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
#2851
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,455
It depends on the specific aircraft, as the UD exit doors on the 744 are configured differently from airframe to airframe. There are some where you can exit behind the seat from 4/4 (i.e., all windows in rows 14 and 15), some where you can exit 3/4, and some where it's 3/4 but #3 is difficult.
#2852
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: SF Bay Area
Programs: UA Platinum
Posts: 502
58B Great Y seat
Hi All,
Thanks for the great advice on this thread, flew SFO-HKG and sat in 58B, GREAT seat choice. There is a lot of legroom, loved having the space next to the seat for my backpack, and overall fairly comfortable for the long flight over.
Pics below!
Thanks for the great advice on this thread, flew SFO-HKG and sat in 58B, GREAT seat choice. There is a lot of legroom, loved having the space next to the seat for my backpack, and overall fairly comfortable for the long flight over.
Pics below!
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Nov 7, 2016 at 9:06 pm Reason: fixed typo
#2853
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: UA 1K 1MM, AA, DL
Posts: 7,418
This might be the highest seat number ever to be discussed positively in the UA forums!
#2855
Join Date: May 2016
Location: In btw SJC & SFO
Programs: Marriott Titanium & LTP, Hilton Diamond (Aspire card), Hyatt Globalist, UA Gold (almost free agent)
Posts: 510
On SFO-NRT upper deck, which seat is better 14J or 16A? Both seats are current best available to choose IMO.
#2856
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,455
#2857
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: SFO
Programs: UA-1K
Posts: 308
I would take 16A. You have the window and the ability to get out w/out stepping over your seat mate.
Last edited by sb3; Nov 10, 2016 at 12:37 pm Reason: removed info on 14 J because I confused it with 14K.
#2858
Join Date: May 2016
Location: In btw SJC & SFO
Programs: Marriott Titanium & LTP, Hilton Diamond (Aspire card), Hyatt Globalist, UA Gold (almost free agent)
Posts: 510
#2859
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: SFO
Programs: UA-1K
Posts: 308
Nope. 16K backs up to 17k. You're stuck at the window and have to climb over your seat mate. There is no secret escape path. There is no 17A/B.
I am an aisle person, except for GF, 14A and 16A, so would take 14J over 16K. YMMV.
I am an aisle person, except for GF, 14A and 16A, so would take 14J over 16K. YMMV.
#2860
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,455
#2861
Join Date: May 2016
Location: In btw SJC & SFO
Programs: Marriott Titanium & LTP, Hilton Diamond (Aspire card), Hyatt Globalist, UA Gold (almost free agent)
Posts: 510
Thank you both sb3 and Kacee, I just changed back to 14J from 16K. I'm glad I asked and not taking for granted.
#2862
Join Date: Nov 2016
Posts: 85
I'm on a TPAC 747 flight next week. All window/aisle/exit E+ seats were all gone when I booked the flight a couple of months ago. I've been monitoring the seat map frequently. As of today, still nothing open in E+. So I ended up putting myself in 52D. All seats from row 52 to row 62 are unassigned as of now. What are my chances of getting the entire row of 4 seats to myself? (52DEFG)
#2863
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: SF Bay Area
Programs: UA Platinum
Posts: 502
where does the extra legroom come from? also, doesn't the person in 59B mind that you're taking up his/her legroom?
I'm on a TPAC 747 flight next week. All window/aisle/exit E+ seats were all gone when I booked the flight a couple of months ago. I've been monitoring the seat map frequently. As of today, still nothing open in E+. So I ended up putting myself in 52D. All seats from row 52 to row 62 are unassigned as of now. What are my chances of getting the entire row of 4 seats to myself? (52DEFG)
I'm on a TPAC 747 flight next week. All window/aisle/exit E+ seats were all gone when I booked the flight a couple of months ago. I've been monitoring the seat map frequently. As of today, still nothing open in E+. So I ended up putting myself in 52D. All seats from row 52 to row 62 are unassigned as of now. What are my chances of getting the entire row of 4 seats to myself? (52DEFG)
I really doubt you would end up with a row of 4 all to yourself. The flight was pretty full on mine, and I'd imagine most are that way. Watch the seat map T-96 to watch potential upgrades clear and then E+ open up.
#2864
Join Date: Nov 2016
Posts: 85
The extra leg room comes from the row ahead having a third seat directly in front of that bag space. If 59B doesn't like my bag there, well, it may very well be royal rumble time at 39,000 feet!!
I really doubt you would end up with a row of 4 all to yourself. The flight was pretty full on mine, and I'd imagine most are that way. Watch the seat map T-96 to watch potential upgrades clear and then E+ open up.
I really doubt you would end up with a row of 4 all to yourself. The flight was pretty full on mine, and I'd imagine most are that way. Watch the seat map T-96 to watch potential upgrades clear and then E+ open up.
any opnions on 49D?(again when all other E+ aisle and window seats are gone)
#2865
Join Date: Nov 2016
Posts: 85
are there any pictures out there that will show me what 45C looks like?