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AC 787: Impressions from the back of the bus
This is my first TR and covers my first 787 flight. I am writing this for the aviation geek who likes a window seat but is not always lucky enough to fly Premium Economy or better.
I have had a few first flights on AC aircraft types, including Viscount, DC-8, 9, 747 and L-1011. Does anyone remember the phrase "the one with Rooms to Relax in" from an early 1970's AC ad or brochure referring to Y-class on L-1011? After reviewing other TRs and videos noting complaints over cramped seats, armrest IFE control complaints, etc., I was wondering whether my first 787 flight in Y-class on AC's 787 would be pleasant. The answer is a resounding YES! I would go out of my way to fly AC's (or anyone's) 787 again! I will cover this TR with multiple posts, beginning with seat selection. I prefer a seat with a clear view of the ground, so I like to keep away from the wing. I selected 35A, trying to avoid the location where fuselage sections are connected resulting in no window. I have not seen a website showing exactly where windows are located with respect to seats, so hopefully the pics below will help someone. My first choice for future flights will be 39A/K (as I believe row 40 is reserved for crew). Next choice would be 36A/K, followed by 35A/K. If I was traveling with someone who I wanted to share the view with, or if I had to settle for a middle (B/J) seat, my first choice would be 37A/K, followed by 35A/K. https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7618/...080a3edded.jpg https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7601/...e3f6e8fd83.jpg |
Welcome to flyertalk. I suppose the real cost of flying has reduced and the reality is little space and tiny seats! I do remember the comfortable Tri-star, BA had a section of the Ŷ cabin where the seat pitch was around 36-37" and now we face a seat pitch of 30-31"
I do admire the engineering tho! |
Thanks Skipcool3. I admire the engineering too and found a lot to admire on the 787.
I found the seat pitch adequate (I am 75Kg over 180cm). I like the way the seat reclines without impeding on the row behind. I spent much of the flight with my seat fully reclined to get a view out the aft window toward the rear of the aircraft (leaving the forward window for the person in 35B. I didn't try to sleep but then again I can almost sleep standing. My flight was slightly under 4h from YVR to YYZ with tailwind. I was anticipating competition for carry-on space because AC recently began charging for checked bags on domestic. Not a concern on the 787 as the OH bins are designed to take bags on edge. I did not notice any restriction under the seat in front of me (some AC have IFE equipment restricting carry-on space). My flight seemed to be ~95% full in Y. I love the windows. Not only are they wide horizontally (like an ERJ190 or DC-10) but especially vertically (like a Shorts360). Because of the thin composite fuselage, the view is almost unobstructed by the thickness of the frame and difference between inside vs. outside dimensions; not like looking through a toilet paper tube (extreme case: SSC, or like any aluminum frame widebody to a lesser extent). My flight was entirely in daylight with departure at 0727 (AC flight 116). I tried the electronic dimming function on the window and have no objection with the crew dimming all windows as you can still easily see out during daylight when fully dimmed. If you are seated with a non-optimally aligned window (as I was... my best view was to the aft with my seat reclined), you might want to boost your butt by sitting on a jacket or whatever to get your torso to the point where you can maximize the view. Engine startup and take-off seemed noticeably quieter than other aircraft. On climb out of rainy YVR we climbed to initial (and final) cruise at FL410 (which surprised me, as most heavy aircraft climb to lower initial cruise). https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7647/...9224de45c9.jpg 787 wing flex on climb out of YVR https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8703/...3bb32c305a.jpg Sun catching wing fin Note the wing flex. I was expecting that; you don't have to be on the aircraft to witness it. But I was impressed by the colour of the wing and the engineering of it. It is incredibly efficient. For example, it appears to have 'weatherstripping' on the aileron to maintain smooth air flow while in the neutral position. https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8733/...e27fbcb4a3.jpg Aileron in neutral position https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7599/...78bfcec697.jpg Aileron up Now have a peek at what's under the skin: https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8700/...047d729f87.jpg Spoilers This aircraft, C-GHPV Fin 804, is approximately 6 months old. I did not detect any signs of age or abuse. Except for possibly one thing: https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7644/...4a47dddfb9.jpg Napkin wedged in overhead console https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8713/...95f9e0ac62.jpg Napkin wedged in overhead console (close up) This was located few rows ahead of me, perhaps seat 32A. I have no idea whether it was to plug a leak (condensation?) or stop vibration, or a creatively placed advertisement by a Subway exec ;-). But it was the only flaw, scuff mark or sign of wear / age. I found it interesting that the washrooms at row 30 seem to have an inside door (that could be opened by the crew if needed?) that if opened would connect the washrooms. I noticed the flush was activated by a hand wave as opposed to physical touch (to prevent germ transmission). When the seat was raised it seemed to lower very slowly (good design). https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8695/...540c09ee29.jpg In Flight Entertainment - movie The IFE was adequate. The screen size is big, podcasts are a nice addition. The screen has a motion sensor (I was wondering what the intermittent red light was) which serves to dim the screen when inactive (efficient). There are a few map options but no outside view. My armrest controls were not activated by the person in 35B, but I see how that could easily happen. If so, a workaround might be to carry-on a sock that could be slipped over the armrest to cover the controls. I'm sure you can apply your creativity here! I loved the view of that white wing against the landscape of Canada (and northern US) recovering from an unusually hard winter. To be continued..... |
Really enjoying your trip report so far, it's really getting me excited for my first AC 787 flight in a few weeks! Can't wait to read the rest, thanks for sharing!
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AC legroom in Y is good at 32". Can't complain.
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Thanks for posting.
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Thanks for posting. Still looking forward to my first ride on a 788 ^
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Thanks for the encouragement. This is a great community!
So basically I gawked out the window and watched a movie on the IFE. https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8724/...4164889036.jpg https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7602/...835d4c01f5.jpg https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7612/...a6c49f3ef9.jpg https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8709/...4ffa0f9983.jpg https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8717/...cb01195c98.jpg https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8688/...3794ab50f2.jpg https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7654/...49db5251cd.jpg I got up only once (when my seat mates did), checked out the washroom and took a lap around the Y cabin. There is ample space to do this without (hopefully) annoying other passengers too much. I noticed the windows in the doors are full size, affording opportunities to gawk from different places (while likely improving safety with better ability to see hazards before opening the door in an emergency situation). All the pics I posted were taken from my seat seat 35A. To be continued.... |
Originally Posted by lhryyzssc
(Post 24616463)
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<Learning how to embed photos was interesting. Basically, from Flickr, click "Share", select BBCode, select size = Medium, copy the highlighted BBCode text and paste into this forum using the Insert Link icon. You can test at the end of the sticky thread on this subject.>
Here is a link to my Flickr album containing higher res pics as well as more pics not embedded in my posts here: https://flic.kr/s/aHsk9hD64f Departure from cruise into initial descent was subtle. I did not notice any cabin pressure change. No need to swallow. No infants crying. <Note to parents: As soon as the aircraft starts to descend, give your infant a pacifier / soother or bottle to suck on. Their repeated swallowing will keep their tiny ears from causing pain.> First application of flap was the leading edge flap. It was noisier and seemed to take more time than I expected. I glimpsed downtown Toronto under the banked wing as we turned to line up for approach to runway 05: https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8741/...ebed8a9c01.jpg Looking east towards Mississauga and Toronto Touchdown was smooth. After we docked at the gate, I waited in my seat (what choice did I have being at the back of the bus!) until everyone (except those needing assistance) had de-planed and I am so glad I did. It gave me a chance to check out the rear galley and washroom. But it also gave me a chance to scoot upstairs to see the crew rest quarters! I was lucky; I just happened to glance a flight attendant opening what I first thought was another lav or closet (behind seat 42D; door facing the A side). But then I spied stairs and asked if I could check it out. I was told it is against AC policy, but some social engineering allowed me to take a quick scoot up there and see the two beds. Nice! The pics I snapped up there did not turn out, but here is a pic from the ladder facing aft: https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7627/...6906d20f67.jpg Looking aft at upstairs crew rest quarters; beds on Left and Right atop stairs I also got a tour of the flight deck. The First Officer was female (glad to see that women are getting senior enough to fly the 787). The Captain offered to take my pic while I was seated in the right seat. The left seat had a ground maintenance person prepping the aircraft for tow. They told me the next segment was yyz to tlv. https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8715/...0292e0523d.jpg Flight deck The seats move along tracks in an "S" pattern on the floor to allow for ease of access. The seats are huge and very comfortable. The controls were as expected for a Next Gen aircraft. The Captain was deservedly proud of the aircraft. He, and all the crew, made it very clear that they valued my business and hoped to see me back on board in the future. Note that my AC Aeroplan / Star Alliance member status level is brown (dog crap); i.e., nothing, so they were not giving me special treatment based on my boarding pass. It should be clear by now that I love the 787. But I am a commercial aviation geek. My wife is not. If she was on this flight without me, I doubt whether she would notice anything different from other AC widebodies. She did ask me whether I felt less jet lag and dehydration (which surprised me), I answered yes. But I think I need a much longer flight to answer definitively. Here is what I would love to be connecting to: https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7652/...528651ea7a.jpg Hainan 787 from AC 787 I want to extend a big thank you to the people at AC who worked this flight, as well as Boeing and their contractors who built this aircraft. Give yourselves a huge pat on the back! Thank you for reading and I hope you enjoy your flight as much as I did! |
Great pictures, enjoying the contrast with the blue sky!
I was lucky enough to see the BA 787 -8 cabin mock-up at Waterside (british Airways HQ) probably 5 years ago now. They economy product featured wide seats and reasonable pitch (2-4-2) cabin layout. The accountants got to the plans and squeezed in extra rows. As I have family that work for BA engineering ( formerly a BOAC engineering apprentice) I have been lucky, and was at the BA 777 inaugural. Nearly 20 years back now. Thanks for the updates. |
Thanks Skipcool3.
Speaking of engineering, as you might deduce from my handle, I was super lucky to get a ride on Concorde from lhr to yyz in 1991 (the round trip tour price including 747 from yyz to lhr was a bargain and IIRC there were only ~15 passengers on my Concorde flight!). I am enjoying the posts here as well as on PPPRuNe re. Concorde. The aviation museums in the Seattle area are fabulous; my fave exhibits are the Comet in BOAC colours, the Super Connie in TCA (predecessor of AC) colours and the Concorde G-BOAG which I flew on: https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8743/...31ef7151e6.jpg TCA Super Connie with AF1 707 and Concorde at the Museum of Flight in Seattle The 787 exhibit at the Future of Flight in Everett shows a complete cross section of 787 fuselage beside a partial section of 707 fuselage: https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8743/...51638411e1.jpg 787 fuselage beside 707 fuselage at the Future of Flight near KPAE airport https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8780/...7f09c3c340.jpg 787 fuselage: close up of inside cross section https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8787/...a5f2ec8872.jpg 707 fuselage: close up of inside panel It is difficult to appreciate from my pics, but the difference in weight, strength, flexibility and life expectancy are apparent when you see, feel and pound on (encouraged for the 787 section) them side by side. |
Always great to see a Y report--looking forward to reading it in its entirety. I flew the AC 787 YYZ-TLV-YYZ last year, shortly after it was launched on the route. Of the airlines with which I've flown the 787 (AC, UA, NH, AI), AC is the only one that seems to really have gotten it right. By contrast, I will go out of my way to avoid UA's 787 unless I'm in J. Glad to see you also had a good experience. Keep up the great reporting, and welcome to FT! ^
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Originally Posted by zcat18
(Post 24625536)
Of the airlines with which I've flown the 787 (AC, UA, NH, AI), AC is the only one that seems to really have gotten it right. By contrast, I will go out of my way to avoid UA's 787 unless I'm in J.^
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Originally Posted by lhryyzssc
(Post 24628587)
Thanks zcat18. As a Canadian, I have been critical of AC our flag carrier and for many years preferred WS over AC. It is nice and a bit surprising to hear some praise for AC. I heard a similar remark about the 787 interior from a Boeing employee last summer. I would like to hear more about what AC got right, especially compared with NH and UA.
So it's not that the 787 itself is a bad plane--it's just that the design priority was dollars and cents, and so that's how most airlines are using it: dense configurations in all classes of service. AC is doing this, too, but not to quite the extreme that others are, which I appreciate. |
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