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

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QR manage 5 rows between the front two doors!

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

SeatGuru user reviews on the QR 787 are a revelation. Noone, in any class, liked the plane, with one exception! The AI version reviews were however more positive. Possibly AI PAX have lower expectations than QR PAX.

Cheers skip.

 

[Limewood]

From what i read always get an exit or bulkhead seat on 787.

We have J booked NRT/CDG JAL on one not looking forward to it unless they have fitted the new Sky series seats by then.

 

[Scarlett]

We've travelled on a couple of B788 flights and there's nothing that would make me choose or steer clear of the type. Flew BA J LHR-YYZ and BI MEL-BWN rtn and on all flights the aircraft was new but just felt like any other widebody really. Dimming windows were a gimmick and would actually prefer old school manual shades.

 

[dajop]

Dimming windows were a gimmick and would actually prefer old school manual shades.

I actually really enjoyed the ability to look out the window on a day flight from DEL to CDG. It was nice to see some scenery and still have a glare free IFE screen.

Wondered, has anyone taken one of the JL or NH planes in Y with 8 across instead of 9 and if so any good?

 

[ctrunfree]

Had our first Dreamliner experience yesterday MEL-BKK in Jetstar cattle class. We also noted the high level of noise particularly when making the landing approach. Fortunately the two of us shared a middle row of three which made it bearable. Flight was nearly 2 hours late leaving because of "engineering" problems-no announcement made, just an adjustment of the boarding time. The Jetstar gate cough of course gave me the evil eye when I asked what had caused the delay. Pilot wasn't saying either, so still none the wiser.

 

[JohnM]

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?

I thought LA (in J) was good. Did JFK-SCL and SCL-MAD. I think I did make mention of it being a bit noisier than I expected in the TOT or 'Office view' threads at the time.

I did like the large windows and the dimming system instead of shades. It was great on the 12h haul SCL-MAD as it departed at 1945, arriving at 1325+1d which meant a lot of time in daylight. It was easy to sleep or to look out the window without flooding the whole cabin with the glare from a suddenly-opened conventional shade. I noticed that the dimming was locked, I guess at max (but still allowing good visibility) until fairly close to arrival.

 

[greenfish]

Had our first Dreamliner experience yesterday MEL-BKK in Jetstar cattle class. We also noted the high level of noise particularly when making the landing approach. Fortunately the two of us shared a middle row of three which made it bearable. Flight was nearly 2 hours late leaving because of "engineering" problems-no announcement made, just an adjustment of the boarding time. The Jetstar gate cough of course gave me the evil eye when I asked what had caused the delay. Pilot wasn't saying either, so still none the wiser.

I was just thinking that the little "Dreamliner" tag shown when searching for JQ flights on the JQ website makes it nice and easy to avoid the 787 - very good of them

 

[Aussie_flyer]

SeatGuru user reviews on the QR 787 are a revelation. Noone, in any class, liked the plane, with one exception! The AI version reviews were however more positive. Possibly AI PAX have lower expectations than QR PAX.

Cheers skip.

Well I really enjoyed it, found it super comfortable and just perfect for what QR are mostly using them on, being 5-7 hour hops to Europe. My review: Aussie Flyer: Qatar Airways Boeing 787 Business Class : Munich to Doha QR58

I actually really enjoyed the ability to look out the window on a day flight from DEL to CDG. It was nice to see some scenery and still have a glare free IFE screen.

Wondered, has anyone taken one of the JL or NH planes in Y with 8 across instead of 9 and if so any good?

Me too, I have heard the word 'gimmick' numerous times here but I think they are very handy. The crew can operate them remotely and restrict the brightness settings during sleep times on day flights, means no need to lean across passengers and close or open blinds. Also means you can still see outside when everyone else is sleeping.

 

[markis10]

Air India are not too keen VT-ANI has not flown since April last year and is supposedly in for a reliability upgrade at DEL

 

[greenfish]

Me too, I have heard the word 'gimmick' numerous times here but I think they are very handy. The crew can operate them remotely and restrict the brightness settings during sleep times on day flights, means no need to lean across passengers and close or open blinds. Also means you can still see outside when everyone else is sleeping.

I found they didn't seem as dark as the physical shutter. But I agree, having central control varying levels of opacity is a good thing. Part of my derision of the 787 is due to the lack of wow factor, particularly for Y passengers, where the seating layouts chosen by the carriers are consistently worse than those offered on the A330/A340.

And I guess I assumed the A380 quietness might be copied on other next generation aircraft. But sadly, no.

 

[moa999]

Part of my derision of the 787 is due to the lack of wow factor, particularly for Y passengers,

And I guess I assumed the A380 quietness might be copied on other next generation aircraft. But sadly, no.

I don't think Y will ever have a 'wow' factor.
Even the open podium entry for the A350 is only really seen for an instant, then down the back like normal.

The massive 2-engine planes will always be a bit noisier -- you have all the power much closer to the pax cabin,

 

[greenfish]

I don't think Y will ever have a 'wow' factor.
Even the open podium entry for the A350 is only really seen for an instant, then down the back like normal.

The massive 2-engine planes will always be a bit noisier -- you have all the power much closer to the pax cabin,

I'm sure you're right. But the switch to 3+3+3 seating gives the reverse of "wow factor" when stuck in Y .

 

[industryinsider]

I was lucky enough to fly the 787-8 between Edinburgh and Doha, although not the longest flight ( <7hrs ) it was extremely comfortable. The QR product on the dreamliner is fantastic, the cabin quiet and the seats fantastic, I would put it well up there as one of the best business class experiences I have ever had. It will be interesting to see the new QR business class suite design and what it will be like. As a bit of an aviation geek I am a massive fan of the dreamliner and believe the carbon filtration and reduced cabin pressure do lower traveller fatique.

 

[ctrunfree]

Although, having read reports from cattle class flying the 787 with Emirates configured 3/4/3 I guess we should be grateful that Jetstar hasn't got that greedy (yet).

 

[greenfish]

Although, having read reports from cattle class flying the 787 with Emirates configured 3/4/3 I guess we should be grateful that Jetstar hasn't got that greedy (yet).

I think you're thinking of the 777. Emirates doesn't operate the 787.

 

[ctrunfree]

I think you're thinking of the 777. Emirates doesn't operate the 787.

Yep, my bad. That still sounds hellish...

 

[cmon0005]

The QR product on the dreamliner is fantastic, the cabin quiet and the seats fantastic, I would put it well up there as one of the best business class experiences I have ever had. It will be interesting to see the new QR business class suite design and what it will be like.

I agree with this, I have flown J & F in the QR 787 (although F is the same cabin a J), just on some routes they call it F. It was the best cabin with the best food and service (highly polished but slightly robotic, not over the top though) I have ever experienced, they definitely earned their 5star airline rating.

 

[casanovawa]

I've flown a Thai 787 once and two times on Ethiopian in J and thinking back, while the noise might have been of a slightly higher pitch, i still enjoyed all three flights... I think the QR herringbone would make it even nicer as the TG and ET planes all had 2-2-2 so someone to climb over if you want to leave the window seat...

Most likely going to be trying LAN's 788 from FRA-MAD in a month so will listen out again, and hopefully be on QR's new A350 DOH-FRA so will have something else to compare against...

 

[JohnM]

Most likely going to be trying LAN's 788 from FRA-MAD in a month so will listen out again

Is that in J?

 

[JohnK]

I don't think Y will ever have a 'wow' factor.
Even the open podium entry for A350 is only really seen for an instant, then down the back like normal.

The massive 2-engine planes will always be a bit noisier -- you have all the power much closer to the pax cabin,

Economy shouldn't need a wow factor but common sense doesn't always prevail with airlines.

Airlines try to cram in as many as possible down the back and then flights are not always full. Why not have a few less seats with a bit of relative comfort for economy passengers?