Originally Posted by
DWFI
Though yes, the 787 is an interesting question and my money (unfortunately) is on 3-3-3.
It is important to remember that 3-3-3 offers one important advantage over 2-4-2.
This is because passengers are much more comfortable with an empty seat next to them in economy, regardless of the configuration.
3-3-3 guarantees all passengers an empty seat next to them at 66% seat factor or less.
2-4-2 guarantees all passengers an empty seat next to them at 50% seat factor or less.
66% seat factor or less is much more likely to materialise than 50% seat factor! Furthermore, in 10 rows of 2-4-2 at 50% seat factor you have 40 passengers whilst in 10 rows of 3-3-3 at 66% seat factor you have 60 passengers. So 3-3-3 can carry 50% more passengers than 2-4-2 in order to guarantee passengers an empty seat next to them.
