Don't forget your loofah sponge.
(Credit: G Patkar )I've already raved about the prospect of relaxing in a posh first class on the new Airbus A380, but now Dubai-based Emirates Airlines seems to have raised the bar for in-flight amenities. As the Times of London reported Sunday, Emirates is promising first-class passengers the use of a shower. Details on the first-class cabin and the shower are sketchy, but with its "seven star" Burj Al Arab Hotel, Dubai knows true (and somewhat ridiculous) luxury.
It's certainly a novel idea, and it would give a new meaning to the idea of the mile-high club, but environmentalists are already attacking the scheme as irresponsible. According to the Times, a shower-equipped A380 would need to carry an extra ton of water for each flight, which is equal to 12 passengers. That would mean a carbon cost of 48,455 pounds for every round-trip flight. That's certainly a legitimate worry, but frankly, I'd be more concerned about showering during turbulence.
The shower service will be available on New York to Dubai flights starting in October, and Emirates says it will expand the treatment to its entire A380 fleet. But before you get too excited, you may want to check the fare. A first-class ticket could cost about $18,000.
Sky high style
(Credit: Singapore Airlines)Though CNET News.com's Daniel Terdiman already covered the first commercial flight of the Airbus A380 in his blog, as a fellow aviation nut, I just had to weigh in on the aircraft's interior. This morning I drooled over the photos taken by Luke Anderson from ZDNet Australia on his tour of the Singapore Airlines A380 in Sydney (where can I get that gig?). The pictures of the economy class section are nice, but let's be honest, who really likes economy class? Frankly, I'm more excited about those luxury suites in first class. And who wouldn't be?
A380 business class
(Credit: Luke Anderson/ZDNet Australia)The luxury suites are self-contained compartments on the lower deck of the plane. Though the roof is exposed the suites have sliding doors to keep out nosy neighbors. Inside each suite is a leather seat (more like an arm chair, actually) that coverts to a perfectly flat bed. And if you book adjoining compartments, the center divider can be lowered to make adjoining beds (talk about your mile-high club). On-demand entertainment is shown on a 23-inch LCD while additional amenities include a vanity mirror, storage galore and all the food and drink you can imagine.
Sadly, I doubt I'll get to fly in such luxury for some time; a random fare check showed a price of $7,500 for a round trip Singapore to Sydney ticket. So far, my only view of the A380 was from the ground when it made a low pass over San Francisco earlier this month. I suppose I could snag an 34-inch-wide expansive business class seat if I'm lucky; those are a more reasonable $3,700. But as I said earlier this year I'd sit on a cardboard box just for the privilege of riding on the world's newest airliner. And I say that as (like Daniel) a loyal 747 fan.
Just pack 'em in
(Credit: Airbus.com)I've always regarded the Airbus A380 with both awe and anxiety. I'm in awe of the technological achievement of producing the world's biggest airliner, even if it lacks the graceful lines of a 747. And though I'd fly on it if I had to sit on a cardboard box, I'm still anxious about spending 14 hours crammed into a coach seat hurtling through the air with the population of a small town. But according to an Airbus exec, 500 passengers is just a drop in the bucket compared with what the behemoth place could really carry.
Like this, but tighter
(Credit: Airbus)Speaking yesterday in Australia, Chief Commercial Officer John Leahy suggested that the A380 could be a viable option for budget airlines looking to fill hundreds of seats on the cheap. "We can do 11 abreast in coach," Leahy said. "Some have said we could split the cabins and have a high-density coach and full-service coach."
Though the plane currently is certified to carry up to 852 people (the average will be 400 to 525), stretched versions of the A380 that are currently on the drawing board could carry a mind-blowing 1,000 passengers. Wow.
Now just to give you some perspective, the 747-400 (the long-time gorilla of the sky) carries about 415 people, give or take a few. And that's in 10-abreast seating in coach. Just think about one airplane carrying double the number of bodies with each row having three seats on either side and five seats in the middle. Even with the A380's larger size, it absolutely would have a crowded feel. And here I thought Southwest Airlines was bad.
Now this is comfort
(Credit: Airbus)I'm not about to get alarmist about how the A380 would overwhelm airports. The 747 had its critics when it made its first commercial flight in 1970 but airports adapted to it in time. Yet, 1,000 people will no doubt be a logistical challenge and airports have made adjustments for the the plane already. Just think about that security line. And in any case, I'd much prefer this concept of an A380 first class with individual cabins.
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