If you had a choice...

If you had a choice, what seats would you pick on the VA Airbus 340-600 (SFO-LHR and back, two passengers traveling together)? Seatguru shows the window seats are flagged "yellow" because there is an equipment box under the seat. Is that really an issue? Should we try for 62 D and G and hope the middle reat remains empty? This travel is for mid December returning mid January.
thanks , Jim

[Neil]

Hi Jim,

Have you had a look at the seat ratings page on here to see what our members rate as the best and worst seats? It might be interesting to see how that compares to seat guru.

I haven't personally flown in economy on the A346 so can't offer a personal opinion, but know some colleagues who have, and they sat in the 2's by the windows and whilst they mentioned about the IFE box under one of the seats, it wasn't a major issue for them.

Oh, and welcome to the site.
Neil

Any AC / HK pair is better IMO than 62 D and G (where of course you risk being separated). And, being closer to the front will give you a better experience going through immigration.

Being closer to the back means you will get food and drink served last and possibility of menu choices all being taken so you end up with whats left.

As to the F seat being left empty - yes of course it could but then again if the flight gets full then it will be allocated.

The flight may be 'quiet' now but that can soon change and mid December starts the pre-christmas travel rush.

[mitchja]

Grab a seat as far forward as you can when flying on the 346's. You get off quicker and the crew start serving meals from the front of the economy cabin.

On the 346's the first 6 or so rows are always blocked until online check-in opens. Once OLCI opens these rows do open up.

Avoid rows 43 - 46 as this area has washrooms and feels quite claustrophobic in the middle section of seats, having the crew rest bulk head in front of you and the water fountains behind you.

The newer 346's do have slightly smaller IFE boxes under the seats.

As far forward as possible on the left or 'AC' side for me. First served, first economy off the aircraft, can get to immigration quicker than slow walking PE and Upper passengers.

Definitely a A/C or H/K pair towards the front. You can never rely on seats next to you being left empty as SFO tends to be quite a busy flight.

Having made a return LHR->EWR Economy flight on an A346 recently, firstly I fell foul of the T-13 reallocation of prebooked seats.

Returning the flight was full but I was offered a K seat in the extra leg room row (31 or 36 - can't remember which now). The Extra £30 was worth it in my opinion, but this row can only be booked at the airport.

i would go for the window seat. i have not flown on an airbus 340 but other aircraft i have flown on the IFE boxes under the seats are fairly small and make little difference. as others have said it is a little risky hoping for a mid section for yourself as the flight may become very busy.

Flew in 57k a few years back and didnt notice a box under the seat in front. It probably was there, but not big enough to notice.

Hello

From experience definitely AC or HK - I never noticed a box under the seat when I sat at 42K; in fact I found the seat to be reasonably spacious!

Best wishes
J
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