Long haul flight- where on plane to sit

[Bitten]

Hi. Not knowing my planes- where is best to sit if flying long haul ( 15 hrs) on a Boeing 737-800 or 747-400.
Flying Qantas to Santiago. Thanks

 

[opusman]

In business class, of course.

 

[Hvr]

Paging @juddles to the white courtesy phone. Your expertise is required for this route.enquiry.

 

[Bitten]

In business class, of course.

I wish. Not enough QFF yet.So I should say unfortunately I am in economy. Should have said that originally

 

[Forg]

When you say QF 15hrs to Santiago & menion a 737 ... QF doesn’t fly a 737 for 15hrs to or from Santiago do they?
I know Hawaiiian (sp?) used to fly entirely 737’s from Australia to Canada, but that was two different aircraft ‘cos you changed planes in the middle.

 

[tgh]

I chose 70A once upon a time in Y. waaay down in the boonies but roomy and quiet.
Thought they only used (old and tired ) 747's on this route.

 

[Bitten]

When you say QF 15hrs to Santiago & menion a 737 ... QF doesn’t fly a 737 for 15hrs to or from Santiago do they?
I know Hawaiiian (sp?) used to fly entirely 737’s from Australia to Canada, but that was two different aircraft ‘cos you changed planes in the middle.

When you say QF 15hrs to Santiago & menion a 737 ... QF doesn’t fly a 737 for 15hrs to or from Santiago do they?
I know Hawaiiian (sp?) used to fly entirely 737’s from Australia to Canada, but that was two different aircraft ‘cos you changed planes in the middle.

When you say QF 15hrs to Santiago & menion a 737 ... QF doesn’t fly a 737 for 15hrs to or from Santiago do they?
I know Hawaiiian (sp?) used to fly entirely 737’s from Australia to Canada, but that was two different aircraft ‘cos you changed planes in the middle.

Oh You're all correct. My domestic leg is the 737. And the Sydney to Santiago is the 747. Looks like it's not going to matter where I sit if they're old. Just wondering if near the gallery or the back is not desirable. Looking at what seats are left a lot are in those places- so I wondered whether I should avoid there. Thanks

 

[dajop]

OhJust wondering if near the gallery or the back is not desirable. Looking at what seats are left a lot are in those places- so I wondered whether I should avoid there. Thanks

In economy, I find that the undesirable seats are the most desirable unless the flight is chock full. Why? They will be the last people will choose (if they have a choice), and thus more likely to have empty seat beside you if the flight is not full.

 

[juddles]

Paging @juddles to the white courtesy phone. Your expertise is required for this route.enquiry.

....
Thought they only used (old and tired ) 747's on this route.

As far as I am aware, there is only one specific "old and tired" 747 left in the QF fleet - and it will be retired any day now. Yes, it does still do the SCL route every so often, but if the OP wants to PM me (or just state) what date of travel is, that can easily be checked on expertflyer or similar. (To do an easy check, look for seats 5B and 5J on the seatmap - if they exist, it is "new" config, if they do not, it is that sole remaining old one.

Travelling in economy, I have no advice other than the obvious - if you want leg room you can pay for exit rows. And the aft seats do in general fill last, but these days most of the QF 27/28 flights to/from SCL seem to be pretty full

 

[Mattg]

Well I chose one of the seats down the back of the plane where there are only 2 seats by the window (72A from memory) when I flew SCL-SYD in Y and ended up having a free seat next to me on an otherwise fairly full flight. Was pretty happy with that.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I know Hawaiiian (sp?) used to fly entirely 737’s from Australia to Canada, but that was two different aircraft ‘cos you changed planes in the middle.

767s maybe (before they changed to A330s). HA never operated 737s (was pretty much an all Douglas fleet save the B767 and L-1011). Air Pacific can take you on a 737 right the way from Australia to Hawaii via NAN.

 

[Forg]

767s maybe (before they changed to A330s). HA never operated 737s (was pretty much an all Douglas fleet save the B767 and L-1011). Air Pacific can take you on a 737 right the way from Australia to Hawaii via NAN.

It's possible I'm confusing Air Pacific & Hawaiian, although before you planted the seeds of doubt I was 95% sure I was right.
But it was a mate & not myself (going on a skiing holiday from BNE - can't recall if he had to go through SYD or MEL) & 20-odd years ago, so the chances of remembering are lower than if it were myself.
100% sure it was a 737 as that was the topic of discussion; although I also thought Air Pacific were still flying a rebadged QF 747 with Air Pacific staff to AU back then.

Well I chose one of the seats down the back of the plane where there are only 2 seats by the window (72A from memory) when I flew SCL-SYD in Y and ended up having a free seat next to me on an otherwise fairly full flight. Was pretty happy with that.

Yes I've been in that seat, and by the time we were supposed to leave 72B was empty & yet no other seat I could see from there was empty … we were delayed half an hour due to a late passenger, and said passenger ended-up sitting next to me, I was there for 45 minutes wishing & hoping & wishing & hoping & wishing & hoping etc to no avail.

Back in the days before online bookings, a mate & I asked at the ticket-counter for the exit-row seat on an SG 744 & got lucky with it. This was one of the big wide gaps between seats over the wings, I think there was a flight-crew folding jump-seat opposite & a toilet or galley module behind that. Which sounds perfect from a leg-room point of view; except that I had the window seat, and half of my legroom was taken-up by a massive protruding exit-door. So I'd say beware of exit-row window seats bearing gifts.​

 

[bPeteb]

Yep, we'd be picking one of the twos down the back as well if we had to fly Y

 

[Bitten]

Thanks everyone.I really appreciate all the ideas. I'll check for seats like Juddles suggested ( thanks for picking up on the white courtesy phone). Looks like the back might be sitting down the back regardless- as the flight is looking pretty booked.