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Everything You Wanted to Know About Where to Sit on a pmUA 3-Cabin 777 Version 2

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Old Feb 28, 2013, 10:59 am
FlyerTalk Forums Expert How-Tos and Guides
Last edit by: onthesam
Note: There is a reasonable chance (increasing as this 3-class config is retrofitted to remove 3-class F) this configuration may be switch to Everything You Want to Know About Where to Sit on a 777-200 v5 / Polaris seats / 77J -- so United is often showing a weird seatmap for flights on these planes, reflecting the effort to convert to Polaris Business (without First Class), Premium Economy, and 10-across Y. A discussion of that seatmap is in this thread: Interim 772 seat map with Polaris & potentially Premium Economy (2018)

United has relabeled their site and Version 2 is now Version 1
This thread is about the 3 class 772 and there is only one version being used -- and it will be phased out with time.

Note: This Wiki and thread are devoted to the pmUA 3-Cabin 777 Version 2. There is a second thread, now locked, devoted to Version 1, with a shorter Wiki (this one addresses all questions, whereas that one addresses only Version 1-specific issues. This thread should be used for discussion of Version 2, although older posts may refer to Version 1 (they were split 8/30/14). Version 1 is no longer in service (12 Feb 2017).

If you are looking for information about the new 777-200 with Polaris configuration, that is available here: https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/unit...xperience.html

And, if you're looking for the thread about pmCO 777, it's here: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/unite...ational-5.html

Here is the version 2 seat map:



Version 1 vs. Version 2
Until late 2016, there were two versions of the international 3-class pmUA airplane.
"Version 1" on the United website has 8 First, 40 Business, and 218 coach seats. (No longer in service)
"Version 21" has 8 First, 40 Business, and 221 coach seats. (formerly Version 2 is now Version 1).

Generally speaking, Version 1 was an "XD" configuration with a shorter range (777-200) that flew transatlantic routes (TATL). Version 2 has a longer range and are either an "XJ" or "XQ" configuration of the 777-200ER that flew transpacific routes (TPAC), as well as other longer routes, and now flies all international routes on which a pmUA 777 is used.

There are two noticeable differences between the two, but they are otherwise virtually indistinguishable to the typical passenger and the seating is essentially the same.
  1. Version 1 had crew rest seats towards the back of the economy plus cabin. Version 2 has crew rest below the main deck.
  2. In order to accommodate access to the crew rest area on Version 2, this version has one fewer lavatory in the mid-cabin (2 instead of 3). Yes, it is unfortunate that there is one less bathroom on a plane that typically flies some of the longest routes UA flies (6000+ miles).

Both Version 1 and Version 2 have virtually identical F and C cabins, and nearly identical Y cabins, so most information about seats applies to both versions.

Detailed seat maps are available at:
http://www.seatguru.com/airlines/Uni...-200_3_New.php

AVOD (Audio Video On Demand) is available at every seat, the first UA plane to equipped this way. The first 777-200 in this configuration started flying in April 2010, and will probably take 18-24 months before the entire 777 international fleets are converted. The entire fleet of this plane is equipped with the AVOD system, although audio is no longer "on demand" and is instead a loop of songs in a playlist.

First Class (As UA has ceased selling 3-class F, this cabin will be treated as an extension of the Business cabin -- same service. Generally UA is allowing GS pre-select these seats prior to check-in)3-class First seats now considered Domestic F/Polaris Business & selectable by 1K/GSs
There are only eight First suites, instead of the 10 or 12 in the older 777 configurations. These suites are spacious, with a wide full-flat bed, and plenty of storage spaces. A big difference is the way the new seats are angled toward the aisle, as opposed to angling away. This makes couples traveling together have an awkward time if they take the middle pairs. For single travelers, for sure the individual suites along the side of the fuselage is better. Even for people traveling together, consider taking adjacent seats across the aisle, so you can see each other. Sharing of meals and quiet conversation would be difficult across the aisle would be difficult however.

The First glass galley is concentrated on the right side, so it is probably best to avoid the right aisle if given a choice, and consider seat 2A be the best on this configuration.

As for window view, all of the window suites have plenty of windows, but with the angling of the seats away from the window, it is much harder to look out of them.

Business Class
Equipped with full-flat 180-degree seats similar to the (now-familiar) ones on the 767-300 and 747-400. Divided into two cabins, front cabins has two rows, and three rows in the rear cabin, with the galley and lavatory between these two cabins.

In order to fit eight Business Class seats across, these seats are narrower than the previous recliners that are only 7 across. Even with the arm-rest that can be lowered, these seats do feel relatively snug. The benefit is a full flat sleeping surface, albeit forcing the inside passengers to step over a sleeping neighbor in order to access the aisle. A taller, nimble person may be able to climb over a sleeping neighbor without disrupting them, but for anyone with less height, short legs, or less general flexibility this could be difficult.

The general view is that the preferred row is row 6, since it is the first row and relatively far away from the facilities. If boarding is via L2, you turn left and most of the rest of the passengers will turn right and resulted in much less traffic through your area.

Note that the 777 cabin is about 9 inches narrower than the 747 cabin, with the exact same number of seats, so you will most likely notice the difference, perhaps most so as you are going down the aisles.

Half of the seats are rear-facing. Once the plane levels out you are unlikely to notice this. Only during takeoff and landing is the sensation different than you are accustomed to. Some people express a preference for the rear-facing seats because the pitch of the plane during level flight means your head is slightly elevated relative to your feet.

All four of the middle block seats in each row faces the same direction, the same for all five rows. For what its worth, note that 7A and 7K are missing a window at the foot end of the seat, against the bulkhead (but there are still two windows).

Row 8 is probably the least desirable, since it is closest to the facilities. 8C and 8H most likely would notice the most traffic to the lavatories and galley, and light from the lavs will shine on these seats when the door is opened. The view out of windows in this second cabin is either back toward the wing, or partially being blocked. 10A and 10K also have a middle window next to the seat as well. 10B and 10J might notice FA traffic through the near-by curtain more so than others.

Economy Plus
With the reconfiguration into 3-3-3 vs 2-5-2, there are only four pairs of seats in coach, and all are located in the Economy Plus section.

20AB and 20JK are probably the best coach seats, fully shielded by the bulk-head in front of them, with good legroom as well. 19DEG are the bassinet positions, so beware of that. The curtain separating Business Class is in front of you, but probably is far enough away that it is not really a problem. Since the facilities are in the back, you have a long way to go to the lavatory, but it also meant very little passenger traffic passing by your seat. You also get to be the first Economy passengers to deplane and through immigration. A couple downsides are that your view out the window is mostly the wing, and there is no under-seat storage in front of you. The AVOD system folks up from below the armrest, which means it must be stored during takeoff and landing.

21C and 21H are interesting, since they have unlimited legroom with no seat in front of them. This mean no under-seat storage in front, and trays are in the arm-rest, making the seat feel slightly narrower, and your monitor is mounted on a swing arm. With your feet extended, just beware that people and carts passing through might occasionally bump you.

There is a missing window around row 23 and 24, so choose another row if you want a view looking mostly at the wings. However, while Row 24 is missing a window, there is still one window available.

The other two pairs of seats are the last row of this Economy Plus cabin, at 31AB and 31JK. Note that there is only one window for 31A and 31J (rather than 1.5 to 2), and this row is near the lavatories, so certainly more traffic. You are also just in front of the emergency exit, so people sometimes congregate in the area just behind you.

Best to avoid 30C and 30H, since there is no seat behind them, and their seatbacks could be used as hand-grabs by passengers passing through, or occasionally being bumped by carts.

Power ports are available in all of economy, one port for the seat-pairs, and two for each three seat cluster. The outlet is mounted just under the seat cushion edge, so a bit hard to access unless you know where to look.

33ABC and 33HJK are the exit row seats, near the lavatory, and subjected to people congregating in front of you. No under-seat storage in front, and trays and LCD screens are in arm-rest and swing-arms respectively, making the seat feel narrower. 33A and 33K do not have a window, although they are probably far enough away from the exit slide that legroom is not really an issue.

34DEG is the bulk-head row, video monitor on the wall, and this is also the bassinet position. Decent legroom, but again no under-seat storage.

Economy Class

The galley is in the back of the plane, as well as another two lavatories, so there will be more traffic through the back of the plane.

Rows 43-46 probably are the last to be assigned, or often reserved for tour groups with no advance seat assignment. They might also be more likely to be unassigned on occasions, and therefore somewhat likely to have an adjacent seat open for you to gamble on. You would, however, be the last to deplane and through immigration, and the back of the plane does get a little more motion especially through turbulence.
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Everything You Wanted to Know About Where to Sit on a pmUA 3-Cabin 777 Version 2

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Old Feb 25, 2014, 4:22 am
  #316  
 
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Chance we'd end up going backwards?

Looking at flying GRU-YVR via ORD biz class next week (rescheduled from last week due to family illness). First leg would be on a 777-200, which, by the seating chart, has some backward-facing seats (older planes, as I recall). I understand seat assignments are not written into stone, so even if we reserve forward-facing seats, is there a chance we could still end up flying facing backwards? My wife says she could not stand flying seated this way.

On the day we're looking at, the only options are via ORD. If we wait a day, we could fly via IAH and either DEN or YYC (i.e., extra stop), with all forward-facing seats.
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Old Feb 25, 2014, 4:26 am
  #317  
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I think even some of the newer planes have those seats. I have been seated in them several times SFO/NRT and NRT/BKK. Takes some getting used to at first, but it's not really a big deal. What I don't like is sitting on an aisle with the guy across the aisle facing right toward me.
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Old Feb 25, 2014, 5:01 am
  #318  
 
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Originally Posted by SoCal
I understand seat assignments are not written into stone, so even if we reserve forward-facing seats, is there a chance we could still end up flying facing backwards? My wife says she could not stand flying seated this way.
Yes, it's possible that your seat assignments could change at the last minute and it might be difficult for UA to reaccommodate you.

Just to give you some calibration, this is a weird thing to care about — most travelers express at most a weak preference for forward-facing vs. rear-facing seats and the travel experience is not very much different. Therefore, on the off chance that you do end up with rear-facing seats, it should be fairly easy to find another couple who is willing to trade seats with you.
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Old Feb 25, 2014, 5:28 am
  #319  
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Originally Posted by SoCal
Looking at flying GRU-YVR via ORD biz class next week (rescheduled from last week due to family illness). First leg would be on a 777-200, which, by the seating chart, has some backward-facing seats (older planes, as I recall). I understand seat assignments are not written into stone, so even if we reserve forward-facing seats, is there a chance we could still end up flying facing backwards? My wife says she could not stand flying seated this way.
FWIW, these 777s are *different*, not old

(And many of us prefer backwards, you won't even notice it save for TO & L)
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Old Feb 25, 2014, 6:43 am
  #320  
 
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Originally Posted by mherdeg
Yes, it's possible that your seat assignments could change at the last minute and it might be difficult for UA to reaccommodate you.

Just to give you some calibration, this is a weird thing to care about — most travelers express at most a weak preference for forward-facing vs. rear-facing seats and the travel experience is not very much different. Therefore, on the off chance that you do end up with rear-facing seats, it should be fairly easy to find another couple who is willing to trade seats with you.
1) This is the new configuration
2) The chances of being reassigned to different seats is low - all 777 business cabins for long-haul international are configured the same way, so a plane swap shouldn't affect you. Only if there are cancellations/IRROPS would there be some chance of this happening.
3) Agree that rear facing really isn't a big deal, and some prefer it (don't knock it till you try it!). It matters only for takeoff and landing really - the other 10-14 hours you really won't notice it.
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Old Feb 25, 2014, 8:47 am
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It's not a big deal to some, probably most. I could do it. My wife could not. People are different.
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Old Feb 25, 2014, 9:54 am
  #322  
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Originally Posted by drewguy
1) all 777 business cabins for long-haul international are configured the same way, so a plane swap shouldn't affect you
In fact, UA flies two fundamentally different 772s, the sUA and the sCO. The sCO version has all forward facing seats in a 2x2x2 configuration; the sUA has forwards and backwards facing in a 2x4x2 configuration. The sCO version is often considered more desirable because the seats are more spacious (not because of the backwards facing seats).

If OP were to transit through IAH, he would get the sCO version.

Originally Posted by SoCal
It's not a big deal to some, probably most. I could do it. My wife could not. People are different.
I really doubt she would find it a big deal. You can't tell once you're off the ground. Thousands of people fly in these seats every day. Most of us here on FT actually prefer the backwards facing, particularly on the upper deck of the 744.
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Old Feb 25, 2014, 11:06 am
  #323  
 
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Originally Posted by Kacee
In fact, UA flies two fundamentally different 772s, the sUA and the sCO. The sCO version has all forward facing seats in a 2x2x2 configuration; the sUA has forwards and backwards facing in a 2x4x2 configuration.
True, sorry. I had the blinders of the UA 77Q thread, and a flight through ORD, on. And that flight will almost certainly be the UA variant.

Also, if rerouted through IAH, it would be on a 767 from IAH to GRU.
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Old May 19, 2014, 5:42 pm
  #324  
 
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IAD-FCO

seat 9C or 6G, which would you take?
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Old May 19, 2014, 7:20 pm
  #325  
 
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Originally Posted by piemel
IAD-FCO

seat 9C or 6G, which would you take?
Unless 6H is empty, 9C. I prefer the front two row to the back but aisle seat trumps center everywhere, imo.
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Old Jun 1, 2014, 7:52 am
  #326  
 
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Originally Posted by baileybear
Which window seats give a couple the best view...8 or 9? We don't need to sleep...we just want the best view. I'm worried about the wing.



Guess we can cross our fingers that 6B will open up.
did you end up in 9? how was the view? flying 9 sfo-syd and wondering the same.
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Old Jun 22, 2014, 10:48 pm
  #327  
 
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Is 33H (exit row aisle) better than E+ (row 20 through 30) middle?
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Old Jun 22, 2014, 11:33 pm
  #328  
 
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Originally Posted by njxbean
did you end up in 9? how was the view? flying 9 sfo-syd and wondering the same.
I just flew it. 9 > 10 > 8.
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Old Aug 14, 2014, 10:29 am
  #329  
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Question XXX-IAD-FRA connection and BF seat questions

Hi all,

I have a fairly short connection in IAD. Does anyone know where Frankfurt UA963 departs at 22:00 (10PM)?

Also, I'm open to tips on which rear-facing BF seat people prefer.

Thank you!
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Old Aug 14, 2014, 10:40 am
  #330  
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Originally Posted by In2ishn
Hi all,

I have a fairly short connection in IAD. Does anyone know where Frankfurt UA963 departs at 22:00 (10PM)?

Also, I'm open to tips on which rear-facing BF seat people prefer.

Thank you!
Where is XXX? Why not just say it? MSP perhaps? How long is your connection? If you are coming into the A gates, you'll need 20 minutes if everything goes perfectly.

I flew UA963 last night and it left out of C3 a few minutes late.
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