The last time I flew DL metal to SYD was at least 5 years ago. I'm not sure that I even made exit row on that flight, as I didn't book it. And since that time, I think Delta reconfigured their 777-200ER to make layflats upfront, so I'm not sure if that changed the seat density in the back. SeatGuru says that 44A exit row on Delta's 777 has that door protruding issue that I was concerned about in 39A on the similar 777-300ER aircraft painted in Virgin colors.

Thanks for your tip about Row 20, which Seat Guru confirms is best on both VA and DL aircraft, but was not available to me at time of booking, and is still not available. Not even the exit rows were available to me at time of booking, but they are now, as apparantly Delta opened up my ability to select them a few days before departure. Before, Delta told me that due to the flight being Virgin, I probably wouldn't get exit row. Well, now I'm trying to choose between exit row window vs aisle.

I initially chose the aisle, but then went for the window, so people waiting in line to use the bathroom on this 14 hour flight would not be standing and staring over the top of me all night.

One question I need confirmed is that in the 777 exit rows, particularly in rows 39 and 26 on Virgin, and 44 on Delta, one can directly escape their window exit row seat without having to disrupt their seat mates, right?