DY1310 OSL-LGW 28 JUL 13 (ECONOMY)

Well this flight was booked in order to fly on a 787 (before they all get grounded again) and was operated by Norwegian Longhaul (DU) flying as Norwegian air shuttle DY1310.
After a delayed outbound flight the day before (I will post a TR later if I get time.) and a KLM city hopper flight down to AMS so as to earn a few VS miles as long as it counts as a DL flight as that is who I booked the ticket from (worth a try)
I arrived back in to OSL just after lunchtime leaving a couple of hours before my flight on the Dreamliner back to LGW.

Oslo airport is one with by little to do so I found a corner and watched a film on my iPad whilst I waited. Once the gateways announced I went through passport controller to the gate to wait for EI-LNA to arrive. Due to a delay with the 737 on the stand leaving the aircraft was late on to stand. This was used for an excuse to a delayed arrival later. .
It then took ages for the cleaners to clean the craft and the crew to change who on a glass jetway in full view of the gate area were hugging each other instead of getting onboard .
Half of the crew were from Norwegians Asian base (Bangkok?) and half were based in OSL.

Boarding finally started 10 mins after our scheduled departure time, and I was among the first to get onboard and take my seat in 22A. The row infront of the toilets on the back of the wing. From first impressions the 787-800 is a little taller than the A340/330 or 777, the cabin seemed a little lighter but other than that and the windows with no blinds there is not much difference between these aircraft.

The electric windows were quite cool and kept me amused whilst boarding was completed turning them darker and lighter.

Being a crew training and familiarisation flight I expected a little bit of confusion from the crew but it took them 7 attempts to count the pax and complete the boarding checks.

We eventually had a safety briefing very quietly by the BKK crew. Then we pushed back.
This was when I decided I did not like the 787. As the flaps on the wings were extended there was a high pitched screeching noise that went on for arround 4 mins. and then the noise from the engines became apparent.

For the 787 being built as a quieter aircraft it was noisier than most aircraft I have been on recently. About as noisy as a 747 inside.
The 777-300 is a much quieter aircraft to be on.

We had a short taxi and then a swift takeoff. When of course the stretching started again as the flaps were retracted.

The flight was un eventful although it took ages for the crew to sell the food for astronomical prices. (Still haven't worked out why a bottle of water or can of drink is 4x the price in the air as on the ground.)

As we approached LGW there was another screech as the flaps were extended and as we got lower it felt like driving down a cobbled road, and as we were behind an A320 on the way in to land this I put down to the design if the wing. It wasn't too noticeable but enough to say you could feel it slightly bumpy.

After landing the flaps were withdrawn again with a scream and we had a long taxi in to one of the gates VS usually use in the mornings.

All in all a good flight although given the choice I would fly on an A340/A330 or 777 if I had the choice as I feel that the Dreamliner is a noisier aircraft and i am a bit of an Airbus fan.
And the crew all looked a little lost onboard.

I would possibly fly on a Dreamliner again if VS take delivery after the spontaneous combustion issues are sorted by Boeing.

After de-planning it was off to LGW immigration where thankfully most of the PAX onboard followed signs for All Passports leaving absolutely no queue at the e-gates. Where my passport (as usual) would not let me back in to the UK.

After being directed to a person I asked why my passport never works when I was told my name is too similar to someone on a watch list .
They did say I could keep using the e-gates but it is unlikely my passport will ever work.

Might be fun on my next trip in November on VS27!!

thanks for the TR.
hmmm not impressed with Dreamliner hey.
if you sit near the wing you do normally hear the flaps. I think even in PE on a 340 you can hear the flaps?
but you werent near the wings im guessing.

thanks for the TR.
hmmm not impressed with Dreamliner hey.
if you sit near the wing you do normally hear the flaps. I think even in PE on a 340 you can hear the flaps?
but you werent near the wings im guessing.

Was sat on the back of the wing but that is where I usually sit on most aircraft so was comparing like for like in a similar position.

The flaps were definitely louder than on the airbus family

Was sat on the back of the wing but that is where I usually sit on most aircraft so was comparing like for like in a similar position.
The flaps were definitely louder than on the airbus family

wow. well in that case, I wonder why like you say for a new aircraft that is meant to be quiet

Hi there - nice report. I wanted to try out the Norwegian 787 but just didn't have the cash. No big deal though as I tried the LOT machine last year.

I actually quite liked the 787. Admittedly, there were quite a few interesting noises coming from it, but up at the front I found it very quiet indeed - in fact I wasn't sure the flight deck had opened it right up when taking off, until we actually started speeding up!

Think I actually prefer it to the A380.

I did this flight a few weeks ago and managed to move my seat to the premium cabin when they opened up a few days before departure.

It's a nice enough plane, quieter, and loved the new Android powered IFE and the map was great.

The crew hadn't learnt the safety briefings and other announcements and it all sounded a bit false with them reading them out and making mistakes doing so. The premium seats would be fine for a daytime long haul flight though. I did wander back to Economy and try them out. The disco lighting was quite interesting though


Untitled by chistery, on Flickr


Untitled by chistery, on Flickr

Water should be free though, especially on long haul flights.