Aircraft seat discussion

[supervc-10]

Moderator note - split from:

A decline in seat comfort: Who made the decision?

Currently on a sprung seated 377 with wonderfully soft seats This is one of the 19 older units before seats got progressively harder Who made the decision to make train seats more and more uncomfortable? I presume these are safety and fire resistant?

www.railforums.co.uk

Anyone who dislikes Sofias on 80x units, please try flying long-haul on a 'refurbished' BA 777 in economy. Lets just say I paid the extra to fly home in premium economy! AA's 787 seats are equally awful.

 

[MattRat]

Anyone who dislikes Sofias on 80x units, please try flying long-haul on a 'refurbished' BA 777 in economy. Lets just say I paid the extra to fly home in premium economy! AA's 787 seats are equally awful.

Plus at least with an 80x at least you aren't worrying about falling into the ocean

 

[supervc-10]

Well I don't, but my husband definitely spends the entire flight worrying!

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

Anyone who dislikes Sofias on 80x units, please try flying long-haul on a 'refurbished' BA 777 in economy. Lets just say I paid the extra to fly home in premium economy! AA's 787 seats are equally awful.

I'm really happy you brought up British Airways, because the smart black leather seating on their short-haul A319 and A320 fleet is exceptionally comfortable (in my opinion), soft and with very supportive adjustable wings. They're similar width to 2+2 train seats.

 

[supervc-10]

I'm really happy you brought up British Airways, because the smart black leather seating on their short-haul A319 and A320 fleet is exceptionally comfortable (in my opinion), soft and with very supportive adjustable wings. They're similar width to 2+2 train seats.

Agreed- I do quite like the A32x fleet seats too. The seats on the A380s, which are wider than on the 10-abrest 777s or the 787s, are my pick although I've not tried an A350 yet (booked on one three times now, every time been swapped to a different aircraft type a few weeks prior to the flight!). In economy, the best seat in the sky is a window seat on the upper deck of an A380. Like BA, American's narrowbody seating on the 737-800s is better than on their 787s, complete with a clever little tablet/phone holder thing and a USB port on the backrest.

Although to be fair to BA, my 777 horror story was partially down to the obese passenger next to me pressing me into the wall of the plane. The armrest wouldn't even stay down...

 

[TheBigD]

Moderator note - split from:

A decline in seat comfort: Who made the decision?

Currently on a sprung seated 377 with wonderfully soft seats This is one of the 19 older units before seats got progressively harder Who made the decision to make train seats more and more uncomfortable? I presume these are safety and fire resistant?

www.railforums.co.uk

Anyone who dislikes Sofias on 80x units, please try flying long-haul on a 'refurbished' BA 777 in economy. Lets just say I paid the extra to fly home in premium economy! AA's 787 seats are equally awful.

A work colleague of mine, who is and aviation geek, has flown across the Atlantic with French Bee on their 10 abreast A350 with a seat width of just 16.5 inches. Seriously cramped but dirt cheap was his description!

 

[Royston Vasey]

I flew on a relatively recently refurbished 9 abreast BA 777 in February in economy to California and had a wonderful flight both ways, then flew in the new seats to and from New York in May on a 10 abreast and it was awful, I had a bad back for two weeks after it and had to seek physio.

I almost immediately flew to Doha on the Qatar A380 while still recovering and was fine.

There's something about those new 777 seats for me, and I don't think the seat width and slightly tighter pitch is the whole story.

 

[66701GBRF]

While I get they are being replaced, what genius thought it was a good design to have to make people step over you in BA’s business class when you are either lying flat or using the footrest ?

 

[Mikw]

New Easyjet seats are fine for a short flight - don't think i'd fancy them on the longer flights though.

 

[Royston Vasey]

While I get they are being replaced, what genius thought it was a good design to have to make people step over you in BA’s business class when you are either lying flat or using the footrest ?

You've got to consider the competitive hard products at the time Old Club World was launched. The original yin yang Club World cabin was revolutionary and the first lie flat business class product. Business Class at the time was perhaps a 2-2-2 recliner not that much more spacious than today's World Traveller Plus.

Even when New Club World was launched, it was competing against Emirates old business class 2-3-2 and United's terrible 2-4-2 product.

It was thoroughly overtaken by other business classes in terms of hard and soft product, unfortunately, but at the time it was quite something, and stepping over ankles was hardly an issue because you usually had to ask your seat mate to move to go for a wee!

BA took far too long to replace it and Club Suites are a good business product.

I've flown Qatar QSuites and they're incredible... but BA's billion pound market is New York and if they gave everyone as much space as QSuite they'd have to fit the whole plane out as business to squeeze that many in!

 

[cactustwirly]

I'm really happy you brought up British Airways, because the smart black leather seating on their short-haul A319 and A320 fleet is exceptionally comfortable (in my opinion), soft and with very supportive adjustable wings. They're similar width to 2+2 train seats.

The old ones are good (G-EUxx planes) but they're only used on shorter routes.
The newer planes used on longer routes have the same Slimline seats as Wizz air and easyJet and aren't nearly as comfortable

 

[Royston Vasey]

The old ones are good (G-EUxx planes) but they're only used on shorter routes.
The newer planes used on longer routes have the same Slimline seats as Wizz air and easyJet and aren't nearly as comfortable

Sit in the front half of the Neos and you still get the same leather seats! The exit row (assuming the curtain isn't that far back) is often preferred by Pro flyers over Club Europe as it has more legroom!

 

[Fred43123]

Sit in the front half of the Neos and you still get the same leather seats! The exit row (assuming the curtain isn't that far back) is often preferred by Pro flyers over Club Europe as it has more legroom!

Club Europe can go rows 1-10 on the A319 19A, Rows 1-8 on M9A, Rows 1-12 (exit row) on the A320 32G, 32N, and Rows 1-13 on the 20E. Then Rows 1-14 on the A321 Ceo and Neos.

The best seats in my opinion on any short haul aircraft is the Embraer E190s fitted with these seats

 

[AM9]

Plus at least with an 80x at least you aren't worrying about falling into the ocean

Maybe should be prepared when going past Dawlish in a winter storm.

 

[nlogax]

BA took far too long to replace it and Club Suites are a good business product.

Opted for a Club Suite on a flight back from NY yesterday (772) and it does feel like a vast improvement on the previous product. The relative lack of faff when converting from seat to bed as compared to the previous CW offering is a real win, as is direct aisle access. It probably helps that I'm not six foot eleventy inches tall so I get the full benefit of the end to end room.

 

[betraveler]

While I get they are being replaced, what genius thought it was a good design to have to make people step over you in BA’s business class when you are either lying flat or using the footrest ?

Its a trade off and I don't fly these days but I prefer the original Club World.

That is the only business class product with full legroom rather than having the foot area closed or obstructed somehow

 

[AlterEgo]

Its a trade off and I don't fly these days but I prefer the original Club World.

That is the only business class product with full legroom rather than having the foot area closed or obstructed somehow

On BA perhaps, but there are other products out there like Apex Suites which offer a similar open footspace.

 

[Butts]

Club Europe can go rows 1-10 on the A319 19A, Rows 1-8 on M9A, Rows 1-12 (exit row) on the A320 32G, 32N, and Rows 1-13 on the 20E. Then Rows 1-14 on the A321 Ceo and Neos.

The best seats in my opinion on any short haul aircraft is the Embraer E190s fitted with these seats

Especially the Exit Rows sheer heaven (Economy) and 1st row on the Starboard Side if in Club.

 

[Rick1984]

The BA 190 is a really nice plane. Comfy seats with ample legroom. I also managed to get 3 red wines in Club on flight to London!

 

[Peter Mugridge]

The BA190 is currently being operated by the brand new Airbus 350s isn't it?

 

[nlogax]

The BA190 is currently being operated by the brand new Airbus 350s isn't it?

That's correct, used to be 747s on the route until they were retired during the pandemic.

 

[Royston Vasey]

The BA190 is currently being operated by the brand new Airbus 350s isn't it?

I think the poster was referring to the BA CityFlyer E190!

That's correct, used to be 747s on the route until they were retired during the pandemic.

It certainly was! I remember sitting in the grandstands at the US Grand Prix a few years ago, when among the steady stream of Southwest 737s, a BA 747 flew over low on finals to AUS, which briefly attracted more gasps of admiration than the on-track action!

 

[Peter Mugridge]

I think the poster was referring to the BA CityFlyer E190!

I wondered about that, but they also talked about Club Class - I didn't think they have that on the small regional jets?

 

[nlogax]

I think the poster was referring to the BA CityFlyer E190!

That'll teach me not to read the full thread, it's a habit I really need to kick

It certainly was! I remember sitting in the grandstands at the US Grand Prix a few years ago, when among the steady stream of Southwest 737s, a BA 747 flew over low on finals to AUS, which briefly attracted more gasps of admiration than the on-track action!

One particular overnight on BA190 has been my only BA First Class experience up til now, back during the foothills of the pandemic in early 2020. Right up there in the nose of the 747, just beautiful. Little did I realise that particular plane would be retired only three months later.

 

[Royston Vasey]

I wondered about that, but they also talked about Club Class - I didn't think they have that on the small regional jets?

Yes, they still sell Club Europe on them... no lounge, no extra legroom (exceptions apply!), not even a blocked middle as they're aren't any middles!

 

[Fred43123]

Especially the Exit Rows sheer heaven (Economy) and 1st row on the Starboard Side if in Club.

Yep 2C and 2D for the best leg room, however I always opt for rows 3-7 for the engine views of the take off experience from London City - especially when they apply max power to the engines with the brakes on until full power is reached then the sound of them roaring as you take off!

 

[Rick1984]

I wondered about that, but they also talked about Club Class - I didn't think they have that on the small regional jets?

Yes meant the Embraer 190. Club Europe. Same seats but sectioned off with curtain.
You can use the lounge

 

[nlogax]

however I always opt for rows 3-7 for the engine views of the take off experience from London City - especially when they apply max power to the engines with the brakes on until full power is reached then the sound of them roaring as you take off!

Agreed. If in CE those are the seats I go for with outbound LCY flights. For me those short flights are less about legroom and more about the dramatics from the engines on take-off.

 

[AM9]

Agreed. If in CE those are the seats I go for with outbound LCY flights. For me those short flights are less about legroom and more about the dramatics from the engines on take-off.

Do BA still fly BAe 146s (RJ80s) out of City, - I used to fly to Madrid in those. A bit cramped, but very short take off and fairly quiet.

 

[nlogax]

Do BA still fly BAe 146s (RJ80s) out of City, - I used to fly to Madrid in those. A bit cramped, but very short take off and fairly quiet.

No 146s left in the Cityflyer fleet that I can see. All 190s now.