines a bit farther. There is a leg rest but it doesn't really do the trick. The meal service is a notch below what LY do in 777 C (menu, non-paper dishes, choice of 3 entrees, wine selection). With all that was unimpressed that the wine they did serve was poured into plastic cups - of all the places to go cheap. The FA attention was similar to economy (nobody home) as opposed to business (jump at every beck and call). Good blanket (same as the 777 C blanket from Hollandia).
- Took a walk into C - looks just like US and DL. I know there is lots of personal space and privacy, but the overall cabin feel is just cramped, cramped, cramped. Ugh. I hear lots of LY FF's have been complaining that the C seat is too tight. Are LY flyers fatter than most?
- Also took a walk down to Y - whoever it was that said "they took the meat off the bone" hit the nail on the head. Pax packed in like sardines. Really narrow aisles with 9 across.
I don't know.....I was expecting more from this plane. A bit disappointed. But I suppose can't blame LY for this one. Its the industry.
As for Y Boeing had suggested an 8 across config , everyone I know of went with 9 across. Heck UA is going 3-4-3 on all its 777s as are many others.
So LY I would assume is no worse then the others, maybe you or others were expecting a luxury config, yet the Airlines are going in the opposite direction, except for maybe the Biz cabin
Persoanlly due to UAs 3-4-3 I wont fly the 90/91 combo and the 772s (CO metal) will start going in to be redone so once they start in with 3-4-3 thats the end of my flying UA. On my 11/7 return to EWR Im staying in SFO (connecting) an extra hour to avoid a 3-4-3 Y cabin
Nov 21, 2017, 2:38 am
#213
Join Date: Feb 2005
Programs: EL AL Matmid, BA Executive Club GfL, GGL/CCR, Hilton Diamond, Avis President's Club
Posts: 2,084
My cousins returned from the USA to Israel this week on the new 787 in business class and told me how disappointed they were with it. For all they hype, they found it extremely cramped (and they are not particularly tall or wide people either). They felt it was another missed opportunity for EL AL ...
Last edited by mikebg; Nov 21, 2017 at 5:13 am
Nov 21, 2017, 3:25 am
#214
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Yiron, Israel
Programs: Bates Motel Plat
Posts: 68,916
My cousins returned from the USA to Israel this week on the new 787 and told me how disappointed they were with it. For all they hype, they found it extremely cramped (and they are not particularly tall or wide people either). They felt it was another missed opportunity for EL AL ...
Nov 22, 2017, 11:34 am
#218
Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 46
except it isnt. The seats ELAL uses were not designed to be deployed this way. The are not equally accessible from both sides. Even row number window seats have the "bulkhead" to the aisle, but the actual width of the space to get into the seat is so narrow that even a small person needs to get in sideways.flown on it now three times. Row 9 - (first row) window seats are the best seats (imo) in the cabin. Odd row window seats, have sufficient room to enter the seat, but have open space around your head facing the aisle, which has proven to be disturbing.
Also passenger to bathroom ratio is horrendous. 1 bathroom in front, for 32 passengers, plus 4 pilots/first officers crew. There are two more bathrooms behind the first class cabin shared with the economy plus section (24 more seats), and more crew. On the overnight flights I'd suggest waking up extra early to get in, the wait can be an hour.
There's more, always is with LY. Paraphrasing Abba Eban - never miss an opportunity to miss an opportunity.
Also passenger to bathroom ratio is horrendous. 1 bathroom in front, for 32 passengers, plus 4 pilots/first officers crew. There are two more bathrooms behind the first class cabin shared with the economy plus section (24 more seats), and more crew. On the overnight flights I'd suggest waking up extra early to get in, the wait can be an hour.
There's more, always is with LY. Paraphrasing Abba Eban - never miss an opportunity to miss an opportunity.
Dec 11, 2017, 1:36 am
#219
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: 30,000 Feet
Programs: LY Top Platinum, AA Platinum, Hertz President's Circle
Posts: 863
Well, I have now traveled in all 3 classes of LY's 787
Business:
Lots of privacy (except if your solo on the odd-row middle - then its not private at all, but worse than the 777/747) but extremely cramped. Its almost like lying in an MRI for 10 hours.
Premium Economy:
Comparable to BA, but IMHO not worth the price above regular coach if you also want to get full status points for the flight. Slightly more legroom than Y, maybe 1/2 inch wider in the seat. My personal beef: serving fine wine in plastic cups is cheap and a stupid way to differentiate between P and C.
Economy:
Tighter than the other aircraft. Nowhere to move. Sitting in the aisle is a downright hazard with FA's and carts bumping into you all the time.
General:
The only thing good about this AC is the entertainment system - but don't worry - LY probably won't update the content for about 3 years, so this too will suck soon.
No wifi. Excuses, excuses. Everybody has wifi these days. Its a brand new ac. Where is the wifi?
Bottom line: LY's "Dreamliner" is a HUGE disappointment. Much rather fly the 777 - just upgrade the VOD.
Business:
Lots of privacy (except if your solo on the odd-row middle - then its not private at all, but worse than the 777/747) but extremely cramped. Its almost like lying in an MRI for 10 hours.
Premium Economy:
Comparable to BA, but IMHO not worth the price above regular coach if you also want to get full status points for the flight. Slightly more legroom than Y, maybe 1/2 inch wider in the seat. My personal beef: serving fine wine in plastic cups is cheap and a stupid way to differentiate between P and C.
Economy:
Tighter than the other aircraft. Nowhere to move. Sitting in the aisle is a downright hazard with FA's and carts bumping into you all the time.
General:
The only thing good about this AC is the entertainment system - but don't worry - LY probably won't update the content for about 3 years, so this too will suck soon.
No wifi. Excuses, excuses. Everybody has wifi these days. Its a brand new ac. Where is the wifi?
Bottom line: LY's "Dreamliner" is a HUGE disappointment. Much rather fly the 777 - just upgrade the VOD.
Dec 11, 2017, 9:39 am
#220
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: Gateshead
Programs: BA Gold, ELAL Top Platinum
Posts: 851
Well, I have now traveled in all 3 classes of LY's 787
Business:
Lots of privacy (except if your solo on the odd-row middle - then its not private at all, but worse than the 777/747) but extremely cramped. Its almost like lying in an MRI for 10 hours.
Premium Economy:
Comparable to BA, but IMHO not worth the price above regular coach if you also want to get full status points for the flight. Slightly more legroom than Y, maybe 1/2 inch wider in the seat. My personal beef: serving fine wine in plastic cups is cheap and a stupid way to differentiate between P and C.
Economy:
Tighter than the other aircraft. Nowhere to move. Sitting in the aisle is a downright hazard with FA's and carts bumping into you all the time.
General:
The only thing good about this AC is the entertainment system - but don't worry - LY probably won't update the content for about 3 years, so this too will suck soon.
No wifi. Excuses, excuses. Everybody has wifi these days. Its a brand new ac. Where is the wifi?
Bottom line: LY's "Dreamliner" is a HUGE disappointment. Much rather fly the 777 - just upgrade the VOD.
Business:
Lots of privacy (except if your solo on the odd-row middle - then its not private at all, but worse than the 777/747) but extremely cramped. Its almost like lying in an MRI for 10 hours.
Premium Economy:
Comparable to BA, but IMHO not worth the price above regular coach if you also want to get full status points for the flight. Slightly more legroom than Y, maybe 1/2 inch wider in the seat. My personal beef: serving fine wine in plastic cups is cheap and a stupid way to differentiate between P and C.
Economy:
Tighter than the other aircraft. Nowhere to move. Sitting in the aisle is a downright hazard with FA's and carts bumping into you all the time.
General:
The only thing good about this AC is the entertainment system - but don't worry - LY probably won't update the content for about 3 years, so this too will suck soon.
No wifi. Excuses, excuses. Everybody has wifi these days. Its a brand new ac. Where is the wifi?
Bottom line: LY's "Dreamliner" is a HUGE disappointment. Much rather fly the 777 - just upgrade the VOD.
Dec 14, 2017, 10:48 pm
#221
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2005
Location: TLV/LHR
Programs: BA GGL, IHG Diamond Elite Amb, HH Diamond, Avis PC, Hertz PC, Sixt Platinum
Posts: 12,948
Premium Economy:
Comparable to BA, but IMHO not worth the price above regular coach if you also want to get full status points for the flight. Slightly more legroom than Y, maybe 1/2 inch wider in the seat. My personal beef: serving fine wine in plastic cups is cheap and a stupid way to differentiate between P and C.
Comparable to BA, but IMHO not worth the price above regular coach if you also want to get full status points for the flight. Slightly more legroom than Y, maybe 1/2 inch wider in the seat. My personal beef: serving fine wine in plastic cups is cheap and a stupid way to differentiate between P and C.
Yep, that's a common problem on all airlines 787s unfortunately.
Assume you mean just in Y...?
Dec 15, 2017, 1:04 am
#222
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: 30,000 Feet
Programs: LY Top Platinum, AA Platinum, Hertz President's Circle
Posts: 863
Nope. Even in C. Give me the VOD of the 787 in the seat and space of the 777. The latter may not have all-aisle access - and the former's seat may be slightly more comfortable - but the cramped nature of the 787 C seat/space just kills the whole thing.
Jan 1, 2018, 9:16 pm
#225
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2005
Location: TLV/LHR
Programs: BA GGL, IHG Diamond Elite Amb, HH Diamond, Avis PC, Hertz PC, Sixt Platinum
Posts: 12,948
I'm wondering how the engine issues are going to effect their schedule though.
