Last edit by: ssh
From SAT Lawyer's First Post:
Please also see: http://seatexpert.com/seatmap/320/Un..._First_&_Biz)/ and http://www.seatguru.com/airlines/Uni...747-400_B.php]
What follows is my assessment of where to sit on the 744, which I sampled on a recent flight from SYD-SFO. I sat in E+ for three hours before a flight cancellation on Tuesday and in 15K in the upper deck in business for 13 hours the following day, so I feel sufficiently well-informed to dispense advice for those cabins. I cannot, however, make a recommendation for business class seating on the lower deck or the E- minus cabin, so with that caveat, here is my feedback on the upper deck . . .
Where should I sit in the upper deck? Any seats better than others?
Unlike the old configuration of the upper deck where certain seats – especially the exit row seats in row 15 – are appreciably better, on the new configuration, there is not really much to distinguish between the upper deck seats except for the limited caveats noted below.
What seats should I try to avoid?
There are only five seats that are nominally less attractive than the rest. 12 J & K are close to the forward lavatories and the flight deck so you can expect increased foot traffic and noise during the flight. The shell for 14K protrudes backward into the exit door area and partially overlaps with the exit door causing a nominal reduction in the view and a possible cold spot due to airflow penetrating the door seal. 17 J & K lose a good deal of privacy because they are visible from the top of the stairs and suffer from increased noise and light from the galley and traffic to and from the galley.
Window or aisle?
Window, definitely. And I say this as someone who is typically an aisle guy. You get the side bins for storage, the view, a little more peace and privacy being further removed from the aisle, and avoid the possibility of being disrupted by a seatmate climbing over you. Climbing over a seatmate in the aisle seat who is in the sleeping configuration requires a little bit of dexterity, but certainly is not terribly difficult for anyone who is at least 6 feet tall. Those who are substantially shorter than 6 feet may want to avoid the window, however.
Forward or backward?
Doesn’t really matter. Due to the pitch of the aircraft, those facing backwards will have their feet slightly below their heads in the sleeping configuration, but we are really splitting hairs here. Personally, I prefer the backward-facing view from the upper deck because you can see the wing and the engines.
What if I’m traveling with more than two people?
You will not be able to see or converse with the passengers whose feet oppose yours behind the wall adjoining the foot pocket and video panel. In other words, to give one example, the passengers in 15 J & K are fully walled-off from the passengers in 16 J & K. The shell of the seat also provides full privacy from behind. So, if you want to keep an eye on travel companions, you should try to sit diagonally across the aisle from one other. Passengers in 15 J & K, for example, will have a good view of passengers in 16 A & B, and vice versa. Actually, if you are travelling in a group of more than two and being able to chat is important to you, you'll probably want to sit in the middle section of the lower deck.
What happened to the exit row?
For all intents and purposes, it doesn’t exist. The seats in both rows 14 and 15 both back up to the exit area creating something more akin to an exit corridor. No extra legroom or particular advantage to these seats.
How is the seat for sleeping?
It’s a true, parallel-to-the-ground lie-flat seat, which is the big improvement. The arm rests on both sides can be manually lowered so that they don’t extend above the seat in bed configuration, which further increases arm and shoulder room. Unfortunately, for window seaters, there will be a healthy gap between the lowered arm rest and the side bins which means that the extra room on one side isn’t particularly useful since if you stick your arm far enough off the seat, it will essentially drop off a cliff with nothing to prop it up. As a 6-footer, my left foot was a little bit cramped due to the curvature of the foot-pocket, although this was not terribly bothersome. Both my seatmate and I felt that the seat lacked sufficient padding in the lumbar region of the back so we both woke up with sore lower backs.
What is the audio and video on-demand like?
For United and in comparison to the old configuration, great. The video screens are positively huge. There aren’t as many movies as one may find on airlines like Singapore, but still, there should be enough features to keep all but the most demanding and fickle passengers entertained.
As for the E+ cabin . . .
Seat pitch seems indistinguishable throughout, the bulkhead row 19 excepted. I don't care for the seats in row 19 myself because the hard bulkhead without cutouts effectively prevents all but the shortest traveler from stretching out his or her feet. This is true of both the outside seats as well as the middle section.
I would strongly advise against any D seat -- the aisle seats on the port side of the middle section -- because the audio boxes are beneath those seats and inhibit leg room for the left foot. There still should be enough room to place both feet, but only at a fairly sharp and uncomfortable angle.
As an aisle guy, I would go with one of the G seats. No audio box inhibiting leg room and landlocked middle seat passengers can access the aisle in either direction cutting in half your chance of getting bumped or bothered while you are trying to sleep.
There are still no individual seat-back video screens, unfortunately, so you are stuck with whatever programming UA runs on the main screens. Fortunately, the main screens have been upgraded to LCD screens. Sit at least a few rows back from row 19 to avoid being uncomfortably close to the screens.
Everything You Want to Know About Where to Sit on a United 747
#2626
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: BUR/LAX
Programs: UA 1K/2MM, HHonors Diamond, IHG Diamond Elite
Posts: 2,505
I can see maybe the "A" side if you are really small and skinny but it's harder on the "K" side.
#2627
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: ORD
Programs: UA GS
Posts: 659
I'm pretty skinny and can usually squeeze through small gaps. Good to know that the A side is best for this on the UD.
Thanks guys.
Thanks guys.
#2629
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: San Jose, CA
Posts: 253
I've never seen the upper deck of the 747. How does the "escape" work for the window seats? Where is the gap?
#2630
Moderator: Budget Travel forum & Credit Card Programs, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: YYJ/YVR and back on Van Isle ....... for now
Programs: UA lifetime MM / *A Gold
Posts: 14,428
Good information that I actually used quite a few pages back.
Curious why you ask, unless you are planning a flight on UD.
DL is retiring 747s at an alarming rate (curious since they regularly buy used old planes), and since UA tends to mimic DL, I'd get a ticket booked ASAP if you want to fly on UD @:-)
And while I've flown (before award mile devaluation) on Thai's A380 in International FC, UD is just somehow special @:-) Not that I didn't enjoy Dom Perignon on Thai
#2631
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: San Jose, CA
Posts: 253
Wow, I completely missed the last few posts that were on this! Anyways, I'm finally flying on a 747 and am kind of dreading 11.5 hours in E+. I've flown BF internationally once on a 764 and it was real nice. I'm considering treating myself to an experience here but it's mentally rather hard to overcome the price tag.
I asked about the window seat escape because I would definitely choose a window seat and if there were seats where I could get out without climbing over someone then that would be great.
On a separate note, I think I'd enjoy flying backwards. I've taken p.s. redeyes before and the lie-flats go down just a bit too far for my liking. The slightly increased head elevation from lying down backwards sounds appealing.
I asked about the window seat escape because I would definitely choose a window seat and if there were seats where I could get out without climbing over someone then that would be great.
On a separate note, I think I'd enjoy flying backwards. I've taken p.s. redeyes before and the lie-flats go down just a bit too far for my liking. The slightly increased head elevation from lying down backwards sounds appealing.
#2632
Moderator: Budget Travel forum & Credit Card Programs, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: YYJ/YVR and back on Van Isle ....... for now
Programs: UA lifetime MM / *A Gold
Posts: 14,428
Forward facing seats tend to be taken first.
Me, I am just happy as long as my u/g clears, especially into UD
OTOH, now that there's power under seat in coach and PDE, coach isn't as bad as it used to be. And yes, I've done my share of flying down below in the back in the dark days ......
#2633
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,450
There are several 744 UD configurations; on some of them, you can't get out of 14K (due to exit slide), but on most you can. In fact on some of them, it's the easiest seat on the aircraft for the escape. 15K you can get out of on every aircraft I've flown (which I think is most of the current fleet).
Again, whether you can get out of 14K depends on the configuration of your aircraft.
#2634
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: SFO
Programs: UA-1K
Posts: 308
Sorry that's totally incorrect.
There are several 744 UD configurations; on some of them, you can't get out of 14K (due to exit slide), but on most you can. In fact on some of them, it's the easiest seat on the aircraft for the escape. 15K you can get out of on every aircraft I've flown (which I think is most of the current fleet).
Again, whether you can get out of 14K depends on the configuration of your aircraft.
#2635
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,450
Given that aircraft assignments are not typically known when you select your seat (and can change right up to departure), if getting out from the window seat is essential, I think the only sure answer is avoid 14K. Although I personally really like that seat and believe that it's blocked on only a handful of aircraft.
#2636
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Midwest
Programs: UA GS, UA 1.6MM, AA LT PLT, AA 2.6MM, Intercontinental Royal Ambassador
Posts: 838
Flying round trip ORD - NRT next week. Last second trip so seat choices not great on the return.
Due to this thread, I snagged 2A on the outbound with a GPU. My question is that for the return, GF is sold out as is the UD. That leaves me with the choice of 6A, 9J or 10A. I'm holding 6A for now but would love any opinions. I thought about 10A as it appeared to be in the smaller BF cabin and I've read there's less foot traffic through there. I'm watching the UD like a hawk
Thanks.
Due to this thread, I snagged 2A on the outbound with a GPU. My question is that for the return, GF is sold out as is the UD. That leaves me with the choice of 6A, 9J or 10A. I'm holding 6A for now but would love any opinions. I thought about 10A as it appeared to be in the smaller BF cabin and I've read there's less foot traffic through there. I'm watching the UD like a hawk
Thanks.
#2637
Join Date: Feb 2012
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 158
Flying round trip ORD - NRT next week. Last second trip so seat choices not great on the return.
Due to this thread, I snagged 2A on the outbound with a GPU. My question is that for the return, GF is sold out as is the UD. That leaves me with the choice of 6A, 9J or 10A. I'm holding 6A for now but would love any opinions. I thought about 10A as it appeared to be in the smaller BF cabin and I've read there's less foot traffic through there. I'm watching the UD like a hawk
Thanks.
Due to this thread, I snagged 2A on the outbound with a GPU. My question is that for the return, GF is sold out as is the UD. That leaves me with the choice of 6A, 9J or 10A. I'm holding 6A for now but would love any opinions. I thought about 10A as it appeared to be in the smaller BF cabin and I've read there's less foot traffic through there. I'm watching the UD like a hawk
Thanks.
#2638
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Midwest
Programs: UA GS, UA 1.6MM, AA LT PLT, AA 2.6MM, Intercontinental Royal Ambassador
Posts: 838
#2639
Join Date: Nov 2014
Posts: 38
Not that the curtain makes any difference. I was in a similar situation on a UA 772 a year ago, figured that once the curtain closed after takeoff that I would have privacy. But the current curtains are light mesh and completely see-through for security. Even after it was closed I still had 100 people in coach staring at me in the face. (Luckily the plane was not full and so I moved to another BF seat.)
#2640
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: PDX
Programs: UA 1K, Marriott Plat
Posts: 11,500
My wife and I have an upcoming flight on a 744 and I'm currently in 15A/B. Would people recommend 13A/B since there is no one behind you and it's furthest from the galley but not right at the restrooms?