Originally Posted by
Georgemia
I didn't get my SWU on my 11.5 hr MAD-DFW flight but the agent blocked center and gave me the aisle seat in the middle row in the "small" cabin. 20 minutes into boarding the plane is filling but I still have the whole row so I lay a half empty coke can on the other aisle seat. 2 minutes later daughter and mom show up from the back scoping my territory at about the time there's no more boarding. Given the fact that she came from the back I challenged her, saying that the pax left their coke and went to the toilet. She left, without much more fuss and I had the whole row. Given the fact that I didn't have to use an upgrade, I had a truly lie flat seat, DC for my IPAD (better than the Samsung selection, I don't think I saw games on those TABS) and a few comped drinks.
Would you use an SWU for a 3 or 5 seat center row?
Ok. I know what you are talking about here.
You are talking about taking the whole row of middle seats on a 777 or 763.
777 is 2-5-2 and 763 is a 2-3-2 in Y.
I did it on a very empty flight CDG-DFW two weeks before Xmas a few years ago on a 763. I tucked in the seatbelts, lifted the armrests and had my little own bed. I am 6'. It was not bad at all and slept soundly for 5 hours.
Is it better than J? I do not think so.
I would consider not burning a SWU for a day flight coming back from Europe if I am trying to save my SWUs for something else AND depending on how full I expect the flight to be.
Now, there is no guarantee, even on an empty flight that you will be able to score an empty middle row for yourself. It's tougher on a 777, easier on a 763. The new preferred seats scheme makes it even more difficult, since all the aisle seats in the back (the only ones free of charge) are promptly taken.