Ref80 said:
It is true Busdrvr that wide bodies are prefered on long distance flights. However if you think about it a fully loaded wide body is just as cramped as a loaded narrow body. It's just a preception since it is a wide body, you are going to be more comfortably. If your in 1st or business you will most likely feel the benefits otherwise you still feel like your in a herd of cattle. And the herd is just much larger in a larger aircraft, making it a money maker for the company that is using it on long stage length's while packing it full.
DCAflyer replies:
In most cases (and in all cases cases which relate to U aircraft) a fully-loaded widebody is still roomier than a fully-loaded narrowbody. In our coach 767 configuration, with 2-3-2 seating, a passenger stands only a one-in-seven chance (14%) of getting a middle seat, as opposed to the 3-3 narrow-body seating, where a coach passenger has a one-in-three chance (33%) of getting a middle seat. And even then, the middle seat passengers in the 767 have a lot more headroom than in the narrow-body aircraft, giving a less cramped feel.
In the case of our A330 aircraft, with 2-4-2 coach configurations, the passengers have only a one-in-four (25%)chance of being middle seated but again, the headroom is greater.
The only wide-body aircraft I am aware of which is more cramped than a typical 3-3 narrow-body, both in configuration and in feel, is the bohemoth B-747, where a coach passeger has a whopping 45% chance of having a middle seat with the 3-5-3 seating configuration.
If you think about it, the 767 has two aisles for 7 seats across, whereas the narrow-body has one aisle for 6 seats across. The A-330 has two aisles for eight seats across. This reduces the possibility of aft-end lav ques and aisle activity and traffic while passengers are trying to sleep. It also allows for greater movement in the cabin while flight attendants are doing meal and beverage services.
The wide-bodies are also more comfortable I believe because they are more resistent to turbulence.
Wide-bodies are preferred for long distance flying for very good reasons.