Are UC suites smaller on airbus than 747?

I have relatively little UC experience right now (although that's rapidly changing, hooray!) - but one thing I have observed is that there seems to be a lot more bed length in UC suites on the jumbos than on the airbus fleet.

Is that the case, or have I just been unlucky with my seat choices? Last couple of times I have gone for 1D on airbus flights because it's pretty secluded, but my feet have been jammed up against the back of the ottoman when I try and sleep... if there are any better suites to go for, do please let me in on the secret!

thanks
RC

[mitchja]

Yes, they are narrower on the Airbus fleet with a smaller (useless) retractable arm-rest. The suites on the upper deck of the 744's are the same as what's on the Airbus fleet.

Allegedly, when in bed mode, the upper deck 744 suites are supposed to be slightly longer, although I've not noticed the difference. Main deck every time when I fly Upper on a 744.

One trick I and other V-Flyers do is try sleeping the other way round with your head at the ottoman end. It also keeps you cooler sleeping this way round as there's more ventilation at the ottoman end of the suite when in bed mode. You can also put your feet on the decompression vent grills that are along the cabin wall under the windows.

Thanks James. Funnily enough it was the length rather than the width that I noticed being different. Last time back from JFK was the 1st for me on a 744, think I was in 17A (I really like the wide aisle space in the nose) and it's that direction where the bed considerations kick in.

Interesting point about the decompression grills - I certainly used that space, but it also makes me wonder if the window suites in on airbuses are therefore bigger than the ones in the middle, which don't have the grills... I'll find out in a couple of weeks anyway, as I have an A seat on the way back...

IIRC the suites on the upper deck of the 747s are 6'8" as opposed to 6'6" on the main deck of the Jumbos and the A340's (but then they are also narrower like the Airbus ones compared to the main deck)

For space, a 747 beats anything else!

For quietness and comfort, an Airbus is better.

Ive never really noticed much difference between the 747s and the 346s. As I'm only 5ft the extra two inches isn't important (and I know that is full of innuendo but I can't find a different way of saying it - this is my third draft!)

But had my first flight on a 343 just after Christmas and was in 15k in the mini cabin. That felt a lot smaller, especially in bed mode. The arm rest seemed to be much closer to the window, and less space behind the seat.

Regards
R3dV

[Darren Wheeler]

I'm usually too tired to notice.

I think Pete needs to add some V-flyer branded tape measures to the store!

As I'm only 5ft the extra two inches isn't important (and I know that is full of innuendo but I can't find a different way of saying it - this is my third draft!)

Don't apologise for the innuendo, especially given the statement....
oo) oo) oo)

They are definitely not as wide as on the 747's. also a bit harder to eat a meal together.
I don't mind the compromiser the quieter and generally smother flight though.

The armrest on the 744 is in a noticeably better place than the Airbus.

Being 6'1 I also noticed the difference in length.... (easy now....)

Burt.... I generally prefer the Airbus. They just seem a bit sleeker - the lighting is better and the toilets seem nicer.

[Bazz]

Being a *ahem* "larger" gentleman, I really notice the smaller size on the Airbus, I also don't particularly like the UC cabin layout on the Airbus give me the "A zone" on the 744 everytime, so disappointing VS don't fly Boeing metal on the LAX route anymore!

Here's hoping that VS listen to such comments while redesigned UCS for new aircraft!

Well... having just come back from JFK over the weekend, I'm now certain that the 346 suites are definitely on the mean side, length wise. I went for an A seat this time to try and get the adventage of the air vent ('do not cover', yeah, right...), and while it helped a little bit, I still felt squashed.

Interesting suggestion from before about sleeping the other way around, but as I couldn't get a seat in the snooze zone, there was a lot of noisy dinner service going on around me, so it didn't seem like an appealing option.

Anyway, moral of the tale for me is to always pick the 744 flight where I have the option... either that or go to the dark side and check out BA, or even AA (who habitually upgrade my colleagues to 1st, clearly recognising that they can't compete with business class...)