During my travels these past couple of weeks – I spent over 30 hours of time in the air. That’s a ridiculous amount of down time with little to do aside from sit back and relax. If you don’t come fully prepared – or get on older plane with a crap entertainment system – that 30 hours can feel like an eternity. Fortunately – neither were the case for me!
iPod – check. Nintendo DS – check. A book for all those periods of “no electronics” during take off and landing – check.
… oh, and how about flying on the newest planes in the skies?
That’s right – the Airbus A380 – the largest passenger airliner in the world. With two full decks that can seat between 525 and 853 people – making it 50% larger (!) than a Boeing 747 – it is truly an impressive feat of engineering.
I had three legs of my journey on A380′s – all with Singapore Airlines. It is by far the most comfortable I have felt sitting in economy class. I can only dream of what the suites onboard would be like… someday, someday.
While the leg room and seat sizes were pretty typical of economy class – the part that really impressed me was the smoothness of the ride. The take offs and landings were easily the most fluid I have ever experienced. The size of the plane must have some impact on turbulance too – or least we got lucky with weather – because it didn’t feel nearly bumpy as normal.
Food? Great as always with SA – I even pre-ordered Indian vegetarian food to spice things up!
Entertainment system? Largest screen I have ever seen – and an impressive array of the latest movies, TV shows and music.
Yes – if I could, I would fly exclusively A380′s going forward – but unfortunately there’s only about 5 in service today. At this rate they’ll never get me back home to New Brunswick… 
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Looks like a great way to travel and that vegetarian Indian meal looks good! In general vegetarian meals are better quality on planes (besides the nutrition reasons) and you get served first! I wonder what tin can Delta will put us on for our flight to the U.S.?
Have you explored to 2nd deck?
Jason – Delta? Ouch. Ya – definitely won’t be an A380, and definitely won’t be very attractive strewardesses!
Okumura-san – No, I didn’t get a chance to. And honestly, I’m not sure passengers are allowed to walk between decks. When you board the plane, there is a different entrance if you’re on the main deck as opposed to the upper deck. It’s not like a 747 where everyone boards the same floor – and then you go up the stairs if you’re on the top level.
Sweet TV and bathroom controls. All they need now is washlet on the toilet.
But a mirror on the tray? Odd. For doing lines of the cocaine you need to dispose of before getting into Singapore?
Murf – Yes – I think the mirror is more targeted at women trying to fix their makeup before they have to face someone at customs. Quite unnecessary – but someone must have asked for it at one point in time.
I would love to see one of these in person! I always wonder how long it take for everyone to board the plane. Was it any worse than a 747?
Stephen – From what I could tell it didn’t take any longer I believe due to the specialy designed boarding gates for the A380. They had four lineups going at the same time, two for each floor with two (maybe three?) separate ramps to the plane.
On all my flights I lucked out and the plane wasn’t full – which probably made a difference too. On my last flight I even had three seats to myself which allowed me to catch some Z’s like a homeless man on a park bench!
Great lead photo of the airbus Scott- I guess your airbus must’ve been pretty close though for you to shoot that one out of the window. Amazing!
Mikey – actually, I was using my super powers to fly outside my own ship and take a quick snap. Luckily the crew didn’t mind!
They sound pretty permissive- I’ll have to fly with them next time too (mile high club- here I come!)