From FlyerGuide Wiki
Contents |
[edit] Aircraft Information
Put some info text about the B747, perhaps reproducing stats from the following: united.com 744 stats
[edit] Seatmaps
Available on SeatGuru.
See also united.com
[edit] Seating Recommendations
Adapted from FlyerTalk:
[edit] First Class
Row 1 is very close together. Good for couples, but no better than 4EF or 5EF. There is no overhead storage, so any large items need to go into the closet directly in front of you. The suites are farther back from the windows then the other window suites, so the view out the windows is actually the worst of any windo suite.
Row 2 is great for singles. It has the most "personal space" in the cabin, since the central table/rack does not extend to your row. Overhead space is a single bin, but it does swallow a legal-sized rollaboard sideways.
Row 3 is a bit more claustraphobic because of the central table, but on the plus side snacks and wine are within arms-length.
Row 4 and Row 5 are decent enough. The central E and F pair are best for couples. Pulling the galley curtain should help reduce light and noise in Row 5.
[edit] Business Class
[edit] Lower deck, Fore
Similar to Rows 8 and 9 on the 777. SeatGuru claims they have five inches less pitch then the rest of the plane, but FTer experience suggests otherwise. With the seat in front of you fully reclined, you have no chance of getting out of 7A/D/H or 8A/D/H, and even the aisle seats (B/C/F/G) will be dicey unless you are a contortionist. If you want to be able to get up mid-flight at night in the forward cabin, pick 6B/C/F/G.
[edit] Lower deck, Aft
The AB and GH pairs have the same pitch as the forward cabin and most of the upper deck. No problems with full recline and extension. Galley light on Row 22 should not be a problem. Row 23 gets somewhat more light but, like Row 5 in First, the eyeshades and earplugs will ensure sleep. 22A and 22H have plenty of space to clear the slide bulge.
25CDF and 26CDF have exceptional legroom. Even with 25 fully reclined, a mildly dextrous person can get out of Row 26 and have no problem crossing over Row 25 wth legrests extended.
[edit] Upper deck
The upper deck is spacious, with at least 6'2" of headroom in the center. The windows are useless for ground taxi, however. Lower than a CRJ, you'll snap your neck trying to look out them. Once airborne, they do a nice job of showing you what's down below.
On the plus side, the side storage lockers are amazing. Each is roughly 20" long, 18" high, and 10" wide. They're like the side tables in 10A, 10F, and 11F on the 767-200, but longer and you can put things in them. The overhead bins are useless for anything bigger then a briefcase or laptop bag. They will not hold a standard roll-aboard. There is a deep closet to the immediate right of the stairs, but being the first one to put your bag in there means you're the last one to get it out.
Row 15 is the exit row and has superior legroom. 16A and 17A are recommended by some, for the following reasons. First, you get two and a half side storage lockers, vs. only one and a half in Row 15. Second, 16AB and 17AB have about 20% more legroom then any other row (15 excepted). Third, in 15GH you have the Flight Attendent jump seat in front of you. Only downside to 16AB and 17AB is that the air vents aim at the seat cushion and will not reach your head. The 747-400 is very hot inside at cruise - almost uncomfortably so - and the lack of cool air can be a problem with sleeping.
Fear of being bumped for an Air Marshall in Row 15 is massively overblown, and should never be a consideration for choosing seating.
Rows 11-14, and seats 16-18GH have the same pitch as most other Business seats and, again, the window person will never get out if the seat in front is fully reclined. The bulkhead seats were able to fully extend their legrests. If mildly dexterous, 16A and 17A can get out when the seat in front of them is fully reclined and their neighbor in the B seat has their footrest fully extended.
Note - United is revamping the international fleet's interiors with new First and Business class seats. There is one reconfigured aircraft, a B767, for international routes that has fully lie-flat bed seats in first and business class. Both seats have a 15.4" screen with server-based audio/video on-demand.
[edit] Economy Plus (rows 35-44)
The pitch here is 34", more cramped than other Economy Plus configurations but still better than regular Economy. 35A and 35K are not recommended. The slide extends across the entire width of the seat so you get 34" of pitch, at best. Even if the B/J seats are unoccupied, you'd have to bend your knees at a 90° angle. 35BC and 35HJ are fine. There is a ceiling mounted 15" CTV (ala the 757) above your head. 36DEFG have about 36" of legroom and the projection screen right in front of them.
[edit] Economy (rows 32-34, 46-62)
[edit] Mini-cabin (rows 32-34)
The current configuration includes a "mini-cabin" of regular Economy seating between Business and Economy Plus. Some people prefer this for its relative isolation. Here, Row 32 is recommended. Legroom is equivalent to Economy Plus - 34". Think 1CD on the 757 - tight, but not tortuous. Rows 33 and 34 have standard 31" pitch. There are three 17" LCD monitors, one on each bulkhead.
[edit] Main cabin (rows 46-62)
Standard 31" pitch. 46A and 46K are not recommended, due to the slide. 46BC and 46HJ are the four seats to gun for. Galley light on the HJK side of Rows 46-49 can be bright. Again, CRTs for the Exit Row and projector for everyone else.
