Best Seat on 737?

[kangarooflyer88]

Having flown quite a few flights with Qantas on their 737 product, one thing I've always wondered is which seat is the best when seated in coach and business class. My inclination is to suggest that bulkhead row seats are the best in both cabins (i.e. row 1 business and 4 in coach) given the extra leg room, the fact that you'll be served first and the ability to exit the aircraft quickly. However, yesterday I had the pleasure of travelling in the emergency exit row of 14 and found the legroom to be just as good as the bulkhead with the benefit of there being a tray table at the seat in front. However, deplaning did take longer than anticipated I would estimate I was amongst the last exiting.

Which made me wonder, are there ideal seats one should choose when flying on QF's 737 plane and if so which ones? Most importantly what factors do you consider when choosing a seat on a Qantas flight? Do you factor in whether the row is empty when choosing the seat (thereby increasing the odds you won't have a neighbour?) or is it strictly a matter of getting seated in that ideal row (since you never know if the seats beside you may get later filled at check-in)

-RooFlyer88

 

[elanshin]

Row 4 with a shadow is imo objectively the best seat and can even be compared with J for comfort if you have an empty middle seat. Being able to stow under the seat yet also have enough leg room is quite a bonus which is very handy if it's a backpack only and you're not at the front of the boarding queue (which can happen often if you go from the lounge late and half your plane is status flyers). Emergency exit rows means bags overhead which sometimes can be a hassle.

On J, I honestly don't mind. Depends if I'm in the mood to do work off my laptop in my backpack. If so I probably don't want bulkhead so I can grab my laptop from my bag under the seat easier.

Then again the bulk of my travel on 737 is triangle routes so I'm not on the actual plane that much.

 

[tdimdad]

Depends on what you value in the seating experience. I like row 4 and in J would take 2-3. That's because - similar to Elanshin - I like to stow my small bag in front instead of having it all up in the bin.

On row 4, my faves are C/D. That's because I like ample legroom, also sideways, and the A/F have limited room because of the curvature of the wall. In J it's window, please.

 

[Brissy1]

J - any seat row 2 (before the meal selections run out)
Y - row 4, aisle. For reasons others have given and also, being a low status person (by nature?), will sometimes score a shadow complements of a person of great status (airline) in 4a or 4f.

Don't tell anyone. Oops.

 

[TeaKozy]

I mostly fly Y domestically, and whilst in the past I might have moved to either 4A or 4F, now I tend to just stay in my usual 6A or 6F as a WP. On the triangle the flight time is negligible, you’re served first and there’s a much higher chance of my shadow sticking and having the middle seat free vs the odd straggler being placed there by QF in the event of a disruption.

 

[Lynda2475]

In J anything in row 2 is my preference for under seat storage, and would take 3C or 3D over anything in row 1.

In whY then 6C or 6D (although 5C or 5D also fine). Row 4 rarely available and I find shadow sticks best in 6.

 

[oirets]

In general, I prefer window seats.

For J, that means my preferred seats are 2A and 2F - the second row is better for me, as it offers a bit more privacy and I can stretch my legs out under the seat in front, whereas I can't in the first row.

For Y, I'm a bit divided. Generally, if the plane is chock-a-block full, then I prefer 4A or 4F. However, for full-ish planes, I'm also partial to the couple of rows behind because there's a better chance of having a shadow / free middle seat vs. in row 4.

In general, as a WP, I find that around a little less than half of my MEL-SYD-BNE flights will have a free middle seat when I'm in 4, but most will have a free middle seat when I'm in 6 or 7.

If I was on a longer trip on a 737, I'd consider 14 (the exit row), but for my 1-2 hour trips, I prefer being able to get on/off the plane more quickly, and also the convenience of under-seat stowage for my bag.

 

[747sp]

Mine is right down the back. Two hopes.
The first the flight is not full so the middle seat is empty
Second they let you off the back door

The first works most of the time and the second works in Sydney and Brisbane but not Melbourne for me

 

[RichardMEL]

In J this is so subjective imo. You're either a row 1 person, or not (I had this conversation recently with someone on a flight ironically). As with others up thread, I avoid row 1 like the plague (I have none of this BS about 1A entitlement even when I can usually book it - or anything in row 1 - as a P1). Why? No storage and the legroom is reduced for those with longer legs (aisle seats are better but stucking a leg out in the aisle is pretty selfish too. I prefer access to my stuff, so have it under seat in front (very rarely do I put a bag in the overhead for this reason unless I have a larger item). I can also stretch my legs under the seat in front. I prefer row 2 and 3 over 1 anyday for these reasons. Some prefer row 1 for their own reasons. that's fine too of course

as for Y. Row 4 is clearly the best - and I'd argue better than the exit rows though those are equally as good.

each to their own I guess.

 

[kangarooflyer88]

A related question I have is how an elite should select seats when travelling with someone else. For instance, should I select a window seat and my travelling companion select the aisle (thereby leaving only the middle seat available, an unattractive proposition to any traveller)? In addition, if I leave that middle seat empty would that cause Qantas to cast a shadow over it is I am Platinum (but such shadow wouldn't be cast over say an aisle seat if I was seated at the window)?

 

[elanshin]

A related question I have is how an elite should select seats when travelling with someone else. For instance, should I select a window seat and my travelling companion select the aisle (thereby leaving only the middle seat available, an unattractive proposition to any traveller)? In addition, if I leave that middle seat empty would that cause Qantas to cast a shadow over it is I am Platinum (but such shadow wouldn't be cast over say an aisle seat if I was seated at the window)?

Shadows means nothing when the 737 flights are delayed and passengers condensed. Basically if you want to roll the dice that the flight won't be full, thats fine but also be prepared that you'll have a random in the middle.

Also 4B/E is a much more attractive option than some other B/E row.

 

[RichardMEL]

"shadows" are not guaranteed at all tbh (and they have never been a published benefit for ANY status level). The number of times I have seen a block evaporate as flight time approaches - well I've lost count. Yes, they do sometimes stick for sure but in these days of high load factors and the like, I would in no way rely on this as a way to ensure that strategy will work - expectation may lead to disappointment.

 

[Daver6]

Middle seats towards the back are by far the best seats. I strongly encourage you to all select those seats leaving those horrible seats mentioned above empty. Being the nice guy I am, I'll sit in them

 

[tdimdad]

should I select a window seat and my travelling companion select the aisle (thereby leaving only the middle seat available

The oldest trick in the book but might work only on a light load - and presuming that there are no strange ones who love to sit right next to strangers and purposefully select their seats accordingly.

I tend to select window & middle and hope for the isle to stay vacant. Just a few days ago, doing this on a BNE-SYD run, the shadow appeared only a few hours before the flight but the load in Y was max 50% anyway so there really was no contest to the seats to start with.

 

[SYD]

The oldest trick in the book but might work only on a light load - and presuming that there are no strange ones who love to sit right next to strangers and purposefully select their seats accordingly.

I tend to select window & middle and hope for the isle to stay vacant. Just a few days ago, doing this on a BNE-SYD run, the shadow appeared only a few hours before the flight but the load in Y was max 50% anyway so there really was no contest to the seats to start with.

Adjacent aisle seats are the no brainer option for two enduring whY.

Guarantee shadow 100% of the time (the aisle), except during meal service - if there is one..

 

[oirets]

A related question I have is how an elite should select seats when travelling with someone else. For instance, should I select a window seat and my travelling companion select the aisle (thereby leaving only the middle seat available, an unattractive proposition to any traveller)? In addition, if I leave that middle seat empty would that cause Qantas to cast a shadow over it is I am Platinum (but such shadow wouldn't be cast over say an aisle seat if I was seated at the window)?

Just select the window and the aisle.

If you want to sit next to each other and someone rocks up for the middle seat, then just offer to swap with them. You still get to sit next to each other, so you're happy. Whoever was dreading the middle seat got a little "upgrade", so they're happy. Win, win, right?

 

[jb747]

0A.

 

[SYD]

0A.

I’ve been waiting for that response.

 

[Daver6]

0A.

Except there's no PDB champagne served there.

 

[kangarooflyer88]

"shadows" are not guaranteed at all tbh (and they have never been a published benefit for ANY status level). The number of times I have seen a block evaporate as flight time approaches - well I've lost count. Yes, they do sometimes stick for sure but in these days of high load factors and the like, I would in no way rely on this as a way to ensure that strategy will work - expectation may lead to disappointment.

I'm curious how close-in does a passenger need to select a seat to ensure they get a shadow? For instance, if I were to look at the seat map say 15 minutes prior to boarding, and find an empty row, is there a good chance I'd get my shadow cast? How does Qantas ensure such shadows remain cast? Does it require making the seat selection far enough in advance that Qantas can "block out" those seats? And who do they block out those seats to? Lower tier members (i.e. Lifetime Bronze members) but not those with high enough status like World Platinum? All of this supposes that the flight you are on is largely a light load (i.e. 60% load) where there is excess capacity to facilitate such requests.

One other item: how does someone who is booking a flight know whether a given flight will be a heavy load or not? I understand there are tools like ExpertFlyer which can give you a sense of the fares available for sale for a given flight. But that be of little benefit if you are booking flights several weeks or months in advance. Are there any tools that can tell you what the historical load is for a given flight?

-RooFlyer88