Airbus, the big European planebuilder has urged airlines to go with 18″-wide seats, up from the standard 17″ in use now. Their studies indicate that the extra width makes a BIG difference in passengers’ ability to sleep on long flights (which are increasing) as well as improving overall comfort. Frequent Flier comments HERE
In a former British colony, Marilyn learns about its history and explores its beauties
recommended by TravelGumbo
As the year draws to an end, Jayita’s visit to a religious landmark inspires her to wish world peace for us all
This iconic tree along The 17 Mile Drive is always a beautiful picture.
Of all the grand features of Paris’s Grands Magasins, Paul Heymont’s favorite is the stained glass dome at Printemps
DrFumblefinger shares images of a Lewis and Clark statue he spotted on the Boise State Capitol grounds.
For those who like to follow the presentation of impressive-looking plaques, or are just curious… here are some more
Of all the grand features of Paris’s Grands Magasins, Paul Heymont’s favorite is the stained glass dome at Printemps
Vienna’s largest and most famous cemetery is a mirror of social change and art
If this standard were adopted, it might be the single greatest improvement in quality of travel in economy class. 17 inches is alright if no one is beside you, a rarity today. On an Transocean flight, it make sleeping very difficult indeed. I’m glad to see Airbus take this proconsumer stand.
Airbus has taken a major step in passenger comfort with the introduction of the new Airbus 380, their new double-deck airliner. Just as a large cruise ship will sail choppy seas in much greater comfort due to its size and sophistication, the new 380 is so much more smooth, quiet and comfortable up in the skies. Sure seat sizes and configuration will vary between operators but certainly the overall ‘environment experience’ is so much nicer
Interesting point, Mac. Large planes with bright decor somehow seem to me roomier, even if the seat is the same size. I think there’s a balance between physical comfort and “feel” that airlines may not always recognize. On the other hand, I’ve been on 777s that had so little division of space that my mental image was sitting in a huge concert hall…and felt a bit uncomfortable from that!
It seems as if the terminals that they use have many more access ramps (fingers) to spread the loading and unloading, plus, of course, the terminal also needs to have sufficient immigration desks and baggage facilities. So far our experiences have been good but I can imagine just how it could foul up!
I’ve never flown an A380, Mac. They still haven’t caught on in North America, where Boeing clearly dominates the market. One thing that I’ve wonder about is with all those people to board (somewhere over 500), is the process of getting on and off the plane very slow or have they figured out how to make this move along with reasonable efficiency?