What airplane are you waiting to fly the A380 or 787 Dreamliner?

[inpd]

Hi,

From what I've heard, the A380 in Economy is not that much better
than the 777ER. Which is a great shame as I was looking for a quieter
and all round better experience (though I can understand the airlines
return on investment argument for purchasing a larger plane).

So it looks like the next revolution in airline travel will be the 787 dreamliners
with their all Carbon fuselage allowing a more moister environment and
reducing the effects of traveling. Also I've heard the pitch that it's quieter
as well.

Anyway, which plane are you waiting to fly and why?

[Flying Fox]

I would love to tavel in either but when forced to select one - 787. For me its revolutionary technology and I would like to experience the claims about the higher internal cabin pressure making travel more comfortable (not that it has effected me before).

To me, the A380 is 'just' a really big version of what we have today (not withstanding the fact that I'm still really impressed by it).

[trooper]

Well.... the 787 for me NOW.. for two reasons..

1. It is on order by my FFP airline.., and

2. I HAVE flown on the 380.

That was in Y with SQ SYD-SIN... and I thought it was very good indeed for a Y product. Now coming from NZ (where I have usually been in Y+ or C lately) I might well have been ready to be unimpressed.. but it was quite enjoyable... I beleive the seat pitch is officially 32"? Felt better than that. I really liked the seat design. And yes, it is quieter.. NOT silent as some folks have implied... but noticeable nonetheless..

Admittedly that is only a 7 hour flight... AND in my case the a/c only had 190 onboard (UD Y was pretty empty!) so the service was, understandably, bloody good....

I'd rather fly on NZ's 747.. but I'd certainly rank Y on the SQ 380 as "right up there"...

I'll be very interested to hear whether Y on QF's 380 is an improvement on their 747 (which I find pretty bloody awful... YMMV!)

[Paul_PER]

I understand that the orginal design for the 787 was for eight accross seating. After additional R&D - including the 777 QC & QC2 tests - they concluded that the inside cabin would be too quiet!!! This allowed Boeing to remove some soundproofing from the sidewalls which in turn allows nine accross seating.

The composite airframe will allow more moisture, lower pressurisation, and bigger than usual windows .... including in the bathrooms.

Sadly per the 2008 Qantas Annual Report it appears they won't be getting 787's until 2012 now - with all the initial deliveries going to Jetstar.

The A350XWB will also be exciting - being designed for 9 across seating it will be slightly wider than the 787 - although some potential customers are already discussing ten accross. Same pressurisation. Wider but shorter windows than the 787.

For me - I'll take a trip on any of them

[NM]

The composite airframe will allow more moisture, lower pressurisation, and bigger than usual windows .... including in the bathrooms.

Umm, I think you mean higher pressurisation. The higher pressurisation results in a lower cabin altitude than other long-haul aircraft.

[Keith009]

I'm more looking forward to checking out what new products are going to be installed in the new jets, than actually checking out the jets per se.

[docjames]

I'd settle for a trip on any of them - especially after my last trip on the 767-336! Noisy old rust bucket!!! (But still in better nick than the AA 767-300ER I was on recently!)

[jamesatfish]

I'm looking forward to the 787, especially if Qantas use the extended range to add SYD-DFW as a new route which would make travelling to business meetings in the US much easier. A major client is based in Atlanta and SYD-DFW-ATL would be much nicer than SYD-LAX-DFW-ATL - and I'm sure Qantas would be keen to pick up the extra revenue that would normally be spent on that AA flight LAX-DFW.

The A380 is just 'more of the same' - sure I'm keen to fly it one day but it's just a different wrapper for the same service. If the 787 can provide something new in the form of better flight routes then that will really have an impact on my personal travelling - hence why I'm looking forward to it over the A380.

[oz_mark]

I'd settle for a trip on any of them - especially after my last trip on the 767-336! Noisy old rust bucket!!! (But still in better nick than the AA 767-300ER I was on recently!)

Im looking forward to the 787 simply as it will herald, finally, the end of the 767's

[vt01]

Both actually. As QF is the preferred airline for business travel, I haven't had a chance to fly on the A380 as yet. This may change in November for a trip to Bangalore where the most direct flights from Sydney are on either SQ or MH. I will be taking SQ of course and ensuring I get on a A380 flight. It will be Y class.

Once the 787 arrives, I'll probably travel to a Jetstar destination just to try it out. As others have said, the A380 is just a bigger version of the 747 albeit with new interiors and quieter etc, etc. Where as the 787 is a step forward in a brand new aircraft.