Sliding doors in business class: A gimmick or not?

[Cessna 180]

About three years ago, in fact almost exactly three years to the day I went on the Q suites out of JNB. The next day I went on the “normal l” QR J. Honestly? I think I preferred the normal seat.

Nothing wrong with the Q seat obviously, however the door did nothing for me.
It is a plane. With potentially hundreds of others. I am just grateful any time I am not jammed in a tiny economy seat with some random jammed next to me. Although I do enjoy a brief chat with my seat mate occasionally too.

Any of the modern J cubicles are pretty good to me. Doors are just a gimmick.

If you want total privacy, charter a Global.

 

[Matt_01]

Sliding doors in J is not a deal breaker for me, more than happy with an offset seat next to the window.

 

[Clayton]

I felt the doors were just an affectation until the first time I flew Q-suites and felt nicely isolated from other passengers throughout the long night flight into ADL. Much preferred to their A380 business product, because of the feeling of my own private space whereas the reverse herringbone seats have no virtually no line of sight privacy, and when the passengers are all emerging from slumber its like watching a tribe of Meerkats popping their heads up all around the cabin.

 

[OATEK]

I think this is where Mrsoatek and myself diverge. I have no trouble sleeping in J without doors, and the only thing that really disturbs is an occasional really load snorer. Mrsoatek on the other hand craves privacy, and always wants the seat with the side console on the aisle side when no doors.

 

[jboy90]

I like the sliding doors, particularly where seats aren’t in a reverse herringbone config.

 

[dajop]

Any of the modern J cubicles are pretty good to me. Doors are just a gimmick.

If you want total privacy, charter a Global.

I agree maybe it was because the first few years I flew in business class were on "Dreamtime seats" (on QF, or equivalent on others) and then Skybeds (Mk I) and SQ "Space Beds", so compared to the leaps forward that were made between 2000 and 2010, with evolution rather than revolution since then. A bit like moving from 2 to 3 to 4 to 5 blade razors or 3 to 4 ply toilet paper...

 

[drron]

I don't like doors although this is the only time I have had a seat with a door.

 

[Hvr]

I don't like doors although this is the only time I have had a seat with a door.

You've never been to the toilet on a plane?

 

[drron]

You've never been to the toilet on a plane?

None that have had sliding doors.

 

[adamp05]

Love the sliding doors....the only thing better than them is the ability to stare straight into the eyeballs of a complete stranger in a creepy way on BA's stupid business class.
Business class is all about comfort and privacy...the more, the better!

 

[p--and--t]

If airlines are really serious about fuel saving, carbon emission they would remove gimmicks like sliding doors.

Or remove it and give me more luggage allowance. It's got to be at least 20kg there

Happy to be proven wrong but having used them no way the QR doors weight 20kg no where even close to it.

Thin and flimsy but provide privacy.

 

[Peanutbladder]

I have just done QR in J from MEL to LHR on both the A380 and 777. For me I liked the privacy on the Q suites when the door was closed. But one thing I did notice was the change in service when in Q suites vs the A380 J seat, on the older style A380 service was very much in evidence where as in the Q suites I was pretty much left alone when the door was closed (which is to be expected I guess).

Overall though I did prefer the sliding doors moments

 

[CanadaGirl]

Unless they read the safety card. Who does that?

Nervous flyer here. I ALWAYS read the safety card!