Seating Availability/Allocation/Configuration Help Desk

[serfty]

>>>> ADDED 30 Sept 2010 <<<<

Background to this thread:

In a similar vein to the "Flight Availability / Upgrade Probability Help Desk" there has an increase in the posting of questions about specific seat allocation/availability on a flight. These are all valid questions and we all appreciate the efforts our members go to to provide answers.

The only drawback is that our forums can become "cluttered" with such queries. This tends to reduce the overall usability of our site.

This new consolidated thread is where you can ask questions about seating allocation/availability. Hopefully, this will reduce clutter and improve usability.

Guidelines for posting in this thread:

Please post questions about availability of specific seats in this new consolidated thread. Be sure to include the airline, flight number, Origin, Destination, date and cabin as applicable.

When answering questions, please include the original question. This will assist in readability and management of the thread.

Spoiler: For Questions about Flight Availability, Fare Bucket Loadings & Upgrade Probability, please use this thread

Flight Availability/Loadings & Upgrade Probability Help Desk

>>>> END OF UPDATE <<<<

 

[Quickstatus]

Not sure of the problem with UA.

As for Finnair, I've read three trip reports which all suggest boarding is via door 2 in HEL, this is supported by photos in this report: Finnair, Business Class – Airbus A 350: Helsinki to Beijing (the other reports either mention turning left on entering the aircraft, or mention a second cabin to the right on boarding).

Also in the same report it shows PEK uses two doors, although as a side note there's no guarantee which jet-bridge will be docked first. Quite often at PVG for example the second door will open before the first.

Thanks
UA 787 J
Window seats A/L window view is good? ( i know 4A/L missing window). Difficult to climb over neighbour in seats B/K?
Centre seats D/E don't have over-head luggage storage but has direct aisle access. Is there adequate overhead storage over seats A/L for D/E passengers?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Thanks
UA 787 J
Window seats A/L window view is good? ( i know 4A/L missing window). Difficult to climb over neighbour in seats B/K?
Centre seats D/E don't have over-head luggage storage but has direct aisle access. Is there adequate overhead storage over seats A/L for D/E passengers?

It's only the first row that doesn't have overhead bins on the 787. This is for the crew rest. The other centre seats all have overhead bins.

For a solo flyer, I'd pick a centre seat, probably the 'D' seat to give (a) unrestricted access to the aisle and (b) not have anyone looking over your shoulder.

 

[notsofrequentflyer]

Have travelled a few times in exit row seats domestically but not on an international flight.
Currently booked exit row seats 35EF. Have done a bit of research online and upper deck economy appears to be slightly more favourable than the lower deck.
Haven't been able to establish if the seat width is reduced because of the fixed arm rest/partitions that house the screen/tray table. Row 35 is a 3-2 configuration. Does anyone know if the armrests in the 3 seat config are all fixed? Anyone travelled on these seats that can confirm if they're a tighter squeeze or just normal for economy?
Thanks in advance for any answers or suggestions.

 

[downgraded]

Row 35 middle seats have fixed arm rests to accommodate screens etc.

Do they really make the seat narrower though? Only very marginally. The shoulder space ( or lack of) remains the same and my cough doesn't reach the edges of the seat.

Some complain about foot traffic across what is a walkway but that always comes down to who is on the flight as there is an alternate way around the back of all the seating.

 

[BAM1748]

They're the ones to go for, if I have to go in the cabin I go for those seats. 35 J K

 

[Dr Ralph]

Arm rests are fixed because of the screen. Yes they are slightly narrower as well. But that never stops me booking them whenever I can.

 

[abby-line]

Q. Qatar upper economy deck. Anyone had any luck or have any knowledge of obtaining upper deck seats? Husband lap baby in J class upper and I'm with our daughter in Econ and hoping we can share same deck in case baby looses it. Long haul SYD-CDG. Appreciate anyone with any tips to securing seats upstairs as told they only allocated when flight check-in opens.

 

[Happy Trails]

Q. Qatar upper economy deck. Anyone had any luck or have any knowledge of obtaining upper deck seats? Husband lap baby in J class upper and I'm with our daughter in Econ and hoping we can share same deck in case baby looses it. Long haul SYD-CDG. Appreciate anyone with any tips to securing seats upstairs as told they only allocated when flight check-in opens.

They do seem to protect the upper deck.
We did MXP-DOH-BKK a few weeks ago, with the second leg on the A380,
We couldn't do OLCI and our request at the MXP desk involved a lot of keyboard tapping and a couple of phone calls before the seats could be confirmed. And this as OWEs.
In the event, the upper deck was less than half full and Madame scored a whole middle row to stretch out on, while it was chockers down below.
Legroom is very good at the bulkhead.

 

[abby-line]

They do seem to protect the upper deck.
We did MXP-DOH-BKK a few weeks ago, with the second leg on the A380,
We couldn't do OLCI and our request at the MXP desk involved a lot of keyboard tapping and a couple of phone calls before the seats could be confirmed. And this as OWEs.
In the event, the upper deck was less than half full and Madame scored a whole middle row to stretch out on, while it was chockers down below.
Legroom is very good at the bulkhead.

Many thanks Happy Trails - good to know there might be hope. And hope of some empty seats
Appreciate your response.

 

[rottie]

Hi all,

I have 2 Qantas bookings coming up and would appreciate some advice on seat selections.

Seats I am currently on
A330-200 23K (bulkhead - day flight but I would most likely nap)
A380 32K (bulkhead - night flight)

How bad is the legroom for the two bulkhead seats above? What other (free) seats would you recommend for the A330 / A380? Is the upper deck of the A380 a lot more desirable than the lower deck?

As a side question - RE QF1 : does Qantas give out pyjamas on both SYD - SIN & SIN - LHR legs for business class? How about the amenities kit?

Thank you!

 

[Daver6]

I'm 5'10 and wouldn't select row 32 again if I wanted to sleep. Even with the bin and ability to sort of put your feet up, I just couldn't get comfortable not being able to straight my legs.

I'd say the A330 legroom in row 23 is about the same. I'll over take that (but an aisle) for a transcon day flight. Still can't straighten my legs and wouldn't select it for a night flight.

Are you prepared to stump up for exit row/extra legroom seats? If so, some much better options.

The A380 upper deck is smaller and hence usually quieter (in theory).

 

[rottie]

I'm 5'10 and wouldn't select row 32 again if I wanted to sleep. Even with the bin and ability to sort of put your feet up, I just couldn't get comfortable not being able to straight my legs.

Thanks Daver6, that's very helpful. I am 5'7 - do you think I would be better off sitting on row 33 instead?

 

[Daver6]

Thanks Daver6, that's very helpful. I am 5'7 - do you think I would be better off sitting on row 33 instead?

Really hard to say. Depends how much not having straight legs bothers you. I've done DFW - SYD in 33D and was more comfortable for sleeping. I oscillate between having my legs in the little net thing and straight out. It really is a personal thing I think.

Having the seat in front of me recline for a night flight really doesn't bother me at all. However, for a flight where I'm not going to sleep I'd go a bulkhead. I'm actually a little conflicted on this exact thing for the PER - LHR flights on the 787. Even though I believe the bulkhead foot space is better, I'm still option for a regular seat for the PER - LHR sector as I know I'll want to sleep. Actually, I'm fortunate enough to be on a PER - MEL 787 sector in a couple of weeks, so I might try inspect those seats in order to make a more informed decision. Sorry, bit if a cough-on here by me, none of which helps you

 

[jomar]

I'm about 6' and QF A380 row 32 is on my never again list, whether I wanted to sleep or not. For me, being able to fully straighten my restless legs is vital on a long flight, and it's just not possible in that bulkhead row.

As Daver6 says, it's hard to say what the tradeoff between rows 32 and 33 would be for you. IIRC other considerations would be seat-back IFE vs in the armrest, which is of interest if you like to watch the tail camera during take off and landing.

For me, the desirable things are legroom and not watching the dinner cart making its way agonisingly slowly towards towards the row I'm in So I like the small Y cabin in the upper deck or being right towards the front of the lower deck cabin. Thus for the lower deck a great seat, if it's not already snapped up, is 48A: infinite leg room, first on and off the plane, served first at mealtimes, okay view out the window. It's an exit row but because it nominally has the door extending into your legroom (it doesn't in reality) it's not charged as an exit row seat.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

FWIW I got row 24 on a 332 last year and there was lots of legroom, more so than 23 it seemed. But 23 is nicely secluded on the side. The exit row bulkhead back in the second cabin did not enjoy the same legroom.

 

[rottie]

Thanks everyone. I have changed the a380 seat to 33K and a330 seat to 24D (still bulkhead but seems to have more legroom than 23K). I will try to snap some photos as well!

 

[Daver6]

Pretty sure the legroom on 24D is the same as 23K.

 

[Daver6]

FYI A380 row 32.

 

[wannabeinvestmentbanker]

Ouch! I don't see how anyone could actually sit in row 32 above for a flight in excess of 10 hrs. I did row 23 on a 330 from SIN-MEL overnight and it was a little uncomfortable on a flight of that length. The pax next to me was about 6'4 I reckon and his legs halfway up the bulkhead wall.

A little OT but best sleep I've ever had in Y was row 43 on 747 to SFO. I haven't come across a similar setup on any other aircraft but haven't done a longhaul Y in a little bit.

 

[rottie]

FYI A380 row 32.

View attachment 116542

Thanks Daver, that does look pretty painful for a long haul flight!