As was stated earlier in the thread - it's all in the quality of the FAs. We've never had incompetent, poor FAs like this, so we've never run into the issue.

Have never had the problem not able to use the closet, it does get full but FAs always try to accomondate. I thought the purpose of the closet is for carry-ons that do not fit in the overhead?

I have very strong opinion on this one!

SFO-HKG flights are ALWAYS great for me! I love the crews. They are happy, helpful, and warm. Always on top of things.

SFO-FRA flights are ALWAYS terrible for me! I hate the crews! They are surly, unhelpful, unhappy, and cold as dead fish. I can go 2 hours without seeing an FA, all the time with my glass empty.

IMHO, is is much more about the crew than upper vs lower deck.

Totally agreed and this is the main reason that I let my boys fly up stairs. We usually see a deckfull of concern eyes when we board, but it is the snore from seat 15G that is out of control. After 215,000+ miles and 138 take offs for my 8 years old and half of that for his yonger brother, I am proud to say we weren't in your flights when you encounter crying babies.

To get back to the topic, side bins are great and overhead bins are perfect size for children size rollerboards.

I am not lucky and I never ever saw one, despite sitting there 20-30 times a year. But one of my pals claimed there was one on the SFO-SYD hop 4 years ago.

I might be wrong, just my personal opinion, so please don't get nasty:

I always find the F/As at upper deck are nicer, more cautious and friendly than lower deck, it is probably because a lot of experienced travellers and frequent flyers (1K and GS) like to seat on upper deck. It is more quiet up there since you don't hear much noise from the engines or baby crying. I also notice seats at upper deck always get reserved and packed up first before lower deck.

Passengers with lower MP status and wait for upgrade usually don't have their upgrade cleared till the last 20 0r 30 minute before departure. By the time when their upgrade are cleared, all the seats at upper deck have already taken, so they have no choice but have to seat at lower deck. In addition, I find lower deck is more family oriented since it is not so convenience to carry their babies and baby strollers all the way to upper deck.

In my last flight from HKG to LAX during boarding, the lady sat right next to me looked very upset when she approached the seat. She immediately complained to the F/A about the seat she was assigned (she had 6G and I had 6H window, the first row of C behind F class). I guess her seat was a kind of close to the gallery and lavatory, so that was why she wanted to switch seat. The F/A asked her to wait for a while, then minutes later the GA came in the plane and talked to her in a very angry tone, "You know you are UA employee, you are already lucky enough to have a C class seat, why do you still complain about the seat you were assigned? The flight is very full, I will not move you". I was a kind of shocked by the way the GA talked to the lady in front of so many passengers around. Besides, during the journey, the lady demanded a lot from the F/As by kept asking F/As to bring her water, wine, more coffee, more desert, extra blanket ...... this and that, like never end. After this incidence, I don't think I want to seat at lower deck again even though I know it is an individual incidence.

yeah.. and in other news...... a plane is brought down by shrieking baby due to the pilots not being able to concentrate ....

This is my first post.

I fly LAX-NRT-LAX a bunch, and have enjoyed the 747 that UAL uses on these legs. I usually try to fly upstairs...15H is my favorite seat due to the legroom and the place to store my stuff to the right. (There is also a strap hanging near the emergency door that you can hang on to.) The seats upstairs that seat guru recommends are good. The forward bulkhead seats upstairs are terrible. (No place to store your stuff, too close to the bathrooms.) In my opinion here are the pros and cons of the upper deck.

Pro:
I've never seen any kids upstairs.
More personalized service from the F/As.
Smaller, more intimate cabin. Almost feels like a private jet.
Upstairs usually has more frequent flyers...not so many knuckleheads.

Con:
The temperature control is usually messed up. Starts out too hot, then gets freezing cold.

The cockpit is upstairs. Whenever the crew needs to use the bathrooms or stretch they close off the bathrooms.

The overhead storage is very small. Half the time my briefcase won't even fit.

It's easy to get trapped when trying to get off. Lot's of pax put their suitcase in the closet, and then when they are trying to get it when they are leaving they block the stairs. We (my fellow company flyers) usually try to get off the plane as soon as possible and then pass as many as we can on the way to customs. (I've had bad looks, but then see them about a hundred people behind me when they arrive in customs. Now that Japan fingerprints and takes photos of all visitors customs has backed way up.

When there isn't a good seat upstairs, I'll usually try to get 26C downstairs. The only problem I've had with 26C is proximity to the forward coach seats. For some reason they put all the loud babies in the forward coach seats. I've heard babies crying for 12 hours...didn't think it was possible.

I am not a fan of the 747 Uppper Deck for long flights.

I enjoy the peace and quiet in the upper deck. And it's nice to occasionally walk up and down the stairs during a flight for exercise.

I'm a fan of the upper deck. It is quieter and has less foot traffic than the LD C. I love the window seats with the lockers. And it is much more private up there.

17A is my all-time favorite; nobody behind you tugging on the seat through the night, 3 lockers that both hold my stuff in them, hold my feet up on them, and serve as a great place to put my notebooks, reading book, files, pens, water bottles, etc. through the evening and rather than being held captive by the FA's waiting to take away my dinner tray I can always put all that stuff on the lockers to use the lav or just keep working on my laptop. I always use the upstairs closet for my rollaboard, never have been refused.

As for the FA's, it really depends upon the FA. I agree that the HKG station has the best FA's on average, but my recent SY-SFO flight with and SFO crew was really superb, I was pleasantly surprised. (They both get a 2-4 hour break midflight and sleep in the sleeper cabin in the rear of the plane).

I definitely always choose the upper deck when available if the seats are window seats and not those icky bulkhead seats. And I have gotten great seats up there throughout the upgrade cycle, from confirming at booking 12 weeks out, to being the last to board and awaiting that golden ticket, so they are not always gone first, especially when they start breaking connections due to WX, all sorts of good stuff pops up!

I am a HUGE fan of the 747 upper deck for long flights. Especially 15H. Doesn't get much sweeter in C.

I have to agree with most posted comments- UD is head and shoulders above LD. The service, the relaxed atmosphere, the smaller cabin, etc. all make for a better flying experience, IMH.
WARNING, MASSIVE GENERALIZATION AHEAD!!!And, FWIW, we've always noticed upon deplaning that the LD always seems messier than the UD (newspapers, trash, food {!} scattered about on the floor)- don't know if that's a reflection on the FAs or just what- Mind you, this is totally subjective and based on almost 100% experience to/ from SYD...

I'm flying SYD-SFO on 01/14/08. Row 15 is filled as is 17A. Would you choose 16A (where I am now), 17H or 18H? Also the entire lower level is wide open. Thanks!

Stick with 16A. 16-17 A/B have more legroom than 16-17-18 G/H.