Qatar Airways Boeing 777-200LR – Photo: Qatar Airways
After getting the opportunity to fly on the first Qatar Airways 787 and then also flying back to the US on-board a Qatar Airways 777-200LR I wanted to be able to write a story to compare and contrast the two aircraft.
Since my Qatar Dreamliner flight back in November 2012, the 787 has run into some issues, but at least the aircraft is still flying. Both of my flights were in Business Class and both were about the same length, giving me a great opportunity to compare. Let’s break this down bit by bit…
CABIN CONFIGURATION:
Both the 787 and the 777 had a two-class configuration comprising of Economy and Business. Both aircraft had a 3-3-3 layout down the back in Economy, which gives a small advantage to the 777 due to being wider. In Economy the layout can be a bit tight on the 787. However as it is designed for mid-haul routes (say roughly 6-8 hours compared to the 10-14 hours that the 777 would fly), the seat width is acceptable, especially since many configure their long haul 777s in a ten-abreast set up.
The 787 Business class was in a 1-2-1 layout, where the business class on the 777 was 2-2-2. This gives an advantage to the Dreamliner, since each seat has direct aisle access.
Category Winner: Draw
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- Qatar Airways 787 Economy Cabin
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![](https://www.airlinereporter.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/Pic-27-Qatar-Airways"-Boeing-777-200LR-Economy-Class.jpg)
- Qatar 777-200LR Economy Cabin
ON BOARD ENTERTAINMENT:
Both the 787 and 777 have Audio Video on Demand (AVOD) at every seat. However, the 787 uses a state-of-the-art system from Thales. The 787 had big, widescreen displays with plenty of options in both classes. The actual content was almost the same on both the 787 and 777.
The 787 AVOD is an android based system that is much easier to use compared to the older 777 entertainment option. Although the 777 AVOD was not by any means horrid, it felt slower and lead to some frustration by the user [ie me].
The biggest winner in this category is the OnAir in-flight connectivity for the 787. Being able to be connected to the internet during a long haul international flight is a wonder to modern technology.
Category Winner: 787 Dreamliner
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- Business Class Seat on the 777-200LR
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- Business Class Seat onboard the new 787
AIRCRAFT HARDWARE:
This is the portion that most passengers will not realize, nor fully understand the benefits. The 787, with its carbon composite body, allows for a lower fuel burn rate and hence is more environmentally [and financially] friendly.
I love those GE90 engines on the 777 (both the 200LR and 300ER use then), but they still burn one heck of a lot of fuel. The 777 is still a very viable option on high capacity, long haul flights, where the 787 is better suited for lower capacity medium-haul flights.
The 787s carbon composite body means that it can be pressurized to a lower level and allow the humidity to be kept a little more comfortable. I could actually feel the difference!
After flying the 787, I felt still pretty good and felt fairly fresh. Flying on the 777 for a pretty similar length of time, left me feeling pretty run down, tired and awfully congested. I felt like someone had been stepping on me during the flight, so much so that I was barely able to hold it together upon arrival and struggled for a number of hours afterwards. Yes, my 777 flight was my return flight, after spending a bit in Qatar, but there was still a stark difference between the two aircraft.
The Dreamliner also sports larger windows, which means that passengers can enjoy an unparalleled view. For me, one downside to the 787 were the electro static window tinting. This is a new technology that allows the windows to be tinted electronically and with the push of a button the window tint can be adjusted up or down. However the process is slow.
Average transition from full open to close could take upwards of 30-40 seconds. Even though the crew can change the tint instantly in the event of an emergency, I would rather have a normal window shade as I have the ability to change the light level immediately rather than a few minutes from now as I wouldn’t want to miss something outside, such as the Northern Lights. In theory it seemed to make sense, but in practice, I found myself missing that classic shade, which the 777 still offers.
Category Winner: 787 Dreamliner
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- Wing flex and the GE GenX engines on the 787.
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- A raked Wingtip and a GE90 dominate the wing of the 777.
THE CONCLUSION:
It shouldn’t be too much of a surprise that the newer aircraft and product ends up being the favorite. The ground breaking technology and cutting edge design will please guests well into the future.
Hopefully the 77X project, can combine some of the features from the 787 into the next gen 777 and create an almost unbeatable aircraft. .
Overall Winner: 787 Dreamliner
Qatar’s first Boeing 787 Dreamliner at BFI. Photo by Mal Muir / AirlineReporter.com.
Disclaimer: Qatar Airways paid for the trip to Qatar, all opinions are my own.
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This story written by…Malcolm Muir, Lead Correspondent. Mal is an Australian AvGeek now living and working in Seattle. With a passion for aircraft photography, traveling and the fun that combining the two can bring. Insights into the aviation world with a bit of a perspective thanks to working in the travel industry.@BigMalX | BigMal’s World | Photos |
Thank you my best airlines Qatar airways
I recently flew Qatar’s 787 and 777-200 in Y. The 3-3-3 configuration in the 787 is hardly acceptable. It is noticeably cramped, so much so that flight attendants had to go around asking people to move their seats forward to allow passengers to leave their seats or eat their food. While eating, I kept on elbowing the passenger sitting next to me. I am average height, but as compared to the 777 the difference is noticeable. An additional annoyance is the IFE system placed under the seat infront which restricts leg room. QR should sticked with the 2-4-2 configuration as intended.
Hello, Nadir. When u fly with Qatar Airways on Y class, do you get Upgraded? Is it full economy fare or discounted fares?
Having only been fortunate to fly in the Dreamliner cattle class, I can without a doubt say, that it is the most uncomfortable plane I have ever flown on.
I agree with you. This is a big mistake to configure economy 3-3-3.
I have been travelling for 30 years. The “Dream Liner” should be renamed the “Nightmare Liner”.
N.B. I travel long haul at least 10 times a year.
Hi Geoff, flew first time Qatar 787 Doha to Joburg yesterday. Worst flight experience in my 40 years of flying. The seats in economy are wafer thin and for a flight of scheduled 8+ hours, left my butt aching on disembarkation. I am not a big guy or particularly obese for my age. Another annoying design is the box to the left of the seat in front (at floor level) which hampers placement of ones legs and restricts the already limited comfort possibility. In short, if this is the answer to the A380, Boeing need to dream on.
Totally agree dude
I had great time while coming to Oslo, Norway from Kanthmandu Nepal. Thank you Qatar Air.
Ho viaggiato da Venezia a Melbourne (e ritorno)su 777-200LR in business class. Eccezionale!!! QATAR number one for me!!!
777 is still my favourite. I will only compare triple 7 with A380.
I have already flown with you, with B777, A340 from Bkk to Mxp, and FCO-Bkk. Never flew with 787. Send me a good price Bkk-Lon-Bkk , let me try again your good Service in Flight and your new aircraft.
Best of all to all your AirStaff.
Happy to see that everyone is pleased with Qatar Airways. They were a fantastic airline to fly on, and no matter the aircraft, you will have a great time.
PS GE90s are still my favourites 😉
777 forever
Ù†Ùسي اكون لاعب بي صÙÙˆÙ Ùريق برشلونه
In economy class the 777 is much more comfortable than 787 because of the wider fuselage on the 777. The seat on the 777 are 18.5 width and 17.5 in the 787. After Quatar Airays replaced the A330 to 787 from Oslo to Doha I prefer not to travel with them any more.
I will not fly 787. They’ve simply gone too far. It is an absolutely unhealthy experience riding coach in that aircraft. The cramped conditions raise your stress level, releasing cortisol, which is unhealthy. If the airlines really gave a you know what about you, they would not subject people to those conditions. Plain and simple.
Can Quatar Airlines fly to Doetinchem? I very much like planes in the behindcorner.
what? mostof you alreadywent in bothplanes.but i am going in 3 days boeing 777
and one more for erno its not quatar airlines its qatar airways
I call things the way I want to call it.
This Dreamliner may be awesome in its design concept but, having recently survived the Doha to Cape Town 10 hour red eye, I can honestly say that for the first 2 hours it was almost pleasant because of the modern high tech improvements. I’m 1.5 m and 60kgs in weight so one would imagine I’d have no problem with leg room. Not so. I have been flying for many years on many different aircraft and in planes with various seat configurations. Never before have I felt such relief on disembarking. 3-3-3 seating on an aircraft such as this is just not acceptable on such long hauls. It just isn’t. Avoid this plane on a long haul if you can.
Qatar airways charge thousnds of dollars for lax to Doha and use b777-200 LR which is old and it does not have even internet on the board. Also Qatar airways use other airline Lounge at lax because it does not have its own.
I have recently flew Qatar airways into both of the B777 and B787 (from Qatar to Tokyo). 12hours.
In terms of comfort and well-being, there’s absolutely nothing to compare between the two aircrafts, the B777 is away better than the 787.