A380 in Y - best seats (80A/80K/71D/50C etc.)

[JohnK]

I booked a flight MEL-SIN on QF9 for travel on Boxing Day and it is scheduled to be an A380. I was pre-allocated 51C (I guess a good seat behind bulkhead) but went looking for 80A or 80K. I settled on 80K.

Apart from exit rows, and some bulkheads, are 80A/K the best seats to have in economy on a QF A380? From the photos the seat looks a little cramped. Does the seat have fixed armrests? Would someone of my size have any issues trying to squueze past the occupant in 79J?

 

[serfty]

I booked a flight MEL-SIN on QF9 for travel on Boxing Day and it is scheduled to be an A380. I was pre-allocated 51C (I guess a good seat behind bulkhead) but went looking for 80A or 80K. I settled on 80K.

Apart from exit rows, and some bulkheads, are 80A/K the best seats to have in economy on a QF A380? From the photos the seat looks a little cramped. Does the seat have fixed armrests? Would someone of my size have any issues trying to squueze past the occupant in 79J?

If you have a choice between 80A/K then 80K is a good option for QF9 to SIN as the sunset wont be in your window.

Certainly no issues with being cramped by the walls at the shoulder as the fuselage is still curving away from you.

It is v. easy to get out, there is hand-hold at the door - see the images in post 7.

 

[dede]

I've travelled in both 80A & 71D but neglected to look at the front row of Y. Are the bulkhead seats (50 A,B,C & 51 H,J,K) as good as those mentioned above? There are two of us travelling and I'd like us both to have good seats if possible.

 

[JohnM]

I have not travelled back of F on the A380 but 80A & K look to be the best seats in economy to me and I have locked Partner JohnM into 80A SYD-LHR next month despite her being PG and default seated way nearer the front.

In the old days of working for the government and restricted to whY I frequently travelled to LHR on the BA 747/QF codeshare service out of PER. They had an equivalent arrangement of seats near the exits as QF has on the A380 (on their 747's, QF insists on having A & K seats at the exit row but marks them on the seat plan as 'normally allocated last' - and rightly so ). Those equivalent seats to 80 A&K on BA were my favourites and all effort was put into getting them, with good success.

If the A380 equivalent is as good, it's the way to go.

Can anyone cast any light on why there is no seat at 70D shown on the QF A380 seat plan. It suggests that 71D is a good seat. Is there a pillar there to hold up the roof?.

 

[dede]

71D has a hatch in front of it leading down below so there is plenty of leg room.

 

[JohnM]

Ahh, so that's where the F wine cellar is, keeping the Dom (well, Taittinger more recently) at the correct temperature :mrgreen:!

How would you rate 71D against 80 A&K?

 

[dede]

All seats are about the same. 71D has the advantage of being on the aisle, but the other two have a window. It depends how you like to fly.

The other advantage of 71D is sitting there while people walk past and wonder how you got that seat!

 

[JohnM]

I can imagine that it causes some jealous head-scratching that would not be so obvious for 80A&K . Nice to now know why the space at 70D is vacant.

 

[samh004]

All seats are about the same. 71D has the advantage of being on the aisle, but the other two have a window. It depends how you like to fly.

The other advantage of 71D is sitting there while people walk past and wonder how you got that seat!

I can imagine that it causes some jealous head-scratching that would not be so obvious for 80A&K . Nice to now know why the space at 70D is vacant.

I got a few stares recently, but tried not to look at the people walking past. Good for the leg room. The only comment I got was from a presumably F pax who came down with a "butler" telling him bits and pieces and he said "so this is the best seat in economy" and I said there were actually 2 more but being the pompous guy he was he was already gone!

 

[dede]

Yes, sorry about that. Tiffin was being served at the pointy end and I had to rush back.

 

[dede]

Ok, booked my flight for Christmas on QF 93/94. Been allocated 51J & 51K although 80A & 80K are both still available. I'm travelling with my mum. Will the bulkhead seats be more comfortable than us both changing seats during the flight?

 

[kirk7]

its a great seat, i was on it syd to lax

better than the exit row (besides its free), kinda caccoon in your own world.

 

[samh004]

Yes, sorry about that. Tiffin was being served at the pointy end and I had to rush back.

Haha, he actually continued the tour further down the back. But still gave me a laugh!

 

[levelnine]

I managed to snag 80A on an upcoming MEL-LAX flight - very pleased

 

[Kendall Roy]

I had 80A LHR-SYD with 80B free for the whole flight .

 

[NM]

I would prefer 80A/K over 71D. With 71D, a passenger in 71E is still going to need to step over you to get out, while 80A/K does not have anyone ever needing to step over you. Being able to walk straight forward past 79B/J without stepping over anyone is as good as being in an aisle seat as far as I am concerned.

 

[MarcB]

Ok, booked my flight for Christmas on QF 93/94. Been allocated 51J & 51K although 80A & 80K are both still available. I'm travelling with my mum. Will the bulkhead seats be more comfortable than us both changing seats during the flight?

In my opinion, you should keep the bulkhead seats. We pre-allocated 80A and 80B on a recent flight. 80A might have benefits, but 80B is possibly one of the worst seats on the plane. Row 79 seats are not directly in front, so the 80B occupant has to do acrobatics to contend with off centre seat as well as entertainment box taking up valuable foot space. On top of this, there is no foot rest net for 80B. After sitting in 80B, I was almost ready to change my return flight back to a 747 - convinced that the A380 was much squishier. In the end, we just changed our seats for the return to standard economy seats in row 53. These were much more comfortable and the noise/light from the galley is nowhere near as noticeable.

 

[samh004]

I would prefer 80A/K over 71D. With 71D, a passenger in 71E is still going to need to step over you to get out, while 80A/K does not have anyone ever needing to step over you. Being able to walk straight forward past 79B/J without stepping over anyone is as good as being in an aisle seat as far as I am concerned.

71D was only good for my sister and I because it was my sister that needed to step over me. So I didn’t worry about it, as you might do with a stranger.

 

[dede]

In my opinion, you should keep the bulkhead seats. We pre-allocated 80A and 80B on a recent flight. 80A might have benefits, but 80B is possibly one of the worst seats on the plane. Row 79 seats are not directly in front, so the 80B occupant has to do acrobatics to contend with off centre seat as well as entertainment box taking up valuable foot space. On top of this, there is no foot rest net for 80B. After sitting in 80B, I was almost ready to change my return flight back to a 747 - convinced that the A380 was much squishier. In the end, we just changed our seats for the return to standard economy seats in row 53. These were much more comfortable and the noise/light from the galley is nowhere near as noticeable.

OH! So that's why my travelling companion said he hated the A380! I was in 80A, he was in 80B. I couldn't understand the fuss he was making!

 

[serfty]

Another issue if on 80A/K or 71D is the tray table is in the armrest between the seat and the one adjacent.

Certainly above average if Solo.