Imagine being able to fetch water when you need it mid-flight? Or grab a snack between meals? As I found recently, you get a bit more freedom within the confines of the walls of the largest commercial aircraft.My first flight aboard the gigantic Airbus 380 was approached with hesitance and fear of spending the next half-day in a middle seat. That's a fear, I'm sure, we've all had at least once in the past. My fear tempered when I spotted a window-seat behind my assigned row. The last row, but a window in the last is much better than a middle in the second-to-last!
As the behemoth machine began its journey down the runway, I watch the progress via the 'flight-cam,' a camera placed on the tail of the craft. My geeky self was thrilled to see AC power and USB power outlets, eliminating the fears of dying batteries.
Drumming up some conversation with my new neighbors, I notice the quietness of the plane. Even in this last row, the roar of the engines is brought to a low hum, lulling people to sleep in the deep recline of the seats (I've sat in first class seats that didn't recline as much!).
Beyond the recline, the wide rounded body of the fuselage provides the window seat with an abundance of space, avoiding the compression that one often feels after 8-to-10 hours in flight, sandwiched between the window and the most recent person ejected from 'The biggest loser.'
Nonetheless, five hours into a fourteen hour flight, I find myself ready for a stretch of the legs, a cup of water, and the restroom. A water fountain, bowl of apples, sodas, cookies, and other snacks, are all available for the taking. Such a simple perk that brings a smile to many passengers.
Returning back to my seat, restarting the movie, and getting back to work, I realize that even in coach, this is one heck of a plane!
Robert Jackson is a systems engineer with Camiant, which makes broadband network management software. He travels frequently for work and writes about his experiences on the road in this column. Photo credit: Airbus.
Drumming up some conversation with my new neighbors, I notice the quietness of the plane. Even in this last row, the roar of the engines is brought to a low hum, lulling people to sleep in the deep recline of the seats (I've sat in first class seats that didn't recline as much!).
Beyond the recline, the wide rounded body of the fuselage provides the window seat with an abundance of space, avoiding the compression that one often feels after 8-to-10 hours in flight, sandwiched between the window and the most recent person ejected from 'The biggest loser.'
Nonetheless, five hours into a fourteen hour flight, I find myself ready for a stretch of the legs, a cup of water, and the restroom. A water fountain, bowl of apples, sodas, cookies, and other snacks, are all available for the taking. Such a simple perk that brings a smile to many passengers.
Returning back to my seat, restarting the movie, and getting back to work, I realize that even in coach, this is one heck of a plane!
Robert Jackson is a systems engineer with Camiant, which makes broadband network management software. He travels frequently for work and writes about his experiences on the road in this column. Photo credit: Airbus.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
11-06-2009 @ 2:18PM
thedude said...
This is a post that certainly merited some photos.