I've never found one to recline at all. I suspect that if it does, it's a broken seat.

I seem to remember row 15 reclining, although I'm usually in 16. Seatguru seems to think that row 15 reclines (somewhat), too.

I'll go E+ so that I don't have a tight squeeze with the knees of the E- behind my exit row seat.

Looks like everyone seem to be as ambivalent as I am, and changes choices depending on load. Good stuff - thank you for your responses!

i always freeze my butt off when i see at the exit row. especially, with the window seat. a mean draft just comes through!!! i'll take e+ any day.

I personally prefer exit rows, even if there's a light load. I almost never recline, and I'm happier if the person in front of me can't either... Some will surely think I'm insane, but there are times I'll take an exit row over some seats in F. For example, on a domestic 767 or a 319/320, some exit row seats have significantly more leg room than F (even if it's a little narrower). I say this hoping it doesn't devolve into a length vs. width discussion...

Don't you ever look at SeatGuru or SeatExpert?

www.seatguru.com

www.seatexpert.com

The choices depend not just on load, but also on the seating configurations of specific aircraft.

On a Ted A320 (AKA the 32S), for example, the only decent row is Row 11, the second exit row (which reclines, though the occupants of the non-E+ row behind it tend to b*tch about this).

On a regular (non-p.s.) B757, the second exit row is Row 16, a decent choice, but Rows 8 and 9 are good as well.

And so on.

With regard to loads, if loads are light, there is the possibility of moving to a different seat once onboard, or hoping that a seatmate will (or asking/encouraging them to), so basing the choice on loads isn't really much of a factor for me.

This is mostly moot, since I've been very lucky with the upgrades since first becoming 1K a few years ago. However, I'm always grateful for Row 11 when flying on Ted! (And I've usually found the seat next to me empty -- even better!)

I guess it all depends on personal preference, although I'm a bit surprised so many people here think Row 30 on the 777 isn't the place to be. For me (granted, I'm 6'3) there's no better seat than 30J. Ability to lean into the wall, plenty of leg room, etc.

I'm 6'5" and while the exit row is good I prefer a bulkhead. On long flights the inconvenience of storage and arm rests is worth being able to stretch out my legs.

It's exit row w/ reclining seat or E+ (preferable bulkhead) if I have to be in Y. Surprisingly UA has been good to this 1K ^

For me the issue is I book an aisle seat and am I more likely to have a free middle seat in reg. E+ or E+Exit? In other threads, FFs opine that the middle seat is more likely to be filled in E+Exit than in regular E+. This seems plausible in my extensive TED experience,but it is always difficult to state a statistical truth from one's own sample of experiences. It is my understanding from other posters that when E+ middle seats are filled, 1Ks or 1Ps are NOT given preference in keeping their blocks over 2Ps. Therefore there does not seem to be any special privilege about E+Exit that makes it more likely to keep its middle seat block. (You have to be 1K or 1P to book exit row.)

Almost exclusively a 757 flyer, so I book 16 A or F and use the blanket 'cause it does get cold. I'd say 75% of the time (maybe 12 out of 16 flights) the middle seat was empty. One seat jumper this year lowered my score. Exit row over E+ if the seat in front of me can't recline much.