JDiver

For a couple to access the middle Zodes, you each have to use different aisles. Once you get there, it’s a crAApshoot if you’ll have the poorly designed, passenger inoperable privacy screen up or down. If down, you’ll be able to converse with your companion; if it’s up, there’s not much conversation possible.

In my experience with these seats which privacy screens maintenance has chosen to be up or down is totally random. And personally, we’ve done both centers and windows (and generally prefer window seats on the same aisle - it’s easier for me to handle our overhead baggage, I can administer meds if I need to, etc. without having to split down separate aisles.

Someday, the Zodiacs are supposed to be stabilized to stop the “ otion over the ocean” instability / induced motion problem, and the privacy dividers are supposed to be fixed. But: the airliner negotiated with the manufacturer for what was likely a cheaper, less fully featured, ore poorly finished seat than the the Zodiac Cirrus seat on the 77W / 777-300ER, a very nice seat. “Penny wise, Pound foolish” is the saying that readily comes to mind. (“America West thinking on American Airlines” might be another.)

The manufacturer couldn’t produce them on schedule. AA got tired of having new, seatless 787-8s parked in the desert and 772s with NGBC clunker seats flying transatlantic when the JBV AA-AY-BA-IB had agreed to fly transatlantic flights with fully flat seats, so they sued and cancelled the contract with Zodiac and eventually settled on B/E Aerospace forbthe 787-9 and remaining 772s.

So, IMO, the manufacturer is pretty much out of the picture; they’ve been sued and fired, so they’re unlikely to provide the necessary fixes. AA might be able to get the fixes designed for an “orphan” seat, but they have to get on it and have it STCd by the FAA - a tedious process at best.

Read this thread on this aircraft and the Zodiac seats, including the Wikipost at the top of the page, and the illustration in the first post, here: https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/amer...eat-seats.html.

pkerr

I ended up with 2 D&H. Better than the 2A + 3A?
Thanks

JDiver

Not in my opinion.

In 2D-H, you’re both subject to the motions of other passengers. In 2A Plus 3A, you’re only affecting each other, easily corrected I hope, or more easily tolerated. In 2A-3A you’ll also have easier access to the forward port lav (there is no forward starboard lav).

pkerr

Is the motion you are referring to based on the seating you are showing? Does it apply to seats that are all forward facing?
Thanks

JDiver

As stated previously and in the thread Wikipost: those seats connected “at the head” as shown in the chart above can induce motion in the other seat connected to. 1A is not connected. 1 D and H are connected. 2 and 3 D and H are doubly connected. 2 A and 3 A are connected to each other. Etc.

nk15

Yes, the motion applies only to the mixed backward and forward facing seats configuration showing on post 16. If you get that, there are no good seats for couples, except 1d&h, which are taken. If I were you, I would pick 7a and 7L, you both don't have any connected seats, and you can easily go around the galley and talk. Alternatively, I would book 7a and d, or similar, so you are close, and you have one "good" seat (7A) and one "bad" (7d), subject to movement from the adjacent seat (8d).

However, you are correct, if you get the all forward facing configuration the "movement" problem won't be an issue.

pkerr

I appreciate your suggestions.
My only question is that are we going to have the rear facing seat layout? AA seat chart seems to show that they are all forward facing. They don't have any of those little "arrows" that designate rear facing.

My flight


Some other flight

JDiver

Which date and flight number?

pkerr

July 5 #102 . HNL-DFW

JDiver

ExpertFlyer shows this as 37 J facing forward, which if the case are Super Diamond Solo seats. SeatGuru doesn’t even show this configuration, though it comprises 28 aircraft of the fleet of 47.

If so, I’d feel better about middle seats. Minimal privacy divider, though you’ll have to lean forward to speak with your companion, no induced motion. Better seat. Still have to split up and use different aisles to access / egress your seats.

I’m still not 100% positive if they won’t have an equipment change between now and when you fly. I’d keep an eye on any seat selection on a 772, because I’ve experienced equipment changes from a Super Diamond to a Zodiac.

pkerr

Thanks for all the help and suggestions!

747FC

My wife enjoyed the center seats HNL-DFW-HNL, but while can see your spouse, one would need to either read lips or have very good hearing in order to have a conversation.

pkerr

You can see them but can't hear them? That noisy?

747FC

One's heads are near the aisle, so you are basically pretty far apart from each other. If you have really good hearing, I guess that is no problem.

As mentioned above, the Zodiac seats' configuration, in which alternating rows have "heads together." is much more comfortable for partners engaging in conversation.

marnold3

If you're traveling solo, you have a 100% chance of getting a forward facing seat if you select 2A. I believe this seat is forward facing in both the Zodiac and the Super Diamond configurations. Unfortunately, in the Zodiac version you are coupled at the head to 3A.