Long haul sardining

richardw

It's not a new practice http://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/whats-the-french-for-flying-sardines-9815546.html but should we be advised before we book that the seat could be very narrow?

Is 3-5-3 a380 arrangement just too many bodies?

callum9999

Unless significantly cheaper, or I can guarantee a window seat, it's too much for me. But as there are no quality standards for economy (other than safety obviously) I don't really think it needs to be pointed out - as long as the airline makes it clear on their website what the seating arrangement is.

If comfort is something people are interested in then they should look up the airline themselves.

Doshwaster

I like Simon Calder but I always assumed he flew the world in luxury at someone else's expense. Not stuck in the back of an Air France 777 for 10 hours.

bagand96

Who's using 3-5-3 in the A380?

I've never flown in a 3-4-3 777 before. But Emirates use it, as do Etihad and they are both airlines that seem to regularly get praised for their service. BA use 3-3-3 and generally people seem to think BA are average. So on the face of it, there's far more to it than seat width and other aspects of the flight seem to leave a longer impact on pax.

That said, Air France are a terrible airline regardless of seating layout.

daveyjp

Air France seat layout (3-4-3), width and pitch in the 777-300ER is widely used. The difference is fewer premium seats, so more seat in economy.

Monarch used to pack 3-3-3 and 29 inch pitch in its A300-600R aircraft.

fifeken

bagand96 wrote: »

Who's using 3-5-3 in the A380?

Nobody yet, but Emirates say it is coming for some routes.

Regarding 10 across on the B777, a lot of the difference is in the aisles and the seats themselves are only around an inch narrower than "standard".

SW17

I aways use Seatguru before booking an airline/aircraft combination I haven't done before (at least on long haul).

jackieblack

bagand96 wrote: »

Who's using 3-5-3 in the A380?

fifeken wrote: »

Nobody yet, but Emirates say it is coming for some routes.

Presumably this is on the lower deck?

SW17

jackieblack wrote: »

Presumably this is on the lower deck?

Certainly hope so, 11 across the top is quite a thought...

richardw

Monarch is the narrowest I can find at 16.25" wide http://www.seatguru.com/airlines/Monarch_Airlines/Monarch_Airlines_Airbus_A330-200.php

which is 1.75" less than the Airbus 18" economy standard width.

daveyjp

Monarch used to squeeze 3-3-3 and 29 inch pitch seats on their A300 aircraft - terrible for long haul.