Qantas 747 - Upstairs or Downstairs?

[doczim]

We flew BNE-LAX in 2013 and chose upstairs row 12. Loved every second. I cant compare it to what it would have been like downstairs as its the only time I flew J on 747 but we were in our own world up there and I would definitely choose it again if I had the chance.

 

[williamsf1]

I travelled SYD SCL last month and took 3K ... was a great seat ..... everyone in that part of the private cabin had a spare seat next to them and was very quiet .... I went for a walk upstarts and every seat was taken and was hot and noisy....

The view out the window was better from downstairs ( the windows seem to have a better angle down) .... especially flying up the coast of South America and the ice flows from Antarctica

 

[Sprucegoose]

Always upstairs 11K.

 

[ftm]

If you are solo, 5b, or j. Otherwise rows 1-4. Personally not a fan of row 11 as that's behind the only toilet on the upper deck. And it takes the longest of anywhere in Business to disembark.

 

[CMak]

Did the Johannesburg flight in September - downstairs over and upstairs back - much preferred upstairs.
CMak

 

[Rugby]

Is the ratio of seats/pax to toilets better upstairs or downstairs?

 

[Rugby]

Murphy's law came into play last night and we were back with the Mk I seats in Zone A upon check in - row 2. But being in the front cabin it didn't seemed to be as bad as when we were in Mk I seats on the a330 back from SIN in Oct, so I guess the enjoyment of the experience for me maybe more related to the cabin than the seat. So my vote is now for Zone A no matter the seat type. Overall a very good overnight flight experience to Tokyo.

 

[clazman]

Every QF flight i have done on 747 upstairs has been 100% full..... think it is a prestige thing... and agree I it appears to be nosier up there

 

[PaulST]

In answer to my question earlier (about the view from the second level), and FYI the other aero nerds out there, here's the view from the top level (with some neck stretching). I was sitting in the second row (13K).

 

[Hvr]

Every QF flight i have done on 747 upstairs has been 100% full..... think it is a prestige thing... and agree I it appears to be nosier up there

An interesting observation. Do they ask more questions?

 

[Pushka]

We were upstairs when it was a Y configuration. I felt very claustrophobic. But the Service was good.

 

[Atleastonce]

I have done J both downstairs and upstairs and prefer upstairs. Also done upstairs in Y on Air Pacific, there was 5 of us, (3 kids) SYD to LAX (front row, can't remember the row number) and the bulk head seats were great. Upstairs a novelty for the kids, and found the service much better.

 

[Limewood]

We two have been in upper 747 J a few times to USA, loved the cosy cabin, the excellent MK11 Skybed seats, its own galley and loo, Mrs lime liked it better than A380.

 

[doczim]

We two have been in upper 747 J a few times to USA, loved the cosy cabin, the excellent MK11 Skybed seats, its own galley and loo, Mrs lime liked it better than A380.

yep thats how we felt also.

 

[amaroo]

Upper deck (747) QF8 was a great way to spend 16 odd hours.

 

[Daver6]

Every QF flight i have done on 747 upstairs has been 100% full..... think it is a prestige thing... and agree I it appears to be nosier up there

Suspect the noise extra noise is the airflow over the top of the aircraft. In some ways, I prefer the extra white noise and it blocks out the sound of other pax and crew when trying to sleep.

 

[YNWA]

When we used to do QF51/52 in the refurbed 744's, I liked the upper deck for the extra sidewall storage space; especially when wrangling iPads and other child paraphernalia but getting off quickly was a bit difficult. However, we were never in a tearing rush in any case as tidying up after the kids usually meant we were amongst the last in J to leave. More often than not we went with 3A,B and 3E,F. Something about Zone A just felt......right. We miss the 747's and QF in general.

 

[Limewood]

Suspect the noise extra noise is the airflow over the top of the aircraft. In some ways, I prefer the extra white noise and it blocks out the sound of other pax and crew when trying to sleep.

We didn't hear any noise after the first two bottles

So to make sure we did the same on the return

 

[Sprucegoose]

We two have been in upper 747 J a few times to USA, loved the cosy cabin, the excellent MK11 Skybed seats, its own galley and loo, Mrs lime liked it better than A380.

Agree we had 16JK. Ideal seats on a recent YVR SYD hop

 

[kelvedon]

Given the opportunity, everyone should travel in the tapering nose of a 747, whilst you still can.