Are A380's safe enough to fly? [hairline cracks found in wings]

[UP4014]

Can I pay extra to not ride a 380?

 

[Sprucegoose]

Of course EK is. QF is one of the few airlines that tries to get away with that whole thing. I don't mind so much in First (QF 747 vs A380) - but if you were a biz class passenger you'd be upset.

I would have thought F would be the issue, not J?

 

[simongr]

I think that there is a quantum leap between both classes on the A380 vs 744.

I won't fly a QF 744 old school any more - even forsaking 25,000 FF points...

 

[Robmn]

Can I pay extra to not ride a 380?

I had the choice to HK and the options were 380 or 330.

Looking at the types of crack they are not going anywhere. Just they started at the hole and were not arrested by drilling a hole.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I would have thought F would be the issue, not J?

Angles bed in J vs full flat - big difference. In F it's still lie flat... same food and beverage.

 

[jb747]

It's not an engineering problem, but rather one of navigation.

All cracks are supposed to be in the toilets.

 

[Hvr]

It's not an engineering problem, but rather one of navigation.

All cracks are supposed to be in the toilets.

The wise cracks stay attached to their owners and are only exposed when the owner goes to the toilet.

 

[amaroo]

Angles bed in J vs full flat - big difference. In F it's still lie flat... same food and beverage.

But the 744 F cabin is so.....$hite

 

[MEL_Traveller]

But the 744 F cabin is so.....$hite

I guess YMMV for me First class is not simply about the seat. it is about the privacy, quiet and the service... being able to have what you want when you want it so you can maximise your sleep/leisure.

there is no doubt the 747's first cabin was in need of an upgrade, but avoiding rows 2 and 4 (proximity to neighbours) in terms of comfort the bed was fine and the environment was quiet. and you can still do the imortant things like advise which meals you want, or want to skip, what drinks you want (and when), and if you want they know immediately after takeoff that they make your bed while you are changing.

can't do that in business class.

biz class on the other hand is cramped and a bit of a sausage factory.

 

[Awesom Andy]

The cracks were "found" only because they did the inspection later. If they did the inspection at the same time as the other airlines (which they didn't need to do so), then it would've been reported together with the other news, and there won't be any of this "additional cracks found" news coming out.

In a nutshell, the cracks were there, we know what they are, and the airlines/manufacturers know how to fix it. For me, that's the end of the story, and I'll see you all on the next A380 flight.

 

[Happy Trails]

I'm of the opinion (FWIW) that these cracks are inconsequential in terms of flight safety. I do wonder though that if it weren't for the QF32 incident, we might still be blissfully ignorant of their existence.

 

[Deleted member]

I guess YMMV for me First class is not simply about the seat. it is about the privacy, quiet and the service... being able to have what you want when you want it so you can maximise your sleep/leisure.

there is no doubt the 747's first cabin was in need of an upgrade, but avoiding rows 2 and 4 (proximity to neighbours) in terms of comfort the bed was fine and the environment was quiet. and you can still do the imortant things like advise which meals you want, or want to skip, what drinks you want (and when), and if you want they know immediately after takeoff that they make your bed while you are changing.

can't do that in business class.

biz class on the other hand is cramped and a bit of a sausage factory.

Looks like its sausages for me then

 

[agent009]

From the SMH yesterday:

More cracks found in A380 wings

More cracks found, this time type 2 cracks, whatever they are. Looks like Qantas is after Airbus for compo because of disruptions and repairs.

 

[amaroo]

I guess YMMV for me First class is not simply about the seat. it is about the privacy, quiet and the service... being able to have what you want when you want it so you can maximise your sleep/leisure.

there is no doubt the 747's first cabin was in need of an upgrade, but avoiding rows 2 and 4 (proximity to neighbours) in terms of comfort the bed was fine and the environment was quiet. and you can still do the imortant things like advise which meals you want, or want to skip, what drinks you want (and when), and if you want they know immediately after takeoff that they make your bed while you are changing.

can't do that in business class.

biz class on the other hand is cramped and a bit of a sausage factory.

First class for me is sitting in a cabin that is not falling apart, dirty & outright depressing.

When I spend money traveling F - I don't want to spend it sitting in a dirty dump. But as you say YMMV

 

[Flying Fox]

It's not an engineering problem, but rather one of navigation.

All cracks are supposed to be in the toilets.

In this case, shouldn't all the cracks be throughout the aircraft and only found exposed in the toilets

 

[UP4014]

From the SMH yesterday:

More cracks found in A380 wings

More cracks found, this time type 2 cracks, whatever they are. Looks like Qantas is after Airbus for compo because of disruptions and repairs.

The issue seems to be getting worse. Can't be good.