Question... 747-400 or A330-300

Hello,

Just looking for a second, third, forth etc opinion...

Looking at booking MAN to MCO and trying to decide which AC to use. (as long as it does not change or go tech)

Currently got the 2 options of the 747-4 or the A330-3 both on the same date but a few hours apart.

Flights is for 2 adults and 1 child, (2 years old) flying Eco.

The best flight times for us appeared to be the route served by the A330. (VS075 & 76) rather than Flight number VS073 & 74 which are served by the 747.

Here are my pros and con's of both flying in Eco.

Pros
A330 - new to the fleet, new PE with touch screen etc, nice "fresh" environment.

747, - Never been on a 747.
Seat config, 3 window seats would be ideal for our party size.


Cons
A330 - Seat config, would mean we will have to be sat in the centre row in a 4 seat bank unless we manage to secure one of the last 5 rows.
747 - Cabin is looking a tired now and PE not as good as A330.


I guess that these flights tend to be 100% full otherwise they would only do 1 flight per day.


Any advice or recommendation would be much appreciated.

Thanks
y)

[Neil]

Hi,

You mention the PE cabin in both your pros and cons, but I'm not sure you should really worry about that if you are flying in economy as it will make no difference to you I wouldn't have thought.

So time wise, I actually prefer the VS73 outbound, it means we don't have to get up to early, and with a 6pm arrival in to MCO it also doesn't mean you have to force yourself to stay awake too long, which is Important for getting in to a normal routine. I do prefer the 76 for the inbound, less waiting around in MCO and prefer to get home as early as poss.

Now for the cabins, yes the A333 is much newer but in Y you really wouldn't know to much difference. Also, dependant on when you are looking to go, the 747's are being refitted between April and October 2012, so they will be getting the new IFE. The IFE on the A333 is without doubt far superior than the current 747 system, so if that is important then the earlier flight would be better.

So basically I haven't really been any actual help, but for what it's worth, my choice would be the VS73 outbound and VS76 return, that way you get both a/c types and the best of both worlds IMO.

Hi Neil,

Thanks for your response.

We will be travelling mid April before the completion of the interior upgrades.

Im around 1 hour from MAN, so I would also have to factor in the M60 at morning rush hour too, so the later flight maybe a better option outbound.

I will keep thinking!

Thanks

Rick

I agree with Neil - in fact I am doing precisely this during our trip to the US in May 12. The 330 IFE is out of this world, but on a day flight I much prefer the 'isolated' feel of the upstairs PE cabin. At the end of the day though Rick, it is down to your preference

Thanks - I mean Economy not PE

Thanks

Hi,
You mention the PE cabin in both your pros and cons, but I'm not sure you should really worry about that if you are flying in economy as it will make no difference to you I wouldn't have thought.

Hi RickT - Welcome to V-Flyer

I'm sure you are referring to the IFE (In Flight Entertainement) but you have quite reasonably used the term PE (Personal Entertainment) system. That will cause lots of confusion round here because PE always means Premium Economy. Hence Neil's comment.

Enjoy your flights and do post a trip report to let us know how you got on.

Cheers

Martin

Hi Rick!

To be honest, in economy it doesn't really matter where you sit in my opinion. Unless you are really that bothered about looking out of the window the middle seats on any plane are the same as the window ones for me. But, given that the A330 is newer, the seats might be a bit less bumpy.

Hope this helps.

G

JAM (the entertainment system) on the A333's is fantastic and has received some great reviews.

I do agree though the VS73 does get in at a more suitable time for me, arriving around 6pm and then out for dinner and to bed at a reasonable hour to start afresh the next day.

I am doing the VS73 and VS76 in the next week, best of both worlds.

Jon

Thanks for the advice guys,

Rick

We have the opposite view! ):

We fly out on the A330 VS075, yes we get up early but land at around 3pm, giving us plenty of time to retrieve cases, collect hire car, drive to villa, trip to supermarket to stock up, empty cases and settle in! On the A330 we have the benefit of the new IFE which keeps our girls occupied.

On the way home, we prefer the later flight VS074 on the 747. It gives us more time to get packed and enjoy a meal/day out (we do arrange to stay on late at the villa though) but more importantly, we land a couple of hours later and we always struggle with jet lag and so the day is that little bit shorter to struggle through! Of course the IFE is the old system but on the way home we are mainly trying to have a doze!

Hope this helps a bit

Ali.

I haven't used the A330 in VS form, but I have used it with NorthWest Airlines for flights to Minneapolis. Compared to the 747 I found the cabin a LOT quieter, so I'd make sure you're on that for the return flight if you want some kip! (I've had some of my best nights sleep on the A330!)

I would also take the A330 out for the dayflight as on the MCO route you risk being left with an Odyssey or SuperNova IFE system, which is prehistoric compared to JAM. It might mean getting up a bit earlier a this end...but I'd get over that for arriving having been entertained for the flight rather than board out of my brain!

Plus the A330 is smaller so less traffic at immigration and baggage reclaim.

Have a cracking holiday either way

Alex

Hi,

Thanks to all the responses and great advice.

I have made the booking online today and gone for VS075 & VS076 both routes on the A333 in eco.

VS075 works out best for us due to arriving at 15:25, which will give us plenty of time in the daylight to get down to the villa after picking the hire car up plus giving us the chance to get to Walmart etc.

VS076 also works out best for us on the basis of we will just want to get back home on the final day rather than waiting till the later departure, more so when travelling with a little one, (if it was the 2 of use I would of gone for the latest flight)

Overall, happy with going on the A333 on the basis of its a new AC with the latest IFE, I would of liked to of gone PE but on this route/dates it was/is GBP £700pp which is more than the eco fare so i felt it was not that cost effective to do so. (It was the same price for the VS73 & VS74 route also ((not sure if this is the standard price?))

Bit of a shame Im not going on the 744 but following a lot of reviews stating its feeling a bit tried, i think maybe once the refurb has been carried out it may be an option in the future.

Overall happy with the choice and I have already called the reservation centre to request a child seat for our 2 year old.

Roll on next April, but before that I still have 2 EU routes to do from the UK. y)

Thanks

Rick

After just coming back from holiday in Orlando I'd recommend the A330 rather than the 747. We travelled as a family party of 10 on the A330 going from Manchester to Orlando and ended up on the 747 coming back. I gotta say we all preferred A330, it had more legroom, more comfy seating and the entertainment system so much better. The 747 was very cramped and entertainment system poor with quite a few people complaining that theirs wasn't working. BTW we travelled economy. Hope this helps.

Thanks for your reply, did you intend to book onto the 747 for the return leg or did you just book the flights without been bothered which AC you was on ?

Cheers

Rick

Hi Guys... Kinda on topic...

I'm looking at LGW-MCO-MIA-LHR in Sept/Oct 2012. Probably will end up in PE.

Am I right in thinking the 747 refit will be complete around that time? Just wondering whether to be picky about *trying* to get the A333 (and I know aircraft can change for operational reasons at the drop of a hat...) for the outward leg - mainly due to the IFE - or if its likely that if i went on a 744 it would have been refurbed anyway?

Has anyone booked on a LGW flight on a 744 in early October yet? What's the seatmap showing as?

And whilst on the subject, any Miami beach/south beach hotel recommendations?

Thanks guys