US Airways Dividend Miles (Pre-FlightFund Merger) - Seating question for A330 to London (Gatwick)

I am a UA Premier Exec and flying to London (Gatwick) on a US Air A333. I am in Economy and tried to request row 8. They said it was for handicapped persons. I have never heard of an airline reserving an entire bulkhead row for handicapped persons. I then tried for row 21 (I think it is) and they said emergency row seats are released at the airport on the day of departure.

Is this normal for US Air?

1. How early on the day of departure can I request those emergency row seats? One hour prior? Eight hours prior?

2. Are there are any economy seats anyone can recommend other than the bulkhead or emergency row.

I am a UA Premier Exec and flying to London (Gatwick) on a US Air A333. I am in Economy and tried to request row 8. They said it was for handicapped persons. I have never heard of an airline reserving an entire bulkhead row for handicapped persons. I then tried for row 21 (I think it is) and they said emergency row seats are released at the airport on the day of departure.

Is this normal for US Air?

1. How early on the day of departure can I request those emergency row seats? One hour prior? Eight hours prior?

2. Are there are any economy seats anyone can recommend other than the bulkhead or emergency row.


Most of the economy seats in the forward economy section have about 34" pitch versus 35" pitch in United's economy plus and versus 31" in United Economy, Continental economy, Lufthansa, etc. They are really not too bad and have more pitch overall than the 767s.
The airbus is one of the nicer things going for USAirways and if you get a Charlotte based crew they are "wicked friendly"
{ ;) to other Bostonians}

Have a great flight - maybe you can change at airport too, but I would snag a forward economy cabin seat now. Have a look at www.seatguru.com .
I'd get one away from the lavs though.

I could be wrong (and others will correct me) but I'd have thought as Prem Exec they would release exit row seats to you. As for check-in, I believe you can do six hours in advance (although it may be eight). It's a zoo, even for Envoy check-in line (Envoy and elites, such as yourself) in the evening. If you can run to PHL earlier in the day, I'd recommend it.

I could be wrong (and others will correct me) but I'd have thought as Prem Exec they would release exit row seats to you. As for check-in, I believe you can do six hours in advance (although it may be eight). It's a zoo, even for Envoy check-in line (Envoy and elites, such as yourself) in the evening. If you can run to PHL earlier in the day, I'd recommend it.

EnvoyBoy, exit row seats are released in advance for elites only for domestic flights. For international, you can get them upon check-in. IIRC, check-in is 4 hours prior to flight time for international at the earliest, and I wholeheartedly agree with showing up as early as possible.

Is row 21 the best on the A333?

btw - row 8 isnt just for handicapped people - its also for families with infants (bassinette hooks on bulkhead).

not sure if that is mentioned on seatguru - but for those of you with sensitivity issues, a reason not to sit in rows 6 or 7 (envoy)