The seat is more spacious on the 2 class 772. All else being equal, I would definitely opt for 772 over 764.

Backward facing seat is no reason to avoid the 3 class. But the lack of personal space is.

I hate the 3 class 777. The seat is long but feels so cramped in width at the elbow level.

I'd rank it PMCO 777 (2 Class) > 764 > PMUA 777 (3 Class)

Regarding the DL 767: my wife and I just burnt some miles from the old DL account to vacation in Europe and we flew the DL 767. If that's a reference point for you and your wife, I would suggest that the 3-class 777 with 2-4-2 seat is better. I felt like I was in a tunnel the entire time I was in the DL seat. It is horribly cramped. The UA seat feels much bigger to me.

Also I agree with Kacee that I would not avoid the backward-facing seat for only that reason. I hated them at first, but you can't see anyone on the other side, and I've come to like them just a little.

As I've only flown the 747 and pmUA 777 I can't fully answer your question, but hope that the DL compare is useful.

I'm a fan of the middle seat on the 2-1-2 764. Sort of reminds me of the front row in the middle of the front row of the pre-conversion 763s. Even at 6'4" there was no way I could reach out to touch the bulkhead.

In addition to the seat width, so other points to consider.

Going thru GRU puts you in the new T3 and able to use the new *A lounge which is very nice. GIG has the SMILES lounge (former Varig as you likely know).

The 2-2-2 777 has a small divider on the arm rest betweeen the seats. Doesn't prevent cponversation with your wife, but makes it difficult to hold hands if you like to do that.

The foot rest area on the 2-4-2 777 is larger than on the 2-2-2 777 with the possible exception of the bulkhead seats on the 2-2-2 777.

I believe the seats on the 764 are the same as on the 2-2-2 777. Someone who has been on it can correct me if this is wrong.

I like the AVOD system on the 2-4-2 777 better. Also, you can lower one of the arm rests which can give you a bit more room. I find these seats more comfortable than on the 2-2-2 777. I also concur with others that facing backward is not a problem. In fact, I prefer it. It is also deemed safer. I have flown on military medical transports and all the seats face backwards for that reason (so I was told).

You don't mention your onward connection, but I would think going thru EWR would be longer overall, yet it will yield more miles.

The 764 has the same divider. The sUA seat is better for talking to your neighbor.

It's the same seat design, but there is considerably less space on the 764. The seat is both shorter and narrower.

Actually the outside arm rest retracts on all three aircraft, and the functionality is better on the sCO seats.

i'll pick the 2-2-2 and 2-1-2 options over the 2-4-2 any day of the week, unless the 2-4-2 flight is priced much lower

I'm 6'2" and I can't stand the horrible short seats on the 767-400 and 787. It's an embarrassment and I don't say that lightly. There's no comfortable way to use those seats as beds unless you're in the handful of bulkhead seats. The 777-200 3-class is really sad for personal space, but it's a better seat in every other way (for me, a tall person). It's long, and has a softer cushion. Game over. Screw being closer to your seatmate, there's nothiing worse than an unusable $7,000 business class seat.

It is, in fact, a reason to prefer that equipment.

Unless you're average height or below, avoid the 764 at all costs. Take a bulkhead on the 2-class 777 if possible. If not, then the rear-facing seats are actually the best sleep option.

Do you like aisle-access, and don't want anybody climbing over you? Take the 764, the middle seat (the layout is 2-1-2).
The 764 and 2-class 777 are wonderful in my opinion. I'm 5-11, but yes, if you're taller than me, it may feel cramped.

Opinion is divided over the 3-class 777: I sleep very comfortably in them, and they're great for taller people. The IFE system is better in my opinion. But, no storage space whatsoever, and if you have wide shoulders (or are, ahem, heavier) then the seat will be too narrow. It's best for couples traveling together.
If you do fly the 3-class 777, take one of the backward-facing pair of seats, as you'll sleep better.

In deciding on which flights we'll take between Brazil and the U.S. in biz class, price and airports are obvious factors, but the planes used are also a consideration, especially as the seating is so different. 3 possible planes involved:

1) 3-class 777-200. Biz class has 2-4-2 seating, with both forward and backward-facing seats. The much smaller first class section has 1-2-1 seating (unfortunately, at a much, much higher cost). I believe I heard that there is a partition between the forward and backward-facing sets in biz class, though photos I saw showed happy couples dining face-to-face.

2) 2-class 777-200. Biz class has 2-2-2 seating.

3) 2-class767-400, with 2-1-2 seating in biz class (we've taken this before).

On our last two trips we took Delta, in 767-400 and 767-300s, with 1-2-1 seating (and truly lie-flat seats/suites) in biz class (we chose two seats on the side, one in back of the other), but this time the price on United is far less for some routings.

Anyone with firsthand experiences that could make comparisons re comfort and/or service?

#2 and #3 avoid #1

These photos were not taken on a UA plane. :-:


Flying with someone I know I'll take the 2 seat pair on any of the UA planes without much complaint. Minor differences in bed length and width but they don't bother me one way or the other.

The seats are arranged so that that won't work. Each seat has a foot well underneath a monitor, that alone would prevent the face-to-face dining.

I haven't tried J in the 2-class 772, but between the 3-class 772 and the 764, I'd go with the latter. It'll feel a lot less cramped, 2-4-2 seems very crowded. While service is highly dependent on the crew you get that day, overall it does feel a little more attentive and personal in the smaller cabin.