Airbus vs Boeing

[rxpharm]

Yes a 2-4-2 is a good seat configuration, no more than 1 seat away from the aisle. Other things to consider if flying economy as mentioned is the seat width, plus how much it can recline and spacing between seats.

I really don't have a favorite - I did like the Airbus A340 since it had the 2-4-2 seat arrangement with most of the airlines I flew on (Star Allliance), while I disliked the Boeing 747 seat arrangement. I have flown on 777 a lot recently since Air Canada has made it their long haul jet of choice. I think the 787 will be great to fly on once they finally get it fully approved.

One thing I would to ask of those who have flown an A380 - does it take longer to board and deplane since there are so many more passengers vs a regular airliner? That would be something I wouldn't like, it was bad enough with a 747.

[kahuna]

I ain't too big (but growing) and always fly economy...I try to book the same seat...57K...I got it on both legs of my EVA flight next week...

How come there is no seat "I"...A B C D E F G H J K...There is no "I" in EVA...

[rxpharm]

Total speculation on my part, but I think "I" was not included to reduce passenger confusion between it and the number 1.

Seamus, thanks for the history lesson re: Comet - it would have been a different world had it been successful.

As for the early Airbus crashes - the Airbus has much more automation in the cockpit than the Boeing to the point where it will override a pilot's actions if it deems the aircraft is in a threatening situation. I am not sure if anything has changed with the recent models, but the early A300 series had this problem.

[Steff]

Good question. I do not think there is an "I" seat on any plane. Might have some superstition to it like no 13th floor. Either that or Apple owns the copyright: iSeat.

[Road Runner]

So far as I know no airline booking system uses I - as was mentioned above it's to avoid confusion with one and possibly also the letter J.

RR.

[Jake_Sully]

Yes I've never seen I mentioned either.

And Rx you are absolutely right.. to plane, deplane on a 747 is awful. I prefer midsize long haul jets compared to big planes.

[rover177]

Hello Seamus.
Your article about the Comet crashes was the final push my father had to pursue his doctorate in metal fatigue. At the time of the crashes he was employed by Northern Aluminium Company in Banbury and was loaned to De Havilland to be part of the discovery team. Yoke peter crashed near malta and was able to be salvaged. The fatal fatigue crack emanated from the navigator's sextant bubble.
Of course all of De Havilland's findings were made available world-wide. Boeing at the time was designing their aircraft with square windows but then changed the design. Had De Havilland not done the decent thing, we'd then have possibly seen Boeings falling out of the sky as well.
My father became quite an expert in fatigue problems in both aluminium and steel; now he is suffering from advanced Alzheimer and stroke related dementia. His "fatigue" career had started in WWII and continued long after he formally retired.
The Comet was a comfortable plane to fly in, as was the VC10. Liked flying in DC10, MD11 and the old DC8. Still see DC8s flying today - Douglas made their aircraft corrosion resistant; not so Boeing with the 707. The 380 is a comfortable flight.

[kahuna]

That's a marvelous story about your father Rover...

I'm very sorry about his condition...But he made you...And You can keep him alive...

[deepthroat]

The schematic that Kahuna showed in his post appears to be from Trip Advisor (a great site if you've never checked it out - I always check the traveler reviews before booking a hotel stay and am rarely disappointed).

I believe Trip Advisor takes their "seat recommendations" from this site, which I also review before ever booking my seat assignment:

http://www.seatguru.com/

You select your airline, then the plane and configuration. You sometimes have to dig a bit on the airlines website to find the actual configuration of the jet you'll be taking - Cathay Pacific for example flies at least 2 different configurations of Boeing 777-300's and you need to select the correct one.

Once you've determined your conveyance, it shows a seat map like displayed on Kahuna's post, which shows good (green), some drawbacks (yellow), standard (white) and poor (red).

It also shows you the dimensions of the seats, recline pitch, etc. It's an amazing site.

[Steff]

Guys, check out: www.seatguru.com

This site lists all the major airline's aircrafts along with the seating maps for each. It tells you which seats are standard, good, bad etc. It shows the washrooms and galleries.

Once you know the airline and aircraft type this site will show all the seating.

[spare wheel]

(rxpharm @ Nov. 27 2010,21:42) One thing I would to ask of those who have flown an A380 - does it take longer to board and deplane since there are so many more passengers vs a regular airliner? That would be something I wouldn't like, it was bad enough with a 747.

Its not a problem if your Biz class as off first and fast track through Passport control.


SW„¢

[seamus]

(rover177 @ Nov. 30 2010,01:04) Hello Seamus.
Your article about the Comet crashes was the final push my father had to pursue his doctorate in metal fatigue.  At the time of the crashes he was employed by Northern Aluminium Company in Banbury and was loaned to De Havilland to be part of the discovery team.  Yoke peter crashed near malta and was able to be salvaged.  The fatal fatigue crack emanated from the navigator's sextant bubble.
Of course all of De Havilland's findings were made available world-wide.  Boeing at the time was designing their aircraft with square windows but then changed the design.  Had De Havilland not done the decent thing, we'd then have possibly seen Boeings falling out of the sky as well.
My father became quite an expert in fatigue problems in both aluminium and steel; now he is suffering from advanced Alzheimer and stroke related dementia.  His "fatigue" career had started in WWII and continued long after he formally retired.
The Comet was a comfortable plane to fly in, as was the VC10.  Liked flying in DC10, MD11 and the old DC8.  Still see DC8s flying today - Douglas made their aircraft corrosion resistant; not so Boeing with the 707.  The 380 is a comfortable flight.

Thanx for sharing that with us, what a claim to fame. Might not interest some, but works for Me.
Thanx again

[Jake_Sully]

If they only could have found a more stable version of the concorde that wouldn't run on gas. It would easily replace jet travel as we know it because people really don't want to put up with 16-20 hour flights.