Hi.
I had the pleasure of flying on the A380 from Toulouse to Sydney. Some notes for you all:
• First is more subdued than competitors' products. They're not suites, but I reckon offer almost as much privacy while maintaining a sense that you're still inside an aircraft cabin. Newson claims this was his intent (to feel as though you're in a plane with other people).
• The new Business Class Skybeds now lie fully-flat. The massage function is much better. It also has a "Remember this position"/"Revert to that position" function. And owing to the fact that there is A LOT more room between you and the seat in front, the IFE displays are in your arm rest (so not in the back of the seat in front of you as per the 747s). The Business Class fit-out is so spacious it feels more like a First Class cabin in that regard.
• Business has a 2-2-2 configuration and occupies most of the upper-deck.
• The IFE has been upgraded too. Content is the same, but the menu system has been redesigned, as has the in-flight map display, and there is also a camera mounted on the tail of the plane that links to the IFE.
• Premium Economy is as per the current 747 arrangement.
• Economy is - they claim - slightly more spacious. I didn't get that impression though from my look at it.
• The Business Class lounge area is a nice idea but I think fails to be of any real use. There is I think space for five people (out of a Business Class cabin of 72 or something), tucked away in a corner of the upper deck.
• There is now an espresso machine in the Business Class galley as well as First.
• The toilets in First and Business are now more spacious - at a guess, they're 50% bigger.
• Crew will be using PDAs on this aircraft, so they can move through and take drink or meal orders, while their colleagues follow up and deliver it to you while the original person continues moving along the cabin.
• Internet connectivity is only partially available. For a connection fee of $US3 plus a charge per KB, you can currently access your email and some Instant Messaging services while you're in the air.
• Some believe they'll reconfigure it some time down the track to fit more passengers. On the other hand, I have also heard that it's currently on the verge of being too heavy for the SYD-LA run and needs to have some components removed and others lightened for this purpose, so perhaps that's the reason behind the extra room throughout.
I should finish by saying Qantas seriously turned on the charm on this flight. I dread to imagine the wine bill (1996 Grange, 2001 Dom Perignon, etc).
Regards,
WTL.
I had the pleasure of flying on the A380 from Toulouse to Sydney. Some notes for you all:
• First is more subdued than competitors' products. They're not suites, but I reckon offer almost as much privacy while maintaining a sense that you're still inside an aircraft cabin. Newson claims this was his intent (to feel as though you're in a plane with other people).
• The new Business Class Skybeds now lie fully-flat. The massage function is much better. It also has a "Remember this position"/"Revert to that position" function. And owing to the fact that there is A LOT more room between you and the seat in front, the IFE displays are in your arm rest (so not in the back of the seat in front of you as per the 747s). The Business Class fit-out is so spacious it feels more like a First Class cabin in that regard.
• Business has a 2-2-2 configuration and occupies most of the upper-deck.
• The IFE has been upgraded too. Content is the same, but the menu system has been redesigned, as has the in-flight map display, and there is also a camera mounted on the tail of the plane that links to the IFE.
• Premium Economy is as per the current 747 arrangement.
• Economy is - they claim - slightly more spacious. I didn't get that impression though from my look at it.
• The Business Class lounge area is a nice idea but I think fails to be of any real use. There is I think space for five people (out of a Business Class cabin of 72 or something), tucked away in a corner of the upper deck.
• There is now an espresso machine in the Business Class galley as well as First.
• The toilets in First and Business are now more spacious - at a guess, they're 50% bigger.
• Crew will be using PDAs on this aircraft, so they can move through and take drink or meal orders, while their colleagues follow up and deliver it to you while the original person continues moving along the cabin.
• Internet connectivity is only partially available. For a connection fee of $US3 plus a charge per KB, you can currently access your email and some Instant Messaging services while you're in the air.
• Some believe they'll reconfigure it some time down the track to fit more passengers. On the other hand, I have also heard that it's currently on the verge of being too heavy for the SYD-LA run and needs to have some components removed and others lightened for this purpose, so perhaps that's the reason behind the extra room throughout.
I should finish by saying Qantas seriously turned on the charm on this flight. I dread to imagine the wine bill (1996 Grange, 2001 Dom Perignon, etc).
Regards,
WTL.
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