Comments on: Ughh: More 757s going trans-Atlantic http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2007/01/07/ughh-more-757s-going-trans-atlantic/ Living the first class life -- at coach prices Sat, 30 Aug 2008 04:02:21 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.2 By: Reader mail: Why Boeing 757s are sub-par for trans-Atlantic travel » Upgrade: Travel Better http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2007/01/07/ughh-more-757s-going-trans-atlantic/#comment-18258 Reader mail: Why Boeing 757s are sub-par for trans-Atlantic travel » Upgrade: Travel Better Fri, 30 Nov 2007 04:26:38 +0000 http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2007/01/07/ughh-more-757s-going-trans-atlantic/#comment-18258 [...] EF dips into the blog archives and writes: I disagree with your hatred of the Boeing 757 for international flights. It’s no different than flying from New York to [...] […] EF dips into the blog archives and writes: I disagree with your hatred of the Boeing 757 for international flights. It’s no different than flying from New York to […]

]]> By: Zach http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2007/01/07/ughh-more-757s-going-trans-atlantic/#comment-14739 Zach Mon, 14 May 2007 04:01:56 +0000 http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2007/01/07/ughh-more-757s-going-trans-atlantic/#comment-14739 Actually, a 757 takes longer to load when full than a widebody. Think about this: a 757 has 1 aisle to service 6 seats across the plane. A 767 in the old 3-3-3 configuration had 2 aisles to serve 9 seats across--roughly 4-5 seats per aisle. The 777 is similarly efficient for the loading and unloading of pax. I fly overseas quite often (currently based in Chicago) but have until now avoided the dreaded trans-atlantic 757. Unfortunately, that will change next week when I have no choice but to take the US Airways PHL-DUB segment on a 757. It's not the worst situation, since the flight is barely 6 hours, but I still expect a certain level of service on trans-Atlantic and trans-Pacific flights that I doubt I will receive in this case. Unfortunately, the only nonstop ORD-DUB service is offered by Aer Lingus and was twice as expensive as US Airways. Actually, a 757 takes longer to load when full than a widebody. Think about this: a 757 has 1 aisle to service 6 seats across the plane. A 767 in the old 3-3-3 configuration had 2 aisles to serve 9 seats across–roughly 4-5 seats per aisle. The 777 is similarly efficient for the loading and unloading of pax.

I fly overseas quite often (currently based in Chicago) but have until now avoided the dreaded trans-atlantic 757. Unfortunately, that will change next week when I have no choice but to take the US Airways PHL-DUB segment on a 757. It’s not the worst situation, since the flight is barely 6 hours, but I still expect a certain level of service on trans-Atlantic and trans-Pacific flights that I doubt I will receive in this case.

Unfortunately, the only nonstop ORD-DUB service is offered by Aer Lingus and was twice as expensive as US Airways.

]]> By: Oliver http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2007/01/07/ughh-more-757s-going-trans-atlantic/#comment-598 Oliver Wed, 10 Jan 2007 17:35:17 +0000 http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2007/01/07/ughh-more-757s-going-trans-atlantic/#comment-598 Hmmm, after reading this thread, maybe the non-stops on a 757 aren't quite what the airlines promise, at least in the winter? http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?p=6986346 Hmmm, after reading this thread, maybe the non-stops on a 757 aren’t quite what the airlines promise, at least in the winter?

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?p=6986346

]]> By: Oliver http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2007/01/07/ughh-more-757s-going-trans-atlantic/#comment-589 Oliver Tue, 09 Jan 2007 15:49:01 +0000 http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2007/01/07/ughh-more-757s-going-trans-atlantic/#comment-589 I haven never been on a transatlantic on a narrow-body aircraft (I usually fly non-stop from CA). That said, I don't really see a narrow-body as a disadvantage. Seems to me the ratio of "isle" space to passengers would be roughly the same (yes, there's only one isle, but there are also significantly fewer seats/passengers) on those aircraft. And I generally try to sleep on long flights, and don't wander around much (maybe once to the lav, but that's about it). One major potential plus for narrow-bodies is that it takes significantly less time to board and deplane. In short, if I had the choice between a non-stop flight between, say, Detroit and Duesseldorf on a 757, or spending a few hours in FRA to connect on a domestic flight, I'd rather take the overall significantly shorter travel time... and the reduced risk of having my luggage lost or a connection messed up. I haven never been on a transatlantic on a narrow-body aircraft (I usually fly non-stop from CA). That said, I don’t really see a narrow-body as a disadvantage. Seems to me the ratio of “isle” space to passengers would be roughly the same (yes, there’s only one isle, but there are also significantly fewer seats/passengers) on those aircraft. And I generally try to sleep on long flights, and don’t wander around much (maybe once to the lav, but that’s about it).

One major potential plus for narrow-bodies is that it takes significantly less time to board and deplane.

In short, if I had the choice between a non-stop flight between, say, Detroit and Duesseldorf on a 757, or spending a few hours in FRA to connect on a domestic flight, I’d rather take the overall significantly shorter travel time… and the reduced risk of having my luggage lost or a connection messed up.

]]> By: James http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2007/01/07/ughh-more-757s-going-trans-atlantic/#comment-584 James Mon, 08 Jan 2007 18:21:08 +0000 http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2007/01/07/ughh-more-757s-going-trans-atlantic/#comment-584 I've done a transatlantic on a 757, Manchester to Vancoouver with refueling in Iceland. Long trip, not much room - also 6'3". However, by far the worst transatlantic I've ever done was on a 777, Denver to Heathrow. Dreadful, managed to snag 17A (I think) - it doesn't even have a window! No more room on any widebody of my experience, except an ancient DC10 from Paris to Caracas which was grand. Of the current crop, A330s seem to have better seats and generally seem less bad than the rest. All in all, though a coach class fare is pretty unpleasant for a tall traveller. Given the choice though, give me a widebody with 2-3-2 or 2-4-2 seats - and give me one of the 2s. I’ve done a transatlantic on a 757, Manchester to Vancoouver with refueling in Iceland. Long trip, not much room - also 6′3″. However, by far the worst transatlantic I’ve ever done was on a 777, Denver to Heathrow. Dreadful, managed to snag 17A (I think) - it doesn’t even have a window! No more room on any widebody of my experience, except an ancient DC10 from Paris to Caracas which was grand. Of the current crop, A330s seem to have better seats and generally seem less bad than the rest. All in all, though a coach class fare is pretty unpleasant for a tall traveller. Given the choice though, give me a widebody with 2-3-2 or 2-4-2 seats - and give me one of the 2s.

]]> By: Mark Ashley http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2007/01/07/ughh-more-757s-going-trans-atlantic/#comment-583 Mark Ashley Mon, 08 Jan 2007 14:31:22 +0000 http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2007/01/07/ughh-more-757s-going-trans-atlantic/#comment-583 Chris, true, Northwest's forthcoming transatlantic 757 service will have more pitch -- up to 35 inches in coach (more than their pathetically tight domestic first class seats on some of their DC-9s, which only have 34 inches). Northwest starts flying 757s Detroit-Brussels on May 7, 2007, Detroit-Dusseldorf on June 5, and Hartford, CT (!)-Amsterdam on July 1. http://www.nwa.com/corpinfo/newsc/2006/pr101120061711.html I still don't think the 757 gives enough opportunity to move about the cabin for a long-haul flight, but more legroom is always welcome. Chris, true, Northwest’s forthcoming transatlantic 757 service will have more pitch — up to 35 inches in coach (more than their pathetically tight domestic first class seats on some of their DC-9s, which only have 34 inches).

Northwest starts flying 757s Detroit-Brussels on May 7, 2007, Detroit-Dusseldorf on June 5, and Hartford, CT (!)-Amsterdam on July 1.
http://www.nwa.com/corpinfo/newsc/2006/pr101120061711.html

I still don’t think the 757 gives enough opportunity to move about the cabin for a long-haul flight, but more legroom is always welcome.

]]> By: Chris http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2007/01/07/ughh-more-757s-going-trans-atlantic/#comment-576 Chris Mon, 08 Jan 2007 04:25:14 +0000 http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2007/01/07/ughh-more-757s-going-trans-atlantic/#comment-576 I think Northwest's new service, which has increased coach seat pitch by 4" might be nicer in some ways then the widebodies. I think Northwest’s new service, which has increased coach seat pitch by 4″ might be nicer in some ways then the widebodies.

]]> By: TomCayman http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2007/01/07/ughh-more-757s-going-trans-atlantic/#comment-575 TomCayman Mon, 08 Jan 2007 01:49:42 +0000 http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2007/01/07/ughh-more-757s-going-trans-atlantic/#comment-575 Would I prefer a one stop in a widebody to a non-stop in a 757 ? As I am 6' 3" but slim, the seat width doesn't really bother me, but the seat pitch is critical. When AA had 34"+ seat pitch, the answer would be YES, give me a 757 with non-stop service. One better, I used to love being an AA elite FF and snagging the domestic F seats at the front for the price of a coach ticket on BOS/MAN :) Would I prefer a one stop in a widebody to a non-stop in a 757 ? As I am 6′ 3″ but slim, the seat width doesn’t really bother me, but the seat pitch is critical.

When AA had 34″+ seat pitch, the answer would be YES, give me a 757 with non-stop service.

One better, I used to love being an AA elite FF and snagging the domestic F seats at the front for the price of a coach ticket on BOS/MAN :)

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