By request, here is the next installment in our series of PSAs - Public Seating Announcements.

Today, we talk about the various versions of the Boeing 757-200 and the 767-300ER.



Boeing 757-200 Mainline Configuration

FIRST CLASS

The mainline configuration 757-200 has 24 First Class seats. These are your usual domestic seats. Stated pitch is 38” and the width is 20.5”. Seats 1A and 1B have a small cutout at foot level in the bulkhead that gives you a much-appreciated two inches of extra space. 1C and 1D lack this cutout and as such feels really tight. While you cannot stretch out in Row 1, you can cross your legs, in general. The seat recline on the 757 is quite generous, with the caveat that if the person in front of you is fully reclined, it is difficult to get out of the aisle seat and exiting the window seat will require the aisle seat to step into the aisle. 6AB is in front of the lavatory and 6CD in front of the mid-deck galley, and SeatGuru notes they do not recline fully, though I don’t recall an issue the last time I was in 6C back in 2000 (I normally pick 1B).

ECONOMY PLUS CLASS – ROWS 8-16

I personally think 8D is the best Economy seat on the plane. I am rarely not offered a pre-departure drink when in 8D since they usually prepare First’s from the mid-deck galley directly in front of you. Legroom for 8D is infinite and 8E is exceptional (not as good as 9ABCF, but close enough). While you don’t get the pre-departure drink, 8E is nice as you can put your carryon next to you between the seat and door during flight (after takeoff and before landing, of course).

9ABCF are favorites since they have unlimited legroom and 17” width. The slide does intrude a bit on 9A and 9F, but not too bad. Also, people waiting for the lavs or just stretching congregate in front of 9ABC, which means at night when you sleep people can trip over you. No such problems with 8DE.

Rows 10-14 are standard Economy Plus seats with 17” width and, at 36”, the best E+ pitch of any UA aircraft. Row 14 has limited recline due to being in front of the Overwing Exit, so these should be the E+ seats of last resort.

The Overwing Exit rows, 15 and 16, are very good. Pitch is quite generous (about as good as 8DE), though 15 has limited recline (16 is full). If you can’t get 9ABC (or don’t want to deal with traffic), Row 15 and 16 are excellent alternatives.

ECONOMY CLASS – ROWS 17-34

If there is such a thing as Purgatory on Earth, it is a full Economy cabin on a 757. With 17” width and 31” pitch, you’re packed in pretty tight back here. All the seats are equally poor, so if you’re relegated back here, take a window seat and an Ambien.



Boeing 757-200 p.s. (Premium Service) Configuration

Note: I have yet to try this configuration, so I am going from FT reports and Seatguru.

FIRST CLASS

United installed twelve Singapore Airlines lie-flat Spacebeds in the forward cabin. These seats are 21.5” wide and have fully-electric adjustment. Pitch is listed at 68”. 1AB have the same cutout which you may or may not be allowed to store a bag under (I have yet to see it allowed on a mainline flight). The seats have an enclosure around the head (kind of like the First Suite, but taller) and an adjustable side panel for privacy. A closet is between the lavatory/galley and Row 3, which helps reduce noise and smell. Instead of the in-seat IFE system found on SQ, UA gives each passenger a portable DVD player and DVDs coded for (it appears) Region 8. This DVD player will not play DVDs coded for other Regions, but evidently will play Region Free DVD/DVD-Rs. There are also the CRTs in the cabin and noise-canceling headphones. There is also a three-plug (?) 110VAC power port in each seat.

BUSINESS CLASS

It appears that UA installed seats similar to the Business Class found on their 747-400 fleet with 20.5” width and 54” pitch. They are covered in leather instead of cloth. 5AB are in front of Door 2L and there are reports 5A cannot fully extend due to the slide. They also have the galley to their immediate right. 6CD has the galley in front of it, but evidently has no legroom issues. Row 9 is behind the two Overwing Exits, so it has some four feet of legroom in addition to 9A and 9D having no issues with the slide like 5A. Like in First, IFE is the DVD player and headphones, in addition to the overhead monitors. And each seat has a three-plug (?) 110VAC power port.

Row 11 recently received kudos. Window watchers will like 11A thanks to four windows. Behind seats 11 A and B / 11 C and D is a hard cabinet which sits at just the correct height to put stuff on. You can reach between the seats and set all of the items you receive (amenity kit, DVD player, DVDs, etc.). Legroom is also good even when Row 10 is fully reclined.

ECONOMY PLUS CLASS – ROWS 15-26

The good news is that the p.s. configuration of the 757 has only Economy Plus. The bad news is that the pitch is only 34”, vs. 36” on the mainline configuration. Each set of three seats has two three-plug (?) 110VAC power ports. Seat width is 17” and entertainment is via the overhead monitors with no complimentary noise-cancelling headsets.



Boeing 767-300 Three-Class (767MZ)

FIRST CLASS

This plane has ten First Class seats, not suites. They are similar to the Business Class seat in design, are 20.5” wide, have 64” of pitch, and electric controls. I believe they recline flat, or something near to it. In-seat entertainment consists of a 6” LCD display with nine channels of video and an 8mm tape player.

BUSINESS CLASS

The Business Class seats on this plane are like those found on the 747-400 and 777-200. They are 19” wide, recline 150°, and have 55” of pitch. Seat controls are manual. In-seat entertainment consists of a 4” LCD display with nine channels of video. 10EF are supposedly 18” wide and are next to the galley, so they should be the seats of last resort. 5CD have tons of extra legroom, so are great for sleepers since people can walk around you without disturbing the seat.

Note – Seats 13AB and 14AB are actually crew rest seats, looking like normal Economy seats with legrests. They are usually not available, but you can ask for mid-cons/transcons at check-in to see if they are available.

ECONOMY PLUS CLASS – ROWS 15-24

One of the nicer Economy Plus cabins in the sky, with 18” seats and 34” pitch. There is a 4” LCD display in each seatback with nine channels of video. 16AB and 16FG have the most legroom, thanks to being Overwing Exit seats. 15AB and 15FG have slightly less legroom as well as not fully reclining.

Note – Only seats 24AB and 24FG are Economy Plus. 24CDE have standard Economy pitch.

ECONOMY CLASS – ROWS 25-35

These seats are 18” wide with 31” pitch and they have a 4” LCD display in each seatback with nine channels of video.



Boeing 767-300 Two-Class (767MD)

FIRST CLASS

The First Class seats on this plane are 19” wide with 38” pitch. Row 1 legroom is a little short, but not terribly so (I have sat in 1EF). However, I would not recommend Row 1 for some of the long hauls (ORD/LAX/SFO-Hawaii). The side bulkheads have 15” LCD displays and there is a projection screen in the center. The rear bulkhead I believe is straight, without the angled upper section, so recline is probably limited in that row.

ECONOMY PLUS CLASS – ROWS 10-17

Nothing remarkable here with 18” width and 35” pitch for the seats. Again, LCD displays on the side bulkheads and a center projection screen

ECONOMY CLASS – ROWS 20-42

21AB and 21HJ are the most desired, being Overwing Exits. They have extra legroom and full recline. 20AB and 20HJ also are Overwing Exits, but with less then full recline and slightly less legroom due to the bulkhead. Note that 16AB and 17AB do not have overhead space. The liferafts are overhead. So you either need to use 16/17DEF's overhead or 18ABs'. Also, Row 16 DEF have quite decent legroom - maybe 34-35" or so.

The rest of the seats are 18” wide with 31” pitch. Like up front, LCD displays on the side bulkheads and a center projection screen, though there are four additional overhead CRTs to allow folks in back to see the movie.