Coach seating on DC-10
 

Next month I'll be flying coach (for the first time) on the DC-10 from SIN-TYO and need to know which pair of seats are the best? Row 10 A, B, H, J have already been taken up, along with 22 C to G. I am currently booked at Row 22 H & J but apparently these seats are really bad - can someone tell me why? Am I better off sitting in the window seats up front, like row 12 AB etc. ?

Row 22 window seats can be bad because the door cuts into leg space, and you have no seat in front for storage. I don't have any problem with the aisle seats in 22.

The window is there, but it is a little behind you, so if you are in a 22 window seat you need to crane your neck.

Still, I flew it in May HNL>MSP and found it tolerable, and probably preferable compared to a typical coach window seat on the DC10. I'm 5'9" by the way.

It probably won't kill you.

If you can live without a window. The center section of row 22 is good. Lots of legroom as it is a cross isle infront.

I sat in both 22H and 22J on a recent flight to (H) and from (J) Germany. 22H is awesome and 22J is much preferable over a standard coach seat, IMHO. However, there can be a draft from the exit door. I had this happen on another flight to HNL but nothing that a few blue blankets stuffed under the exit door didn't fix. Bring warm socks just in case.

Don't they usually block 10 A/B for handicap seating? You can usually snag these with online check-in at the now ( :( ) 24 hour mark.

aloha

Best seats, but be forewarned....
 

True, I think 10ABHJ is the best seats, however, I've also had the worst experience in these seats when a parent needed the child bassinet infront of 10ABHJ. The premium of having an open space in front of you vanished.

Jiburi

18AB can be good...
 

Having travelled on DC-10s intercontinentally more than I care to remember in the past two years, I can tell you that often 18AB can be decent because on most flights they block 19-20AB as crew rest. When you board they will often be curtained off. Although this guarantees you no more legroom it does help ensure that there won't be annoying kids kicking your seatback or playing with the tray table all night long. Also it removes the guilt factor if you want to recline before they clear up dinner. The last few flights I've taken some nyquil before getting on the plane and by the time I finish dinner I'm falling asleep.

That being said, I have seen centre-section pax move to these seats after takeoff so they can sleep better, so you can't guarantee they'll be empty. But if people want to move there to sleep, chances are they won't be kids kicking your seat. And if they are, you can politely inform the FA that you picked 18AB so no one would be behind you, etc.

Check the seat map for your flight to see if 19-20AB are shown. If they're not, try out 18AB. If they are shown, whether empty or not, then I usually try for any ABHJ seat as far forward as possible.

The seats that have been blocked for handicap seating are 11 A, B, H, J.

Yes, the above seats have the handicap mark on the seatmap, but I've found that 10 A/B are usually pre-reserved (blocked off) for the elderly/handicap/etc. and have had much success snagging these seats right after online check-in opens up.

aloha

That's great.. I'll keep my fingers crossed and hope I get them.

Last weekend, I just used that flight TKY-SIN, I got 22B, that was very nice lot of leg space and coulb be chat with Singaporian attendant. :)

I've also found 18 AB to be good for the same reasons -- and someone explained to me that whether 19-20 are blocked or not depends on the flight time. MSP-LGW is long enough to require crew rest seats, DTW-LGW is not (so I've been told).

I've also (as a gold or plat) been pretty lucky in having the gate agent block the seat next to me when I pick a C or G seat. Of course, this depends on the load.

tom