the 787-8 - I'm not so convinced!

[MEL_Traveller]

I've just completed some 17 hours on the 787, and I've come away somewhat unimpressed.

While it is true I didn't wake up after 8 hours sleep with a dry nose and mouth, the rest of the experience and design left me wondering what all the hype was about?

The front cabin is really really small. That means a fairly tight seat pitch for business class compared to say the A332 (which is of similar size), and the engines are also really close to the front, meaning lots of noise. The was also some sort of high-pitched noise... like gears running at high speed.

Overall - gimme the A332/333 over a 787-8. Maybe with the 787-9 and the engines being further back the noise will be less noticeable.

While I guess there will be lots of opinions... my advice would be not to go out of your way to fly a 787 in a hurry.

 

[RooFlyer]

Which airline & routes?

 

[TomVexille]

You are aware that seat pitch is determined by your airline of choice and not the make of the aircraft I assume?

As for the noise, the engines do seem a little high pitched but I don't find them any louder than an a330

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Which airline & routes?

Air India.

You are aware that seat pitch is determined by your airline of choice and not the make of the aircraft I assume?

As for the noise, the engines do seem a little high pitched but I don't find them any louder than an a330

The issue is the engine placing... they're very close to the forward cabin.

Appreciate seat pitch is determined by the airline... but they can only do so much with the space available.

I'd be interested to see the difference in size (if any) between the forward cabins on the A332 and 787-8. The A332 feels longer and with the same three rows of business class in the front cabin there seems to be a lot more pitch (Air China A332 and Air india 788 have the same seats, but the former offers 80' and the latter just 76').

I doubt we'll see airlines going down to just 2 rows of business class in the front cabin of the 788.

 

[TomVexille]

Likely that AI just have the wrong seat. NH have 5 rows but the same number of seats in the same space. But their J cabin extends nearly 2/3rds the length of the plane.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I googled 'high pitch noise 787' and it seems there are lots of reports of the same. Someone suggested it might be the hydraulic pumps.

I was expecting A380 quiet, with better atmosphere, and more comfort. I got only one out of three!

 

[Daver6]

QR manage 5 rows between the front two doors!

SeatGuru Seat Map Qatar Airways Boeing 787-8 (788)

 

[RooFlyer]

QR manage 5 rows between the front two doors!

SeatGuru Seat Map Qatar Airways Boeing 787-8 (788)

Yeah, but they are herringbone config, total 20 J pax. AI is 2-2-2 for 18 J pax. SeatGuru Seat Map Air India Boeing 787-8 (788) QR toilets aft of the doors and all J seating. AI have 2 toilets forward of J seating.

I'd go for QR. AI seem to have sacrificed J actual seating space for more Y.

I'm prepared to give the 787 a try ... but not on AI!

 

[TomVexille]

Yeah, but they are herringbone config, total 20 J pax. AI is 2-2-2 for 18 J pax. SeatGuru Seat Map Air India Boeing 787-8 (788) QR toilets aft of the doors and all J seating. AI have 2 toilets forward of J seating.

I'd go for QR. AI seem to have sacrificed J actual seating space for more Y.

I'm prepared to give the 787 a try ... but not on AI!

NH fit 18 in that same space (and another 41 aft of the galley) in a staggered layout.

http://www.seatguru.com/airlines/ANA/ANA_Boeing_787-800_C.php

 

[Aussie_flyer]

I really loved the QR b787 in J

 

[RooFlyer]

NH fit 18 in that same space (and another 41 aft of the galley) in a staggered layout.

SeatGuru Seat Map ANA Boeing 787-8 (788) Three Class

Grief. J 'recliner' versions .. and other versions with no windows for a couple of 'window' seats.

Strike NH off my 787 list as well. Any other takers?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I'm prepared to give the 787 a try ... but not on AI!

The high pitch sound is not unique to Air India, nor the engine noise or the noisy ventilation (as also reported, and quite true). Those you're going to be the same on any airline.

For coach travel maybe the benefits of the lower cabin pressure would off-set the other disadvantages. But I'm not sharing the love up front.

 

[TomVexille]

Grief. J 'recliner' versions .. and other versions with no windows for a couple of 'window' seats.

Strike NH off my 787 list as well. Any other takers?

The 'recliner' versions are short haul Japan domestic only

 

[Daver6]

I really loved the QR b787 in J

Thoughts on best seats? For a couple?

 

[Austman]

My impressions of the 787 are simliar. It's far from a "Dreamliner". Maybe the loos are an improvement.

My next 2 flights are soon and I'm not looking forward to them.

 

[Himeno]

I've been on the JAL E01 787 config in J a number of times. Always window seats. https://www.jal.co.jp/en/aircraft/conf/787.html
Can't say I noticed any more noise then any other aircraft I've been on.

 

[OZDUCK]

I have only been on the Air New Zealand 787-9 Perth - Auckland return and I had two entirely different experiences. Premium Economy was excellent, comfortable seats, plenty of space and nice food. Economy was very poor - uncomfortable seats, no space (seat width) and very poor food - paid for the meal and drink option and got a small "meals on wheels" serving most of which my wife was unable to eat. This of course is the airlines choice and not the planes fault.

However I personally felt that in economy the 787 seemed much noisier than the A380 - exit row seats in both aircraft and both upper and lowere decks on the A380. I was actually suprised at how much noise there was and not just at start-up. The increased pressure did seem to make a difference but not enough to offset the choices made by the airline in cabin fitout. Again, in Premium Economy noise levels were better - as it should be.

Basically my wife has refused to ever fly Air New Zealand economy again.

 

[scaredeycat]

I was also surprised by the high pitch noise. We flew JAL just after several battery fires were reported and I spent the entire flight sniffing for smoke (which fortunately never appeared). 3 days later the entire fleet worldwide was grounded.
I'm not anxious to fly on another one any time soon, although I realise that I'm probably being irrational.

 

[greenfish]

I'm another unimpressed 787 passenger. Flew JQ business class BNE DPS and it didn't seem any better than the JQ A330 business class. Noise levels were ordinary, gimmicky LCD window shutters fun for 5 minutes. Otherwise more of the same. AVOD was disappointing too, not very high resolution, limited selection of movies.

In Y, the A330 would seem a better choice compared to the 3+3+3 layout of the 787, which looks very unpleasantly tight.

Best part of the trip was ogling the engine up close while boarding using stairs.

Maybe we're lucky the 787 didn't go to QF mainline.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Maybe we're lucky the 787 didn't go to QF mainline.

I was actually thinking the same thing!