Two years ago, a Reddit user asked members of r/aircanada whether they should fly onboard the carrier’s Boeing 787-9s or 777-200LRs. Amid the enormous amount of similarities in experience, one user summarized the negative impact of higher altitude cabin pressurization on passenger comfort that remains significant today. They wrote, “The difference in humidity in the Dreamliner alone makes a huge difference in my experience. Spending 14 hours in 9% humidity on the 777 is not a great time.”

Read on to discover the cabin pressure and other endurance advancements made by the 787 that yield far better comfort for medium and long-haul flying, along with why cabin pressurization is so important. We then examine how Qatar Airways has developed different customer experiences for each aircraft type, and conclude by discussing how the Boeing 777X will build on the Dreamliner’s advancements.

How Do The Two Aircraft Compare For Endurance And Cabin Pressure?

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Airliners pressurize their cabins to ensure that passengers and crew don’t suffer from hypoxia or altitude sickness. However, they are never pressurized to sea level. The closer the air pressure equivalent is to sea level, the more comfortable passengers will be. The 787 wins by this metric, with a cabin pressure equivalent to standing at 6,000 feet above sea level. This is around 2,000 feet lower than most older airliners, including the 777-200LR. This jet’s cabin is pressurized to 8,000 feet. Boeing has ensured that the incoming 777X will match the 787’s higher level of cabin pressurization. This advance has been made possible by the adoption of composite material fuselages, which are both lighter and stronger than those used in older aircraft.

Cabin pressurization is far from the only thing impacting passenger comfort. Another key factor is the noise inside the cabin. As a modern aircraft, the 787 has less engine noise and vibration inside the cabin. The air conditioning system is also quieter than the Boeing 777-200LR‘s. Likewise, the 787’s cabin lighting adjusts during different phases of flight, further enhancing passenger comfort.

Although there is much variation between the products that carriers offer for these jets, passengers will usually not be as comfortable aboard a 777-200LR as they will be on a 787. Yet, passengers can travel to further afield destinations on the 777. A 777-200LR has a maximum range of around 9,393 nm (17,395 km). This is over 1,000 nautical miles further than the Boeing 787-9.

Why Is Cabin Pressurization So Important For Passenger Comfort?

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As a jet gains altitude, the air becomes thinner. It would become very hard to breathe and dangerous very quickly if the air pressure inside the aircraft were the same as outside. Jetliners’ cruising altitude of around 35,000 feet far surpasses the “death zone” experienced by elite mountaineers when they reach 26,000 ft. Cabins are pressurized to have a much higher pressure than outside the aircraft, meaning that passengers can fly without risking hypoxia. An environmental control system (ECS), which manages the airflow inside the cabin, deals with this pressurization.

Older aircraft, such as the 777-200LR, tend to be pressurized to around 8,000 feet. That is too low to cause acute altitude sickness, but the effects may begin to show for some people. Symptoms can include nausea, dizziness, fatigue, and headaches. This fatigue is partially what causes jet lag. The changes in cabin pressure as the aircraft climbs and pressurizes can cause blocked ears, blood oxygen changes, and discomfort, particularly for passengers with pre-existing respiratory and cardiovascular conditions. Individuals with faulty tooth fillings can also experience a sharp toothache, which occurs because the air pocket erroneously left in the tooth has a different pressure than the air in the cabin.

All of these effects are more acute when a cabin is pressurized to a higher altitude, as aboard a 777-200LR. Meanwhile, modern jets like the 787-9 are pressurized to a lower altitude, so the negative impacts of cabin pressurization are reduced.

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How Cabin Pressurization Impacts Passenger Comfort

Higher cabin pressure typically means a more comfortable experience for passengers.

Zooming In On Qatar Airways 777-200LRs and 787s

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Each carrier configures its 777-200LRs and 787s differently. Zooming in on a carrier that flies both jets yields interesting comparisons. This carrier has seven 777-200LRs and 24 787-9s within its widebody fleet. Qatar configures both of these aircraft with two classes: economy and business. Both jets also use a 3-3-3 configuration. That makes things more snug aboard the narrower 787, while some carriers offer a ten-abreast configuration for their 777s. That isn’t as much of an issue as it could be for passenger comfort aboard the 787. Qatar tends to fly these jets for mid-haul routes of 6-8 hours, while true long-haul flying of 10-14 hours is reserved for its 777s.

The table below shows the current state of Qatar Airways’ widebody fleet, including the jets in service and on order:

The modern jet advantage for Qatar Airways passengers flying on the Dreamliner comes most clearly through the on-board entertainment. Although Qatar’s 787s and 777s offer Audio Video on Demand (AVOD) entertainment at every seat, the 787 uses a Thales-developed, state-of-the-art system with a larger, higher-quality screen that runs more smoothly than the sometimes-frustrating, outdated 777-200LR system. However, both jets have the same selection of movies and TV shows. Qatar 787s also have OnAir in-flight connectivity.

How Do These Jets Compare By Other Metrics?

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Making comparisons between the 787 and the 777 has always been difficult because the 777 is a larger jet with a longer range. That means it is designed for different kinds of operations to the Dreamliner. This is illustrated by the additional thousand nautical miles of range, 21 passengers of capacity, and 15 feet (4.5 meters) broader wingspan. The 777-200LR also has an additional 40,000 lbf of thrust per engine and an additional maximum takeoff weight of over 200,000 lbs higher. That is needed to accommodate the jet’s increased size, capacity, and fuel requirements for its longest routes.

A high level of passenger comfort is far from the only metric that carriers deploy when deciding which jets to purchase.

The table below uses data from Aviator Joe to compare the key specifications for the 777-200LR and the Dreamliner:

The characteristics of the 777-200LR make it ideal for long and high-capacity routes. Its importance for global aviation will continue to increase as higher capacity superjumbos, the 747 and A380, are increasingly retired. Much of this market will be filled by the 777X when it enters service. Having missed a host of delivery targets due to certification and production issues, it is now estimated that the first 777Xs will be delivered in 2027, and it will take a long time for Boeing to meet all of its orders. The 777-200LR will need to stay in effective operation for quite some time.

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Boeing 777 Vs 787: 5 Interesting Differences Between The Widebody Twinjets

The planes are not just different by their exterior appearance.

The 777X Endurance Passenger Experience

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As with much of the Boeing 777X, the passenger experience will be a continuation and improvement of what was available on the Boeing 787. The jet will come with a fresh cabin interior, automatically dimming windows, and a ceiling lit like the stars. “The cabin interior of the 777X, designed in collaboration with TEAGUE, is inspired by the comforts and conveniences of the 787 Dreamliner and includes larger windows, a wider cabin, new lighting and enhanced architecture. The 777X is the future of flight unfolding,” said Boeing.

The 777X cabin will also share the humidity and cabin pressure advancements made by the 787. Passengers will enjoy cleaner air, enhanced temperature control, and incredibly low cabin noise. The reduced noise is made possible by the General Electric GE9X engines, which offer 8db less noise while flying in the stage 5 margin. Smooth ride technology will reduce turbulence and the risk of motion sickness. Humidity is an area where the 777X has had to strive forward to match the A350, which has a comfortably high humidity of around 20%, reducing the dry feeling passengers can have from flying.

The 787 Dreamliner was known for its large windows, each measuring 140 square inches. Meanwhile, the 777X will have even bigger windows at 162 square inches, which is 29% larger than the Airbus A350-1000. That will make for a brighter cabin with more natural light. Passengers lucky enough to have a window seat can take incredible photographs.