Personally, I would not book one. Not really for motion sickness, but the motion of being on a rear facing train or bus seat already makes me feel awkward. I can't imagine how it would be moving 500 miles per hour backwards.

Another vote for rear facing seats here. They are easier to sleep in plus I enjoy the usual feeling/view during takeoff and landing.

started by BA, now copied by UA - no one else is there?

EY F is cool, they rotate to face backwards

WN used to have some "club" style seating. I think it all went a way long ago.

It's been quite interesting to read the responces here. It's almost a 50/50 split in terms of love it / hate it.
I think I'll try to avoid the rear facing seats, I flew back on one again today and this time I really started to feel a wee bit sick on take off and landing. I think the fact that only UA and BA use these configurations is a testament to it's popularity amongst passengers.

Does anyone know if the new CO-UA plans to standardize it's cabins? It would be a shame if they changed CO's Business First seat. It's not the prettiest thing out there but I like it a lot.

its the new UA international 3 class, but CO has new international 2 class with flatbeds

Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry8530/5.0.0.601 Profile/MIDP-2.1 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/417)

I recall seeing them on AA's Convair 990's in the 1960's, and on US Air's DC-9-50's in the 1970's.

I think herringbone is the farthest from forward facing that I can handle.

I quite enjoy the private feeling the herringbone seats give you, but I too don't like the awkward angle they have you sitting at.

It'll be interesting to see what AC, ANZ, VS, etc.. choose as their new premium cabin seats in the next 7-10 years.

new herringbone keep coming out, forget who the latest was

I'd much rather face backwards than be in the herringbone config. Herringbone is so uncomfortable on takeoff - it makes me feel as if the plane is continually rounding a corner as it accelerates and lifts off!

Yes, it did. I flew PSA from LAX/SFO in the '60's in those seats.

Finally someone else who feels the same way as I do!

I am very curious to read about other's experiences with the backward facing seats and what they thought of them.

I'm fine with them. As mentioned above, years ago WN had a row at the bulkhead facing backwards. Herringbone does feel a bit odd, as it does make it feel like the aircraft is constantly turning when it's accelerating/decelerating.

The safety analyses I've seen are mixed. The idea is that in a sudden stop the force is spread out over your whole back rather than just the seatbelt. However, there's not a lot of data that seatbelt injuries are a big problem. There's the potential for debris to hit you in the face in a sudden stop if you're facing backwards.