So many firsts!
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: London
Programs: KLM, BA Silver, Etihad
Posts: 916
So many firsts!
A bit of a nothing thread but I need to share!
Eventually managed to get our 2-4-1 booking done just now.
We are going to NY in October for five nights from London.
So firsts....
1 - USA
2 - An aircraft with only 32 seats
3 - Shannon
4 - 747 (upper deck to boot)
I believe we have what are considered to be optimum seats for both flights, 2A and 2B out from LCY and 64J and 64K back on the 747 - although interestingly I see seat guru has warnings for those two seats due to their proximity to the stairs and toilets. Its a daytime flight so the noise isn't really an issue. It would have been nice to have had the "honeymoon" seats with my other half rather than a random stranger but I think the pay off of the upper cabin kind of repeats the feeling that you are on a more private jet!
All I have to do now is find a hotel that doesn't make me weep at the price :-)
Eventually managed to get our 2-4-1 booking done just now.
We are going to NY in October for five nights from London.
So firsts....
1 - USA
2 - An aircraft with only 32 seats
3 - Shannon
4 - 747 (upper deck to boot)
I believe we have what are considered to be optimum seats for both flights, 2A and 2B out from LCY and 64J and 64K back on the 747 - although interestingly I see seat guru has warnings for those two seats due to their proximity to the stairs and toilets. Its a daytime flight so the noise isn't really an issue. It would have been nice to have had the "honeymoon" seats with my other half rather than a random stranger but I think the pay off of the upper cabin kind of repeats the feeling that you are on a more private jet!
All I have to do now is find a hotel that doesn't make me weep at the price :-)
#3
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: JER
Programs: BA Gold/OWE, several MUCCI, and assorted Pensions!
Posts: 32,139
Nice one (or 4) Rocky Robin. ^
The 747 stairs are hardly ever used in-flight, so forget about that aspect.
The aft toilet on the UD will mainly be used by the 8 pax aft of the emergency exits ... the forward toilet is likely to be used by the 12 pax forward of the exits. I doubt you will even notice!
The 747 stairs are hardly ever used in-flight, so forget about that aspect.
The aft toilet on the UD will mainly be used by the 8 pax aft of the emergency exits ... the forward toilet is likely to be used by the 12 pax forward of the exits. I doubt you will even notice!
#4
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: London, UK
Programs: BAGGL, A3G, Accor Gold, Hilton Diamond, IHG Diamond, LHW Sterling
Posts: 1,308
Nice one (or 4) Rocky Robin. ^
The 747 stairs are hardly ever used in-flight, so forget about that aspect.
The aft toilet on the UD will mainly be used by the 8 pax aft of the emergency exits ... the forward toilet is likely to be used by the 12 pax forward of the exits. I doubt you will even notice!
The 747 stairs are hardly ever used in-flight, so forget about that aspect.
The aft toilet on the UD will mainly be used by the 8 pax aft of the emergency exits ... the forward toilet is likely to be used by the 12 pax forward of the exits. I doubt you will even notice!
#5
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 8,744
Incidentally what was your flying pattern that got you to Gold?
It would be interesting to know the proportion of Golds who have never been to the USA at all. Not talking about TP purposes here just general member demographics. I would guess it's a relatively small proportion but no idea really.
It would be interesting to know the proportion of Golds who have never been to the USA at all. Not talking about TP purposes here just general member demographics. I would guess it's a relatively small proportion but no idea really.
#6
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Central Scotland, UK
Programs: BAEC Gold
Posts: 286
Sounds like a great trip, well done securing those flights and seats.
Suspect it's pretty common. Couple of Eastbound trips with Qatar plus some short haul on BA around Europe would do it?
Incidentally what was your flying pattern that got you to Gold?
It would be interesting to know the proportion of Golds who have never been to the USA at all. Not talking about TP purposes here just general member demographics. I would guess it's a relatively small proportion but no idea really.
It would be interesting to know the proportion of Golds who have never been to the USA at all. Not talking about TP purposes here just general member demographics. I would guess it's a relatively small proportion but no idea really.
#7
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 8,744
To be clear I mean never been to the US in their lives. So I would guess that a fair number of the type of people who do a couple of eastbound trips with Qatar plus some short haul around Europe, have probably been to the US at some point in their lives too. By no means all of course. Very OT discussion anyway...
#9
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: London, UK
Programs: BAGGL, A3G, Accor Gold, Hilton Diamond, IHG Diamond, LHW Sterling
Posts: 1,308
#10
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Sussex, UK
Programs: BA:Gold Amex:Green :IC Platinum Elite Amb
Posts: 660
Nice one (or 4) Rocky Robin. ^
The 747 stairs are hardly ever used in-flight, so forget about that aspect.
The aft toilet on the UD will mainly be used by the 8 pax aft of the emergency exits ... the forward toilet is likely to be used by the 12 pax forward of the exits. I doubt you will even notice!
The 747 stairs are hardly ever used in-flight, so forget about that aspect.
The aft toilet on the UD will mainly be used by the 8 pax aft of the emergency exits ... the forward toilet is likely to be used by the 12 pax forward of the exits. I doubt you will even notice!
#11
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: JER
Programs: BA Gold/OWE, several MUCCI, and assorted Pensions!
Posts: 32,139
We have a 744 booked (LHR-PHX) for Feb 19, and really looking forward to the UD again (instead of 777, particularly!)
#12
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: London
Programs: KLM, BA Silver, Etihad
Posts: 916
I was considering moving forward a row to the exit row for extra leg room (six foot seven) however as this is a daytime flight I don't see the point.
I'm trying to find pictures of the first row in BA001 to see if it is worth moving forward to there too but again a daytime flight so maybe not.
AS far as making Gold without ever having been to the US at my age well there are somethings a boy never talks about.
#13
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: London, UK
Programs: BAGGL, A3G, Accor Gold, Hilton Diamond, IHG Diamond, LHW Sterling
Posts: 1,308
Indeed I was scared away from the 777's from this website, we were considering saving some avoid and coming back WT+
I was considering moving forward a row to the exit row for extra leg room (six foot seven) however as this is a daytime flight I don't see the point.
I'm trying to find pictures of the first row in BA001 to see if it is worth moving forward to there too but again a daytime flight so maybe not.
AS far as making Gold without ever having been to the US at my age well there are somethings a boy never talks about.
I was considering moving forward a row to the exit row for extra leg room (six foot seven) however as this is a daytime flight I don't see the point.
I'm trying to find pictures of the first row in BA001 to see if it is worth moving forward to there too but again a daytime flight so maybe not.
AS far as making Gold without ever having been to the US at my age well there are somethings a boy never talks about.
#14
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: London
Programs: KLM, BA Silver, Etihad
Posts: 916
I’ve probably sat in most of the window seats on the baby bus over the years, and others may disagree but IMO (in a good way) they’re much of a muchness. Only real thing I can think (and we’re dancing on the head of a pin here) is you get a bit less wing in your photo further forward if that’s your bag and get served a minute quicker. Galley noise isn’t an issue on this aircraft so row one is fine.
Ive noticed our personal information hasn't pulled through onto the booking, is this USA connected?
EDIT - IT would seem Ms Rocky Robin's details were already in there, she went to NY last year so maybe it is a US thing.
Last edited by RockyRobin; Jun 24, 2018 at 9:49 am
#15
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Brighton. UK
Programs: BA Gold / VS /IHG Diamond & Ambassador
Posts: 14,167
There is a thread about the seats on BA01 in the dashboard - look for the A318. There are also some photos of each seat pair as well. I believe @KARFA put it together. Personally I don't think row 1 offers any advantage on the A318 - It's next to one of the toilets and the galley so there is a little bit more traffic during drinks runs and meal service though not excessive. I prefer to sit a little farther back at around row 5 or 6 no idea why but I just do. Depending on loads the empty seat pairs are at the back end so more room to spread out.
As for the stairs on the UD 64k is virtually immune from any disturbance (seat guru is renown for being out of date and having inaccurate info). 64J will get a little more and it could be distracting seeing people walk up and down the aisle.
As for the stairs on the UD 64k is virtually immune from any disturbance (seat guru is renown for being out of date and having inaccurate info). 64J will get a little more and it could be distracting seeing people walk up and down the aisle.