Which aircraft for J, 380 787 or 747

[kiwitripper64]

Hi
I am looking at flights to US next month and will be looking to go SYD-DFW on QF A380 then on to MIA
On the return I could do
DFW-SYD A380
LAX-MEL 787 and LAX lounge
LAX-BNE 747 while they still fly
Any comments on J seats and cabin?

Tried explaining to wife why this was important. We all know the look I got back

 

[serfty]

789 = "Suites"

380/744 = Skybed Mk II

The 744 (QF16) is often late.

Where do you wish to end up? MEL/SYD/BNE/NZ?

 

[sudoer]

Personally I would take the new 789 suites over A380/747 Skybed Mk II, with the exception of routes where F is not sold and can be selected by WP in J.

 

[kiwitripper64]

789 = "Suites"

380/744 = Skybed Mk II

The 744 (QF16) is often late.

Where do you wish to end up? MEL/SYD/BNE/NZ?

Will hopefully end up in AKL on Sunday, so no rush.
No direct oneworld flight at the moment, and AA/QF seem to be applying to US regulators to allow more sharing. Not that AA really understand J yet.

 

[BriarFlyer]

Tried explaining to wife why this was important. We all know the look I got back

I'm guessing it's the exact same look I get from my husband when I try explaining the same.

 

[codash1099]

Decisions, decisions!

I'd take the 380 for the metal (do we still call it that in these days of plastic aircraft?) but 789 for the seating. 380 leaves the possibility of an F upgrade but that will depend on your status - I've been pretty lucky so far.

This kind of leaves the 747 out of consideration for me.

 

[serfty]

One consideration is your shoe size.

If you can't get Bulkhead J (row 1 or 10) then anything over a male size 10 can be constrictive in the foot wells of the 789's. There is no such issue in a skybed (of course, there is the skydroop).

 

[Fergo747]

(of course, there is the skydroop)

Ah, but the droop can be easily overcome with the placement of your cabin bag underneath the extended footrest to prop it up. I did this on a recent SYD>LHR flight and slept like a baby (the wine helped too) with no droop to be found.

 

[Flying mermaid]

I am not a fan of the 787 (only experienced it on QF). Would always book the 380 or 747 in preference.

 

[FrustratedQP]

I am not a fan of the 787 (only experienced it on QF). Would always book the 380 or 747 in preference.

I agree. I just can’t seem to get comfortable in the 787 J seats. They feel a bit ‘clunky’ when trying to get them into a comfortable position. They also seem to be too firm.

 

[Flying mermaid]

I agree. I just can’t seem to get comfortable in the 787 J seats. They feel a bit ‘clunky’ when trying to get them into a comfortable position. They also seem to be too firm.

i didn’t notice the firmness, but yes we couldn’t get them into a comfortable recline and those wells made trying to sleep annoying.

 

[BAM1748]

I'd be up for the 747.

 

[PaulST]

I've now flown trans-pacific twice in QF 789s in J (as well as 744s and A380s) and here's my summary of why you'd select the following:
A380: chance of an F upgrade, quieter and smoother than 789 and 744, you're significantly overweight and would find the 789 suite too restrictive, more humid than 744.
747: you're significantly overweight and would find the 789 suite too restrictive, and you enjoy flying in the queen of the skies, probably a smoother ride than the 789
789: faaaar better seat and IFE, quieter and more comfortably humid than 744

I intend to fly via MEL to catch 789s in the future (I'm based in Syd)

 

[Flying mermaid]

It’s all very subjective isn’t it . Neither Mr FM nor I are overweight - if anything at 60kg he is probably underweight, but we found the 787s waay too restrictive and uncomfortable. None of which is helping the OP at all. I would agree the IFE on the 787s is better and the crew were super enthusiastic (although with Qantas that is incredibly inconsistent as we know).

If it’s any help, I think the J experience on all 3 is likely to be pretty much the same and we are probably all splitting hairs (which is what we do on this board). At the end of the day you won’t know until you try which works best for you

 

[moa999]

Only other thing I'd add is if you are travelling as a couple the 380/747 is probably more conducive to talking, given QF didn't create couples seats in the 787 given how it did the stagger.

And the A380 bar/seating area is attractive to some

For a solo traveller looking to do some work on the plane, the 787 hands down for its privacy and storage space

 

[PaulST]

I should have said that I was in seat 1A and 10K so I had the wider foot recesses (this was intentional) too.

 

[PaulST]

Only other thing I'd add is if you are travelling as a couple the 380/747 is probably more conducive to talking, given QF didn't create couples seats in the 787 given how it did the stagger.

And the A380 bar/seating area is attractive to some

You can lower the central divider in the 789 (unlike the A330 which has a fixed divider) which makes it a little more conducive with talking to your neighbour, but otherwise I'd agree that you can see more of your neighbour in the skybeds.

 

[Mattg]

As you're already flying the A380 over to DFW, why not try the 787 LAX-MEL on the way back?

 

[Pleb Status]

If you are travelling with your partner I would go for the 380. It is a more comfortable seat overall but lacks the privacy, direct aisle access etc of the 330/787 seat.

 

[kiwitripper64]

Thanks everyone for the helpful input..
The first world problems of which seat to take. Nostalgia, the desire to try the shiny and new or the far off lure of a glimmer of an upgrade.
Am leaning on SYD-DFW 380 and LAX-MEL on 787. Not a big fan of the smaller enclosed foot wells on AA, but probably worth a try and compare.