QF Dreamliners in Y - what are people's experiences?

[Nisho]

How does the 787 Y seat compare to Qantas's A330 Y seats in terms of comfort etc? I havent flown the QF 787 yet so am interested in your experiences.

 

[Austman]

IMO, the QF 787 seat in Y is pretty similar to the Y seats on the A330 and A380. But with a better screen and a few more mod cons.

It's the 3-3-3 configuration that's horrible.

And due to squeezing in 9 seats across, the aisles are incredibly narrow. Passengers (parts of) spill into them.

 

[kgreenuq]

Mrs K and I flew Perth-LHR in Y -- worst experience ever! The seats were too hard and just could not get comfortable on them. It convinced us that a Singapore transit is a much better option -- apart from the shorter duration, the seats on an A330 or A380 are more comfortable.

 

[FromTheRail]

I avoid the 787 in Y like the plague on any airline, worst plane in the sky, should be taken to the paddock and shot

 

[JessicaTam]

How does the 787 Y seat compare to Qantas's A330 Y seats in terms of comfort etc? I havent flown the QF 787 yet so am interested in your experiences.

I realise I am not answering your question, however I was able to compare the QF Y in their B787 vs A380 longhaul almost back to back. The A380 wins hands down, both upstairs and downstairs despite slightly less legroom. Softer and wider, and no having to stick my elbow out in the aisle for it to get bumped.

 

[downgraded]

Mrs K and I flew Perth-LHR in Y -- worst experience ever! The seats were too hard and just could not get comfortable on them. It convinced us that a Singapore transit is a much better option -- apart from the shorter duration, the seats on an A330 or A380 are more comfortable.

I actually found the seats very comfortable, so long a you don't have someone next to you. Just too narrow and should be avoided for this reason. That we compare the 787 with the 737 says all that needs to be said.

 

[Austman]

no having to stick my elbow out in the aisle for it to get bumped.

That's right! The aisle is also astonishing narrow. It's a bit hard to avoid all the passenger "bits" spilling into them when walking by. But I already knew it would be like that after a few trips on the JQ 787s that also have the 3-3-3 Y-class configuration.

At least the QF 787s have better legroom than the JQ 787s in Y-class!

 

[JohnK]

Horrible.

Seats too narrow. Wife sitting next to me and our shoulders constantly touching and both could not sit back in seat together.

Seats in front reclined throughout flight leaving very little room in front of face. In one instance the creep in front slammed seat back into full recline and trays had not yet been cleared. No apology nothing.

 

[stm1sydney]

Just fly another airline FFS.

 

[NickCorr]

Cannot understand all the negativity towards the 787 Y product. Unfortunately I pretty much always fly in the Y product. At193cm and 120kg I found the PER to LHR flight to be fantastic. Compared to 380 the 787 Y has a way better IFE product, the night light with storage, the usb placement and the better legroom... Not to mention the better humidity, the higher cabin pressure and the dimming windows. Have always hated the windows openner with their laser beam of light cutting across a dark cabin... Maybe I did not worry about the seat width as I often get exit row seats on A330 and am used to the hip snugness.
The only negative for me is the arrival time into the UK and the additional cost. So when I next fly to the UK in 2 months it will be on the 6am Emirates flight with the same day 6pm arrival into LHR.

 

[levelnine]

At193cm and 120kg I found the PER to LHR flight to be fantastic.

I bet your seat neighbours don't.

 

[NickCorr]

I bet your seat neighbours don't.

My 9 year old son seemed quite happy.. But he did kick a hot chocolate over me.. And a water... Maybe you're on to something...
But being serious, seat feels no worse than any extra leg room seat with a tray table stored in the side of the seat.

 

[downgraded]

am used to the hip snugness

It's the shoulder space that's the problem with the 787.

 

[levelnine]

My 9 year old son seemed quite happy..

Wait until an adult stranger has to sit next to you. You might not care, but they certainly will. Nothing quite like rubbing shoulders with a complete stranger for 17 hours.

It's the shoulder space that's the problem with the 787.

Exactly.

 

[NickCorr]

Wait until an adult stranger has to sit next to you. You might not care, but they certainly will. Nothing quite like rubbing shoulders with a complete stranger for 17 hours.



Exactly.

Interesting, I'll keep a look out next time. Never really worried about shoulder room to the same extent as leg room. Got some long flights coming up in March, so will have a ponder about it then. Still like the better IFE and storage of the seat... And the plane in general.

 

[kpro]

It is interesting, when reading airline forums, aviation blogs etc it's clear that there's a marked difference in seat widths in 9 abreast 787's and 10 abreast 777's.

However when I discuss the issue with more casual travellers, such as friends or family, they never seem to realise. EG colleagues who have just travlled JQ 787 don't believe the seat was any different. One didn't realise a recent flight on the EK 777 had one more seat per row then BA. Heck, my mother didn't even notice the difference in seat width on a D7 A330 flight.

This and the ability to make the cost to the passenger cheaper is how the airlines get away with it.

 

[argon5000]

Cannot understand all the negativity towards the 787 Y product. Unfortunately I pretty much always fly in the Y product. At193cm and 120kg I found the PER to LHR flight to be fantastic. Compared to 380 the 787 Y has a way better IFE product, the night light with storage, the usb placement and the better legroom... Not to mention the better humidity, the higher cabin pressure and the dimming windows. Have always hated the windows openner with their laser beam of light cutting across a dark cabin... Maybe I did not worry about the seat width as I often get exit row seats on A330 and am used to the hip snugness.
The only negative for me is the arrival time into the UK and the additional cost. So when I next fly to the UK in 2 months it will be on the 6am Emirates flight with the same day 6pm arrival into LHR.

This is invaluable feedback for me... i'm 198cm and 95kg. So nice to hear from someone at similar size. Currently booked in Y row 41 BNE-ORD. Have the opportunity to move to exit row. But have wife and kids with me and don't really want to separate.

Not necessarily a fan of exit rows on long hauls as you tend to have people milling about at your feet invading personal space. But may have to put up with that given the 787 feedback in threads like this.

 

[jpp42]

This is invaluable feedback for me... i'm 198cm and 95kg. So nice to hear from someone at similar size. Currently booked in Y row 41 BNE-ORD. Have the opportunity to move to exit row. But have wife and kids with me and don't really want to separate.

Not necessarily a fan of exit rows on long hauls as you tend to have people milling about at your feet invading personal space. But may have to put up with that given the 787 feedback in threads like this.

The exit row seats are actually slightly narrower, because of the in-rest tray table. So if you're with your family I definitely wouldn't move. All the feedback about QF 787 Y seats, in this thread and others, is that the seat pitch (leg room) is acceptable, it's the width that's the issue.

 

[argon5000]

The exit row seats are actually slightly narrower, because of the in-rest tray table. So if you're with your family I definitely wouldn't move. All the feedback about QF 787 Y seats, in this thread and others, is that the seat pitch (leg room) is acceptable, it's the width that's the issue.

Yeah that's what i was picking up... seeing this thread today i think has solidified that. A 32 inch seat pitch 'should' be ok. Normally flying domestic I touch the back of the seat in front, so the little bit of extra room should help

 

[JohnK]

My 9 year old son seemed quite happy.. But he did kick a hot chocolate over me.. And a water... Maybe you're on to something...
But being serious, seat feels no worse than any extra leg room seat with a tray table stored in the side of the seat.

I'm 173cm and ~120kg so I'm guessing much wider than you and my 55kg wife was struggling for shoulder space sitting next to me. My 3 year old daughter in the window seat wasn't complaining either and spent most flight asleep laying down on her seat.

I'd hate to have another 173cm, 120kg sitting next to me for 1 hour let alone 9.5 hours or God forbid 17.5 hours. It would be an extremely uncomfortable flight for both. And if the person in front reclines then forget it.

I'm stunned Qantas are ordering more 787s in this configuration.