Shrinking 737 Seating??

[11sjw]

Having flown a few Perth-Pilbara QF flights in the last 6 months I've spent a bit of time between rows 12 and 28 (you can exit the via the back door so the back rows are great) and have found the seating relatively comfortable with the room I expect in Y.

Last night I flew Perth-Brisbane (QF) and again it was a 737 but my recently acquired Gold status meant I was in row 6. The gent sitting next to me agreed that the 737s on this route appear to be reducing the room between seats.

At 6'2" the Pilbara 737 seats didn't touch my knees unless the seat in front was reclined. I couldn't say that last night as they were touching right from the get go.

Has anyone else noticed this?

 

[samh004]

Not flown those routes, perhaps you should start taking a tape measure along

 

[Groundfeeder]

738 or 734??
Haven't been in the dark rows past 6 for a long while now, but 734 has better front row seating (to row 6) than 738 past row 4.

 

[Mwenenzi]

The distance between seats is not the same in every row or the same left vs right.

 

[serfty]

...

Last night I flew Perth-Brisbane (QF) and again it was a 737 but my recently acquired Gold status meant I was in row 6. ...

At 6'2" the Pilbara 737 seats didn't touch my knees unless the seat in front was reclined. I couldn't say that last night as they were touching right from the get go.

What flight were you on? Was there a curtain between Business and Economy?

 

[737]

I would assume it would have been a 737-800 both ways. 2 out of the 4 flights yesterday were operated by the 738 (the others being 763). I doubt you would see a 734 on this route, as they are usually someone routed through CBR or heading onwards to CBR.

Plus the intra-WA flights are 99% the -800's and you state that it up to tow 28, which is the -800 (that actually goes upto 29, but thats just being picky )

All of the PER based planes (that usually operate the intra-WA routes) and those that operate over to the east cost, which could have well been PER based as well operate with the same configuration, there is no major difference within any -800 series as far as I am aware.

All I can assume is, being in say row 5 or 6 on this a/c where this isn't greater than normal legroom that you may feel extra cramped, as the closed curtains in front of you don't really give you the feeling of space, whereas if you are seated past the overwing exits, there is the impression of a lot of space even though the seat pitch is the 'same' (if that makes sense).

Given that PER-BNE is twice as long as a PER-KTA, for example, being on a 738 isn't as comfortable for a longer journey, which could also swek your perception of how comfortable it is, and it's seat pitch.

If anything, seats aft of the overwing exits would have a smaller seat pitch, if there infact was on on this a/c. Just my two cents

 

[rwatts]

If anything, seats aft of the overwing exits would have a smaller seat pitch, if there infact was on on this a/c. Just my two cents

I've always noticed the difference aft of the overwing exits - my legs are long enough that aft of the exits my knees are hard against the seat in front whereas forward they just "brush" the seat. That extra half inch makes an enormous difference to my comfort. From ADL my QF domestic flights are always 734 or 738. I'll even ask for 8A (no window) on a 738 to get that extra leg room if necessary.

Richard.

 

[harvyk]

I think the seat pitch of the 738's is less than the 734's. From memory the 738's where in AA config (part of the reason QF could get them so quickly) and IMHO AA has pretty ordinary seat pitch.

 

[markis10]

The 73H's do have an issue with row 5 as pointed out on FT by an esteemed AFF mod:

FlyerTalk Forums - View Single Post - QF 737-800 do they have the worst seat pitch

Its the seats that might be reducing the leg room given the pitch is the same across both at 31" - thats at the mounting point.

 

[munitalP]

what, there are seats behind row 5? :shock:


the PER/KTA flights are much more pleasant on the QF Gulfstreams - 717's IMHO


I actually like these jets :shock:

Mr!

 

[Sprucegoose]

what, there are seats behind row 5? :shock:


the PER/KTA flights are much more pleasant on the QF Gulfstreams - 717's IMHO


I actually like these jets :shock:

Mr!

agree 717's are surprisingly roomier and quite!!!

 

[serfty]

The 73H's do have an issue with row 5 as pointed out on FT by an esteemed AFF mod:

FlyerTalk Forums - View Single Post - QF 737-800 do they have the worst seat pitch

Its the seats that might be reducing the leg room given the pitch is the same across both at 31" - thats at the mounting point.

Note that post is 5 years old (nearly). (FWIW, I measured using my BP)

Qantas rectified the situation some years ago, moving row 4 forard around 2".

Not much, but it make a world of differnence. (Row 4 still kicjks butt too.)

 

[markis10]

Note that post is 5 years old (nearly). (FWIW, I measured using my BP)

Qantas rectified the situation some years ago, moving row 4 forard around 2".

Not much, but it make a world of differnence. (Row 4 still kicjks butt too.)

Go's to show that after 5 years the 73Hs still come across to some as having bad seating, I wonder what the truth is, its out there somewhere!

 

[11sjw]

What flight were you on? Was there a curtain between Business and Economy?

Yes there was. QF 652, worst 737 seating I've suffered in a while.

 

[JohnK]

I did not mind 737's but since I started commuting SYD-BNE I try to avoid them, if possible, even for the short flight. Don't know if it is the actual leg room or more the feeling of claustrophbia on the narrow body aircraft.

I look for the cheap flights and try to book a flight on a 767. Very disappointing whe QF changes the schedules and the 767 flight I booked morphs into 737 flight...

 

[serfty]

Yes there was. QF 652, worst 737 seating I've suffered in a while.

I would assume it would have been a 737-800 both ways. 2 out of the 4 flights yesterday were operated by the 738 (the others being 763). I doubt you would see a 734 on this route, as they are usually someone routed through CBR or heading onwards to CBR.
...

Yup, VXD was the beastie - one of the first of the 73H's operated by QF.

I flew row 5 aisle yesterday on VYH; at 183cm my knees are fine unless the seat in front is reclined in which case I need to move my feet forward to bring my knees down.

 

[markis10]

agree 717's are surprisingly roomier and quite!!!

Boeing 717s have extra pitch on the front set of seats before the exit rows, given they are a third gen variant of the classic DC9 you would expect they have got it right , although they did not have commonality with any other aircraft which was one of the factors that killed off production.