LA_FadeAway

Any comparisons between J (biz) seats and service on CA 983 (PEK-LAX) vs the "quadra-smartium" seats on OZ 204 ICN-LAX?

belfordrocks

I prefer the layout of the latter which is a bit more private.

LA_FadeAway

Thanks for the feedback. What about food and service in biz?

oneworld82

thanks!

SAT Lawyer

I flew the CA 77W in economy from LAX-PEK on the redeye (CA #984) recently. I have yet to see anybody comment on which seats in economy to prefer or avoid on this bird in this thread, and Seatguru hasn't added it to its roster yet. With that it mind, here are a few of my observations.

The 77W is configured 3-3-3 (A/B/C, aisle, D/E/H, aisle, J/K/L) in economy, with 261 seats. There is a three row economy mini-cabin in front (Rows 31-33), followed by two larger cabins behind it (Rows 34-46 and 47-60). The exit rows and bulkheads excepted, pitch seemed to be 32" throughout economy, at least to the naked eye.

I'd rate Row 34, the exit row at the start of the second economy class cabin, as offering the best seats in economy, hands down. 34D, 34E, and 34H, with a hard bulkhead in front, all had above average legroom, but 34A, 34B, and 34C were the best of the lot, with massive, effectively unlimited legroom. 34J, 34K, and 34L were marked and evidently blocked for "Crew Only," as noted on their sanitary headrest covers, but if those seats are available on a particular flight, they are every bit as good as 34A, 34B, and 34C. Atypically for exit row widebody window seats, the slide intrusion into 34A and 34L was very minimal, to the point it shouldn't deter anybody from taking these window seats.

Row 47, the second economy exit row, also offered massive legroom outside the aisles, but the exit slide intrusion into window seats 47A and 47L was significant.

Row 31, the first row in economy, is a (hard) bulkhead, and pitch was above average, but certainly a far cry from that available in the exit row.

If the exit and bulkhead seats are unavailable, Rows 32 and 33 in the mini-cabin are fairly attractive, for a more intimate cabin feel and the opportunity to be among the first economy class passengers off the plane on arrival.

There are six sets of two-seat pairs outside the aisles, unlike the three-seaters everywhere else: 33A and 33C, 33J and 33L, 59A and 59C, 59J and 59L, 60A and 60C, and 60J and 60L. These seats might be attractive for couples traveling together, although those in Rows 59 and 60 will obviously relegate their occupants to being the last off the plane.

The underseat entertainment boxes in economy do chew up precious foot space. These boxes appear to be under the A, B, D, H, K, and L seats. As such, for the non-exit and non-bulkhead-rows, I'd recommend trying to reserve a C or J (aisle) seat.

There are AC power ports throughout economy that appear to correspond to the placement of the underseat boxes. The AVOD selection was decent and, at least on this long-haul flight, we were were relatively well fed with two mostly-edible meals spread across each end of the flight.

TravelPhotographer

Have committed to (UA-MP) award seat.
Am busn class newbie.

CA996 I HOUSTON, TX
(IAH -BUSH INTL) 1:00 AM BEIJING, PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA
(PEK - CAPITAL) 4:50 AM 777-300
Flight operated by AIR CHINA

Am I on 300 or 300ER?
Are rows 12-16 best? window or aisle? Thanks! ^

Chinatrvl

CA does not have 773s, only 77Ws. So a 777-300ER.

First row business is best, as there is a lot of space, particularly the legrest.

TravelPhotographer

R1 -- thanks!
Read elsewhere r1 has
no storage under seat & less
storage immediately above...?
And if R1 is clearly preferred
& already taken, any 2nd choice rows?

How to reserve? Only by calling CA direct?
(UA award, doesn't allow choosing at United.com)

belfordrocks

Yep - just call CA

TravelPhotographer

If one is in r11, does one have greater risk
of being kept awake by "barflies"?
(I see "B=bar" just forward of r11)
Currently have r12A, any reason to move further back...?
Asked by a busn newbie, thanks!

MNSWEEps

we are booked on the ca988 flight LAX-PEK in November in economy..Just wanted to make sure the seats have personal TV, right? I couldn't find layout on seatguru.com.

belfordrocks

On the 777, yes.

FlyJeb

Yep they have PTVs which has pretty good selections.

A seat map can be found here
http://www.airlinequality.com/Experience/CA_773ER.htm

matrixwalker2012

Looks like my mom will be in for a pretty nice surprise this weekend. She's flying IAH-PEK on the 77W and she thinks she's going to be in business, but I quietly rebooked her in First without telling her...

Crazy she wanted coach but for a nearly 15 hour flight, I refused to put her there

drzoidberg

Any updates on the IAH-PEK flight? Thinking about booking that same flight next summer.