Sep 1, 2013, 4:03 am

FlyerTalk Forums Expert How-Tos and Guides

Last edit by: Prospero

MMB/Expertflyer Aircraft Code: 388

Upper deck

Main deck

Summarizing based on comments thus far:

First

This post shows the seat map and individual seat ratings for First:

First Cabin A380 Seat Ratings
In order of rating:

2 A/K
1 A/K
3 A/K
2 E/F
3 E/F
4 E/F
4 A/K

Club World Upper deck

50AB and 50JK: the B and J seats don’t have anyone climbing over them. There’s nothing else ahead of these seats, so this area should be fairly quiet. However, the A and K seats ... would have to lean forward a long way to look out of the single window serving this row. Good if you like having a very private space and don’t mind stepping over someone to get out. Bad if you like looking out of the window.
50J for longest bed is the best. However, you only have a curtain between you and the stairs and right hand side forward loo. Should be okay but might be noisy. Partial barrier around feet.
51D and 51F: no half barrier either so very good for tall people and first row of CW cabin so good for food and ease of access to loo without any galley.
53AB and 53JK: the window seats have direct aisle access, so in theory these would be a lot like 64A and 64K on the 744. Unfortunately, potentially noisy.
56B has a bit of extra length but also a partial barrier.
59AB and 59JK: the window seats here also have direct aisle access. However, as others have mentioned, because the CW and WT+ cabins partly overlap at this point, these seats (and particularly the heads of the 59B and 59J passengers) are directly in line with the WT+ centre bulkhead bassinets, so possible noise concerns if baby behind. You can see the close proximity in the photo above for 60 DEF
Middle seats: since there's only a single middle seat, it's rather nice and isolated and private, at least while the dividers are up. When dividers go down it's face to face with your seatmates to the left and right. Couples who are using a middle seat will probably be better off choosing EF rather than DE, because the extra space to the right hand side of the E seat means the E and F seats are closer together.

Club World Main Deck

10J definitely winner for the most length but partial barrier around feet and galley noise may be an issue. However, also first to get food!
10A and 10K for window seats only. The rest have absolutely NO view as the wing is massive and all you see is reflecting Silver and a lot of flex!
There is a reported experience from 13AB of in-flight vibration and resonances which were enough to disturb sleep.
Avoid 15AB and 15JK due to proximity to the two loos that are right beside and behind this seat. (CW loo behind 15B and 15J, WT loo beside these seats although behind a curtain, near continuous use!)
General note: due to the curvature of the fuselage, the window seats on the main deck have a greater gap between the seat and cabin wall than the equivalent upper deck seats, thus providing more wiggle room for your legs and toes.

World Traveller Plus Upper Deck
Photos: courtesy of PETER01

Bulkhead seats: The legroom in the bulkhead rows of 60DEF, 61AB and 61JK is fairly good, but I’m not sure that I would take these for a night flight as you can still get closer to horizontal in the rows behind. If that’s your favoured sleeping position, the absence of leg-rests in those rows won’t matter too much.
Row 67: The quietness of the aircraft will mean that the toilets at the aft of the WT+ cabin are much more likely to be disturbing in this area (particularly to 67AB, 67DEF, 67JK and 68DEF) than, say, to 15AB on a mid-J 744.

World Traveller Upper Deck

Centre block bulkheads 70DEFG and 80DEFG have tables in fixed armrests, as one would expect. This noticeably constricts the width of the seat. The armrest between D and E is a conventional lift-up armrest – so if choosing these rows, D and E are better than F and G. Another thing about these bulkhead rows, which are in line with the exits, and the adjacent exit rows (70AB, 70JK, 80AB and 80JK), is that there is a noticeable hissing noise from the slipstream.
80D and 80E are the same and could be great for space or for couples that want to lift the armrest during the flight to get closer or sleep.
Rear cabin: any WT seat in rows 80 to 83 would be very nice indeed as long as: there is not a stag group pissing it up here when you want to sleep! Apparently, they may offer this cabin to groups so need to be a bit careful in selecting this exclusive cabin. Also, there is noticeable galley noise in this rear cabin, and it gets worse the further aft you get.

World Traveller Main Deck

25D is the throne seat on the Main Deck in WT. (no seat in front of them).

BA Airbus A380: Which are the best seats? Master discussion thread

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Jul 14, 2024, 4:33 pm

#2386

PETER01

Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club

Join Date: Feb 2008

Location: UK

Posts: 10,339

Quote:

Originally Posted by palciparum

Hello,

Which are the best economy seats on BA A-380 LHR to DFW for 3 people flying together?

I guess seat size must be same whether its uper deck or lower deck even though less east in upper deck. Is it because upper deck must be smaller or less wide?

Does BA have extra leg room seats like AA?

Any other benefit of AA platinum when booking BA tickets? I see that I can choose seats for free except exit row seats which cost 96 GBP per seat. Quite expensive.

The only extra leg room seats are the actual exit seats except 25D which has no seat on front of it. The economy seat pitch is the same on every seat on the lower deck which is a 3-4-3 configuration and ideal for 3 people together. The upper deck is 2-4-2 and 1 less seat due to the curvature. The advantage of the upper deck in economy is you have a side bin at the windows except for the exit rows of which none have a window.

If your not fussed re any window then row 20 is deal for 3 but as you say they come at a price unless you are BA Gold/oneworld emerald but the trade off is excellent legroom and bringing a soft ish bag on board makes for a great foot rest.

The exit seats are great, rows 20 on the lower deck and rows 70 and 80 on the upper deck. Here's some old photos of mine from many years ago re the rear economy upper deck cabin and the Wiki seat lay out gives you an idea of the seating plan. Lots of videos on youtube too re economy seating

https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/21948492-post42.html

Pete

Last edited by PETER01; Jul 14, 2024 at 4:39 pm

Aug 5, 2024, 5:20 pm

#2387

anna1stclass

Join Date: Aug 2023

Posts: 17

Flying to IAD next week I’m in F with my son on a companion voucher, dh is in club world. When choosing seats for DH how accessible/inaccessible is upper deck from F? Thinking best option for him is now row 59 with no step over but whether I can go upstairs to see him? Also I guess I can ask FA for him to come downstairs for a drink but is FA depending?

Aug 5, 2024, 5:42 pm

#2388

PETER01

Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club

Join Date: Feb 2008

Location: UK

Posts: 10,339

Quote:

Originally Posted by anna1stclass

I've been in various non F cabins when travelling with a friend who was in F. The norm would be to wait until after the F dinner service then you as the F passenger mention it to the F crew/IFL and ask if it would be possible for him to join you for a drink.

You may possibly get a no as there is no obligation to allow it but if it is a yes then it's best for the non F traveller not to stay more than 30/40 minutes in my humble opinion and to be aware of other F passengers. So a quick drink and a quiet chat will hopefully happen. The person in CW would have to be escorted down the stairs by a member of CC, if it is allowed.

That's my past experiences anyhow.

flarmip and anna1stclass like this.

Sep 5, 2024, 12:05 pm

#2389

maxmin

Join Date: Feb 2008

Location: SFO

Programs: VS Gold

Posts: 1,231

67K in WTP a good choice for sleeping?

I was thinking that 67K could be good because you can stay reclined all the way without bothering the passenger behind you, and because anyone would be mad to sit in 67J due to the toilet (higher chance of an empty seat next to me). I don't mind the noise from the toilet thanks to noise-cancelling headphones.

Or maybe the seat pitch is good enough throughout WTP that reclining never bothers the person behind you?

Thoughts?

Sep 5, 2024, 1:07 pm

#2390

Streisand

Join Date: Nov 2023

Posts: 17

Quote:

Originally Posted by maxmin

The recline is quite generousi in WTP such that you will be bothered if the person in front of you fully reclines especially during meal service. The toilets are pretty noisy on the A380 probably because as airplanes go it's really quiet- you will easily hear snoring from nearby pax. On an overnight where everybody reclines its not much of an issue. I had a poor experience in row 68 such that as much as I like the a380 I wouldn't book WTP again on it.. The ife is quite dated and laggy and compares poorly to more up to date versions.

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