Worst seat on a 747?

[Warks]

On my recent flight back from LAX to SYD I travelled with my Mum so missed out on my preferred seating allocation. We didn't book together so we weren't seated together and had to work it out at the airport. Lo and behold I end up in row 59 (didn't know there was a row 59!) right next to the galley with the comings and goings there. The worst thing though was in the aisle seat (H) there was no leg room under the seat in front (emergency exit row) as there was a metal box fitted to the floor - the function of which I have no idea (felt hot). Well I could only stretch one leg out and there was no way I was going to sit like that for 14 hours. So I swapped with my mum - no I'm not cruel - she's 5'5'' and I'm 6'2"! I honestly could not have sat there for the flight. The plane was close to full so there were no other options. Shows it pays to book together well in advance. Also a word of warning: avoid seat 59H!!

Any other shockers of seats which we should know? I know that "subtly all aircraft are different".

 

[aus_flyer]

I find the main problem with 747s is the existence of economy.

Skybeds for everyone at economy prices... I wish.

Unfortunately seatguru.com only has one 747 configuration for Qantas.

 

[Yada Yada]

there was no leg room under the seat in front (emergency exit row) as there was a metal box fitted to the floor - the function of which I have no idea (felt hot).

According to seatguru.com, it's part of the IFE system.

I once sat in 75G from LAX-SYD, which is the aisle seat in the very back row. As seatguru.com indicates, this seat gets jostled by people standing around waiting for the loo. I kept getting woken up. :x Even worse was the occasional odour coming out of the loo after someone had just finished taking a dump. Avoid this seat too!

 

[NM]

Personally I try to avoid seats 2E and 2F. The aisle is narrowest at that point and the only way for the passengers in 2A and 2K to reach the overhead lockers is to stand right in the middle of 2E or 2F.

Always aim for something less than row 27 on a 744.

Oh yes, and the smoking seats on the wings have good ventilation, but the IFE is somewhat restrictive. If choosing these seats always ask for a second blanket.

31D on the 2-class 744 is also a poor choice. Good IFE options there, but its very hard to sleep and lots of galley noise and light.

 

[QF WP]

Warks, I'm sure that you know for next time that you have to ring QF and get them to link the two bookings, so that you and your mum (or future travelling companion - partner, boss, colleague, etc) will be able to sit together without having to hope at check-in that there are two seats available.

That way, they'll get to sit closer to the front of the plane 8)

 

[Warks]

Warks, I'm sure that you know for next time that you have to ring QF and get them to link the two bookings, so that you and your mum (or future travelling companion - partner, boss, colleague, etc) will be able to sit together without having to hope at check-in that there are two seats available.

That way, they'll get to sit closer to the front of the plane 8)

Don't worry it won't happen again!
I knew all that but I was in YVR and was so busy I didn't get around to doing it at the last minute there.

 

[aus_flyer]

With any luck, one day we might be able to do all this online - TCPs, et al

 

[JohnK]

I would have to say any economy seat. Any business seat I would love regardless if anyone has to climb over the top of me, not easy to do by the way if you see my size, to get to the overhead locker. First class, don't even go there. Maybe one day.

Seriously folks, for me my favourite seat has to be aisle unless you have a heavy drinker inside you whether it is soft drink, water or god's gift to man, alcohol they are drinking. Constantly making you get up to get past to get to the clausterphobic toilet. And I am not the world's most mobile person, far from it I am probably the most immobile.

Had a weird funny feiling that seat numbers went as far back as the 70's. Thank God I have never been aywhere near there.

 

[Guest]

I would have to say any economy seat.

Agreed. The best economy seat for me is one where theres 1-2 spare seats next to me, but I don't like exit rows for 6+ hour flights.. it's impossible to sleep in them!!

 

[robertz]

The worst thing though was in the aisle seat (H) there was no leg room under the seat in front (emergency exit row) as there was a metal box fitted to the floor - the function of which I have no idea (felt hot).

This is the Inflight Entertainment box. Its under the same seats (B, F, H and J, I think) :? right down the plane (in Y).

I had the pleasure of sitting in 36C (QF 12) which has the toilet that runs parallel with the isle, next to it. Luckily the FA locked the door after take off, as I would have ended up like Yada Yada, a dump naz_.. With good reason


Rob

 

[Groundfeeder]

Personally, the toilet is generally a place to avoid if you're a blokey 6'2", let alone to be allocated a nearby seat next to the plumbing.

It embaresses me to say that one of my altitude usually has to sit like a girl in the toilet, as the curving rooflines precludes any good vision to line up for a safe No. 1 shot. Any turbulence and you're not the cleaners favorite traveller. Apart from that there's not a lot for a bloke to technically examine as all the devices probably have girl germs on them.

Bring on the 380 with the 9' ceilings!!!

 

[serfty]

... It embaresses me to say that one of my altitude usually has to sit like a girl in the toilet, as the curving rooflines precludes any good vision to line up for a safe No. 1 shot. Any turbulence and you're not the cleaners favorite traveller. ...

Interesting point; I had not really thought much about it before, but as a 6' bloke, I often find myself a similar situation and I do have a tried and tested means of getting around this problem.

I tilt my head forward and down, leaning it against the 'curving roofline' (or is that wall?) & move my feet back 6", This gives 3 reasonably solid points of stability with my center of gravity above or nearly above the 'target'. I am thus able to observe 'aim' and my two free hands ensure accuracy, as it were.

Never had to sit down yet, but that extra 5cm may make the difference.

 

[meloz]

that extra 5cm may make the difference.

That's what all the girls say. :wink:

 

[Groundfeeder]

I am thus able to observe 'aim' and my two free hands ensure accuracy, as it were.

Serfty, thinking further about this strategy and the deflections caused by turbulence, particularly in the aft throneroom, I consider that one should perhaps kneel and then place the lid over the top of your appendage to ensure entrapment.

Don't you just love the technical side to this forum???

 

[NM]

I keep losing the ping-pong ball during the flush . Got to carry a supply for a long trip.

 

[JohnK]

I am glad we are consinstent and keeping most threads OT. :roll: I suppose if we are to talk about worst seats we may as well talk about the clausterphobic seats on a 747.

As Lindsay would say "Does anyone even remotely remember what the topic is about?"

 

[QF WP]

Actually, I agree that the toilet seat is the worst seat on a 747. Being vertically challenged, serfty's explanation had me narrowly missing my keypad with my morning cuppa...I have often used the exact same pose (knowing what some people are like, I'll always go in the QP before flying).

Other than that, yes the last seats on a 747 (no that I've ever been back that far) would be the worst - oe any too close to seeing people's to and fro'ing from the toliets.