Although I've mentioned my preferences for airplanes in passing, I have never posted a dedicated post about my favorites planes. So that's what I decided to do. I'm curious to see how OMAAT readers compare with my preferences.
My opinion: These are the best planes to fly in.
This post will share six of my favorite commercial aircraft. A few points before I begin:
I'm not going to list my six favourite planes in absolute terms. Instead, I want to list all my preferences, from regional jets to jumbo jets, to narrow-body mainline jets, and so forth. What is your favorite plane?
I won't be discussing entire aircraft families. So, for example, the A320neo and the A321neo will not be different.
You'll see that I like some planes purely because they are geeky, while others I love because of their onboard comfort. Most planes, however, I love them for both.
These are my top picks, in roughly order (beginning with my favourite):
Boeing 747 is the queen of the skies forever
If I did not put the Boeing 747 on the first list, I feel like I'd be betraying my inner geek. The plane is slowly being retired from commercial service. It's not the most modern aircraft, but there's something about it that makes me happy every time I look at it.
We can all agree that the plane is beautiful and iconic from the outside. Just look at the curves!
Lufthansa Boeing 747-400
It's not just the exterior that is amazing. The inside is equally as impressive, especially if one can sit in the nose.
Lufthansa Boeing 747-8 first class
The upper deck is also quite impressive. If you have a lot of imagination, you can pretend that it's an all-business jet and that nothing is downstairs. The 747's upper deck has steep steps that you must climb, but I prefer it to boarding directly to A380's upper deck. Climbing up those stairs is something special.
Lufthansa Boeing 7477-8 business class
We are going on a nostalgic trip. Does anyone remember Lufthansa's first 747-400 class? It had a seat and a separate mattress. Ah, those were the days!
Lufthansa Boeing 747-4400 first class (back in those days)
Airbus A380 is a comfortable whale
The Airbus A380's two full decks make it look more like a Boeing 747, but without the smooth curves. It almost looks like an Airbus A319 with an allergic reaction.
Emirates Airbus A380
The A380 is an excellent plane for passengers. It is quiet and spacious, has a wide cabin, tail cameras that can be viewed by passengers, and offers incredible range.
Economy is more comfortable on planes such as the Boeing 777 because of the larger cabins. A380's design means that airlines often install special amenities such as a first-class shower or business bar on their planes.
Emirates Airbus A380 first-class shower
Emirates A380 Business Class Bar
The Boeing 747 is my favourite plane to look at, but the Airbus A380 is my favorite plane for flying on.
Airbus A350, the plane of the future
The days of double-decker planes with four engines are over. Airlines will instead concentrate on planes that have two engines, which still offer incredible range. This includes the Airbus A350, Boeing 787, and I personally prefer the A350.
The A350 is a beautiful plane from the outside. I love the cockpit windows and the winglets. It also offers a wonderful passenger experience. It reminds me a lot of the A380. The plane is quiet and smooth, passengers can view the tail camera, and economy is quite comfortable with only nine seats per row.
Qatar Airways Airbus A350-1000
Qatar Airways Airbus A350-1000 Qsuites business Class
Qatar Airways Airbus A350-1000 tail camera
Airbus A220 is the most comfortable economy
Airbus A220 is an exceptional plane. It is also one of the most comfortable narrow-body jets. It is beautiful from the outside. From the curves to the cockpit windows to the winglets, the plane looks amazing.
Air France Airbus A220-300
The plane is extremely comfortable inside. The cabin can be configured in a 2-3 configuration, rather than in a 3-3 configuration. It also has the most economy seats in the industry. A layout that allows for 80% of passengers to have an aisle or window seat is another advantage.
Air France Airbus A220-300 cabin
This plane has incredible range and economy, which makes it a winner I look forward to flying even more.
Better than Boeing: Airbus A320neo family
The backbone of global short- and medium-haul commercial aviation is the Boeing 737 and Airbus A320. The A320 is my preference between the two planes.
JetBlue Airbus A321LR
One, the A320-family product range is more varied. It is larger than the A318 and A321 in terms of size, but Airbus has done a remarkable job improving the fuel efficiency and range of these planes. The A321XLR will be Airbus' longest-range plane, and will be launched in 2023. Boeing has not yet announced any competitor.
It's amazing to see the Airbus A320 family used by airlines. It is what JetBlue uses to fly its transatlantic flights. The Mint product is stunning.
JetBlue Airbus A321LR mintt business class
The Airbus A320 is more comfortable in economy than the Boeing 737. The A320's cabin is several inches larger than the 737's, which translates into more comfortable seats even in economy. Every inch counts, or a portion thereof!
JetBlue Airbus A321LR economy Class
Embraer E175 is the king among regionals
The EmbraerE175 is a top-ranked regional jet. The Embraer E175 feels larger than planes like CRJ-700. It has a large cabin and overhead bins.
American Eagle Embraer E175
Once I was onboard, I liked the 1-2 layout of first class. It is always nice to be alone when you aren't traveling with anyone.
American Eagle Embraer E175 First Class
The 2-2 layout in economy is very pleasant because there are no middle seats.
American Eagle Embraer E175 economy Class
Although I would avoid regional jets in general, the Embraer E175 is a plane that I enjoy flying, even longer flights.
Bottom line
Truth is, I'm happy to fly any plane because I love flying. However, we all have our favorite planes.
The 747 and the A380 are my favorites, but I can't decide which one to choose, as they're both different to me. Aside from this, Airbus is my favorite mainline jet manufacturer. I prefer the A350 over the 787, A320 over the 737 and the A220 to the A350. If you're going to fly a regional jet, then the Embraer E175 should be your choice.
Which airplanes are you most fond of? Do you #TeamAirbus most of the time?
