Let's talk about middle sections vs. Outer section seats
May 14, 2024, 11:39 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 244
Let's talk about middle sections vs. Outer section seats
GF and I fly long haul roundtrip once or twice per year (usually SoCal to Europe.) Typically, I'm looking at 777s with a 3-4-3 configuration. Usually, I book economy/MCE in the outer sections. I'll take the aisle, give her the window seat and we pray that no one takes the middle seat. But someone usually does end up in that middle seat and then we often swap with them, so that leaves the GF with a middle seat. She's pretty small, but still.
But I've wondered if it might not be better to choose the middle section instead (not middle seat, but middle section. We'd have to get up for others a fewer number of times, and we likely wouldn't have to play the seat swap game.
Your thoughts?
But I've wondered if it might not be better to choose the middle section instead (not middle seat, but middle section. We'd have to get up for others a fewer number of times, and we likely wouldn't have to play the seat swap game.
Your thoughts?
Last edited by Stockjock; May 14, 2024 at 6:07 pm
May 14, 2024, 11:48 am
#2
Join Date: Jul 2008
Posts: 839
We always just pick aisle for both of us , sitting in the middle seat to sit next to each other after thirty some years of marriage is a non starter, on wide bodies we are normally in business but my wife is short and never reclines her seat so we would take aisles on behind the other in your example
May 14, 2024, 1:38 pm
#3
Join Date: Mar 2010
Programs: AA, UA, Marriott
Posts: 1,184
You may also want to consider buying an extra seat so you are guaranteed to commandeer all 3 seats in an outer row. It's worth comparing the cost of the extra seat to alternatives, especially if you are paying for MCE or are considering premium economy.
You can also try to sit in the last 2-3 rows on widebodies as they typically have 2 seats in the outer row due to the curvature of the fuselage. However those come with other downsides (no extra legroom, very loud as they are close to the bathrooms or galley (or both)
You can also try to sit in the last 2-3 rows on widebodies as they typically have 2 seats in the outer row due to the curvature of the fuselage. However those come with other downsides (no extra legroom, very loud as they are close to the bathrooms or galley (or both)
May 14, 2024, 6:09 pm
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 244
On my flight from DFW to FCE, Premium Economy started off at $492 per person to upgrade. It's now almost $2,800 per person, so that won't happen.
May 14, 2024, 6:12 pm
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 244
For now, I'm in one of those rows, where there is a cost for a middle seat, but no benefit. So I have the aisle and window in that preferred row, in the hopes that no one would pay to be in the middle, although I suppose they may assign someone in that middle seat, eventually.
Last edited by Stockjock; May 14, 2024 at 8:32 pm
May 15, 2024, 8:27 am
#7
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Los Angeles
Programs: AA LT Gold
Posts: 3,667
PLanes go out full nowadays. That empty middle seat will be assigned to someone in basic economy or someone that got booked on that flight last minute (irrops, stand by, etc)
May 16, 2024, 2:41 pm
#10
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: London UK
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 68
I miss the original Pan Am 747s! They had 3-4-2 seating when I took my first trip to Europe in 1973, JFK to AMS. The twos were great for dinner and then the fours made great beds, given all the empty seats back then.
May 16, 2024, 3:14 pm
#11
Join Date: Jul 2021
Location: LAS
Programs: Hilton, Delta, Hyatt, MGM
Posts: 216
These may not be open depending on when you book and they do involve being last off of the plane, but the last few rows on the 772, 77W, or 788s are great for couples. Due to the curvature of the plane, there is not enough room for a third seat on either side so they are instead 2 person rows. And if you are on a 788, there is also no lavatory which means none of the issues that come with that and also allows for one to recline all the way back without a neighbor behind them.
May 16, 2024, 5:00 pm
#12
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 244
These may not be open depending on when you book and they do involve being last off of the plane, but the last few rows on the 772, 77W, or 788s are great for couples. Due to the curvature of the plane, there is not enough room for a third seat on either side so they are instead 2 person rows. And if you are on a 788, there is also no lavatory which means none of the issues that come with that and also allows for one to recline all the way back without a neighbor behind them.
May 16, 2024, 7:25 pm
#13
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: RDU
Programs: DL(PM), UA(Silver), AA(EXP) Marriott(Ti), HH(Gold), Hertz(PC)
Posts: 2,693
This is a 777-200ER. The rows you mentioned are 36, 37 and 38. The dual seats in 36 are taken, leaving the last 2 rows, 37 and 38 open. I usually avoid these seats due to the proximity of the bathroom and the extra motion. Plus, I'd have to listen to the GF griping for weeks on end.