I am looking for some expert (and sympathetic) advice. I am planning a leisure trip from NYC to HKG in the first half of November. Given talk on this forum of the full flights to Asia, and as I will be buying a ticket in coach, I thought I would be smart and see if any of the flights (including via PDX, SEA, SFO) had lower loads so perhaps I might be able to spread out a bit. However, both the seat maps on NW and the info I get at ITN.NET seem to show flights that are, at very best, half full. Do most passengers only get seat assignments at the airport? This is my first trans-Pacific flight. Is there a better strategy for planning a comfortable trip?

Also, I am interesting in travelling on the 330, at least on the return and thus would be willing to connect on the West Coast.