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Everything You Want to Know About Where to Sit on a United Dreamliner 787-8

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Old May 8, 2013, 9:14 am
FlyerTalk Forums Expert How-Tos and Guides
Last edit by: WineCountryUA
Seating links:

http://www.seatguru.com/airlines/Uni...ng_787-800.php

="3"%Polaris business Cabin
Rows 1 and 4 (bulkheads) - all seats have larger footwells. Aisle seat footwells are slightly larger than window footwells in all rows.
6DE are considered "most private" because away from galley and lav (although near coach). 6D angles away from aisle so slightly more private than 6E.

1A Footrest well
{new pics needed}

2A Footrest well
{new pics needed}

4A: DAY Love the full access to both windows and the view of the engine. However, I agree with others here, you're just TOO close to the galley. Worse yet, the galley has these super bright lights that can be bothersome on a night flight. The noise from the galley was bearable if you have your headphones on and are watching the TV etc. I didn't see any curtains to cordon off the galley...I wonder why they don't have this like on other aircraft. (If I remember correctly)

5L: DAY Nice quieter side. No galley issues. Still have a view of the engine but not as good as 4A. Your second window is partially obstructed by your seat so you only have access to the window "button" on the more forward window. Not a big deal...but I prefer to have 2 full unobstructed windows like in 4A.

6A: NIGHT Same a 5L very quiet. Full access to windows. No galley noise. Not as good a view of the engine but you can still see it albeit you're mostly over the wing at this point. ***NOTE: If you're on a night flight, like I was for this instance, there was this very bright spotlight just over the exit door 2R (across the 2L door where we boarded from) that the F/A couldn't turn off. He was very apologetic but ended up just taping a piece of cloth or something to accommodate me. Maybe I'm just super sensitive to the light but I couldn't ignore it even if I tried to. It was just perfectly aligned to my line of sight from my seat.


="3"%Economy Plus Cabin:

The front bulkhead rows (16ABC, 17DEF, and 16JKL) all have good (and identical!) legroom. Unless you are over 6'3" and/or just hate bulkheads, I'd recommend any of these seats.

I can confirm that all of these seats have identical legroom. Didn't bring my tape measure, but in both seats, my fully extended legs just touched the bulkhead -- I couldn't quite brace my feet against it, and ended up using my camp stool. For reference, I'm 6'1" with a 32-inch inseam. There's easily enough room to get up from the window seat and walk out into the aisle in a civilized way without (much) disturbing the neighbors. So, even as a committed aisle guy, 16A/L will be my first choice in the future. The view of the wing, engine, and horizon is pretty good (and you can easily spend half an hour playing with the windows). Bulkhead comes about half-way across 16C/J seat, so angling legs can get you a bit more room into business cabin. However, the curtain dangles there, which can be annoying, as can FAs going through.

UA actually did something pretty clever in 17DEF and 27DEF. Unlike every other bulkhead row in the fleet, this one actually has an adjustable armrest! It's the one between D and E (note: I'm certain of this in row 17, but could be wrong about 27). The trick is that the tray tables and video screens are to the left of D, to the right of F, and in between E/F. Thus, 17D is the clear choice here, since if 17E is empty you get to flip the armrest up and squish out. 17D/E is a good choice for couples. 17D/E are usually blocked until checkin.

Row 27 is the other potential winner. 27A and 27L have significant encroachment from the exit doors, and will probably be debated in this thread for years. 27BC and 27JK have infinite legroom, so the aisle seats are probably the top choice if you have NBA ambitions. You're going to have the standard issues with people hanging out in your space and waiting for the lavs, though. I think that the legroom in 27DEF is pretty much the same as 17DEF, but I didn't get a chance to sit there, and the inhabitants didn't encourage close inspection.

The rest of the E+ seats seem pretty much indistinguishable. Keep in mind that they're narrower than anything else in the fleet, so the eternal "E+ middle or E- aisle?" debate is differently weighted -- middles are gonna be tight. All the seats are tight, but not as tight as the 777-300 and reconfigured 777-200 (10 across) in coach.

Fixed bassinets 4AB, 4KL & 16ABC, 16JKL, 17DEF, 27DEF

Summary.

Normal people: 16A/L, then 17D, then 17F, then 16C/J. 27C/J are probably next best, and after that, it's personal preference between the E++ middles (16B/K, 17E, 27B/E/K) and the rest of the aisles and windows in E+.

Tall (6'3"+) folks: You aspire to 27C/J, followed by 27B/K, and then probably fall back on the advice for "normal people" above. 27A/L are probably not worth it.

Couples (or single + small child): 17D/E and 27D/E are the hidden treasures here; you can put up the armrest and snuggle. Or, if you're traveling with a toddler, you can have legroom while Junior stretches out across your lap for a nap.

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Everything You Want to Know About Where to Sit on a United Dreamliner 787-8

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Old Oct 31, 2017, 8:41 am
  #406  
 
Join Date: Dec 2013
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I'm really excited to be flying the Dreamliner for the first time next month on the IAD-DEN portion of my itinerary. I used a couple of RPUs so that I can check out the business class. Considering I've logged 200+ segments per year for the last 3 years, I'm surprised I haven't stumbled onto a Dreamliner yet.
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Old Nov 12, 2017, 1:06 pm
  #407  
 
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Here's a photo showing the legroom in 16A. For reference, I'm about 5' 7". I slept about as well in that seat--granted, on a 11:10 IAD-LHR flight at the end a day that had left me fried--as I have in any seat in TATL Y, and I never had a problem getting up without disturbing my companions. The only downside I can think of: If your upgrade didn't clear, 16A's excellent view of 6C's more pampered experience may lead to severe pangs of jealousy.
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Old Nov 12, 2017, 2:02 pm
  #408  
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Originally Posted by DCA writer
Here's a photo showing the legroom in 16A. For reference, I'm about 5' 7". I slept about as well in that seat--granted, on a 11:10 IAD-LHR flight at the end a day that had left me fried--as I have in any seat in TATL Y, and I never had a problem getting up without disturbing my companions. The only downside I can think of: If your upgrade didn't clear, 16A's excellent view of 6C's more pampered experience may lead to severe pangs of jealousy.
6D, you must mean.

I am 6'0" and the bulkhead is just far enough away not to bother me, although I do have to step lightly to avoid bothering 16b & 16c for entry / exit. I estimate 6'3" would be the height threshold for that seat.
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Old Jan 3, 2018, 11:38 am
  #409  
 
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Do 16 C/J allow for "unlimited" leg room by encroaching into the J cabin? Or does the bulkhead extend far enough across that it's the same as A/L? (Both window and aisle in row 16 are open on a flight I have).
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Old Jan 10, 2018, 6:54 pm
  #410  
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Originally Posted by drewguy
Do 16 C/J allow for "unlimited" leg room by encroaching into the J cabin? Or does the bulkhead extend far enough across that it's the same as A/L? (Both window and aisle in row 16 are open on a flight I have).
Yes, unlimited. You might have to angle your outboard leg a touch though.
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Old Jan 13, 2018, 1:45 pm
  #411  
 
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IAD-CDG next week and trying to get to advice for which is best out of the remaining seats.
1B,4D and everyseat in row 6. Flying by myself also, thanks in advance for insight
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Old Jan 16, 2018, 10:32 pm
  #412  
 
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Originally Posted by Bearcat16
IAD-CDG next week and trying to get to advice for which is best out of the remaining seats.
1B,4D and everyseat in row 6. Flying by myself also, thanks in advance for insight
If you are tall (over 6 feet?) the bulkhead seats are much nicer. I'd do 4D if it was me with your choices.
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Old Jan 27, 2018, 11:15 am
  #413  
 
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I don't fly the 787-8 often enough.

1E vs 4E ?
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Old Jan 27, 2018, 11:27 am
  #414  
 
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Originally Posted by NH_Clark
I don't fly the 787-8 often enough.

1E vs 4E ?
4E over 1E, as no overhead space above 1E
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Old Jan 27, 2018, 1:54 pm
  #415  
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Originally Posted by kirkwoodj
4E over 1E, as no overhead space above 1E
Also 1E is looking at the lav.
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Old Jan 27, 2018, 10:38 pm
  #416  
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Originally Posted by FlytheTail
I just flew twice on a 787, once in the forward section, the other in the second BF cabin. Your question really is whether you prefer aisle or window seats. I personally would pick 1A, as it is a little more removed from the galley activity and farther away from the lavatory. The windows are cool, probably the most novel thing to me about the 787.

A few other tidbits about the BF seats:

Seats to avoid:
1E, 1K, 3D, 3E due to proximity to lavatories
4A, 4B, 4K, 4L due to proximity to the galley. The plane is so quiet and the acoustics so good (or noise dampening poor) that you hear everything in the galley. I didn't notice this in row 1.
Row 6 due to proximity to coach cabin (although probably not an issue most of the time)

In the future, I'll try to pick a seat in the forward cabin since it seems more quiet and there's less traffic during boarding. And, it's always great to turn left when entering a plane!
Thank you FlytheTail for validating my hunch. Mrs. B will be flying the 787 at night soon and I knew Rows 1 & 4 would be bad for sleep due to noise. I just flew a 767 in row 8 and was miserable from the constant noise of the lav doors.
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Old Feb 1, 2018, 8:43 am
  #417  
 
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Flying SFO-CTU - currently in 2D (middle aisle). Since it is currently wide open am I better to switch to 1D (bulkhead)? Assume more footroom for sleeping?

Any downside to doing this (ie overhead luggage space - per seatguru??) Seems bathrooms are on the E side so that shouldnt be an issue?

Thanks in advance
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Old Feb 1, 2018, 12:24 pm
  #418  
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I would switch. Downsides are no overhead bin space (but in a lie-flat business cabin this isn't really a problem..) and proximity to the galley if that's the sort of thing that bothers you. There is also frequently a setup of wine bottles on the "shelf" in front of you, but unlike some other configurations it's about 4 feet to the bulkhead so it wouldn't bother me.

It's a YMMV situation on whether you're extremely sensitive to nearby light, noise, or motion, versus whether you prefer the footwell. The lav is at 1E so not a concern.

Note that if 4D is available, it's probably superior to 1D unless you have strong feelings about being behind door 2.
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Old Feb 1, 2018, 2:01 pm
  #419  
 
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Originally Posted by findark
I would switch. Downsides are no overhead bin space (but in a lie-flat business cabin this isn't really a problem..) and proximity to the galley if that's the sort of thing that bothers you. There is also frequently a setup of wine bottles on the "shelf" in front of you, but unlike some other configurations it's about 4 feet to the bulkhead so it wouldn't bother me.

It's a YMMV situation on whether you're extremely sensitive to nearby light, noise, or motion, versus whether you prefer the footwell. The lav is at 1E so not a concern.

Note that if 4D is available, it's probably superior to 1D unless you have strong feelings about being behind door 2.
Thanks for explanation.... Is there limited overhead space or none at all? No overhead bin space is an issue as Im always bringing at least 2 carry-ons with me since it is a business trip......
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Old Feb 1, 2018, 2:06 pm
  #420  
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Originally Posted by elg26
Thanks for explanation.... Is there limited overhead space or none at all? No overhead bin space is an issue as Im always bringing at least 2 carry-ons with me since it is a business trip......
None. There is a pilot bunk above 1DE so the bins are not there. My experience is that there is plenty of space above others' seats though.
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