[mechidna]

It sounds like there are a bunch of frequent fliers on this forum, so you will probably have an answer to this.

I've never been on a flight for more than 2 hours. I've only seen these long haul flights on the television and in movies. This may sound silly (don't laugh) but on the shows I have seen there's a lounge and I really remember seeing stairs on the plane. Is this made for movies or real life? I'm just trying to get a feel for things because the planes I was on had such small seats and no leg room, not to mention no room to walk in the aisles.

Thanks and don't hurt yourselves laughing at me. :oops:

mechidna

[foolsgold99]

You're thinking of the bit where they have the spiral staircase that goes upstairs right ??

They do exist in some older models of the boeing 747, but this is generally part of the first class area on the plane, if you're in coach or even business, forget about it.

On a modern boeing or airbus, you'll have plenty of leg room and space to walk about a bit.

Don't worry about it.

[clg]

Sorry, no lounge. A couple airlines have them for first class but they are rare. 747's do have stairs but they are just to the cockpit and seats on the top deck. The upper seats are business or first class depending on the airline.

Most long haul flights have a *little* more room but not much. We just flew Air NZ LAX-London and back and they have more legroom then most. As a tall person that was huge for me.

Another interesting thing about the Air NZ flight on the flight to london the captian turned on video from the front of the plane so we could see the takeoff and landing. Cool!

Chris

[mechidna]

Aha! Well at least now I know I haven't completely lost my mind about the stairs. I can live without them knowing that I won't feel like a sardine on my next flight.

Thanks!

[Jules]

Hi Mechidna

Yes you do get stairs on the big jumbo jets, they go to the upstairs first class area I think, not that I have been up.

I love watching planes taking off and landing, it use to be one of my "things to do at the weekend", go to a big airport and just watch the planes taking off. I hate flying but I just love airports :yes, sad I know :uhoh

Jules

[mechidna]

clg, I'm only 5'2, so I'm probably going to be quite pleased with the legroom!

jules, I hate flying too. I like taking off, but it's where and how were are going to land that I have a problem with. :eek

mechidna

[Bubbles]

Jules
did you have an anorak aswell :laugh :laugh :nice1

[clg]

mechidna,

At 5'2 you will have no problems. I am 6'3 and do OK on some airlines as long as I stand every hour or so.

Nice thing about the bigger planes is there are more areas to walk around and strech. We had a little party going in the back of the plane as we flew over Greenland almost exactly one week ago as I write this. I was talking to some kiwis about NZ and they had lots of good things to say.

Chris

[Diny]

I have to agree with all the others .... no lounge area or stairways unless you're first class ..... bummer eh.

Quote:

I love watching planes taking off and landing, it use to be one of my "things to do at the weekend", go to a big airport and just watch the planes taking off.

Our kids love a day out at the airport (Manchster UK), we sit up in the lounge and watch the planes take off and land, we have lunch, I people watch. A good cheap day out !!!

Quote:
Another interesting thing about the Air NZ flight on the flight to london the captian turned on video from the front of the plane so we could see the takeoff and landing. Cool!

Emirates had the take off/landing camera on the flight we went on last April - it's really good eh. We found it to be really good in the dark.


Quote:

On a modern boeing or airbus, you'll have plenty of leg room and space to walk about a bit

Hhhmmmmm - not sure I'd agree with the 'plenty of leg room' comment. I'm 5'8" and still found the new planes very cramped. I hope one day I get very rich then I'll never enter cattle class again.

Diny

[Timbo]

We flew with JAL (japan airlines) to Oz two years ago and were absolutely stoked at the high level of service.
Seat back video/with games. Camera in nose cone and undrneath plane for when you get bored with the video/games. All in all, an excellent flight. It was just a pity they switched to Quantas for the Japan>Oz leg, that was a big dissapointment.

[jo b]

Mechina

I am 5' and 3/4 of an inch (that's really important).

Last time we went to NZ I lay across 3 seats, with my 6 and 3 year old all curled up in every nook and cranny to get some shut eye. :eek :eek

So you will be fine :nice1

Jo

ps my husband is 5' 11 and gets really naffed off :no he says I seem to have more room then him although ratio wise I probably do. :yes :yes

Jo

[SoCal Gal]

Hi M,
Here is a tip too, if you are able to take advantage of it....you might want to try for an overnight flight (Qantas has one leaving LAX about 11:00 p.m.) and fly on a weekday, the plane should be less full and you may have the seats next to you empty, then you can stretch out and sleep.
It doesn't work for everyone, but for us it was a real life saver, we ate dinner, got some shuteye, and woke up for breakfast and landing in a new country! No jet lag!

[mechidna]

Actually, I didn't know they even offered day flights since I have found are evening ones. That's a good thing since I hate flying. I just sleep through it. :)

Video games are my favorite thing. That's probably why I have four different consoles. :?

Well, I'm only 5'2, but my 11 year old is 5'4, so we might have to argue over leg room.

There's no way I can afford first class, but do they let you wander up the steps and peek in?

m

[veronica]

I've done this trip about 3 times in 3 years at different times of week/year and each time the flights have been full with very few spare seats

[Diny]

I've travelled between NZ and UK & Oz and UK heaps of time and have never been luckly enough to get spare seats to lie down on - no matter what time of day or night I've travelled.

Just the luck of the draw I guess.

Diny