How Loud Is an Airbus 321Neo? What's the Cabin Noise Like?

[dan]

Anybody had a chance to fly the Airbus 321Neo?

How loud was the cabin noise compared to regular Airbus and/or other jetliners?

Was there any bad noises anytime during the flight?

 

[dan]

Anybody fly Airbus 321Neo?

What did your dB meter say for noise?

 

[Alexandor Scott]

Anybody fly Airbus 321Neo?

What did your dB meter say for noise?

I've flown the a321 as recently as last month. In seat 1A, at cruise, my decibel meter read 74-78 dB. Takeoff was around 85 dB for a minute or two and then dropped to 80 dB or so until reaching cruise. The NEO would likely be even quieter.

 

[dan]

Anybody who was on an actual NEO?

 

[Juan]

Anybody fly Airbus 321Neo?

What did your dB meter say for noise?

I haven't flown recently, and have not been in that specific model.

I think the noise may depend also on the aircraft maintenance. For instance the noise inside a Boeing 738 may vary a lot from one plane to another. This aircraft is the only model Ryanair uses, and there are huge variations in terms of noise from one specific aircraft to another, even being of the same model. For the 738 I have been on flight where my dB meter (shitty cellphone app, so not reliable) read 85 dB and on other flights it read 95 dB, which is a lot, during short flights.

My personal feeling is that an average reading would be around 85 dB at least. I don't think you can find many planes where you are going to encounter less noise.

It also depends on where you are seated. There should be less noise if you sit near the front, and more noise on the rear part, near the tail.

It may also depend on the speed and rate of climb a pilot wants to make.

There are many circumstances that make noise vary.

 

[dan]

I haven't flown recently, and have not been in that specific model.

I think the noise may depend also on the aircraft maintenance. For instance the noise inside a Boeing 738 may vary a lot from one plane to another. This aircraft is the only model Ryanair uses, and there are huge variations in terms of noise from one specific aircraft to another, even being of the same model. For the 738 I have been on flight where my dB meter (shitty cellphone app, so not reliable) read 85 dB and on other flights it read 95 dB, which is a lot, during short flights.

My personal feeling is that an average reading would be around 85 dB at least. I don't think you can find many planes where you are going to encounter less noise.

It also depends on where you are seated. There should be less noise if you sit near the front, and more noise on the rear part, near the tail.

It may also depend on the speed and rate of climb a pilot wants to make.

There are many circumstances that make noise vary.

Boeings are loud, except for the Dreamliner but that isn't a common aircraft.

Airbus 321Neo (new engine option) are designed with quieter engines.
Since these are new planes, variation in noise is negligible.
As @Alexandor Scott said, a regular Airbus was around 75 dB on cruise, a Neo will be even less.

I am asking anybody who flew on one or is intending to, to take a reading.

Thank you.

 

[Juan]

As @Alexandor Scott said, a regular Airbus was around 75 dB on cruise, a Neo will be even less.

I have flown in Airbus medium planes frequently (A320 - A321 etc) and none of them averages 75 dB at cruise level. They are all louder.

 

[GlennS]

IMHO, the noise level in the cabin of passenger jet planes is not a problem with the right kind of earplugs. It's effectively white noise so when you knock the volume down it's actually not a bad tinnitus masking source. I would not want to be in them WITHOUT earplugs, though. Small propeller craft are far noisier than an insulated passenger jet and the nature of the noise itself more bothersome.

 

[dan]

I have flown in Airbus medium planes frequently (A320 - A321 etc) and none of them averages 75 dB at cruise level. They are all louder.

None of them were NEO.

 

[Juan]

None of them were NEO.

After you fly, tell us how the noise was...

 

[dan]

After you fly, tell us how the noise was...

The whole point of this thread so that I can find out IF I can fly this plane.

So I will continue to ask until somebody can help.

P.S. I'm asking specifically about Airbus Neo... not Boeing, not Bombardier, not other Airbuses...

Airbus 321Neo.

 

[dan]

Bump.

 

[Alexandor Scott]

I'm flying the a321 NEO next week actually. I will take my dB meter and report back.

 

[dan]

I'm flying the a321 NEO next week actually. I will take my dB meter and report back.

YES YES YES thaaaaank you soooo much Scott!

You don't know how much this means to me (I'm sure others with hyperacusis/reactive tinnitus will also appreciate it).

Please if you can monitor the meter upon take-off (dB-max) and afterwards take a reading at cruising altitude at different points on the plane if you can. I.e. front section, I guess near Business Class, mid section, etc.

I am grateful to you.

 

[Alexandor Scott]

YES YES YES thaaaaank you soooo much Scott!

You don't know how much this means to me (I'm sure others with hyperacusis/reactive tinnitus will also appreciate it).

Please if you can monitor the meter upon take-off (dB-max) and afterwards take a reading at cruising altitude at different points on the plane if you can. I.e. front section, I guess near Business Class, mid section, etc.

I am grateful to you.

No problem at all my friend! I'm happy to help out.

I will be seated in 1A and will get readings from there for engine start (this tends to bother me more than anything when I fly), taxi, takeoff and cruise.

Once the seat belt sign is off I'll walk back to the back and take readings next to the engines and in the rear of the plane as well!

I'll post my results as soon as I land in LA on Tuesday afternoon.

 

[dan]

No problem at all my friend! I'm happy to help out.

I will be seated in 1A and will get readings from there for engine start (this tends to bother me more than anything when I fly), taxi, takeoff and cruise.

Once the seat belt sign is off I'll walk back to the back and take readings next to the engines and in the rear of the plane as well!

I'll post my results as soon as I land in LA on Tuesday afternoon.

Seat 1A, is that first row in Business Class?

 

[Alexandor Scott]

Seat 1A, is that first row in Business Class?

Yeah, I'll be in the very front row in Business Class. I'm assuming it'll be a bit quieter up there but I'll definitely get measurements from several different spots once we're at cruise.

 

[Alexandor Scott]

Just got off my flight and have some measurements for you.

From seat 1A, engine start hit 75-78 dB. Takeoff peaked at 88 dB (for less than 1 minutes) and then dropped down closer to 75 dB once engines were throttled back a bit. At cruising altitude once we reached top speed we maxed out at 80 dB. The sound level seemed to fluctuate between 78 dB-80 dB the rest of the flight. Reverse thrust upon landing was by far the loudest part of the flight. That maxed out at 94 dB but lasted just a few seconds.

Directly next to the engines at cruise I got a reading that maxed out at 82 dB.

From the very rear of the plane it was around the same. Between 82 dB-84 dB pretty consistently. The loudest thing from the rear was the flushing of the toilet. I'd highly advice you not flush if you use the toilet while on board. (I know it's kinds gross but the toilets flushing are close to 100 dB.)

Also, if you're sitting close to the front and wearing noise-canceling headphones, make sure you don't put them on prior to doors closing. Keep earplugs in and swap them out once the doors are closed. The force of the door closing creates a loud pop that the ANC can't keep up with so it seems to amplify the sound rather than block it.

 

[dan]

Just got off my flight and have some measurements for you.

From seat 1A, engine start hit 75-78 dB. Takeoff peaked at 88 dB (for less than 1 minutes) and then dropped down closer to 75 dB once engines were throttled back a bit. At cruising altitude once we reached top speed we maxed out at 80 dB. The sound level seemed to fluctuate between 78 dB-80 dB the rest of the flight. Reverse thrust upon landing was by far the loudest part of the flight. That maxed out at 94 dB but lasted just a few seconds.

Directly next to the engines at cruise I got a reading that maxed out at 82 dB.

From the very rear of the plane it was around the same. Between 82 dB-84 dB pretty consistently. The loudest thing from the rear was the flushing of the toilet. I'd highly advice you not flush if you use the toilet while on board. (I know it's kinds gross but the toilets flushing are close to 100 dB.)

Also, if you're sitting close to the front and wearing noise-canceling headphones, make sure you don't put them on prior to doors closing. Keep earplugs in and swap them out once the doors are closed. The force of the door closing creates a loud pop that the ANC can't keep up with so it seems to amplify the sound rather than block it.

Thank you!

Still I hoped for it to be a 65 dB cruise.

I read the Airbus 380 cruises at 56 dB.

This is strange because I flew a Boeing that was 82-83 dB reading on my app meter and I sat near the engines, so NEO is no quieter?

Something ain't right.

Are you sure it was a A321Neo? It has the sharklet wingtips.

Which airline was it?

 

[Damocles]

After you fly, tell us how the noise was...

The whole point of this thread so that I can find out IF I can fly this plane.

Yeah mate, YOU be the guinea pig!

Love it!

 

[dan]

Folks, we need more experiences, let's find the quietest plane in the skies.

Anybody flying an A350, A380, A321Neo, Boeing 787?

Please report your dB measurements.

 

[Alexandor Scott]

Thank you!

Still I hoped for it to be a 65 dB cruise.

I read the Airbus 380 cruises at 56 dB.

This is strange because I flew a Boeing that was 82-83 dB reading on my app meter and I sat near the engines, so NEO is no quieter?

Something ain't right.

Are you sure it was a A321Neo? It has the sharklet wingtips.

Which airline was it?

Honestly, I was disappointed with how loud the A380 was when I flew it pre-COVID-19 (80ish dB at cruise, row 1 on the upper deck). The 787-9 and A350-900 were both significantly quieter at cruise (right at 70 dB for the 787-9 and 65-68 dB on the A350-900, both in the first three rows of the plane).

I think maintenance makes a big difference though tbh. I flew a Thai Airways A350-900 that was hitting closer to 85 dB in 1A, quite the change from the 65-68 dB in 1A on Lufthansa. I also flew a Cathay Pacific A330 that was around 68 dB, which is much quieter than other A330's I've flown.

But yeah, it wasn't much quieter than the typical A321, honestly. It was definitely the A321neo that I flew today though. It was American Airlines.

 

[Juan]

Anybody flying an A350, A380, A321Neo, Boeing 787?

I have flown Boeing 787 and it was quieter than the medium range planes.

 

[ajc]

Honestly, I was disappointed with how loud the A380 was when I flew it pre-COVID-19 (80ish dB at cruise, row 1 on the upper deck). The 787-9 and A350-900 were both significantly quieter at cruise (right at 70 dB for the 787-9 and 65-68 dB on the A350-900, both in the first three rows of the plane).

I think maintenance makes a big difference though tbh. I flew a Thai Airways A350-900 that was hitting closer to 85 dB in 1A, quite the change from the 65-68 dB in 1A on Lufthansa. I also flew a Cathay Pacific A330 that was around 68 dB, which is much quieter than other A330's I've flown.

But yeah, it wasn't much quieter than the typical A321, honestly. It was definitely the A321neo that I flew today though. It was American Airlines.

How can you afford to always fly in Business Class?

 

[dan]

Honestly, I was disappointed with how loud the A380 was when I flew it pre-COVID-19 (80ish dB at cruise, row 1 on the upper deck). The 787-9 and A350-900 were both significantly quieter at cruise (right at 70 dB for the 787-9 and 65-68 dB on the A350-900, both in the first three rows of the plane).

I think maintenance makes a big difference though tbh. I flew a Thai Airways A350-900 that was hitting closer to 85 dB in 1A, quite the change from the 65-68 dB in 1A on Lufthansa. I also flew a Cathay Pacific A330 that was around 68 dB, which is much quieter than other A330's I've flown.

But yeah, it wasn't much quieter than the typical A321, honestly. It was definitely the A321neo that I flew today though. It was American Airlines.

Thanks for your great input.

So your recommendation is A350-900 from Lufthansa and the 787-9 @ 70 dB.
These are max acceptable levels with double hearing protection on.

May I ask which airline was the Dreamliner 787-9?

It does seem that maintenance seems to play a huge role. If an engine isn't tuned to tight specs, it will make more noise.

That is unfortunate to hear an A380 Jumbojet at 80 dB, that's nonsense when the advertised noise level should be sub 60 dB.

 

[dan]

I have flown Boeing 787 and it was quieter than the medium range planes.

That's the Dreamliner, correct?

It would be great if someone took a measurement on another Lufthansa a350 aircraft to confirm Scott's findings are consistent across their fleet and not a fluke airplane.

 

[dan]

To all members flying, please take a dB reading on your smartphone.

Then please report here which aircraft and the readout(s).

 

[Juan]

That's the Dreamliner, correct?

Yes, it's a quieter aircraft than the A320 or Boeing 738 (Ryanair). But take into account that maintenance (or absence of it) has an impact on noise. I have travelled on Ryanair's Boeing 738 several times and every aircraft varies in terms of noise, also depending on how heavy it is, the speed, the direction of wind etc.

 

[dan]

Yes, it's a quieter aircraft than the A320 or Boeing 738 (Ryanair). But take into account that maintenance (or absence of it) has an impact on noise. I have travelled on Ryanair's Boeing 738 several times and every aircraft varies in terms of noise, also depending on how heavy it is, the speed, the direction of wind etc.

I understand, thank you.

I am trying to find the most ideal airplane in an unideal situation, so that there is the most chance the aircraft will be maintained to specifications.

So far I am understanding that Lufthansa is a good airline in terms of maintaining their airplanes... maybe it's a German thing? Also their A350's are only a couple years old.

I would very much be interested to know about the noise level in the A320Neos of Portugal's TAP Airlines or Air Azores SATA Airlines.

This is because I am in Toronto and these 2 airlines have flights here, whereas Lufthansa A350's do not fly to Canada.

I need to get to Europe out of Canada on the most quiet aircraft possible.

I am even open to go by Cruise ship but these have very loud horns that scare the shit out of me.

 

[Alexandor Scott]

How can you afford to always fly in Business Class?

I credit card churn and pay with points if I'm paying for myself, and if my company pays they always fly me Business so I'm rested and ready to work when I arrive (I still never arrive rested lol).