Any recommendations for J seats on 747-400

[jaybeedee]

Mrs jaybeedee and I are on QF25 to Haneda in June.

Its a long time since I've been on a 747 and I am not sure that mrs jaybeedee has ever been in the upstairs cabin. Is there any particularly good or bad seats , or any particular reason to choose/avoid the upstairs cabin these days.

Thanks

 

[lovetravellingoz]

If she has not been upstairs I would go for that as it is a nice novelty.

I am not sure or not if your flight is overnight and will be used for sleep or not. If so I find this cabin also quieter.

 

[amaroo]

Upstairs - exit row.

 

[RooFlyer]

Exit row seats are good - you can get out from the window seat without disturbing your seat mate. But no side storage bin.

Absent the exit row, I prefer the seats the next row back (row 15) - they are still a bit away from the galley and you don't get the stream of people - sometimes a queue - using the single bathroom at the front.

 

[Matt_01]

Check the seat maps to see if you are in the 400 or 400ER (they change around a bit). If you are on the older 400 I would go for the old F (R1-4), all the J seats are sky bed 1. Preference on either aircraft upstairs would be the exit row.

 

[jaybeedee]

Check the seat maps to see if you are in the 400 or 400ER (they change around a bit). If you are on the older 400 I would go for the old F (R1-4), all the J seats are sky bed 1. Preference on either aircraft upstairs would be the exit row.

Thanks-I had been thinking that the old F seats wouldn't be better than the new J seats (I loved the A330-300 J seats BNE-NRT) - I hadn't twigged that the J seats might be old as well.

It is an overnight flight so sleep is quite important.

The seat map currently shows no row 4 in the lower cabin, so I am assuming that it isn't the configuration with the old F seats. I have just requested row 14 (exit row) which I had avoided on the initial request because I remembered it didn't have the side storage bin

 

[Matt_01]

Looks like you are on the 400ER, these have the sky bed Mk2, not as nice as the new A330 J product but still better than the MK1 seat. One other quick way to tell is upstairs if exit row is 14=400ER (reconfigured), if exit row is 16 then 400 (not reconfigured)

I would also watch out for aircraft change, from experience it can happen a bit and at short notice. If you do get swapped to the 400 try and get the old F, although dated they are flat.

 

[jaybeedee]

Thanks Matt, good info.

Do you know how many in the fleet of each type - If there is a high chance of ending up on the old style, it might be safer to just go for row 2 or row 3 and be sure of having a good seat rather than risk having an old seat in the upper cabin. First world problem I know.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Thanks-I had been thinking that the old F seats wouldn't be better than the new J seats (I loved the A330-300 J seats BNE-NRT) - I hadn't twigged that the J seats might be old as well.

It is an overnight flight so sleep is quite important.

The seat map currently shows no row 4 in the lower cabin, so I am assuming that it isn't the configuration with the old F seats. I have just requested row 14 (exit row) which I had avoided on the initial request because I remembered it didn't have the side storage bin

As others have said, watch out for aircraft changes.

However, for the new configuration I'd be firmly in the nose of the plane - rows 1-3. Quiet, spacious, very little foot traffic. Upper deck... 'novelty' of climbing the stairs for about 5 seconds, then confronted with narrow cabin, low ceilings, slightly less optimal window design, plenty of foot traffic between galley at the back and WC at the front, flexing aisle. Most people would shun flying in a 737 all the way to Tokyo even in a MK2 skybed... but that's exactly what you get on the upper deck.

The other advantage of selecting seats lower deck is that you might get them automatically mapped across in the event of an aircraft change to the old F seats.

 

[Limewood]

We did the DFW to BNE on the 747 (about 16 hours) when it was on that route, throughly enjoyed the upper J cabin and Mk11 seats, own cabin loo and galley, not many seats there - think about 20, could not fault it.

 

[njba]

Based on another thread, I picked 3E/F for an upcoming QF 747 flight. I see that 14j/K is also open.

It's an overnight flight, and we both value being able to get up out of seats easily, and are flying on the upper deck of a A380 the week before, should we switch?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Based on another thread, I picked 3E/F for an upcoming QF 747 flight. I see that 14j/K is also open.

It's an overnight flight, and we both value being able to get up out of seats easily, and are flying on the upper deck of a A380 the week before, should we switch?

upper deck 747 is completely different to upper deck on the A80... the 747 is the same as being in a 737... just for a long haul flight. The nose of the 747 is usually considered prime seating... quiet, spacious, private.

if if you've never flown a 747 upper deck I'd go for it, just to try. But the novelty is short lived.

 

[Canny man]

I am not a fan of 3 E/F. They are the least private seats in J on the plane and have cupboards very close to them which often entails someones posterior close to your face. Upstairs exit is much better if you fly with a companion, if solo the single seats in row 5 are the best on the plane.

 

[Jasecoop]

5B and 5J for sure, no seat next to you and lots of storage. Also the first off the plane. People have realised this and very hard to secure those seats but great when you get it

 

[crdtez]

14 K upstairs is my favorite on the new configuration. Easy to get in and out of and you have the side bin and more windows than the A seat.

 

[serfty]

I am not a fan of 3 E/F. They are the least private seats in J on the plane and have cupboards very close to them which often entails someones posterior close to your face. Upstairs exit is much better if you fly with a companion, if solo the single seats in row 5 are the best on the plane.

If I am in 3F then the cupboard in front is mine to use!

(Boarding early helps here ... )

 

[defurax]

If I am in 3F then the cupboard in front is mine to use!

(Boarding early helps here ... )

I think Canny man is referring to the cupboard on the side where the crew hang their uniforms.

 

[njba]

If I am in 3F then the cupboard in front is mine to use!

(Boarding early helps here ... )

I take it you recommend 3F, then?

 

[Guvner]

I like 3 E/F when travelling with my partner. 5 B/J when travelling solo.

 

[serfty]

I think Canny man is referring to the cupboard on the side where the crew hang their uniforms.

Could be ... both would have the posterior affect.