The Economist is Fascinated by the Star MegaDO 787 Charter Flight

Michael R passes along that The Economist added coverage of the Star MegaDO (without even going on the charter!).

For them, it was an opportunity to summarize Stephanie Rosenbloom’s New York Times coverage.

THE New York Times’s review of Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner is in—and it’s mixed. The paper sent a reporter to join a group of frequent flyers on a MegaDo, a sort of air-travel hobbyist event organised for people who really love planes. Part of the event was an alcohol-soaked joyride on a Dreamliner flying from San Francisco to Houston and then Chicago. As Gulliver and our sister blogs have documented, the new, all-composite Dreamliner has had a troubled early history plagued by delays, frustrated airlines, and cancelled orders. So the first North American charter flight for the plane is a big deal.

Upshot: the 787 has drawbacks — nine seats across in United’s coach configuration, and some teething problems that seem to pop up in most new aircraft models — while the potential benefit of a quieter cabin with better air circulation are likely to be felt on long haul routes (which is how the plane will predominantly be used).

About Gary Leff

Gary Leff is one of the foremost experts in the field of miles, points, and frequent business travel - a topic he has covered since 2002. Co-founder of frequent flyer community InsideFlyer.com, emcee of the Freddie Awards, and named one of the "World's Top Travel Experts" by Conde' Nast Traveler (2010-Present) Gary has been a guest on most major news media, profiled in several top print publications, and published broadly on the topic of consumer loyalty. More About Gary »

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  1. I am thinking that, like United’s 747, the 787 will be one to avoid for those of us in third class

  2. I am excited to be flying the 787 to Lagos in January, which will be far more pleasant than the route I formerly used on aging LH 747s and 340s with horrid angled business class seats snd glacial meal service. The only downside is no F cabin.

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