Best PE seating on 777 [& other advice]

[CeeJayOz]

Re: VA B777 Premium Economy Opinions

Flew PE to AUH last week and thought it was excellent!

Doing the same thing this weekend, so hoping my experience matches yours!

 

[Justinf]

Re: VA B777 Premium Economy Opinions

My last Y+ flight was great. I agree with the food part though - quite unimpressive. But the self-serve drinks were good and when I had poured the last drops of the shiraz into my glass, the FA was there to replace it ASAP.
Having nobody sitting beside me MEL-LAX-LAX on both legs helped though.

 

[eckorock]

Re: VA B777 Premium Economy Opinions

Nothing good to say about VA Y+, I got upgraded from Y on my last flight back from LAX and almost turned it down as I went from what I consider the best seat in Y to the worst seat in Y+.

I would never pay for VA's Y+ and I wouldn't even be keen to spend points on a upgrade either.

What's the worst seat in Y+ ?

I'm hoping you don't say Row 14 :|

 

[drewbles]

Re: VA B777 Premium Economy Opinions

Row 10 would be the worst in W IMHO.

I've done VA to the USA probably 7 or 8 times now return, and out of those 14-16 segments, only one was in Y (the rest W and J). The reason one way was Y and the other W? There was no way I was going back to Australia in Y (I'm around 6'4" and any Economy seat doesn't agree with me, plus i'd just had a particularly nasty flight from ORD to LAX stuck in a window seat on a full AA flight in coach after my 767 was cancelled and we were shoved onto an already oversold 737; praise be to OWE status for getting me on at least so I didn't miss my connection).

Can safely say that W is streets ahead of comfort in Y. The seats are a little wider, the leg room is excellent and it's an entirely civilised way to travel. Also, the recline on the seats are significantly more than Y seats, which is great but does lead to the issue of the seat in front of you reclining into your space. It's a minor inconvenience though I find.

The food/wine is nothing special, but QF isn't anymore either. QF launched their Premium Economy as 'Business Light' rather than "Economy Plus" but it's really turned into the latter. Gone is the pre-departure Champagne, instead they now only server sparkling wine (and likewise during the flight; no French bubbles). The food has also gone down hill.

Bang for buck, I find VA's W excellent and will continue to fly it, unless QF have a sale (like they do now). I'd say QF's is worth a few hundred extra over VA's, but not the premium they typically demand.

So i'd recommend row 11, and if you're travelling as a couple, get seats A and C (or the opposite side window/aisle). And cheer up, anything is better than economy (I'd still say that row 10 is better than any row in a full Y cabin, but i'd rather an exit row with an empty seat next to me if it's not a full cabin than W).

And as a note about the bar: Even the J bar has had spirits removed. There was something to do with RSA I believe so they will have to make the drinks for you. I've always found the W bar to be well stocked with crisps/chips, cookies and other bits n pieces. Always juices/sodas/water/wine too. Occasionally though they do run out of cups, and I've found they need to keep a better stash of napkins there. That said, I'd rather the sit-down J bar

 

[serfty]

Re: VA B777 Premium Economy Opinions

What's the worst seat in Y+ ?

I'm hoping you don't say Row 14 :|

I'd say row 10!

 

[eckorock]

Re: VA B777 Premium Economy Opinions

I'd say row 10!

yep... that's what SeatGuru says too

 

[CeeJayOz]

Re: VA B777 Premium Economy Opinions

Funnily enough VA seems to reserve row 10 for Plats though. I'm currently in 12, it appears to be less than half full atm.

 

[Deewhy]

Re: VA B777 Premium Economy Opinions

Funnily enough VA seems to reserve row 10 for Plats though. I'm currently in 12, it appears to be less than half full atm.

Rows 10 and 11 normally reserved. Row 10 also has the bassinet doesn't it?

 

[DGW]

You are WP so you may have a better chance than others... however don't get your hopes up. You may never know they may upgrade you to J... (it's happened to me) You are in the hands of the VA gods!!

Bolthead you are a clever man. I just checked in for my LAX-MEL flight and I was indeed upgraded from W to J. The benefits of being WP huh?

 

[JasonG]

Re: VA B777 Premium Economy Opinions

I'm travelling MEL-LAX next month in PE then onward to JFK on Virgin America in first. Currently have selected 11C. First time PE with VA, did the trip a few years back on QF in PE so will use this as my benchmark. Will let you know my thoughts...would love an op up to J as no availability to book using points. Also interested to see how the experience on V America compares to VA J.

 

[drewbles]

Re: VA B777 Premium Economy Opinions

I'm travelling MEL-LAX next month in PE then onward to JFK on Virgin America in first. Currently have selected 11C. First time PE with VA, did the trip a few years back on QF in PE so will use this as my benchmark. Will let you know my thoughts...would love an op up to J as no availability to book using points. Also interested to see how the experience on V America compares to VA J.

If you're travelling on VX as a continuation you'll be in MCS or main cabin select which is front row coach or exit row. Not a patch on VA dom J. VX F however isn't bad at all!

 

[Demon_fan]

Re: VA B777 Premium Economy Opinions

I am going to give this thread a bump. Had struggled to find a thread on VA's PE long haul product and specifically seat selection. Not sure if their was a more recent thread than this?

Ive got a flight to AUH next month and chosen 11D.

 

[jpk]

Re: VA B777 Premium Economy Opinions

I am going to give this thread a bump. Had struggled to find a thread on VA's PE long haul product and specifically seat selection. Not sure if their was a more recent thread than this?

Ive got a flight to AUH next month and chosen 11D.

A few notes in this thread. I've got some photos of the food and seat which I can upload when I get home.
http://www.australianfrequentflyer....ia-velocity/flying-across-us-va-wp-67278.html

 

[serfty]

11D is a good seat

 

[Demon_fan]

A few notes in this thread. I've got some photos of the food and seat which I can upload when I get home.
http://www.australianfrequentflyer....ia-velocity/flying-across-us-va-wp-67278.html

cheers I will check it out now.

11D is a good seat

Thanks! Hopefully I get a shadow as well, which was my other thoughts on picking it. Will continue to monitor leading up to the flight.

 

[Demon_fan]

Sitting in AUH after taking my VA flight in 11D.

As someone who has never flown long haul in business, I really enjoyed the extra space etc. didn't think food was all that much better but you could certainly notice the difference in service etc. also helped I had a spare seat next to me.

I don't think I'd ever choose row 10, TVs out of the arm rests are annoying.

 

[strtrek]

so just booked PE syd-lax....flight looks half empty 7 weeks out in PE...

we have 11HK/ 11AC....most of the seats in the center are free....should we change to 10DG and hope they block the middle seats, or just stay where we are...

i do love a good plot and scheme

 

[Demon_fan]

so just booked PE syd-lax....flight looks half empty 7 weeks out in PE...

we have 11HK/ 11AC....most of the seats in the center are free....should we change to 10DG and hope they block the middle seats, or just stay where we are...

i do love a good plot and scheme

it would be a bit of a gamble I reckon. If there is 2 of you I'd just stick with HK then AC. You'd hate for DG to back fire on you.

with my flight it looked fairly empty leading up to it but come the actual flight, PE was 90% full.

 

[Ausbt]

most of the seats in the center are free....should we change to 10DG and hope they block the middle seats, or just stay where we are...

Pretty sure the armrest between 10D & 10D is fixed, and the armrest between 10D & 10E can be raised, going back to fixed again 10F/10G. I've just done AUH-SYD in PE, choosing 10K after flying over in 11F. PE was only 20% full, and many pax tried to use the middle rows as beds, with varying levels of success. I found the food to be very ordinary on that return leg - from recollection it was better going over.

 

[Demon_fan]

Pretty sure the armrest between 10D & 10D is fixed, and the armrest between 10D & 10E can be raised, going back to fixed again 10F/10G. I've just done AUH-SYD in PE, choosing 10K after flying over in 11F. PE was only 20% full, and many pax tried to use the middle rows as beds, with varying levels of success. I found the food to be very ordinary on that return leg - from recollection it was better going over.

Maybe it's the UAE catering company?

I thought the PE food going to AUH was better than the J food coming back from AUH.