777 BE Seating question
 

Apologies in advance b/c I know this has been discussed in several other threads; however, I STILL don't know the answer so please forgive me:

I have quite some time b4 taking my next BE flight (DCA-DTW-PEK) in early '14. Needless to say, seat choice is quite wide open on the long haul. Traditionally I like 2D in BE on the 777 but I've read where people RAVE about 7A and 7D, I believe. can someone explain why those seats are so preferred? and does the noise/light from the 2L door are and from the lav negatively impact the experience in those two seats, respectively?

Thanks for clarifying this for me.

7A/D along with 14A/B/C/D all have a fairly substantial shelf next to the seat that gives great storage capability. I actually think the shelves in 14 are larger but you do get some (minimal) noise from the economy cabin. Also, there is a closet/wall around the shelves in A/D which provides substantially more privacy.

7A is my preferred BE seat on the 777.

It is isolated and removed from the galley and lav. You also are served by both the front section FA's as well as the rear section.

Here's my review from this past Feb:
http://travelatrandom.com/articles/2...ness-elite-777

7A just feels very isolated and private.

In some ways, 7D is even better. It's close to the big handicapped lav at about 10D (for better or worse), but you get fewer passengers passing by during the boarding process (minor advantage).

Isn't the 777 boarded from 2L? I have only ever boarded from 2L on the 777. I wouldn't suspect so many people are passing by, and considering that 7A is somewhat enclosed, I haven't had a problem with that at all.

Yes, ideally, but it depends on the station. I've boarded through 1L at JNB.

Interesting. I have never been to JNB!

I always pick 7D if I can. As noted, you get a small shelf to put things on. It is also close to the bathroom but not so close that it is bothersome. I have this seat to/from SYD in December.

777 BE Seating question
 

7A is my goto seat, feels very private.

I often board 1L coming out of PVG.

If you pick 14A/D you are guaranteed to be able to watch the kettles glare at you with envy as they head back to the 3-3-3 steerage cabin. You are also guaranteed for additional noise.

7D all the way.

IME 1L is generally used when coach boards through a separate door and 2L otherwise.

By separate door, you mean BE 1L, and Coach 2L? If so, then that isn't a problem...

When both coach and BE board the 777 through the same door, it tends to be 2L. When there is a separate door for coach to board, then BE tends to board through 1L. During boarding, passengers tend to hesitate and congregate near the door just after they have entered the plane. They're also more likely to use the left aisle and cross over at the front galley rather than crossing over just after entering the aircraft when they have seats on the right side.

It's a problem if you enjoy sipping a drink pensively while stretched out with your feet up pretending not to notice the envious glares of the steerage pax but secretly soaking in every glorious moment of it.