I was on 975 Sunday in C. First experience with the new layout.

I had committed a CR1 to the trip (well before knowing there would be a revamped cabin, of course), and the upgrade cleared around 12 hours ahead. But I couldn't pick a seat before getting to the airport. There, they told me there was an equipment substitution to a 763. I looked up my assigned seat on seatguru (using the 763 map), and it seemed OK.

It wasn't till I boarded the plane, after enjoying the LH lounge, that I figured out this was a 777. My seat was one of only 4 forward-facing windows, down from 12 to 14 - a huge drop in convenience IMHO. And the seat is narrow - now 8 seats in each row, vs. 7 before. This is progress?

OK, the 15" screen was nice, with its sharp route map providing a fantastic view of the terrain. AVOD and computer plug-ins, good. The recline is obviously better. And the tray table doesn't droop. I don't think it's any worse getting out of the window seat with the aisle seat reclined that it was in the old config.

Unfortunately I'm not likely to be able to enjoy this much on international trips, given UA's new battlefield upgrade lottery where a W fare is levied for the privilege of maybe using a SWU. If you win, you probably get inserted in the ugly middle section featuring 4 seats cheek-by-jowl.

So my thoughts turn to Y. Unfortunately, almost all E+ seats are over the wing. Lavabo exit row 33, maybe? At least Y has AVOD and some plug-ins.