I just flew back yesterday in Business and would say avoid row 11 if you're going for a window (not that there's much to see). There's a blank wall where the window should be. Other than that I would go by the odd even thing for meals. Row 9 is the bulkhead which I find doesn't have as much room but that's my own personal thing. I hate having a wall in front of me and having to put everything in the overhead taking off and landing.

As far as seats in Coach I never flew there but I did walk around going out last Tuesday(10/2)and there was practically no one in Coach so you could pretty much take a middle section, lie down and sleep the whole trip. Business is pretty wide open too. There were 11 passengers on yesterday's flight and there are 35 seats in Business on this plane.

I've been thinking how my trip home deteriorated service wise. I started from Hong Kong on CX in First which was its usual perfection. Then in NRT picked up AA Business back to SJC which was very good. In SJC I was in First (or what passes for First) on a 737 to ORD. The final misery was First (hah!) on an F100 to SWF. The crew on the 737 paid very little attention to the passengers. Dessert was served after the dinner trays were picked up, the usual sundaes or a fruit plate. Of course they were on glass and were left until we were almost into ORD. We hit a very rough patch and everything started to rattle and roll. It was at this point that the FAs decided to roam out of the galley to make sure seat belts were on. They ignored the dishes and it took both my seat mate and I gesturing as well as ringing for them before one of them decided to saunter over to see what we could possibly want. Surprise! We didn't want to wear what was left of dessert on our clothes. Attitude was really surprising because I've flown over 15,000 miles on AA in a week and this was the first time I saw FAs this disinterested in what was going on. They spent the better part of the trip in the galley, laughing and talking loudly. Maybe I was just overwhelmed with jet lag at this point but I was amazed.

Anyhow, be prepared for NRT security which makes anything we have here in the States look like nothing. I was transiting on my way to HKG and was not leaving the terminal and I still had to go through security to get to the AA, CX desk. Then everyone had to go through again as we were boarding. I mean real security. About every third person was asked to open suitcases. This was more thorough than anything I had seen anywhere. Same thing on the way back. I had decided to check my bags through both ways, something I never do. I was very glad I did. I saw someone with three carryons (backpack pocketbook, rollon and large tote) who had to open all three and let the security people go through them.

NRT has always been more into security than us but they're really into it now.

Anyway, have a good trip. At the moment with Coach open you might be just as happy back there. I'm just into traveling better than I usually do at home when I go out of the country. I hate Coach but I refuse to upgrade and waste miles domestically. On a long haul though I like the accomodations in at least Business better. Everyone has their own preferences.

Chris