Sliding doors in business class: A gimmick or not?

[Daver6]

Anything that gives more privacy on a flight is a plus for me.

Cutting out intrusions from the bums of other pax when they want to attend their to their carry-ons in the locker across the aisle, multiple and for extended times during the flight, is appreciated.

And the fact that I don't have to catch a glimpse of other "restless" pax as much. Some of them can be up and down, literally a 100 times or more in a flight.

This is it for me. It's more about blocking out movement/distractions, especially when trying to sleep.

 

[justinbrett]

QR has an emergency handle on the suite door.

As does BA

 

[Quickstatus]

They will it’s really obvious.

Maybe, but you will know that when the s*** hits the fan, most people's brains goes to mush.

We can see this with the ways passengers do things contrary to instructions - such as carry on luggage down evac slides, such as putting on life jackets the wrong way, such as not wearing seat belts.

Ask someone to repeat what the flight attendant said. Most will fail.

 

[Daver6]

Maybe, but you will know that when the s*** hits the fan, most people's brains goes to mush.

We can see this with the ways passengers do things contrary to instructions - such as carry on luggage down evac slides, such as putting on life jackets the wrong way, such as not wearing seat belts.

Ask someone to repeat what the flight attendant said. Most will fail.

Given the doors are open for take-off and landing is there really going to be that emergency situation at cruise where the door needs to be opened?

 

[Quickstatus]

is there really going to be that emergency situation

hmm, I think it's a bit naive to think that emergencies only occur at takeoff and landing and only after the sliding doors are open and seat belts on.

 

[RooFlyer]

Sure. I can't imagine most passengers will know about it.

There’s a picture/graphic of how to undo the door facing into the suite. You can't miss it and the FAs point it out.

 

[RooFlyer]

hmm, I think it's a bit naive to think that emergencies only occur at takeoff and landing and only after the sliding doors are open and seat belts on.

Yes but if an emergency occurs in in midair where are you going to go? Instruction is universally "stay in your seat"

As I don’t think youve seen it for yourself, I think you need to take our word for it that you can take the door off if it’s jammed in the air or on the ground or anywhere.

 

[Scarlett]

Gimmick.
No interest from me.

 

[Quickstatus]

You can't miss it

I understand, but time and time again despite repeated instruction people get evac instructions wrong. I have the benefit of watching colleagues in simulations of emergencies. It is surprising how even with clear signs, otherwise well trained people get it wrong.

stay in your seat"

Including FA, then when the airplane crash lands and you don't remember how or can't see the signs due to smoke or it's pitch black darkness? Sure most people likely can climb over, but it remains a barrier

 

[RooFlyer]

I understand, but time and time again despite repeated instruction people get evac instructions wrong. I have the benefit of watching colleagues in simulations of emergencies. It is surprising how even with clear signs, otherwise well trained people get it wrong.

Including FA, then when the airplane crash lands and you don't remember how or can't see the signs due to smoke or it's pitch black darkness? Sure most people likely can climb over, but it remains a barrier

I think we might be getting a little obtuse now. As noted above, the doors are locked open at about the top of descent. If aircraft crashes from a point before that, I don’t think a jammed door is going to be a worry to you.

But in any event, I'll take my chances.

 

[Forg]

Multiply by 10 is my guess.

As mentioned earlier, only experience is EY F, but that was lightweight stuff which I was careful not to look-at too hard lest I put a hole in it …

 

[jakeseven7]

Have flown both F and J with and without sliding doors.

Not that fussed either way to be honest.

 

[justinbrett]

hmm, I think it's a bit naive to think that emergencies only occur at takeoff and landing and only after the sliding doors are open and seat belts on.

Well, I mean it's physics...

Firstly, yes the vast majority of accidents occur on take off and landing (hence the phrase "critical phase of flight").

Accidents at other phases of flight usually have some lead warning due to being quite a few thousand feet above the surface, and thus many minutes of descent (where cabin crew will prepare the cabin).

If an accident is going to happen instantaneously at cruise, no sliding door or lack thereof is going to help or hinder you.

 

[oz_mark]

I think we might be getting a little obtuse now. As noted above, the doors are locked open at about the top of descent. If aircraft crashes from a point before that, I don’t think a jammed door is going to be a worry to you.

But in any event, I'll take my chances.

Pretty sure the manufacturers and certification authorities have put a lot of thought into making sure that there is a point of egress from the suites,regardless of circumstance.

 

[clifford]

Have flown both F and J with and without sliding doors.

Not that fussed either way to be honest.

I agree completely.

I certainly wouldn't pay more for a seat with doors over a decent non-doored single window seat in J/F.

But if others want to do it, it all helps with the airline's profitability.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Total gimmick - hate doors with a passion

 

[RooFlyer]

I certainly wouldn't pay more for a seat with doors over a decent non-doored single window seat in J/F.

Who pays more? Some of the most expensive airfares out of Australia are with an airline that has no doors on J or F .

 

[Pushka]

I like them. Have experienced them on Qatar and EK.

 

[jase05]

Love them and I’d prefer if it was on aircraft. i Love my privacy and am quite happy to be immersed in my own bubble.

 

[nancypants]

Was that passenger being needlessly noisy, and a fellow passenger repeatedly beat them with the nearest available loose thing?

No nothing like that. It came loose, fell on the pax and caused an injury. Anyway, it was illuminating because it had quite a lot of information around the weight of the thing etc