Airbus A330-300 (333) seating questions

If you read the first post on this thread, you will notice it says the same thing, specifically about 1k. I posted it as well, just didn't remember until you asked for confirmation.

my more recent post was about more recent experiences I�ve had, now I will remember to never book row 1 on the A330 unless it�s the last window seat.

Not sure if it's been covered before, but I couldn't find anything on this thread. I've been following the flight status of AC812 YUL-LIS just out of curiosity because I'm flying it in a couple of weeks. I notice on the upgrade list where it shows how many seats are sold/checked-in... It's never showing of 32 seats. It's always something like 16/31 or 15/30.. I thought it might be due to broken seats, but when I look on expert flyer, I don't see any blocked seats and wonder why when there are 8 rows of 4, why it isn't showing X/32?

I think the 330's often have 1 (sometimes 2) seat(s) blocked for pilot rest as there is no rest area. This could be the case.

Was thinking of re-routing a TATL from a 77W to a A330 since it would be a lot more convenient, but am I understanding correctly that this shoulder belt isn't just a taxi/takeoff/landing thing, and cannot be disconnected from the rest of the seatbelt? I've done the shoulder belt on other airlines, but am able to remove it after takeoff. It it's anything like those, I'm not sure I'd really want to spend the majority of the flight wearing it.

Nope you are not understanding correctly. The shoulder belt on the 333 is the same as what you�ve mentioned on other airlines. Just taxi/takeoff/landing.

I think that�s why the other commenter mentioned it being better than the air bag, which of course is always there taking up space (albeit taking up space in a bigger seat than the 333!)

Thanks. If just taxi/takeoff/landing, then no big deal.

Was confused by some complaints about it on another thread. Was going to post there, but this seemed like the more appropriate thread.

https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/36361885-post12.html

I did my first flight on one of these in a while, and I had forgotten just how cramped the pods were, especially in the footwell. I did a YYZ-BOG overnight once and that sucked badly enough, but I can't imagine trying to spend an 8+ hour TATL in the damned things. Bin space also sucked being in 1A - the bins aren't good to begin with, and then with a bunch of emergency equipment and people having already taken up the rest of the bin space towards the front, I didn't enjoy having to put my stuff back in row 4.

It was better than the 7M8 or 32x I would have gotten if I had gone via YYZ instead of YUL, for sure, but very unpleasant compared to the 787 and 777. Although I've yet to fly any hard product on an A330 or A340 that I actually liked and would put anywhere other than Tier 3 of my hard product ratings (Tier 1 - things I like and will go out of my way or pay a premium to fly; Tier 3 - the ones I dislike and will go out of my way to avoid or require a discount to fly; TIer 2 - the mushy middle that's not great, not terrible, but okay). No wait, that's probably not true, I think I'd put Condor in Tier 2, it was decent.

But to me, the AC 333 product feels like a cheap knock-off of what they have on the Boeings.

My memory is a bit hazy but I flew on TP�s new (at the time) J product on their A330neo just before COVID and remember thinking it was pretty good.

As recently as last week, I�ve avoided the A330 when flying AC trans-Atlantic. They�ve been putting it on one of the YYZ-LHR flights every day; thankfully there are 3 other flights daily on 777/787s so avoiding the A330 isn�t a huge deal, but definitely worth the effort in my book.

I think the TP 339 product is even worse than AC's. I flew it a couple of years ago after having flown the AC Dream Cabin config a few times and was shocked at how narrow and cramped TP's was, even compared to AC's. It was a very miserable 12+ hours from LIS to SFO for me.

The other day might have been the first time I was in 1A or 1K on the AC 333 though. On the Boeings, there's a tiny bit of extra space in the footwell. But does the same apply to the 333, or is it possible that it's even worse in row 1 on the 333? Maybe that was part of my problem.

I've never met a footwell I didn't hate, but I actually do find them a little larger in row 1, and try to sit there when I can. I was in 1K on fin 935 a few days ago. Agreed that row 1 on the Boeings is significantly better foot wise though.

Everything else you said, re storage, bin space, and crampedness, is definitely true. The only other subjective plus I can think of is I find the tray tables shove a little farther out of a side-sleeper's way than they do on the Boeings.

I'd certainly take a 777 every time if I could, but I don't go out of my way to avoid the 330. And row 1 for both.

Likewise. When we returned to flying in 2023, not having flown since 2019, our first trip was YUL-TLS on the 333. On boarding, I had to do a double-take -- wondering if we had stepped back into the early 2000s as the pods looked so.. small. Cramped, but fine for us smaller folk.

Haven't encountered one since -- it's been all 788/789 since then, even on our recent YUL-TLS trip. But next spring, our YOW-LHR booking is a 333 instead of this year's 788/789. Mmm.. might see if they still use the Boeing on different dates.

I concur that the 333 pod is better for tall and/or big side sleepers, it doesn't have that stupid latch at the bottom of the table which makes a huge difference.

Whoever designed the closets on either side with the spotlights on the ceiling that go directly in 1D/1G eyes when they open deserves a rock in their shoe for eternity.

The overhead bins are awful as well.

FIN 948 (C-GXZD) is back from SIN and booked to work AC986 on March 8th. The seat map is showing the new config.

I'm on AC301 on March 19 and its showing the old 2-2-2 Business class. From what I read its an acquired SQ aircraft. I havent been able to get Expertflyer to spit out a FIN as of yet.

It'll be the first time on that config for me. The business seat map is fairly open at this time, if anyone has any suggestions on a good seat please do let me know.

I've not flown these but I would definitely pick a middle row seat, especially if travelling solo. You or your seat partner will not be inconvienced by the other person getting up.