Can anyone suggest why on earth some carriers choose to configure their 777s in 2-5-2, instead of 3-3-3? Never understood this one....

That was a very interesting article. While I have no idea as to why airlines tend to use a 3x3x3 configuration on 777s, that won't stop me from speculating. Obviously, most travelers prefer either a window seat or an aisle seat. Either the 3x3x3 configuration or the 2x5x2 configuration results in the same number of aisle and window seats. However, in the 2x5x2 configuration, the person at the window seat has only one person to bother if needing to go use the restroom, whereas in the 3x3x3 there could be two people to bother. Having 2x5x2 seating means that the people in the center seats in the plane have two people to bother rather than just one, but I presume that those seats are the last to fill. Thus, it appears to me that the airlines are looking at the inconvenience posed by people going to the restroom as being more important than the potential for having people seated adjacent to each other.

Apparently, whoever did that research has taken some methematics courses but has never flown on an aeroplane. The theory holds water if you assume that all of the people on the plane are traveling individually and that none actually want to sit next to each other.

In fact, however, my experience is that some customers actually travel in groups of two (say, a husband/wife, or wife/boyfirend, whatever), and these people often would wish to sit next to each other, even if it means that one or the other forgoes an aisle or window. In other cases, customers might evn travel in packs or four or five -- for example, if children are involved.

A 2-5-2 configuration is ideal for a group of 2 traveling together--one gets an aisle, the other a window (if they reserve far enough in advance). Moreover, the 2-5-2 is better for most family groups of 4 or 5. That said, the 3-3-3 configuration is better for just about all other travelers (singles, and groups of 3). So, maybe the 2-5-2 airlines have found that they've got more customers on 777 routes who travel in groups of 2 or 4+.

Delta reconfigued its 777's from 2-5-2 to 3-3-3. I think the best option is 2-3-4, 0r 2-4-3. The absolute worst (which the article didn't touch on) were carriers which have done it 3-4-3 (Yes, 10 across).

Worse still are airlines that configure the Biz class as 2-3-2 in 777's rather than 2-2-2.

2-3-2 is the "standard" biz class setup for the 777. I haven't yet seen a major airline use 2-2-2 for business on a 777. That's why Airbus builds its entire A340 marketing pitch around the fact that 'there's no middle seat in business', meaning 2-2-2.

No, you are incorrect. There are several airlines that fly biz 2-2-2 (DL and CO come to mind). If you flew airlines other than SQ and UA, perhaps you would know this (Or perhaps outside Asia as I believe that Thai even does 2-4-2 in Biz).

As for the Airbus ad......do you always believe what you read?? Come on. Even my six year old educationally challenged nephew knows that the configuration is airline dependant, not manufacturer dependent.

What you're missing is that DL and CO both have Business/First products and thus provide something that is more than business but is not quite first. 2-3-2 is indeed the "standard" for true 3-class business as evidenced by UA, AA, AF, CX, SQ, EK, etc etc.

Kane,

You are correct in that assertion although DL and CO have a business priced fare for these cabins. I.E. fly DL or LH to FRA in Business from JFK and the fares are pretty much the same. Therefore it is a business product although you are right that the do advertise them as hybrids.

Give me 2-5-2 over 3-3-3 every time, provided I can have advance seat selection and avoiud that middle seat.

I much prefer 2-5-2 to 3-3-3. I prefer a window seat (why waste that astounding view, plus on overnight coach flights I can sleep propped up against the sidewall), and with 2-5-2 there is only one person to move when I want to get out, not two.

With 3-3-3 there are two seats, the window seats, who have to move two people to get out. With 2-5-2 there is only one such seat, the one right in the middle, in this position, and they have the choice of moving either way. Only if the flight is very full does this middle seat get used (other than by choice), not the case with the side seats in 3-3-3.

If you are a single traveller in a window seat in 3-3-3 and, as so often happens, a couple is seated next to you, you can feel you are imposing on their personal space in some way.

One of the reasons why DL switched from 2-5-2 to 3-3-3 on their 777's was because the FA's complained how difficult it was to provide proper service. The other reason was because of passenger complaints.

The other question not touched upon in this thread is the pitch and the legroom in the Y cabin in the 777's on the various carriers.

Good point. I am also curious about who has PTVs in Y on their 777s too.