These Airlines Offer Upper Deck Economy Seats On The Airbus A380

The Airbus A380 has flown over a million flights since it was first introduced into commercial service with Singapore Airlines in October 2007. Sadly, with production having ceased in 2021 and a third of the original operators having already retired their aircraft, the opportunities to fly this iconic aircraft are rapidly diminishing. But there is some good news for the budget-conscious traveler who still has flying aboard an A380 on their bucket list: Of the ten airlines still flying the A380, five offer economy class seats on the upper deck of their aircraft.

Photo: Markus Mainka | Shutterstock

The advantages of upper deck economy class

You might ask what the advantages are of flying on the upper deck versus the lower deck on an A380. The seats and the in-flight service for economy class will be the same regardless of where you sit on the aircraft, but there are a few notable benefits to riding on the upper deck:

• Seat configuration: The upper deck of an A380 is narrower than the main deck due to the curvature of the aircraft. Consequently, while the standard economy seat layout on the main deck is ten across in a 3-4-3 arrangement, on the upper deck, it is reduced to 2-4-2. This means only two middle seats rather than four and is ideal for couples and families that are traveling together.
• More personal space: The aircraft curvature also means that if you are in a window seat, there is typically some space between your seat and the bulkhead. Given that A380s typically fly longer routes over 10 hours, that extra personal space can make a real difference.
• More storage space: Some airlines, like British Airways, have utilized that extra space to insert a storage bin under each window, which is ideal for personal items. This not only provides valuable personal space to the window passenger but preserves the overhead storage space for everyone else.
• Quieter cabin: The upper deck economy cabins are typically much smaller than the expansive lower deck cabins. In most cases, they have just 4-5 rows in total. This makes for a much more intimate space, and fewer people make for a much quieter cabin, increasing the chances of getting some sleep on the long flight.
• Zippier service: An A380’s two decks are boarded separately, and with the upper deck typically being premium-heavy (i.e., fewer passengers), you will likely board sooner and get to your seat quicker. Once there, a smaller economy cabin will ensure that you get drinks, meals, and snacks a lot quicker as well.
• Better views: Not a practical reason, but the aviation geek in all of us will likely spend more than little time gazing out the window upon departure and arrival. A bird’s-eye view from the top deck is, therefore, always preferable.

Photo: kamilpetran | Shutterstock

There are five airlines with upper-deck economy class seats on their Airbus A380s, so let’s take a closer look at each of them (in alphabetical order).

Asiana Airlines

Asiana Airlines currently operates six A380s, but should its merger with Korean Airlines be approved later this year, both airlines are expected to retire the type in 2026 as part of their fleet optimization. Until then, Asiana offers an economy class cabin on the upper deck with 104 seats in a 2-4-2 configuration. The cabin is positioned at the rear of the upper deck, behind the two business class cabins.

Diagram: AeroLOPA

Asiana’s chosen routes for the A380 change regularly, but the best option to fly on one is on its twice-daily service between Seoul Incheon (ICN) and Los Angeles (LAX). Other options include the daily flight to Tokyo Narita (NRT), the four-times-weekly service to Taipei (TPE), or the route to Sydney (SYD) that is having A380 service restored in December. Or if you want the A380 experience in the shortest amount of time, why not go for the Seoul – Osaka Kansai (KIX) service, the shortest A380 flight in the world?

 Photo: Airbus

British Airways

British Airways operates 12 A380s in a 4-class configuration: First, Club World (business class), World Traveler Plus (premium economy), and World Traveler (economy). Similar to Asiana, the British Airways economy seats are split across both decks, with the upper deck also having 104 economy seats in a 2-4-2 layout. However, the upper deck economy is split into two cabins, with the aft cabin having just four rows, making for a very quiet space.

Diagram: AeroLOPA

It is a lot easier to find a British Airways A380 flight for your upper-deck economy seat, with daily A380 service from London Heathrow (LHR) to both Singapore (SIN) and Johannesburg (JNB). But the most-trafficked option is from LHR to six of its 28 routes to the United States. It uses the A380 daily to the Dallas (DFW) and Miami (MIA) hubs of its oneworld partner, American Airlines, and also has daily A380 service to Los Angeles (LAX), San Francisco (SFO), Washington DC (IAD) and Boston (BOS).

Photo: Markus Mainka | Shutterstock

Emirates

Emirates operates the largest fleet of A380s, with 116 active aircraft at the time of writing. The airline uses seven different seating configurations, the most notable being its two-class, 615-seater option, where it has eliminated first class and premium economy seating options. These specific A380s are employed on high-density routes and provide a large number of upper-deck economy seats.

Diagram: AeroLOPA

Emirates has 15 high-density A380s, each with an all-economy main deck with 437 seats in a 3-4-3 configuration. The 76 business class seats are laid out in two cabins at the rear of the upper deck, which means that, unlike the other four carriers, the upper deck economy seats are towards the front of the aircraft, with 120 seats arranged across two cabins in a 2-4-2 configuration.

Photo: jremes84 | Shutterstock

Emirates’ high-density A380s will be flown from Dubai (DXB) to 12 different destinations over the coming months, with twice-daily service to Manchester (MAN), London Gatwick (LGW), and Bangkok (BKK). Alternative destinations for upper-deck economy options are daily services to Birmingham (BHX), Bali (DPS), Dusseldorf (DUS), Taipei (TPE), and Kuala Lumpur (KUL).

Lufthansa

Unlike most global airlines, Lufthansa has an enduring love affair with quad-jets and is still flying variants of the Boeing 747, Airbus A340, and of course, the A380. It has eight A380s in the fleet, although only 6 of them are currently active. Each is configured with 509 seats, with the upper deck home to eight first class suites and 72 business class seats. This leaves little room left over, but right at the back, Lufthansa has created a small cabin of 35 upper-deck economy seats arranged with a 2-4-2 configuration.

Diagram: AeroLOPA

Lufthansa only flies the A380 from its Munich (MUC) base and has year-round, daily A380 service to Los Angeles and Delhi (DEL). It currently employs the A380 on additional routes to New York (JFK), Boston, and Washington DC, but these will be replaced by A350 or A340 service towards the end of October as the airline shifts to its winter schedule. Bangkok will get A380 service from that point through to next summer.

Photo: Vincenzo Pace | Simple Flying

Qatar Airways

Qatar Airways has ten A380s, of which eight are currently operational. Each aircraft is configured in a three-class layout, with the main deck being all-economy, while the upper deck has eight first class suites and 48 business class seats with an on-board bar and lounge located at the rear of the business class cabin. This leaves enough space at the back of the upper deck for 56 economy seats in a 2-4-2 configuration. The second-to-last row is particularly notable as the seats at the bulkhead are immediately aft of the doors, offering extensive legroom for even the tallest people.

Diagram: AeroLOPA

The A380s operate to five different destinations from Doha (DOH), including twice-daily London Heathrow Airport (LHR), the home base of Qatar’s oneworld partner, British Airways. Additionally, they operate daily service to Bangkok, Sydney, and Perth (PER), as well as three times weekly to Paris Charles De Gaulle (CDG).

Photo: S Kozakiewicz I Shutterstock