Cabin temperatures

[big_RED]

Following on from this closed thread: Cabin temperature

I was on QF11 SYD -> LAX and QF12 LAX -> SYD last week and I couldn't get over how freezing the economy cabins were. Luckily I had a hoodie on the way over, and used that + hood + the Qantas blanket. But on the flight back, myself and all my colleagues (and by the sounds of it many other passengers) all asked for an additional blanket. It must have been 6 -8 degrees max the whole flight back.

Why do they pump the AC so low? And if we were to have asked for it to be increased (based on the look of all passengers rugged up) would the attendants have agreed?

 

[justinbrett]

Following on from this closed thread: Cabin temperature

I was on QF11 SYD -> LAX and QF12 LAX -> SYD last week and I couldn't get over how freezing the economy cabins were. Luckily I had a hoodie on the way over, and used that + hood + the Qantas blanket. But on the flight back, myself and all my colleagues (and by the sounds of it many other passengers) all asked for an additional blanket. It must have been 6 -8 degrees max the whole flight back.

Why do they pump the AC so low? And if we were to have asked for it to be increased (based on the look of all passengers rugged up) would the attendants have agreed?

It's far worse when it's the other way - and the cabin is too hot. You can always put on warmer clothes but when it's too hot, it makes it hard to sleep and there's not much you can do about it.

Also it's all heating, being that it's around -50 degrees C at cruising altitude, so it was in fact a lack of pumping the AC in your case.

I've seen pax alert FAs about cabins being too hot before and they said they'd look into it. Unsure if anything changed though.

 

[RooFlyer]

I've seen pax alert FAs about cabins being too hot before and they said they'd look into it. Unsure if anything changed though.

I've done this a number of times - QF, JAL, CX, UA come to mind; J or F (UA) cabin too hot. Put in terms of 'Has anyone else mentioned how warm it is in the cabin?' Answer "I'll ask and look into it." I think half the time there was soon a noticable change in the temp; on the JAL flight very noticably so.

Edit: I see I posted in the other thread, from 2013:

I've raised this issue before and it appears that in the 747 at least, the plane cooled in sectors, with a setting done manually for ?each. Galleys (FA areas) tend to be on the cool side due to proximity to doorways. Thus if the cabin warms, its often not noticed or indeed welcomed by the cabin crew.

On the times I've gently enquired about a warm to hot J cabin, the consistent answer is yes, it was too warm and temp has been dropped a few degrees.

 

[big_RED]

Very interesting to know thanks!
Next time I'll make an effort to feedback on the temperature.

Ironic about the heat. This flight was so cold it was too cold to sleep haha.

 

[jb747]

The temperature in the cabin is never even. Whilst there are many zones, all of the zones incorporate areas that are near the centre of the aircraft, near the fuselage, near doors, and so on. It is always cold near doors, simply because there is direct metal to metal contact with the outside air. If the cabin is heated sufficiently to keep the door areas warm, then it will, overall, be roasting. If you're near the sensor it will be around the 'set' temperature, but as you move away it will diverge. The cabin crew have some level of control over the temperature, being able to set a slight bias on what is set from the coughpit, but it's only a couple of degrees. The coughpit setting will always be about 22º.

There are some failure modes too, that result in an overall average temperature being maintained. In that case it could range from very cold to very hot...but still be at the correct average. If it has fallen back into one of those modes, there is nothing that can be done about it.

 

[Mwenenzi]

It must have been 6 -8 degrees max the whole flight back.

Temperature of 6 - 8°C is very very cold. Unlikely to have been that. AC systems are usually at 22°C. Household refrigerators operate at ~+3°C. Even 16-18°C would feel cold. More so if air flow is to the back of the head. More likely about the 18°C. I suspect the air off the cooling unit before mixing, would not be any where near 8°C. [if they have one. if outside air is used may have reheat].

 

[jb747]

You cannot select a temperature that low.

 

[Melburnian1]

Following on from this closed thread: Cabin temperature

I was on QF11 SYD -> LAX and QF12 LAX -> SYD last week and I couldn't get over how freezing the economy cabins were. Luckily I had a hoodie on the way over,

You're sitting in a seat (or sleeping if in a higher class when you desire, hopefully) so your immobility makes you perceive it's colder than it is.

Most times irrespective of airline I find cabins too warm, and occasionally stifling, but if one was near a door the experience may be different.

I vastly prefer 'too cold' to 'too warm' given the ease of slipping into a coat, which I always have handy.

 

[SYD]

There are stories of budget airlines turning down the temp to sell more blankets and full service airlines cranking up the temp to put pax to sleep (and not consume too much)…

Question for the OP, how full or empty was the cabin? If it was less than full its possible that the AC is configured to operate for a higher heat load (ie each PAX is a 1kw heater) plus if the premium cabins were full, overall the system was fighting a loosing battle.

 

[SCM]

If the cabin temperature is too cold, you can just put on some clothes or a blanket or whatever.

If it's too hot, there's nothing the rest of us can do. I for one am never cold and frequently too hot in airplanes, so I say go as low as possible for cabin temperature. I never wear more than one THIN layer of clothes on an airplane, and still mostly too hot for me to be comfortable and to not sweat.

 

[jakeseven7]

Etihad and Qatar have their cabins set to ‘incinerating hell fire’ when I have flown them

 

[SCM]

Etihad and Qatar have their cabins set to ‘incinerating hell fire’ when I have flown them

Do you reckon it's honestly a cultural thing, because they are from a hot part of the world (ie. middle east)? What about Emirates? I have never flown with them.

SG on the other hand is very tropical too but their cabins are always comfy.

 

[justinbrett]

Do you reckon it's honestly a cultural thing, because they are from a hot part of the world (ie. middle east)? What about Emirates? I have never flown with them.

SG on the other hand is very tropical too but their cabins are always comfy.

No, they love their A/C. Places like Dubai Mall / Mall of the Emirates / Yas Mall etc are absolutely freezing. They kind of have to due to the locals wearing long traditional dress.

 

[jakeseven7]

Do you reckon it's honestly a cultural thing, because they are from a hot part of the world (ie. middle east)? What about Emirates? I have never flown with them.

Emirates I’ve found to be a reasonable temperature actually so doesn’t seem to follow that!

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Do you reckon it's honestly a cultural thing, because they are from a hot part of the world (ie. middle east)? What about Emirates? I have never flown with them.

SG on the other hand is very tropical too but their cabins are always comfy.

I was wondering about this… the cabins on my recent Etihad flights were quite warm initially… apparently set at 24 degrees. For me that was really hot…but for a local or someone used to living in the ME I guess that would have been quite cool?

Anyway, a quick word to the crew saw the temperature set to 22 which was much more comfortable and better for sleeping.

 

[RooFlyer]

And of course having a personal air vent makes a lot of difference. QR, when it removes overhead lockers from the middle portion can be a bit warm in those J seats.

 

[ClaireE]

It's far worse when it's the other way - and the cabin is too hot. You can always put on warmer clothes but when it's too hot, it makes it hard to sleep and there's not much you can do about it.

Also it's all heating, being that it's around -50 degrees C at cruising altitude, so it was in fact a lack of pumping the AC in your case.

I've seen pax alert FAs about cabins being too hot before and they said they'd look into it. Unsure if anything changed though.

I fainted walking through the galley on a 747 SYD-SFO when travelling in J. The purser announced "This cabin is far too hot" and went and turned the temperature down. I don't recommend that as a way of drawing it to their attention though.

 

[Daver6]

Which airline will be the first to have heated seats like cars do? Or even better, ventilated seats for cooling like some cars do. Problem solved!

 

[RooFlyer]

Or even better, ventilated seats for cooling like some cars do. Problem solved!

Unfortunately personal ventilation outlets are becoming less common rather than more.

 

[k_sheep]

I'm the one always freezing half to death on flights. Where are these warm flights? I've never been on one.

I appreciate it's harder to get cool than to warm up for most, but not for me. I've always got a long sleeve shirt, hoodie, long pants, and a blanket ... and often still freezing!