Upper Deck or Nose
Nov 20, 2007, 6:47 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: msp
Programs: AA PLT 3MM, DL PM 2MM
Posts: 1,142
Upper Deck or Nose
Relatively new to FT so this may be an old issue but would appreciate advice.....on DTW to NRT is upper deck or front of 744 (rows 1-4) best for overall appeal (service/quiet et) in WBC....thanks to all
Nov 20, 2007, 6:54 pm
#2
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Astoria, NY: LGA, JFK
Programs: Delta PM; Sheraton's Vistana BOD; SPG Gold
Posts: 2,035
The Upper Deck is my choice. Nothing scientific... simply seems special to be sitting "up there"!
Nov 20, 2007, 6:55 pm
#3
Join Date: Oct 2005
Programs: NW GE
Posts: 605
I wouldn't mind 1A for the forward"ish" view, if not somewhere on the upper deck is fine.
Nov 20, 2007, 6:58 pm
#4
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 8,884
Some people like the more intimate feeling of the upper deck. Others like the massive amount of leg room in row 10 and the private feel of row 1 if traveling with a companion. Either way, it's going to be a nice ride. 
Nov 20, 2007, 9:00 pm
#5
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Motown
Programs: DL, WN, AA, IHG Diamond, Hertz 5*
Posts: 3,409
I really liked being in 2B. No one next to me, and up front feels really spacious where the aisle is wider than normal and there is no middle seating.
Nov 20, 2007, 9:47 pm
#6
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Kobe/Osaka
Programs: Delta
Posts: 1,587
While riding upstairs is nice, I've found the circular staircase to be a hassle, especially when carrying a rollaboard. Also, it can get very hot up there before takeoff on some flights. I agree that 10A is very nice. I had it flying from NRT to LAX last month, with no one in 10B! Felt a bit like a private plane.
Nov 20, 2007, 10:57 pm
#7
Join Date: Aug 1999
Location: Alexandria, VA, USA NW Platinum Elite Since 1999, United GoldMM, Hyatt Plat, SPG Gold, Hilton Gold, Hertz #1 Gold, IC Ambassador, Avis Chairman's
Posts: 7,445
With the 742 retired... the spiral staircase is gone... 
I like 1A or Exit row up stairs... either are great seats
I like 1A or Exit row up stairs... either are great seats
While riding upstairs is nice, I've found the circular staircase to be a hassle, especially when carrying a rollaboard. Also, it can get very hot up there before takeoff on some flights. I agree that 10A is very nice. I had it flying from NRT to LAX last month, with no one in 10B! Felt a bit like a private plane.
Nov 21, 2007, 8:35 am
#9
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Reno, NV
Programs: NFY, AA EXP, Marriott TE
Posts: 517
I've tried all the "primo seats"- 1A, 10A, 73A, and pretty much all the seats upstairs.
1A is nice for takeoff and landing, but the view isn't that great, and that's only a small proportion of the flight.
10A is fantastic for walking around your companion, but you're still in a kind of noisy traffic area.
73A is 10A in a private suite, with personal attention, and an end table to put stuff on! And all the upstairs window seats beat a downstairs WBC seat IMHO.
The downside, you can't bring up a largish rollaboard, and you do have to go up stairs.
So in summary, to help preserve my own favorite seating choices, I strongly reccomend passing on the upstairs cabin. It's nothing special -yeah, that's what I was trying to say - nothing special...
All the best, James
1A is nice for takeoff and landing, but the view isn't that great, and that's only a small proportion of the flight.
10A is fantastic for walking around your companion, but you're still in a kind of noisy traffic area.
73A is 10A in a private suite, with personal attention, and an end table to put stuff on! And all the upstairs window seats beat a downstairs WBC seat IMHO.
The downside, you can't bring up a largish rollaboard, and you do have to go up stairs.
So in summary, to help preserve my own favorite seating choices, I strongly reccomend passing on the upstairs cabin. It's nothing special -yeah, that's what I was trying to say - nothing special...
All the best, James
Nov 21, 2007, 2:07 pm
#10
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: New York
Programs: Marriott Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, Delta Skymiles Platinum
Posts: 650
It really is a matter of personal choice (and not too many bad choices).
I am flying NW25 this Saturday DTW-NRT-PVG in 73A. I like the side storage bin, and the more intimate feel of the upper deck. I also sometimes get to BS with one of the off duty pilots, which can be interesting.
Downside is lugging the bag up the stairs, and sometimes finding no space to store it. And as someone else mentioned, it can be warmer upstairs.
I am flying NW25 this Saturday DTW-NRT-PVG in 73A. I like the side storage bin, and the more intimate feel of the upper deck. I also sometimes get to BS with one of the off duty pilots, which can be interesting.
Downside is lugging the bag up the stairs, and sometimes finding no space to store it. And as someone else mentioned, it can be warmer upstairs.
Nov 21, 2007, 5:53 pm
#11
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: I'll tell you where you can stick your easypass...
Programs: CO Plat, NWPlat, Marriott Gold, IC Ambassador, Starwood Gold, Delta peon, various other
Posts: 192
Upper.
Quieter. Fewer People. Better Service
Quieter. Fewer People. Better Service
Nov 22, 2007, 2:01 am
#12
Join Date: Nov 2006
Programs: (formerly) Northwest, Continental, Delta, American, United, ANA
Posts: 118
Upper Deck, definitely. Quieter, more intimate, much lower restroom/pax ratio (12:1), and FA/pax ratio (12:1), great storage, and you can stash a rollaboard up there, just maybe not in the overhead.
All in all, you have the sensation of flying in a private jet, based on the size of the cabin.
All in all, you have the sensation of flying in a private jet, based on the size of the cabin.
Nov 22, 2007, 12:00 pm
#13
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: Mililani, Hawaii
Posts: 1,236
The 744 upper deck has 2 lavs. No waiting. Plenty of room for rollaboards in the closet if you can deal with the stairs. Some upper deck pax put their rollaboards in the lower deck bins, but I invariably need something from the rollaboard.... including food on KIX/TPE. KIX/TPE is the WORST widebody WBC flight. No WBC kit, and bad food. At least it's a short flight.
The worst narrowbody WBC (yes, believe it or not) was the 757 service NRT/NGO/SPN. It was domestic F branded as WBC. Now, it's real WBC on an A333. NW may still offer "WBC on 757" service into China... haven't checked.
The worst narrowbody WBC (yes, believe it or not) was the 757 service NRT/NGO/SPN. It was domestic F branded as WBC. Now, it's real WBC on an A333. NW may still offer "WBC on 757" service into China... haven't checked.
Last edited by Eidetic; Nov 22, 2007 at 12:20 pm