Flying on the Airbus A380 Super Jumbo

The Airbus A380 entered commercial service on 25 October, 2007 with a flight from Singapore to Sydney for Singapore Airlines. Since the Airbus A380's launch it has been lauded as the biggest, greenest and most comfortable aircraft.

According to the Airbus website, there are currently 25 Airbus A380's in service with airlines around the globe, with many more ordered. This is probably why it's taken so long to experience the Airbus A380 for myself.

Though, I have been booked on flights scheduled to be Super Jumbo Airbus A380 flights many times since the Airbus A380's debut, it was only on a recent flight that maintenance, weather, or unforeseen scheduling events didn't result in an equipment change.

With many, many long haul hours logged on Boeing's 747 Jumbo aircraft, I was curious to see whether the Airbus A380 Super Jumbo would live up to all the hype. These observations are made based on a 13 hour Qantas flight on the Airbus A380 between Sydney and Los Angeles.

Airbus A380 - Size

While the Airbus A380 isn't much longer than a Boeing 747, it is significantly taller, with a full length upper deck, not just the forward bump that gives the Boeing 747, its famous shape.

Any way you slice it, the Airbus A380 is huge. In an all economy configuration it holds hundreds more passengers than a Boeing 747. Add to that, lower an overall lower cost of ownership for airlines, and you can see why airlines like this Super Jumbo.

Take a look at the Airbus A380 when you board. The size is truly overwhelming, even if the hump on the double deck does give the aircraft a Neanderthal brow ridge. You will not use the words sleek or elegant to describe this behemoth.

Airbus A380 - Seats and Cabin Configuration

The cabin configuration in Economy, on the Qantas configured Airbus A380, includes 10 seats across the cabin in groupings of 3 next to the windows, and a bank of 4 seats in the center of the cabin.

At first glance this appears to be much the same as in Qantas' Boeing 747 fleet. However, as you proceed up the aisle to your assigned seat, you get the feeling that the aisles are wider-your roll on bag can actually roll down this aisle!

It also "feels" like there is additional headroom, even with the double deck construction of the Airbus A380 aircraft. I'm not sure how this works, because the larger overhead baggage cabins are still accessible, and easier to close, as most of your bag's weight does not sit on the baggage cabin door.

Slipping into the Airbus A380's seat, there is also the illusion of additional width. A quick check on www.seatguru.com, shows us that the Airbus A380's economy class seats are just over ½ an inch wider than the Boeing 747's.

Window seats on the Airbus A380 also have more shoulder room. A cross- section of the Airbus A380's cabin structure from top to bottom shows that the upper- deck cabin, and lower-deck cabins, forms a figure eight-with the widest part of the eight coinciding with a seated adults' shoulder. Rumor has it; the cabin shape is what gave the Airbus A380, the "8" in its model number.

Airbus A380 - Entertainment System

The in-flight entertainment system on the Airbus A380 is an upgrade to the offering on the Boeing 747. The screen is larger, and touch screen. My only comment is that given the in-flight entertainment system screen is mounted in the seat back in front of you, over-enthusiastic "touch screening" by the person behind you can be annoying! Keep in mind that the touch screens and heads in front of you are delicate while playing one of the many touch screen games offered on the Airbus A380's entertainment system.

A nice addition to the in-flight entertainment systems is the provision of audio books.

The entertainment system on the Airbus A380 is a noticeable upgrade on the system on Boeing 747's flying similar length routes. Staying entertained on a long-haul flight makes an economy class trip a lot more bearable.

Airbus A380 - Laptop Power

In case the upgraded entertainment system doesn't hold your interest, the Airbus A380 also provides laptop power in the economy class cabin, giving you access to the contents of your hard drive for the length of the flight, not the length of your battery charge.

On the bank of 3 seats next to the windows, there are two outlets to share across the three seats. And no special adapter is required, relegating my iGo airline adapter kit to a permanent home in the bottom of my wardrobe.

Airbus A380 - Lavatories

While the clean recessed handle design of the lavatory door handles and catches gives the lavatories on the Airbus A380 a more clean and modern look than the industrial lever design in the Boeing 747's, they do also appear to present a cleaning problem. Dust and grime had settled into the recessed spaces, of this reasonably new aircraft, making me reach for wet-ones to do my own wipe over.

The drainage in the lavatory sinks also left a lot to be desired, making a mockery of the message to "wipe the basin with a towel in consideration of the next passenger." This of course, could have been isolated to the particular aircraft, not the Airbus A380 in general.

All in all, the lavatories performed their primary function perfectly. And for that, on a long-haul flight, I'll happily overlook minor cleaning imperfections.

Airbus A380 - Bassinet Rows for Traveling with Infants

The infant bassinets on the Airbus A380 are positioned on a bulk-head in front of the row of three seats at the window. The third seat, on the flight I experienced, a couple traveling with a single infant, also had access the third seat in the row, providing for a roomier travel experience than on the Boeing 747. On the Boeing 747, two bassinets are positioned in the bulkhead in front of the central bank of four seats. With two couples traveling with an infant are seated in this row, things can get snug quickly.

Airbus A380 - Environment

The second notable fact, after the more spacious feel of the cabins, was that engine noise is much quieter on the Airbus A380 than on Boeing's 747. While I won't be getting rid of my noise canceling headphones anytime soon, the background noise was much less intrusive than on other older aircraft.

According to the Airbus website the air within an Airbus A380 is recycled every 3 minutes. I looked up this fact when I realized that I had not used my chapstick or moisturizer once during the 13 hour flight. Add lighting appropriate to the time of day (supposedly to counter the effects of jet-lag) and the Airbus A380 has many environmental improvements on the Boeing 747.

Airbus A380 - Pricing

Currently seats on the Airbus A380 sell for the same price as seats on the Boeing 747 on the same route. Anecdotally, however, they do appear to sell out quicker. As passengers experience the Airbus A380 for themselves and book those flights in preference to older equipment, I have to wonder how long it will be before revenue hungry airlines charge a premium for the Airbus A380 services.

Won't happen? Think again.

For years airlines argued that exit row seating could not be allocated prior to the date of departure, as check in personnel had to "see" the passenger, ensuring that they were capable of meeting the safety functions that may be required of them in an emergency. Yet recently, Qantas, and many other airlines, have allowed purchase of exit row and bulk-head seating-at a premium-of course.

It is my estimation that it's only a matter of time before we see cash strapped airlines sell Airbus A380 routes at a premium, despite Airbus' claim that the Airbus A380 has the potential to boost an operators returns by up to 35%.

Until then, or until the Boeing 787 Dreamliner makes its commercial debut, enjoy the Super Jumbo Airbus A380. For my money, in economy class at least, the flight experience on the Airbus A380 is significantly better than on the older Boeing 747.

Sources:
www.Airbus.com
Personal Experience