This is a Trip Report from the Upper Class cabin
Ground Staff
Food & Drink
Entertainment
Seat
Cabin Crew
I have just flown two sectors in the new Upper Class suite on the 330s. Until now most of my trips hvae been on the 346s so any comparison is with these suites not the ones on the 74s. First impressions of the cabin are that it is tight for space, overhead locker space is at a premium since like the 346 there are no centre bins. The outward sector was full but there were only 10 pax in UC on the return so got to spend some time with the crew discussing the new suite. One major problem is arm rests, in the A row there is no right hand arm rest and the small left hand arm rest will be too low if the seat is in an upright postion, all of which leads to an unconformatable position. I guess in other seats it will be no lefthand arm rest. The screen between suites could be a serious issue if you were doing something confidential on your laptop due to its transparency. The length of the flat bed did feel longer as normally my feet are hard against the ottoman back rest when sleeping but on the new version this didnt happen. The ottoman doesnt look as usable due to its shape versus the old one. There is a useful storage cubby under the ottoman seat. There is also a power socket under the main seat to run laptops off although you need to be a contortionist to get the plug in. The screen for the IFE doesnt fold back against the partition like on the old suite so if you are eating and watching the screen it makes it difficult for the crew to serve as its right in the way. The screen recess is deeper on the new suite and it can usefully be used as a shelf for drinks glasses if you are using the IFE. The little drop down shelf is now in a forward position which I liked as I was always knocking the previous one with my shoulder. I found the seat belt on the flat bed side to be shorter than before and it was actually tight around my hips when sleeping. The lack of motor makes changing the seat to bed and back tricky as everything has to be just right to get it to release, it seems to be a bigger problem going back to seat mode when the seat catches on the ottoman. According to the crew member I spoke to its seems failure of the motors was a big driver behind this change. It took me ages to find the reading light which is in a recess on top of the partition and is not as good as the old light for hanging the headphones on. If like me you use the fresh air vents dont go for the middle rows as they have none. Overall its not a disaster but clearly nobody who flies regularly was consulted in the design as it could have been so much better.
