Other Asian, Australian and South Pacific Frequent Flyer Programs - EVA PL seats on 777 & A330

Last week I flew on a 777 and the PL seats were awful, no way you get to sleep on them and the frankly I have known such a steep incline. You are expected to put you feet on the step at the bottom of the seat and someone how prop yourself up while you try to sleep. Yesterday I flew on a full PL class flight on a A330, the seats looked similar and mine was actually broken. When I was told you have to adjust the seat manually but the back support will remain totally upright and begged the question on how long EVA have been doing DIY business class seats. The two girls in row 1 were quickly despatched out while me and my colleauge were put in row 1. Seems the crew knoew full well these seats have been broken for sometime now and asked us to file a complaint to HQ as even though they file reports the seats remain broken. First of all I have to say after this the crew were superb with us both as we spoke chinese to them and this really helped us make them realise we were just tired and upset at this fact and now were were totally happy. The two girls were friends of the family of one of the pilots.

Anyway my question is this, the recline on these seats was way better than the 777 and I was able to get some sleep very easy. I was always under the impression on EVA that the PL seats were all the same, can someone enlighten me for future bookings as to what I can expect for 777, A330 A340 and 747.

Thanks in advance.

I can't notice the difference, I can sleep in any kind of seats:p

EVA doesn't operate A340 BTW.

I've always thought that BR's 332 C seats were about an inch less in width than the 77W/744.

To sleep, I put myself in a Z position; that seems to work best for me with those seats.

I don't quite fully recline and then lie on my front. My fat stomach then lodges itself in the angle and I go nowhere.

Agree that the incline in the full flat position is difficult.

I move the knee portion of the seat up some and it works for me.

Yeah, I much prefer full lie flat, but can not afford it. EVA PL class is something like $2500 RT and back from Asia to the US west coast. And I only occasionally fly PL, usually go exec/delux for more like $1500 T all in. Most of my PL flights are op-ups or miles.

You get what you pay for.

I do have enough DL miles to get a free F tick on SQ. I think that seat is OK :)

seems very inconsistent all round then to me and I assume the 747 has now got rid of those awful old seats and uses these terrible z shaped so call lie flat seats

Version 1 PL seats are on the A330s. I find them very comfortable in a Z position. With Version 1, you can adjust the 'depth/length' of your seat cushion, which is supposed to provide you with more leg support. It's nothing spectacular, but I don't think it's a function that's available on the Version 2 seat.

Version 2 PL seats are on the B747-400s [74W] (not the B747-400 Combi [74E], which have the old Super Business seats) and the B777-300. Version 2 is theoretically wider than Version 1 because there are only 6 seats in a row as opposed to 7, which is what most airlines offer on their B747 and B777. Version 2 also contains a footwell light, something that Version 1 doesn't have. Again, nothing spectacular.

I have to say I flew in PL with BR several times over the past 2 weeks. I just have not experienced any trouble getting comfortable enough to sleep in the PL seats. However, I wouldn't mind (actually I would prefer) if BR re-cabined to a true lie-flat seat in the future.

I can't really explain in short how I manage to get comfortable but I'll give it a go.

1. Select an aisle seat. This lets you stand in the aisle so you can put the seat into sleep mode. I've found this much easier than sitting at a window and being in the seat and going to sleep mode.

2. When the seat has been set into sleep mode, I then bring the foot step all the way up...as far as it goes. This is to shorten the length of the seat.

3. I climb onto the seat, placing feet first. Then I lay on my side, place blanket over me, then tighten the seat belt over my hip/butt so as to be almost sitting on the seat belt instead of having it lay across me.

4. Rack-out time. I don't slip, slide, or fall and am usually good for 5-6 hours of straight sleep.

I think the key for me is the way I use the seat belt. I just don't know how folks do it wrapped across their mid-section. I think tightening it across your hip/butt works better.

One other note is I've now seen BR has body length pillows, especially on long haul flights to/from LAX. I watched a woman on a leg place one at the foot rest and run it towards the head rest. It almost made the seat close to a true lie-flat. Interesting use. I am much larger, so probably would have needed 2 to make it happen, but as I said, I'm fine with the way the seats are right now. Even more so because I'm a side sleeper.

I wouldn't mind (actually I would prefer) if BR re-cabined to a true lie-flat seat in the future.

It would be nice if they started running an F service again. This would provide an incentive for regular C flyers. (ie something to upgrade too...)

It would be nice if they started running an F service again. This would provide an incentive for regular C flyers. (ie something to upgrade too...)

I don't think we'll see this for a while. With rare exceptions, they seem to be having a hard enough time filling PL.

I don't think we'll see this for a while. With rare exceptions, they seem to be having a hard enough time filling PL.

I always felt it was a mistake to create such large PL cabins especially when it led to such a reduction in the premium economy cabins. Making more space for Elite (as with the old Deluxe) or a handful of F seats would make sense to me. But I suppose they will stick to current arrangements for a while - including the discounting of PL.

So can I just jump back in here, are we agreed the PL seats are different on a 777 to a330

So can I just jump back in here, are we agreed the PL seats are different on a 777 to A330

I've never paid too much attention. They both seem too similar to be different. Both with 61" pitch, 22" width. I say no.

Somehow I prefer 777 PL than A332. When being in lie-fat mode none of them works for me 'cos of the angel. However 777 PL seats do have a benefit that in Z mode the seat tilt back a little bit so you're at least lying in a 'bucket' with both hips/back supported. On A332 the seat is either flat or tilt forward so making it very difficult to sleep for me.

But I don't get to sleep even in PL. Will be good if BR can re-cabin to real flat seats however I don't think that's going to happen at all. BR makes more money in cargo so passengers are just 'extra' on top of that.