Solo long-haul flyer - QA 2-seater vs 3-seater, BA seat preferences

[cheap1]

Hey guys

First of all just wanted to say this is a very useful forum and thanks in arrears for all the good info on here Well I posted before with a link to the seatguru seat config but it didn't allow my post and I lost my post :shock: so here goes again. I tried a search to find some answers but was not successful in finding answers to the exact same questions.

I'm flying solo on a RTW ticket purchased with FF points few questions that I had... Firstly, I am the cheap1 and have no status besides Bronze

1. QA003 Syd-Honolulu (Overnight Flight) on a Boeing 767-300 - I've been assigned a pretty good seat preference of 36A (window seat, 2-seat config). I'm a very light sleeper so prefer window seat to rest on the wall. What are the chances that the seat next to me will be empty in the 2-seat config? Is it worth changing to an aisle seat in the middle row with 3 seats, with the likelihood that the middle seat will be vacant? I have average hips/waist but somewhat broad shoulders... so I do dislike rubbing shoulders with other passengers as I tend to move away from them (to my detriment as I end up with a sore back).

My friend says in her experience, it kinda fills up like a peak hour train with single communters. 2 seater window seats first and followed by window and aisle seats of the 3 seaters, then aisle seats of the 2 seaters, and finally the dreaded middle seat in the 3 seaters... I'm always afraid of middle seat overspill

2. BA0027 London - Hong Kong, overnight flight, recently changed to a Boeing 777 3-class. My longest flight... hoping to get a window seat on a 3-seater. I understand I cant put my seating preferences in, but can I choose my seat via online checkin? I may grow to regret my overnight flight decisions to avoid nights of accommodation (being cheap again) and make the most of daylight.

3. I get a 2 baggage allowance on all my flights, but need to book additional flights outside of the RTW ticket, i.e. LAX -> Vancouver and HK -> Japan... They are counted as international flights right? So I should get my 2 baggage allowance still? I will check with the particular airlines though.

Thanks very much in advance

 

[Masonic Phantom]

Hi cheap1
Welcome to A.F.F.

 

[cheap1]

Thanks Mr MP

 

[codash1099]

Hey guys

First of all just wanted to say this is a very useful forum and thanks in arrears for all the good info on here Well I posted before with a link to the seatguru seat config but it didn't allow my post and I lost my post :shock: so here goes again. I tried a search to find some answers but was not successful in finding answers to the exact same questions.

I'm flying solo on a RTW ticket purchased with FF points few questions that I had... Firstly, I am the cheap1 and have no status besides Bronze

1. QA003 Syd-Honolulu (Overnight Flight) on a Boeing 767-300 - I've been assigned a pretty good seat preference of 36A (window seat, 2-seat config). I'm a very light sleeper so prefer window seat to rest on the wall. What are the chances that the seat next to me will be empty in the 2-seat config? Is it worth changing to an aisle seat in the middle row with 3 seats, with the likelihood that the middle seat will be vacant? I have average hips/waist but somewhat broad shoulders... so I do dislike rubbing shoulders with other passengers as I tend to move away from them (to my detriment as I end up with a sore back).

My friend says in her experience, it kinda fills up like a peak hour train with single communters. 2 seater window seats first and followed by window and aisle seats of the 3 seaters, then aisle seats of the 2 seaters, and finally the dreaded middle seat in the 3 seaters... I'm always afraid of middle seat overspill

2. BA0027 London - Hong Kong, overnight flight, recently changed to a Boeing 777 3-class. My longest flight... hoping to get a window seat on a 3-seater. I understand I cant put my seating preferences in, but can I choose my seat via online checkin? I may grow to regret my overnight flight decisions to avoid nights of accommodation (being cheap again) and make the most of daylight.

3. I get a 2 baggage allowance on all my flights, but need to book additional flights outside of the RTW ticket, i.e. LAX -> Vancouver and HK -> Japan... They are counted as international flights right? So I should get my 2 baggage allowance still? I will check with the particular airlines though.

Thanks very much in advance

Watch out for those window seats on overnight flights, particularly if you need to get up during the night. Stepping over the next person can be dangerous - I somehow tore an Achilles tendon doing it not so long ago and that was in J.

Your 2 bag allowance should only be good for the RTW part of your trip. Any side trips not on the RTW ticket will most likely incur extra charges, especially when airlines are scrounging for every $ they can lay their hands on..

 

[cheap1]

Watch out for those window seats on overnight flights, particularly if you need to get up during the night. Stepping over the next person can be dangerous - I somehow tore an Achilles tendon doing it not so long ago and that was in J.

Your 2 bag allowance should only be good for the RTW part of your trip. Any side trips not on the RTW ticket will most likely incur extra charges, especially when airlines are scrounging for every $ they can lay their hands on..

Thanks for your response codash. So sorry to hear about your Achilles tendon, I hope that have recovered OK? Must've been because the tendon was really tight from sitting too long in a flexed position

I may opt for an aisle seat in that case for the long hauls. My mate said that you can see out the window from the aisle seat on a 2-seater anyway. On another note, I wouldn't want to get woken up by a window-seater constantly needing to go to the loo... I think I'd rather be the person doing the waking up if I can help it (selfish... but hey, it's them or me! )

I see thanks for the advice, I will probably need to fit my first suitcase inside the other for those legs somehow.

 

[munitalP]

welcome to AFF!

I find window seats on long haul Y's the best - I usually stay in my seat for the entire flight - I get up if my neighbours do. Leaning against the window has it's advantages, as long as the RIB is not directly against you, then you loose extra the room.

Avoid exit rows on 74's and bulk heads on 76's... (unless you have real short legs or don't mind 14 hours of not stretching)

Also consider a neck pillow, cheap as chips and allows you to get comfy... don't under any circumstances buy the blow up one! You will regret it.

Score a spare blanket (or someone else's on the way to your seat...jk ) so you can get some hip padding - that will allow you to kinda sleep side on...

Make sure you sit on the starboard side of the aircraft LHR to HKG, set your alarm for the 10 hour mark, get the Raybans out, and check out the Himalayers on the way past, they are impressive!

My best advice is to spend some more and fly J... :shock:

Good luck and have fun!

Mr!

 

[cheap1]

don't under any circumstances buy the blow up one! You will regret it.

Score a spare blanket (or someone else's on the way to your seat...jk ) so you can get some hip padding - that will allow you to kinda sleep side on...

Make sure you sit on the starboard side of the aircraft LHR to HKG,

Awesome mate Great advice! Thank you

Yes I remember my blow up pillow, they aren't easy to blow up haha.

Great idea regarding the spare blanket and sitting on the starboard side No way I would've known so thanks for letting me know.

Gosh I don't actually fly til another 3 months but I'm already excited haha.

 

[Alanslegal]

hey cheap1 , welcome to AFF, and you do have status - its's bronze!!

Anyway the further back you get the less likely you will have a neighbour given most people like to be up front - so its a chance you take, slow disembarkment versus likely the spare seat next to you.

And 3 seaters - they are just too hard to guard esp on a near full flight. So go for the 2 seater, its much easier to protect and there's only 1 chance of someone next to you versus 2 chances on a 3 seater.

Good luck anyway and have fun.

 

[cheap1]

hey cheap1 , welcome to AFF, and you do have status - its's bronze!!

Anyway the further back you get the less likely you will have a neighbour given most people like to be up front - so its a chance you take, slow disembarkment versus likely the spare seat next to you.

And 3 seaters - they are just too hard to guard esp on a near full flight. So go for the 2 seater, its much easier to protect and there's only 1 chance of someone next to you versus 2 chances on a 3 seater.

Good luck anyway and have fun.

Haha thanks Alan yes, although not sure if my bronze card gets me into anything besides the call centre.

Thanks for the advice, for now I'll stick to my front-ish 2 seater, and I think I'll just play it by ear. If it looks like an empty flight (around checkin time), I'll gladly move back if I get a chance of getting a 2-seater to myself Do you reckon this is better done online vs getting to the airport early?

Thanks

 

[Flashback]

Haha thanks Alan yes, although not sure if my bronze card gets me into anything besides the call centre.

Thanks for the advice, for now I'll stick to my front-ish 2 seater, and I think I'll just play it by ear. If it looks like an empty flight (around checkin time), I'll gladly move back if I get a chance of getting a 2-seater to myself Do you reckon this is better done online vs getting to the airport early?

Thanks

If an international flight then OLCI won't be available; and getting to the airport early would be before everyone else had checked in and made their decisions.... this is where having lounge access comes in handy, cause you can keep asking in there if the seat next to you has been taken!

 

[cheap1]

If an international flight then OLCI won't be available; and getting to the airport early would be before everyone else had checked in and made their decisions.... this is where having lounge access comes in handy, cause you can keep asking in there if the seat next to you has been taken!

Ahhh yes, thanks Flashware, that's right! I recall that OLCI is not available for international QA flights. Is that the case with American Airlines and British Airways international flights too?

 

[Dave Noble]

Ahhh yes, thanks Flashware, that's right! I recall that OLCI is not available for international QA flights. Is that the case with American Airlines and British Airways international flights too?

Yes and No respectively.

BA is quite happy to allow OLCI for international flights

Dave

 

[cheap1]

Yes and No respectively.

BA is quite happy to allow OLCI for international flights

Dave

Thanks for clearing that up Dave well i've got my seat preferences in for AA , so I guess OLCI suits me fine for BA

Such a useful and knowledgable forum!! don't know if I can contribute anything! haha..

 

[Flashback]

Thanks for clearing that up Dave well i've got my seat preferences in for AA , so I guess OLCI suits me fine for BA

Such a useful and knowledgable forum!! don't know if I can contribute anything! haha..

All in good time buddy! When I first started posting here, I was a complete noob.

 

[cheap1]

Haha.. Just means I'm going to have to take more flights then huh well I think I'm going to catch the travel bug after this anyways... Thanks again everyone