Crowded A380 Cabin
 

I’m just looking at my flight from JFK-DXB in F on the A380, and it’s almost completely booked full. I don’t think I’ve ever been on a totally full EK F flight.

Does anyone have any experience with a totally full A380 F cabin on a long flight? Is there anything you should do like reserve meals? I will definitely be the first to make my shower appointment when I board. But any other recommendations?

I don’t really understand the issue. All seats designed to be occupied are indeed so. This is something I witness regularly and have lived to tell about it!

I've seen (but not been on) as many as 630 pax on an A380 (which has 615 seats - lots of lap-infants!)

I don't remember when I was last on an EK F cabin, but every other full F flight I was on was just fine. No advance anything necessary!

Don’t worry, it’s not like on BA where if you don’t know the Chairman personally you won’t get your first choice of meal (even in F).
I only have had the experience of a full F cabin on a 777 and that was no issue at all.

I've been on the A380 with 13/14 or full. Never had any issues with catering. Remember that they have two showers, and it usually just works itself out (from the US, for example, I prefer the shower before going to sleep rather than on arrival).

Not quite proper long haul, but a recent F flight from LHR was full - like everything it really depends on the crew. They seemed to default to a more 'on demand' stance, rather than a proactive one. When I asked them for anything, there was no issue at all. I had no menu choice issues at all, and in the suite you wouldn't be particularly aware of how full the cabin was, I had to actively look.

It did result in them running out of time on the light bites before landing, and it felt a bit rushed to clear up, but that was it.

So my advice... if there is something you want, overtly ask for it, as they might not be intuitive/fast enough on their own - but that can happen at any stage.

All was good though on my onward flight to SYD the next day, where the cabin had 3 people in it including me - the other 2 were on the other aisle! Extra personal service!

On crowded CX flights in F, you can reserve certain items for later such as light bites so they save you one and don’t run out that’s why I was asking if I should ask the crew to hold an item for me.

chocolates and Lakrids

My last flight ex-JFK was full in F (EK202), coz 208 service had been temporarily discontinued and we were moved to 202.

Caviar is the first to run out, so be sure to order that. Next in demand would be the Champagne but haven't ever experienced champagne running out on flights ex-JFK.

Full F in A380 is hardly an issue as far as service is concerned. I always had my meal of my choosing.
The only constraint may be the shower on a red-eye flight. If you are not on the top of the list, you may not get the latest slot.
Lavs may be fully occupied at some time, but 3 lavs for 14 pax is a very good ratio compared to down below.

I hope you won't fly with loud spoiled kids.

Or loud spoiled adults, for that matter.

Agreed

Opposite for me. I'm the only one in F today DXB - ADD

So far anyway. Maybe a few onboard upgraders later

Wow I've been on the JFK-DXB flight probably 20 times in F and I'd say a good 5 times i've been the only passenger... and even when not there's only been 1 or 2 other pax..
so surprised to hear the cabin is full these days

then again my travel was a year+ ago and it was always the daytime flight

an almost guaranteed full longhual F flight is yyz, only 3x week , always get destroyed by the flex plus fares

I flew F from DXB-AKL with all seats full and I didn't notice any difference in service, food choices, shower times etc.

Ok so can we now conclude this thread with the summary that EK is not like BA and EY in that the F load doesn't affect service of food availability?

Incorrect. If F is full, the service you will receive is less and slower as if F is not full.
Even if you pay fullfare F, a platinum member upgraded from C will receive better service as you as that guy will be asked first about menu choices/shower times, etc.

Besides, if F is full, and you tell them that you want your lunch/dinner later in the flight, you will open a can of worms. In this case the meals that cockpit and crew can eat becomes quite limited and they will push you to make your choice NOW, even if you want to eat later. If you want to win the "worst passenger of the year award by EK cabin crew", then just say "I will eat one hour before landing but I really cannot tell you now what I will be hungry for then. I expect you have all the choices available still" -- :))

Of course, this is not EK specific.

I have had a few empty F trips lately, upon placing my order the crew had to run around to check if they had the meals I requested as the J cabin crew had been making use of the F designated meals due to a full J cabin and trying to furfil everyone’s desired meal orders down in J. 3 out of 14, crew acting like they did me a favor finding me the Beef Wellington ( which was dire). Don’t get me wrong on that last line, I appreciate the crew finding the meal, but come on, why should an F passenger on a load of 3 in F have to wait on confirmation if J paxs have taken the meal already.

I am sure you will will be fine, above is just a recent observation that has happened thrice in a row now.

Wow, I always thought they'd protect the F meal counts. Maybe the apps on the new phones aren't working right?

Were you by chance an onboard/airport upgrade?

To be honest, I tend to believe the regular F flyers on here rather than somebody who just says "Incorrect". I'm not a regular F flyer, but I've done full and empty sectors and haven't noticed any difference. I tend to eat in the lounge first and then on the plane after around 4 hours, and I've never had an issue getting my first choice.

I also assumed such, i think crew have been assuming that due to late night flight that F pax's won't be eating and will be maximising sleep. I also was not an onboard/airport upgrade.

Yep.
I've flown quite a few full F. I also dine at the lounge, then, usually eat one hour prior to landing, whether it is breakfast or dinner. FA never asked me to choose dishes early, and I never had any issue with my dish selection, though, I usually take two entrees and one main.
And I was never told that they were going to check if BCL ate my bit. I may have been lucky so far.

Again, the only issue would be the shower, where you won't have the desired slot. It happens when there are a lot of first timers, or on red-eye flights. As a Plat, I know I am privileged.

It was EK204 the 11:20am departure. It turned out the flight was 3/4’s full. Service was okay and there was no food problems. The real problems were the shower time filled up quick. So my suggestion to anyone who gets onboard an A380 is to immidiately tell them you want to make a shower appointment.

Did the JFK lounge finally open?

its done on status order (or it should be)

There's some pics of a lounge tagged on FB as JFK that looks kinda like LAX but isn't because of the positioning of the walls - my guess is it's the new lounge.