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

[Alexandor Scott]

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.

Lufthansa, Cathay Pacific and Qatar Airways A350s are all super quiet and cruise around 65-68 dB in the front of the plane. I think the A350s, 787s on any Middle Eastern or Western carrier would all be about the same. I'd probably avoid any of the SE Asian and African carrier, with Singapore and EVA Air being exceptions.

The 787-9 that I flew was United Airlines and it was a very new plane, less than two years old. It was extremely quiet (70 dB at cruise).

In fairness, the A380 that I flew was very old. One of the oldest in Singapore Airlines fleet, so that could have been the problem. If they ever return to the skies, I'm going to fly Etihad A380 and will report back.

 

[dan]

Lufthansa, Cathay Pacific and Qatar Airways A350s are all super quiet and cruise around 65-68 dB in the front of the plane. I think the A350s, 787s on any Middle Eastern or Western carrier would all be about the same. I'd probably avoid any of the SE Asian and African carrier, with Singapore and EVA Air being exceptions.

The 787-9 that I flew was United Airlines and it was a very new plane, less than two years old. It was extremely quiet (70 dB at cruise).

In fairness, the A380 that I flew was very old. One of the oldest in Singapore Airlines fleet, so that could have been the problem. If they ever return to the skies, I'm going to fly Etihad A380 and will report back.

Emirates still flies the A380. I would love to see that 56 dB level they advertise.

Thank you, your input is awesome. You are our ears in the skies so to speak... lets see some more planes...

I will definitely look into UA and Quatar.

 

[dan]

Anybody flying Air Transat, would also help a lot.
Also Turkish Airlines.

Both have an Airbus Neo fleet.

Thank you.

 

[Juan]

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

I would suggest to fly a modern heavy plane from Canada to Europe. This can be 787, A380 (this would probably be the best, as reported by a friend of mine with hyperacusis), Airbus A330.

On a shorter route within Europe you can still find heavy planes flying some shorter routes, typically from one hub to another. It is even possible to find the 787 on some short routes, like 1 hour flights.

It's a pity that airline search engines cannot narrow the search by aircraft type. Maybe there is some webpage where this is possible.

 

[dan]

It's a pity that airline search engines cannot narrow the search by aircraft type. Maybe there is some webpage where this is possible.

Yes, it's so hard to search the database.

 

[dan]

I would suggest to fly a modern heavy plane from Canada to Europe. This can be 787, A380 (this would probably be the best, as reported by a friend of

I just found a Boeing 787 by British Airways that flies London-Toronto.

Are these new planes?

 

[Juan]

I just found a Boeing 787 by British Airways that flies London-Toronto.

Are these new planes?

I don't know when British Airways bought them. I meant not a new model but actually a new plane, or a recent plane.

Anyway, that's a quiet plane, as compared to other options.

 

[dan]

Anybody flying Air France A350-900?

Please take a decibel measurement.

Thank you.

 

[Alexandor Scott]

Emirates still flies the A380. I would love to see that 56 dB level they advertise.

Thank you, your input is awesome. You are our ears in the skies so to speak... lets see some more planes...

I will definitely look into UA and Quatar.

No problem at all! Happy to help. I'll definitely come back and post anytime I fly these next few months.

With regards to British Airways, London to Toronto, it looks like they're using 787-8s that are anywhere from 5-8 years old. You can actually check the age of the particular plane on any given flight using the registration number and then cross referencing with airfleets. On the LHR-YYZ route today, British Airways used 787-8 with reg number G-ZBJC, which is actually the oldest 787 in their fleet:

https://www.airfleets.net/flottecie/British Airways-active-b787.htm

 

[dan]

I found Air France is flying YYZ-Paris with A350-900's... Opinion?

Would you say it's safe to say that an A350-900 is quieter than any Neo?

 

[dan]

I found this post on an airplane forum...

 

[Juan]

Emirates still flies the A380. I would love to see that 56 dB level they advertise.

Thank you, your input is awesome. You are our ears in the skies so to speak... lets see some more planes...

I will definitely look into UA and Quatar.

My friend with hyperacusis who flew the A380, if my memory serves well, took a decibel reading and reported about 65 dB, which is awesome, very low.

I have not flown the A380 myself.

Decibel readings, though, have to be considered with care, as cellphone apps are not very reliable, and it's hard to take a good reading without good equipment.

 

[dan]

My friend with hyperacusis who flew the A380, if my memory serves well, took a decibel reading and reported about 65 dB, which is awesome, very low.

Unfortunately they only fly to UAE...

 

[Alexandor Scott]

I found Air France is flying YYZ-Paris with A350-900's... Opinion?

Would you say it's safe to say that an A350-900 is quieter than any Neo?

Air France took their first A350-900 delivery in 2019, so if you did the YYZ-CDG flight on Air France you'd be on a practically brand new plane. I can't imagine any plane ever being quieter than a brand new A350-900.

 

[dan]

Air France took their first A350-900 delivery in 2019, so if you did the YYZ-CDG flight on Air France you'd be on a practically brand new plane. I can't imagine any plane ever being quieter than a brand new A350-900.

Need your opinion.

Business Class seats on A350 Air France are $6000... How much louder would economy seats say in between the engines be? Is it significant?

Also, did you fly an A330Neo?

TAP Airlines (Portugal) flies these planes and their business class are waaaay cheaper around $1000.
I know you flew an A321Neo.

 

[Exit]

Need your opinion.

Business Class seats on A350 Air France are $6000... How much louder would economy seats say in between the engines be? Is it significant?

Also, did you fly an A330Neo?

TAP Airlines (Portugal) flies these planes and their business class are waaaay cheaper around $1000.
I know you flew an A321Neo.

In a normal plane, between engines it's significantly louder, as in a normal healthy person gets annoyed.

Can you get a seat 10 rows before the engines? It's much better.

Just curious, where are you flying?

 

[dan]

In a normal plane, between engines it's significantly louder, as in a normal healthy person gets annoyed.

Can you get a seat 10 rows before the engines? It's much better.

Just curious, where are you flying?

Oh, well, even 1 seat ahead of engines will be Business Class.

I need to fly out of Canada to Europe on the quietest option but taking in account also price. For example, Air France YYZ-CDG in Business Class is $6,000... that's 6x more expensive to sit in front of the engines on their A350-900.

TAP airlines flies YYZ-Lisbon by A330Neo. Their 1st class price is $1,000, but this aircraft is possibly much louder as compared to A350 Business Class.

 

[dan]

Guys/Girls, I need to know noise level on an A330Neo. That's an Airbus 330 NEO.

If anybody is flying soon on it, please take a dB reading.

Thanks y'all!

 

[MadG]

Would also like to know about a330neo if anybody flying on it...

 

[Alexandor Scott]

Need your opinion.

Business Class seats on A350 Air France are $6000... How much louder would economy seats say in between the engines be? Is it significant?

Also, did you fly an A330Neo?

TAP Airlines (Portugal) flies these planes and their business class are waaaay cheaper around $1000.
I know you flew an A321Neo.

During engine start and takeoff, the noise level behind the engines is a good bit louder (10 dB, give or take). At cruise, the difference is negligible (2-4 dB). If you end up sitting behind the engines, I'd just sit as close to the rear as possible. It tends to be quieter the further away you get from the engines on either side.

I haven't flown the A330 NEO, but the regular A330 is whisper quiet in Business Class.

I'd fly TAP Business on the A330 NEO in a heartbeat.

 

[dan]

I'd fly TAP Business on the A330 NEO in a heartbeat.

Thank you Scott. Really appreciate your input. Perhaps soon you can verify an A330Neo. I reckon you fly frequently.

Do you reckon the A330Neo would be quieter than an A321Neo in Business?

 

[dan]

the regular A330 is whisper quiet in Business Class.

I don't suppose you have a dB reading on it?

 

[David S]

G700 is well below 50 dB but they are using active noise cancellation. Is that a problem?

https://airinsight.com/gulfstream-launches-g700-at-nbaa/

 

[Alexandor Scott]

I don't suppose you have a dB reading on it?

I do actually. I had to scroll back through my Google photos and find it lol. At cruise the dB level was fluctuating between 66-70 dB.

I didn't have the dB meter running during takeoff but I remember that I couldn't even hear the buzz of the engine. I couldn't believe how quiet it was.

 

[dan]

I remember that I couldn't even hear the buzz of the engine. I couldn't believe how quiet it was.

Wow, that's very good news.

At cruise the dB level was fluctuating between 66-70 dB.

I am assuming an A330Neo would be even quieter? Like A350 level?

 

[dan]

G700 is well below 50 dB but they are using active noise cancellation. Is that a problem?

https://airinsight.com/gulfstream-launches-g700-at-nbaa/

Noise cancellation may have a negative effect on tinnitus. In some cases people get spikes from wearing Bose noise cancellation earphones.

Noise cancellation tech is kind of "cheating".

Another problem is who can afford a private jet, not many people here I assume.

 

[dan]

Did anybody fly or is going to fly the A350?

 

[Darktale]

Noise cancellation may have a negative effect on tinnitus. In some cases people get spikes from wearing Bose noise cancellation earphones.

Noise cancellation tech is kind of "cheating".

Another problem is who can afford a private jet, not many people here I assume.

I am using Bose ANC headphones extensively since my first trauma 12 years ago as I am travelling a lot by plane and train.

Initially a QC 15 then a QC25 and now a QC35. It has always been my best friend during travel, even more after my 2nd trauma and the worsening.

It never had any impact on my hyperacusis or my tinnitus.

And it is clearly fantastic on the constant noise of the plane and fast trains so my ears are much more rested after a long travel when I am using it versus not.

During 2 years after my 2nd trauma and my terrible hyperacusis worsening I also used it a lot in my car and even at home as soon as there were a bit of noise, so during hours and hours.

In flights I used it during this period over foam earplugs as a kind a double protection.

My hyperacusis then got better fortunately, but not my tinnitus for other reasons.

Only thing is that I can sometimes feel a slight feeling of pressure on my eardrums which is quite common with ANC but, as I said, no impact on my tinnitus/hyperacusis ever.

All my « friends » with tinnitus or hyperacusis from the local forum are using ANC headphones as soon as they travel (btw many have now switched to Sony). Some of them are using them daily in the streets, in the shops, in the car. Depending on their hyperacusis, no negative impact for them either.

As I have been traveling quite extensively I have taken some measures during flights in various planes. I will post them here.

I do not have a proper dB meter so I use the app of my iPhone.

Are you using dBA or dBC by the way?

 

[dan]

I am using Bose ANC headphones extensively since my first trauma 12 years ago as I am travelling a lot by plane and train.

Initially a QC 15 then a QC25 and now a QC35. It has always been my best friend during travel, even more after my 2nd trauma and the worsening.

It never had any impact on my hyperacusis or my tinnitus.

And it is clearly fantastic on the constant noise of the plane and fast trains so my ears are much more rested after a long travel when I am using it versus not.

During 2 years after my 2nd trauma and my terrible hyperacusis worsening I also used it a lot in my car and even at home as soon as there were a bit of noise, so during hours and hours.

In flights I used it during this period over foam earplugs as a kind a double protection.

My hyperacusis then got better fortunately, but not my tinnitus for other reasons.

Only thing is that I can sometimes feel a slight feeling of pressure on my eardrums which is quite common with ANC but, as I said, no impact on my tinnitus/hyperacusis ever.

All my « friends » with tinnitus or hyperacusis from the local forum are using ANC headphones as soon as they travel (btw many have now switched to Sony). Some of them are using them daily in the streets, in the shops, in the car. Depending on their hyperacusis, no negative impact for them either.

As I have been traveling quite extensively I have taken some measures during flights in various planes. I will post them here.

I do not have a proper dB meter so I use the app of my iPhone.

Are you using dBA or dBC by the way?

Hi and thanks for your help.

I am just using a dB app on my Samsung Android phone, so I think we are talking in dBA (?)...

I think good quality smartphones pretty accurate.

Please it would be great if you posted dB readings on the various planes that you took readings on.

Please indicate if possible the approximate place on the airplane, as it can vary significantly.

For example Airbus claims on its 350 planes it is 9 dB quieter in First Class (front of the aircraft ahead of the engines). I am seeing that in order to sit in front of the engines on most commercial passenger planes, one must sit in 1st/Business Class, whereas Economy Class starts right at the front tip of the engines and go back.
I know from reading about Boeing 777s, even normal people say the noise is horrendous, so this type of aircraft is a no-no for tinnitus sufferers.

I am interested in modern plane figures i.e.

Airbus 350 series
Airbus 320 series (including NEO)
Airbus 330 series (including NEO)
Boeing 787 (Dreamliner)

And any other modern aircraft...

 

[Darktale]

I am using the iPhone app called DecibelX.
You have to choose what kind of dB measurement you want to use, A-B-C.

The 2 more common are A and C.

There can be significant difference between the 2 measures depending on the noise (and the level of low/medium/high frequencies), sometimes 4-5 dB more for dBC...

for example in my last flight this week with a CRJ900, in seat 4 aisle, 77 dBA versus 81 dBC in cruise speed.

So we should always be clear which one is used otherwise it can be like comparing apples and pears.

It is always specified in the app.