A330
 

I just got back from a special assignement trip I was doing for the A330. Northwest has really let the flight attendants have a lot of input into the cabin interior.

I got to see the new A330 (ship #3301). I must say, she is a beautiful plane...if you can get past the puke green paint job! She is pretty busy flying now and the computers on board are unbelievable. There are rows after rows of computers testing every imaginable system.

The inflight entertainment system that Northwest ordered is great. It has quite a few components to it (shopping, video games, maps). Pretty much everything our old system (on the 747) had but really upgraded.

Airbus was really kind to us as well. We saw some of their planes that had been "decked out". They had some really interesting upgrades...like oak bookcases and full bars. It was really facinating!

I had a chance to test the World Business Class seats. I was a bit disappointed with it. I found it to be uncomfortable. The seat cushion is thin and it didn't extend to a full recline like I had expected. The lumbar support met me about mid back. I'm 5'5 so I expect that it may be more comfortable for someone taller than me. When fully reclined, I had a good foot and half between my feet and the foot rest. Another problem I experienced was when the seat is fully reclined, there is no good place to put your arms. If you put them on the armrests, they sit too high up. There is not enough room to put them by your sides so you just have to fold them on your lap. If you lay on your side, it seems to work.

I was a bit overwhelmed with all of the infomation given, but overall I think it will be a great assest to our fleet.

#3301 is scheduled for a July 7 delivery date but will not go into service until August. The route will of course be DTW-SEA. It should be a few months of that and then across the pond to Europe.

I am very excited, I can't wait to test these seats....Thanks for the report!

I'm 6'1", and I didn't find the seat comfortable either. United's BC seat is much easier to use, but not nearly as much open space between you and the seat in front of you.

Thanks for the news. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

Are they still taking input on the seat selection or is this the final product?

With two reports and both being negative, I can't see it prudent that they would outfit the fleet with a poor quality seat in what is a premium product. I can only hope that you two are the only ones who found the seats uncomfortable...otherwise, the money invested in this will be a waste.

Any pictures of the BC seats? I wonder if NW is using the same seats that US and QF do. Very adjustable but for some, only to varying degrees of discomfort.

Unfortunately the seats are finalized. (We were just investigating options for the A330-200 to delivered next year).

There was only one person in my group who did not find the seat as uncomfortable as every one else. I was trying to be optimistic about it, but is the one truly disappointing item on that plane.

The tray table was a bit different as well. It doesn't go from one side of the seat to the other. There is a gap of about 2 inches on each side of the seat. I suppose it doesn't matter because it still holds what it needs to. I just thought it was an odd design.

I flew Usairways Envoy class but it has been long enough ago that I cannot remember the seat very well. Sorry, I wish I could comment on that.

Hope 330s fly the Pacific in the near future.

There are no plans to fly the planes on those routes yet. It will still be quite a while before they make it to Europe.

Thanks a lot for the report, cannot wait to see the A 330`s lined up at the E concourse at Schiphol.Sorry to hear about the seat problems, though.

Flew LH C on the A 330 just a few weeks ago and was pretty satisfied with the old Swiss seat and configuration.The PTV was much bigger than on regular " older " LH/NW or KL planes.The 2-2-2 configuration seems to be a big plus as well.

Was not able to find a photo of the NW seat, but unfortunately it is not the same seat that Swiss has just introduced on the A 340, right ??
http://www.swiss.com/destination-exc...0_bc_seat.html

NO that is definetly nothing like the new WBC seat. The new seat is much thinner and has a hard covered "canopy" that sits behind the head rest. When you extend the seat it sort of gives you a little bit of privacy.

The lower part of the seat is leather (foot rest included) and does not lay flat. If I remeber correctly, the screen will be 10.4" I don't remember if this was the coach screen size or WBC. Well, either way it would only be slightly bigger in WBC.

Here is a link to a THREAD in which I posted the specs on the new WBC seat that NW is installing on the A330.

[This message has been edited by thezipper (edited 04-10-2003).]

- Length. At six feet, seven inches, Northwest¡¦s new lie-flat World Business Class seat will be longer than any other business class seat in the U.S.
- Recline. Northwest¡¦s seat reclines 180 degrees, essentially converting to a completely lie-flat bed, making sleep during flight far easier than in a merely partially reclined seat. At 180 degrees, Northwest¡¦s seat reclines more than its U.S. competitors.
- Privacy. Northwest¡¦s seat offers customers a privacy canopy to provide a more private area of space.
- In-flight entertainment screen size. Northwest¡¦s World Business Class customers can enjoy in-flight video programming on a 10.4-inch screen, over 50% larger in size than the screens found in business class seats on other U.S. airlines.
Other key features include:

- 60 inches of pitch between seats, providing customers with ample legroom and space.
- 110-volt personal computer power in every seat, eliminating the need for cumbersome converters or carrying multiple rechargeable batteries.
- Seats that are 20.25 inches wide.
- Three pre-set locations on the seat control unit, including take-off/landing, flat and cradle.
- Cycling lumbar support, mitigating the effects of sitting for longer periods of time.
- A retractable entertainment controller, making it easy for customers to access from any sitting position, as opposed to controllers fixed on armrests.
- A dimmable personal snake reading light, providing softer light for reading that can be positioned closer to a book, magazine, or newspaper than overhead lighting.
- A six-way adjustable headrest, eliminating the need for customers to ¡§construct¡¨ a seat with pillows.
- A swivel cocktail table, furnishing travelers with a place to rest a drink without using their larger tray table.


Well, the seats are long and because of this (I believe anyway) will not be comfortable for someone my size (5'5). The "lie flat" will mislead many. There is a big dip just under your butt that is not comfortable.

The privacy canopy only comes into play when the seat is fully reclined. It doesn't give much privacy either, just enough so that if the person next to you is sleeping and they roll over, they can't really see your face.

The preset seat buttons are nice but if you are in full recline and have to get to takeoff/landing position...you have to really lay on the button and wait. The seat is slow.

The lumbar feature is nice...of course it hit me mid back.

The controller works the same way the phones did. Pull out and pull again to retract. The seat controls are on the armrest.

The headreset is nice. It adjusts up and down and the wings fold in and out. Very comfortable.

The swivel cocktail table has me perplexed. It is a small metal piece sitting at the end of the armrest. You swivel it out (towards you) and there are 2 cutouts to set a drink in. I guess I don't know why they would have the table swivel. It doesn't really serve a purpose except to cover up the cutouts and get in the way of someone trying to stand up. Having not had a drink, I couldn't really test it out.

Curious to know what the decor on the interior will look like? What color and fabric are these seats? Did you see what the new coach seats will be? What do they LOOK like as far as color etc... I'm still trying to figure out if the interiors of the planes in the fleet will get a new look as well.


AZJ

Heasdstrong,

What is the layout in WBC? Is it 2-2-2 with (5) rows and 2-nothing-2 next to the galley?

RC

Here is a early photo of the new NWA A330

http://www.airliners.net/open.file/313567/M/

RC

The WBC is set up as 5 rows of 2-2-2 seating. The last row is 6a and B and 6C and G. 6A and B are in front of a jumpseat (separeated by a divider). 6C and G are in front of a galley and to the left of a lav. 5H and J are in front of the same lav.

The seats are a similar blue to our 757 FC. It is a bright navy blue with small horizontal lines of red dots running across the seat. It is a very nice design. Everything from your kness down is the grey leather/pleather. All in all, I think it is a very attractive looking seat (comfort? That is another issue!).

The interiors are bright white. They remind me a lot of our 757-300 in that respect. Nothing really significant stood out in my mind about that though. Maybe I am missing something in your question?

The overhead bins are similar to the DC10 inthat there side bins and bins running down the center aisle. They open very much like the Airbus, including the center bins (I mean really...who over 6'8 could close those center bins anyway? Wehn the time came to close them, I would just put my pathetic look on and hope someone took pity on me to help me slam those things up!).

Another feature that I find brilliant that I am certain you probably won't care about is the call lights. When someone rings the call light, we get a message in various locations telling exactly where the call light is coming from. No more hunting for call lights! Isn't technology amazing? http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif

Will there be (2) jetways used to board the A330?

RC

We have always been told that any airport that can accomodate a jetway with 2 boarding doors will be used. This was supped to happen with the 757-300 because boarding is taking way too long. The f/a's have been complaing about so I guess we will see. It just doesn't make sense to park an Airbus at a 2 door jetway when a larger plane could use it.

So in answer to your question...it should happen but is subject to someone using forethought.

I have a pic of thr WBC seat. It is ot a great copy but you can see some details. I don't know how to post it but I can send it to someone if you are interested.


[This message has been edited by heasdstrong (edited 04-13-2003).]

[This message has been edited by heasdstrong (edited 04-14-2003).]

Will the A330 be listed in the summer schedule? I tried to book a DTW/SEA r/t in August and the Plat Elite Line couldn't find anything but B757-300's on that route.

Anyone know if the A330 will be totally "unscheduled" a/c changes or regularly scheduled service?

RC

It won't be put into service until August so there is likely to be a last minute schedule change (or a schedule change around July...at least that is what we were told). The way things have been going lately, the schedules have have not been confirmed until the 3rd week of the month.