Today I return to Abu Dhabi via Amsterdam on KLM’s new 787-9. They used to use the Queen of the Skies (747) on the Houston to Amsterdam route. Progress is not always a good thing. The benefit of the 787 for passengers is higher cabin pressure and humidity. Obviously the airlines like the fuel efficiency and the fact they only have 2 engines. The airlines have gotten greedy in business class. As you’ll see in my photos the seats are at a 30 degree angle. It’s not the worst seating arrangement (United’s 777 with 2-4-6 forward and backward arrangement wins that), but so narrow that I felt like I was in a coffin. I got about 90 minutes of sleep… The engine noise (or wind noise) is considerably louder than the 747 as well. I’ll have to take sound measurements on my flights for scientific research. Nothing will ever be as loud as the ‘Mad Dog’ MD-8x’s. I lost hearing for a week after sitting in the exit row next to the engine.
Once I got to Amsterdam I had to take pictures of the 747’s… it’s a bit like seeing endangered wildlife.
