Assuming an equal class of service (e.g. United Business) do you prefer to sit upstairs or downstairs on a 747?

Downstairs. You get more flight attendants and you don't have to carry your bags upstairs.

Upstairs - Much Quieter - I Leave Bags in downstairs closet

I prefer downstairs because you have a place to put your bags. The problem with upstairs is overhead bins are smaller, the side bins only allow a briefcase to fit and most business class seats have no space to put anything underneath them.

As an aside. Why is it that Korean Airlines always puts me upstairs been I have confirmed business class seats downstairs? They say that business class passenger perfer upstairs but most heavy duty frequent flyers I have met prefer donwstairs.

Upstairs: I like to fill the side-bins with all the stuff I use during the flight, I get annoyed when people are jumping up every 5 minutes to get something out of the over-head locker.

However, I don't like to be too far towards the front, all the traffic to/from the flightdeck and the toliet can become very annoying.

I also think upstairs is quieter and people tend to sleep more upstairs. Another point is that because the windows are not as accessable upstairs (ie. the view is obscured) people don't tend to wake you up at 5.30 in the morning opening their window blinds.

I agree that I think the airlines think that everyone likes to be upstairs - I think some of the airlines specifically choose not to put children and large groups upstairs so it keep the noise down.

One more benefit of upstairs is that you do not get the 'tourists' from Economy just having a wander 'round.

One negative point, if the toilet fails upstairs or someone decides to go in there and read 'War and Peace' you are stuffed!

Of course with BA it is not an issue! You go up the pointy end, into the calm of the 'purple' zone and that is that.
MF

upstairs--so much quieter. Feels like a private plane...well, almost. An interesting bit of trivia--BA switches the upstairs of their planes (747-200s) between Club World and Coach--it takes them 4 hours to do so. (flew ORD/LHR a year and a half ago in coach and was put upstairs in coach--much nicer than being downstairs, had a good flight attendant that really helped)

UPSTAIRS -- much quieter and it seems like the air is fresher probably because there are much fewer people upstairs. Have you ever walked downstairs after being on a 10 hour flight? It smells terrible!

This is interesting. Last time I flew on a 747 was 200 years ago, and I can't even remember the airline. Upstairs was definitely the chioce -- primarily because there was a stand-up bar. It was still quiter and more comfortable - partly because of the features that have already been mentioned. I'd almost forgotten that there still are 747s. Thanks for the memories.

Oh Phil, you have brought it all flooding back to me. The days when upstairs was 'The' place to be - First was always upstairs.

A stand-up bar... I havn't seen one of those for years (Air France and Virgin excepted, but they don't count in my book).

I miss upstairs being the exclusive bit! It seems natural that that is where the Penthouse should be.
MF

I never really thought about the difference
but my first flights to Hawaii and to Australia I was upstairs and really enjoyed it. MOre room, fewer people and everyone went to sleep. I wondered if this is what first
class used to be (Merry Flyer and Philforest, I've only being doing this flying thing about ten years and ff programs for about 5!) I felt like I was in my own private airplane
and yes, the flight attendants were friendly
and it seemed the drinks flowed more readily.

I have to try upstairs B-A sometime. That
must be a real flying adventure! CATMAN

Catman, don't do upstairs BA (that is Club) go First (the "pointy-end").

On some of the older BA 747's upstairs is sometimes Ec.. Ec... Econ... Economy (sorry I choke on the word!), I'm not sure if they still have blue carpet in economy, I mean WorldTraveller(c), they may have a bit of old linolium and a park bench for all I care.

I can't wait until AirBus bring out the 370 (or whatever it is being called) a full upstairs deck - cool! I bet Virgin will have one converted into an on-board bowling alley?
I can just see it now "Big-Dick's Bowl-A-Rama in pink neon" luvvvvely..
MF

Merry Flyer When I go to London again and fly B-A I will use you as my travel consultant so I too can get the blue carpet treatment (blue's my favorite color!)

Maybe you can call B-A and do their T-V ads.

I don't think I can deal with Sir Dick's
upper deck Bowl O'Rama (and who knows what else!) Will the flight attendants wear those
50's satin bowling shirts and jeans?

It's tough for me to say cc...ccc.. coach.
or eec...eek... economy. I knew after the first time I flew First I never wanted to go back!

OMNI QUESTION: I wonder if Sir Richard reads what we say about Virgin? CATMAN

I prefer downstairs. I'm a bit claustrophobic and the low ceiling and small space (2-2 seating) make it feel like a narrow body up there. I prefer looking upon the spaciousness of a wide body on a long haul flight. And has been mentioned, really small overhead bins up there, and service downstairs always seems to be better. I always walk downstairs and they seem to get continual service. Upstairs is definitly the sleeping compartment, but since I NEVER sleep on a plane, downstairs is the place for me.
How many of you can remember the Piano Bar upstairs on Pan Am's LAX-JFK Transcontinental Service (I think I recall TWA having it too). Those were fun days to travel. When I think of all of us drunks up there singing around the piano...and the smoke!! Yech! How did we ever stand it?

A bit Off-Topic, but since I'm suddenly going down memory lane...does anyone remember the downstairs on TWA 747 First Class in the '70's? Just forward of the stairs, center section, they had 2 seats, then forward of that a table, and then forward of that, 2 more seats. After takeoff, the "stewardess" would bring a larger table top and attach it to the small table. The front 2 seats swiveled about and you had an actual table for 4! With the linen, china, flatware, flowers, and champange bucket...it truly was first class (and great for card games, too!)!

WOW! All the traveling experiences I've missed being born in 1965!!! You guys should get together and write a short novel of your adventures from the "Merry" singers at the Flying Piano bar to the drink service on Southwest (PhilForest, I think that was your story) and call the book "When Flying was
FUN."

I don't remember any flight being fun. I do remember the two or three special ladies I've met in my travels, but that's it!!! CATMAN