V-Flyer

Hi,

We are booked as a party of six, 3 adults and three children aged 10,12 and 14 flying Upper from NYC in October. We were originally flying on a 340 but have just noticed it's been changed to A330 now!!! I know the reviews are not good, what are the best seats to choose and do you think it will be changed back to a 340?.

Thanks,

Steve

Bad luck. Anything is possible but there's no reason to suspect they'd change it again.

Personally I'd take six seats in a cluster at the front eg 1/2/3A&D or 1/2/3G&K. That way your party will "own" the front of the plane with no-one in front of you. And you're as far away as possible from the bar.

I tend to prefer 3/4/5, it's far away enough from the bar and the front galley, I sometimes find the noise can be disruptive in 1 or 2. In your situation I would probably go for 2-7K, yes, it might be nice to be opposite, but the suites are smaller in the middle and there are no air vents, which I hate.

We always go for 2a and 3a when possible.

Would avoid the middle if at all possible

Agreed about the middle for adults - fine for 10, 12 and 14-year-olds though, if you need to keep an eye on them.

@stevedaley have you got the run of the cabin or are seats already taken?

A and K seats are 5 inches longer than the middle seats. May be fine if your younger ones are short, but if you are tall you will want the bit extra, certainly if you want to make up the bed.

The cabin already has some seats taken Gumshoe, I can get 4 -9K For the six of us, I know its close to the bar but two of the kids are quite tall. At the moment I have 4/5/6 G and K.

Row 1 A,D and G are taken as well as A 4/5/6.

Thanks,

Steve

Ok - well it's the lesser of two evils really - personally I'd avoid 8K & 9K as they get the heaviest toilet footfall and they're close to the bar. On a night flight there's a decent chance no-one will use it but it only takes one.

The middle seats are a bit shorter when in bed mode but unless your kids are over 6 feet it shouldn't be an issue so I'd stick with what you've got. Others may disagree though, so YMMV.

I'm flying the A330 in Upper for the first time soon. Chose 1A in the end (for no other reason than the cache and the window!). Will put a TR together on the experience.

Thanks for all your advice, given the choice available I think I will stick with the seats I have chosen. Just out of interest, apart from the bed length in the middle rows, what is the difference between the UCDS and the other seats?

Steve

The A330 suites have a "high density" layout, so the rows are 1-2-1 as opposed to 1-1-1 on the others. Again, experiences vary but some folks complain that the seat is much narrower than the "normal" seat.
A quick Google image search should show up the other differences as they are mostly cosmetic
There are apparently plans to begin replacing the UCDS with the new iteration found on the 787s in the next few months.
I personally have no problem with the seats on day flights. I'd still prefer them over being in Y or PE!

Another unpopular feature is the see-through (albeit frosted) divider between seats which many feel reduces privacy.

And because of the high density layout the cabin just feels very cramped. But I guess we've been spoiled by the nose of the 747 which has acres of free space in comparison.

Thanks for all your advice, it's really appreciated. We have only ever flown Upper on the LGW fleet, so we are used to the space. We are going out to EWR on a 787-9, so hopefully that will live up to expectations - unless they change that as well nearer the time!! Fingers crossed

Thanks again,

Steve