Us avgeeks can often have pretty strong aircraft preferences. Sometimes our picks are rational (like based on a plane’s capabilities, passenger comfort, etc.), while other times we just like the way a plane looks or sounds. In this post, I’d like to share my favorite aircraft, and then I’d love to hear what planes OMAAT…
Continue reading: My 6 Favorite Commercial Airplanes, From Regional Jets To Jumbo Jets
Share your questions, experiences, and thoughts below.
“thanks to the design of the A380, airlines have often installed special amenities on the planes, like Emirates’ A380 first class shower and business class bar”
I’m not sure if “often” is the right word, since only 2 airlines ever had showers on the A380 and only 4 had onboard bars…given that there have been over a dozen airlines that have used this plane, those are low ratios.
“Thanks to the cabin’s width, economy is generally much more comfortable than on planes like the Boeing 777.“
If an airline like AA were to operate the A380, they would squeeze as many seats as possible regardless of aircraft width. Just look what they did with the 777. Used to be 9 across (2-5-2) but now 10 across.
Great article!
My prefered one still by far the A346, albeit they will also disappear in a while. I guess only LH still have some in commercial service...
“[The A380] kind of looks like a swollen Airbus A319 that had an allergic reaction to something.”
LOLOL, I’ve never thought about it in those terms, but that’s hilarious. Fully agree that what it lacks in aesthetics it makes up for in every other way. I remember when the A380 was doing its pre-debut world tour and airport testing; I went with my boyfriend at the time to SFO to watch it depart. IIRC it was immediately preceded by an AA MD80 and the difference in noise was really striking. Even aside from the MD80, the whale was by far the quietest jet we saw that day. Later when I got to fly on it I remember thinking we couldn’t possibly be taking off since it was so quiet inside.
As far my preferences, E170 family for RJ, A32Xneo for NB, and A350/B787/B777 in that order. Even the 737 MAX feels like it has much higher cabin noise levels than the 320neo series.
I recognize I probably put a much higher value on cabin noise levels than most, though.
Airbus A350-1000 for me. The Boeing 777X might top it though if it ever gets approved.
Additions and Honorable Mentions:
ATR 42/72 – Arguably the best commercial turboprop, reliable and perfectly suited for short regional hops (French Polynesia)
Boeing 757 Jetliner – A true classic; fun to fly and still a favorite among us aviation fans.
Airbus A321neo/XLR – My pick for the best modern narrow-body aircraft, combining comfort, efficiency and range.
Boeing 777-200/300 family – Remarkable longevity and performance; still a fantastic aircraft even as it ages.
I would include the 787 Dreamliner here as well, but the flight attendant override of the electrochromic dimmable windows has tainted a few flights for me.
And finally, nothing beats the simple joy of flying in a small Cessna at local regional fly-ins. Think African safaris.
This article is kind of geeky because of the criteria used but it is also non-specific, such as not covering a specific airline's configuration or use on routes. That said, my favorite are:
Airbus A340, particularly the -600, but not if it's flown by an airline that might have to get around sanctions to get parts.
Airbus A330-900neo
Boeing 787
Boeing 757
Boeing 747-8i
Embraer 175
If we're talking about historical picks, then the Lockheed L-1011 and BAe 146 and, likely, the Concorde, though I have no passenger experience in it.
One would be hard pressed to top Ben’s choice of commercial passenger aircraft. However, for sheer pleasure my little AOP.6 never fails to put a smile on my face. Furthermore, she might be a year older than I am, all dressed up in a drab frock and slower than an Iranian drone, but she’s my little AOP.6.
The 747 is amazing, but Lufthansa’s is the worst that ever flew. Why do you promote this airline so much?
Interesting that you're not mentioning any turboprops. I always enjoy my ATR flights, much prefer them over the CRJs.
While not technically a jet class unto itself, but rather a reconfigured CRJ-700, I am in love with the CRJ-550. United has done a great job with these jets. Never mind stepping on to one.
I will never understand all the love for A220, considering the plane often replaces E190s--which is my favorite narrowbody.
The E190 has wide 2x2 seats, spacious bathrooms & usually great legroom. The planes typically only have 90-110 passengers, so they're also quick to board & deplane.
The only downside to E190 was limited overhead luggage storage, but that was fixed in E195.
A220 has a middle seat and tiny bathrooms. Who wants that?
Have flown LH since ages and not one bad word to mention. LH & LX are for me the best Airliners we have in Europe. And remember, Ben is also German. But he is right!
Further to your point, the A220 is overwhelmingly used in North America and Europe, and is very rare in the Global South, with only a few scattered airlines like Qantas, Korean Air and some African operators using it. In contrast, the E190 is used in almost every country out there, and is naturally much easier to encounter.
I wish the E2 was hitting the US. I flew LGA-YYZ on Porter a couple weeks ago, and it was a really nice flight.
My only flight on the A346 was with CX about 20 years ago. I wish I had more opportunities to fly on one.
My favorite airplanes:
Regional: Embraer 175 - feels more like a mainline jet; no middle seats; solo seat in first/business class
Narrowbody: A220 - bigger windows; 2-3 seating
Workhorse Narrowbody: A320 family - quieter at cruise than the B737
Widebody: Boeing 767 - best economy class config of any wide body (2-3-2) and best premium economy config (2-2-2)
Modern Widebody: Boeing 787 - better humidity and I actually like the electronic dimmable windows since I can still see outside even when fully dimmed
Jumbo Jet: A380 - there is something special about flying on an airplane many airlines have used to implement luxury features
Mike, you have but with LH. But I think they are mostly used on the Routes to the US. I never experienced those of CX.
Totally agree ! personally I loved working the 747. Compared to other aircraft in the fleet at the time the 747 was a dream. The L1011 TriStar was another beautiful ride.
The E195 is a great aircraft and the A200 is just about perfect !
Boeing 727 every day of the week, especially in LH First Class. What a beautiful beautiful aircraft.
CX only had 3 frames primarily used to JFK along with LHR, SYD, YYZ. And while I still can with LH (the lavatory downstairs is a pretty unique feature which I'm curious to try), it just wouldn't be the same. Aside from LH, you had IB, SA, EY who were notable A346 operators. Now you only have LH and Mahan Air.
Just like the 747, you still have LH, KE, and CA. But it's just not the same. All the airlines we grew up with such as CX, AF, NW/DL, UA, BA, etc. have gotten rid of their 747s. So it's just a memory now.
Neither Australia nor the Republic of Korea are members of the "global south".
If memory serves, Virgin was the first airline in modern times with a bar. I remember flying its B747-200s back in the mid 90s to and from the UK and there was a bar and a manicurist/masseuse onboard.
Virgin never flew the A380 so to claim flying this plane resulted in such amenities is just plane wrong.
Ben, any chance you could include some comments about the window sizes on the various planes? As much as I love the A380, I find the windows seem relatively small.
If it was ever possible to carry something that could measure pressure/altitude or cabin noise. I feel like people say lots of things about how much better one plane type is than another, but there is very little 3rd party data.
I agree on everything, but the A 380. I flew it once on AF, in 2017. Premium economy, and I had chosen an exit row upstairs, because it had something like 10' of legroom. But the seat might have doubled up as an ironing board, the food was 'meh', departure was two hours delayed, CDG to LAX, and it took around 45 minutes for my carry-on to appear, because they had forced me to check my carry-on, which had served me on at least 20 flights just OK. Like 1/2" too wide, and 2 pounds too heavy, even though I had wrapped up myself in layers of clothing. My last flight in anything Eco.
Lufthansa's economy in 747-8 has the worst seats in the world. First and business are also obsolete and only premium economy is more or less up to date. The best way to hate 747 is to fly LH. Korean and Chinese 747-8 are ten times better than LH.
@mauipeter
That is Air France to blame not the A380. After all Air France had one of the worst interiors on the A380s along with Lufthansa's original A380 configuration. Both Air France and Lufthansa were dumb that they introduced their A380s with old and outdated business class seats.
I find the A380 windows to be abysmally small. Worst windows on any airliner, and one of the reasons I dread the A380.
As a passenger, and having flown many aircraft over the past 40 years short and long haul, one has to separate the individual airlines and how they each choose to configure their aircraft. Neither Airbus nor Boeing select the seats and internal configurations. The airlines do. So, I take posts like this with a HUGE grain of salt. Indeed, it would be more relevant if there were no configuration and fit-out and you simply sat a seat in the middle of one - or piloted one - to really get the sense of which is the better commercial airliner.
Part of that is because the crew's experience of working the aircraft translates into a better - or worse - experience for the passenger. For example, as a miracle of modern aviation many seem to make of the A350, I'm underwhelmed and partly so because airlines I've flown that configure it heavily for business class also configure it poorly for galleys for both prep and the crews hate it for that reason. That translates into a poorer experience when business is full and all you see are crews rushing into a cramped galley to somehow serve the larger numbers of biz passengers. Conversations with crews on many airlines reveal this.
That said:
Forever 747. I love it and crews overwhelmingly tell me they miss it - terribly. Interestingly, I haven't yet found a crew that prefers any airbus long haul aircraft to Boeing, but there are still pros/cons there.
Boeing 787. Lower altitude cabin pressurization makes all the difference in the world and I handily select this aircraft over the 777 and certainly over the A80 any day.
B737. A320s are wider, but not noticeably so, and Ben's comment about wider seats are ONLY IF the airline chooses them - not Airbus, so that's a comment to strike. A320 family is also the noisiest aircraft next to turbo props with the fuel transfer pumps making it sound like there is an electric motor struggling to survive. They aren't attractive at all, aesthetically.
E175/190 Family. Love them as my favorite regional. Superb.
Love the article! Tail camera is my favorite feature especially on the AF (I think a350) where you can have it minimized on the screen while watching something else!
A220 yes yes yes! Lol
No love for the CRJ-200? LOL.
757 has a special place as the sports car of the skies. Aging, but it's an impressive aircraft.
Agree with the ERJ-17x family. 1+2 in first, flies like a bigger jet. And A/C so good it drops ice out of the vents.
I was fortunate in getting to fly on a 747. I flew one of KLM's on the upper deck in January 2020 coming back home from Europe. The hard product was a bit dated but that wasn't a big deal to me, everything else was great and I was still on the upper deck of a 747. It's amazed how fast these aircraft got pulled from service in the months and years afterward.
The Queen. Flew a -100 in 1970 and a -8i this March. Because of FRA strike got the last upper deck row on LH which was the worst seat ever (thx LH). The seats and space were awful but it was still a Queen.
The Whale has been very smooth in flight but the massive numbers all leaving at the same time or boarding make it very unpleasant when not in the air.
Dreamliner over 350 any day because of better cabin altitude and humidity control. Also better because crew can control direct sunlight in my eyes from cross-cabin selfish people who claim control over windows even when others are trying to sleep or watch movies.
I've never had a bad 767 flight, even in economy on Condor or Gulf. 330neo is also pretty good but Airbus doesn't do cabin altitude or humidity very well - so dry on an A340 that I had a nosebleed on a JNB HKG flight.
A220 -100/300 for regional.
Q400 for Turbo
Ben says, "For example, just compare the A350-1000 to the 787-10."
Stopped reading right there. Egads!
Worked as a flight attendant for northwest orient/delta for 35 years…..no airplane will ever reach the heights of the iconic 747…..what a marvel….reliable and incredibly safe….i was amazed each and every time i stepped onboard……
I worked as a flight attendant for over35 years at northwest orient/delta…no airplane will ever replace the 747….an engineering marvel….graceful safe and a pleasure to fly in…..I was amazed each and every time I stepped onboard
My favorite jets as an enthusiast aside from the 74 and A380 are the 777 and the 767. That's the two planes i'd want to pilot the most. In terms of comfort though, A380 is the obvious winner, I think the 787 is just about up there with the A350, maybe a few tiks behind, and I also think the 737 max is nearly as comfy and quiet as the 320neo, which themselves are a little better than the 320ceo and much better then the 737NG. I'd rank it liks this ..NG.................ceo.........MAX.neo..
That being said, I have more nostalgia for the 73 than the 320 so stepping in on one feels nostalgic and familiar. I was in indonesia and had done a whole bunch of A320 flights (HLP-YIA, YIA-CGK, CGK-LBJ, LBJ-DPS) and then boarding a battered old Lion Air 737-900ER at DPS immediately made me feel so calm and missing all of my homesickness. It just looked and smelled like home, even for all it's faults and the huge delay... yeah avoid Lion Air lol they way overscheduled their planes.
Lucky - you make the following comment: "I also prefer the A350 to the 787 because the plane is simply more capable in terms of payload and range. For example, just compare the A350-1000 to the 787-10."
What does payload have to do with passenger comfort, onboard amenities, etc.?? How does payload have anything to do with the you as a passenger and your overall experience on a plane? Just curious.
Yes, the 747 is my favorite and that upper deck is the coolest thing ever. It's even mentioned in that hit song "Let's Groove" from Earth, Wind & Fire: "glide like a 747." Is the A380 mentioned in a song? I think not. Though it really depends on the airline. Two years ago I flew Lufthansa on the 747-8 in their old business seats and it was underwhelming to say the least.
I'm with you, sorta. 747, a380, I'd add 339, a320family/neo/XLR (if it has lie-flat), a220 (if economy), E2.
Worst: MD80/89/90 (in the back at the engine), 2-5-2 MD11 (if in the double-middle), anything when folks were allowed to smoke...
Well, it's nice to know that this piece of crap triggered the exact reaction I thought it would in the comments section: A gigantic Airbus wank-fest. All Airbuses are garbage, especially that fat waddling fuel-waster and Franco-Canadian Spaghetti-Os. There should be two manufacturers of commercial aircraft, but if fate was fair, those two would be Boeing and Douglas. That way, you could at least justify 2-3 seating in 2026.
I was a huge fan of the A350 after my first few flights (Finnair & Starlux). However, I've had several longhaul flights on ITA Airways where there has been a terrible whining noise (engine, climate control... no idea?). Ruined 2 flights going between Rome and Buenos Aires, and a couple of flights between Rome and LAX. Impossible to sleep even with noise cancelling headphones.
Never had the same issue with 787 flights across the 4 or 5 different airlines I've flown. Very quiet, wonderful lower altitude onboard, and just a better overall experience.
For international or cross-country flights, I’m a 787 fan. The one plane I don’t end up having a headache on, even can have a glass of champagne! The cabin air isn’t as dry, the cabin isn’t as pressurized. Just a lot more comfortable for me.
For me it's the Boeing 787. First time flying was 11 hours from Chennai to London on a BA 787. Why was I not jet-lagged? Why was I not all dried out like usual? So I looked up the plane online and....
"The Boeing 787 Dreamliner differs from other jets by using lightweight carbon-fiber composite materials, a heavily electric architecture rather than pneumatic bleed air, and a specialized pressurization system that lowers cabin altitude and increases humidity to reduce jet lag."
The differences were something like 4% humidity normally but this was 15%. And air pressure being like being at 6,000 ft vs normally being at 8,000 ft. Pretty great if you ask me!
Love the A380. But I also love the nostalgia of a ever noisy DC-3. Not sure how many of those are still in service.
In general I agree with your choices except for one. The best experience I have had flying with my 1.8 million miles was a China Airlines A350-9 in business class. It was weird it was so quiet.
"Airbus narrowbodies (A320 family) → Often do NOT support pet transport in the hold.
Multiple airlines state that A320 and A321 holds lack proper ventilation for live animals, making them unsuitable."
As we fly often to dog shows, Alaska's decision to sell their Airbus narrow bodies made our life much easier. This is a BIG deal for a lot of us.
Makes me sad that Boeing isn't more represented, but I agree with this list completely. For me the A380 is #1, but that's just because I value the on board experience and don't care what it looks like from the outside.
Also agree with you that the A350 is better than the 787 or 777. Qatar used to fly it to NY but recently I've seen the 777, which is a bummer.
And yes yes yes to the Embraer. I fly that plane more than any other and it is so much better than the Canada Regional Jet alternative.
A220 is probably the best US economy experience. But if you compare the 195-E2 to the 220, I like the E2 better as a passenger. It is a shame that we really don't get these planes much in the US.