Seat 71D on A380 LAX-SYD

[Aynat62]

Hello, I've heard that this is the best seat in economy and have had a look at Seat Guru. It does look like there is heaps of leg room but because there is no seat in front (ie no seat pocket) where do you put your incidentals like books, magazines etc? Do you have to keep taking them out / putting them in the overhead compartment?

And with the tray being in the armrest does this affect the comfort at all?

Is 71D really the best seat in economy?

Thank you.

 

[lsmi4126]

It really depends on how you define 'best seat'. Yes, 71D has two seats worth of pitch, however as you said, there's no magazine pouch, foot net and the tray table / IFE is in the arm - which itself reduces seat width slightly.

Also, on the 'older' A380s (2008 / 2009 deliveries) that i've been on and sat in 71D, i've noticed that the velcro which holds the patch of carpet over the hatch below 70D (the missing seat) is no longer working and the patch of carpets tends to slide around under your feet.

IMHO, non-bassinet position bulkheads are the best (row 66), or 80A and K. If you're relegated to non-premium / bulkhead seat, grab one in the back cabin (row 79+). Usually very quiet and the last to fill...

 

[Aynat62]

It really depends on how you define 'best seat'. Yes, 71D has two seats worth of pitch, however as you said, there's no magazine pouch, foot net and the tray table / IFE is in the arm - which itself reduces seat width slightly.

Also, on the 'older' A380s (2009 / early 2010 models) that i've been on and sat in 71D, i've noticed that the velcro which holds the patch of carpet over the hatch below 70D (the missing seat) is no longer working and the patch of carpets tends to slide around under your feet.

IMHO, non-bassinet position bulkheads are the best (row 66), or 80A and K. If you're relegated to non-premium / bulkhead seat, grab one in the back cabin (row 79+). Usually very quiet and the last to fill...

Thanks ismi4126. So where did you put any magazines, headphones etc when sitting in 71D? Or don't you bother with that sort of stuff?

 

[milehighclub]

There is still a seat in front of you - just happens to be double the distance away, but nothing to stop you using the seat pocket.

Remember you cannot store anything on the floor due to the crew rest escape hatch.

 

[lsmi4126]

on the empty seat beside me!

 

[airbound]

Hi Aynat62 (and others),

I recently travelled in 71D from LAX to SYD and highly recommend the seat*. The extra leg room, particularly on such a long flight, is invaluable. Luckily, like lsmi4126, 71E next to me was vacant, giving me even more room, which was really welcomed.

Of course, if one is a person who likes window seats, or who places a high value on gate-to-gate IFE, then 71D has its drawbacks. However, in my view, the extra space (and the feeling of having extra space) far outweighs any disbenefits.

Also, I did not find the location of the tray table bothersome. And, if one needs seat-back pocket space, 69D does have a pocket (and IFE screen) in its back. (Pondering the IFE in the back of 69D, I wonder whether it is soley touch screen, as I can't imagine where the remote control would be.)

*Perhaps I should change my mind and highly criticise the seat and actively discourage people from selecting it in order to reduce competition for 71D should I ever be seeking it again!

 

[serfty]

As for storage, what I have done on 80A/K is to keep a small day-[back]pack under my feet. I put any paraphernalia I may need during the course of the flight in that. (Of course, it must be up in the locker during take-off and landing.)

 

[Aynat62]

Thank you everyone.

 

[warpspeed]

Hi Aynat62 (and others),

I recently travelled in 71D from LAX to SYD and highly recommend the seat*. The extra leg room, particularly on such a long flight, is invaluable. Luckily, like lsmi4126, 71E next to me was vacant, giving me even more room, which was really welcomed.

Of course, if one is a person who likes window seats, or who places a high value on gate-to-gate IFE, then 71D has its drawbacks. However, in my view, the extra space (and the feeling of having extra space) far outweighs any disbenefits.

Also, I did not find the location of the tray table bothersome. And, if one needs seat-back pocket space, 69D does have a pocket (and IFE screen) in its back. (Pondering the IFE in the back of 69D, I wonder whether it is soley touch screen, as I can't imagine where the remote control would be.)

I rode in 71D from LAX to MEL last year. Best seat ever. Combined with an empty seat next to me, and my Bose QC15's I slept really well on that flight.

The IFE screen in the back of 69D works just fine. I had it displaying the aircam and/or the flight map while I watched a movie on the screen from the arm.

 

[Aynat62]

I rode in 71D from LAX to MEL last year. Best seat ever. Combined with an empty seat next to me, and my Bose QC15's I slept really well on that flight.

The IFE screen in the back of 69D works just fine. I had it displaying the aircam and/or the flight map while I watched a movie on the screen from the arm.

Yeah....headphones!! That's something else I need to look into. Any special place you got them from for a good deal?

That's a great idea with 69D displaying the aircam etc while you watch a movie. Kill 2 birds with one stone on such a long flight.

 

[warpspeed]

Yeah....headphones!! That's something else I need to look into. Any special place you got them from for a good deal?

U.S. - even with the dollar, Bose in Australia rip you off something chronic. I upgraded my QC2's by handing them in to a store in the U.S. and paying $99 U.S. for a pair of QC15's. Pretty happy with my decision to do that. I think RRP in the US is USD299. RRP in Australia is AUD599!!

That's a great idea with 69D displaying the aircam etc while you watch a movie. Kill 2 birds with one stone on such a long flight.

Yeah, I thought so too. So, because it was a night flight, I had it on the tail cam on take off and landing, then flicked it to the moving map during the flight (all you see on the tail cam at night is the strobe lights flashing). Though I think on the moving map it goes off after a little while, but you can wake the screen up just by touching a button. On the tail cam, it'll stay on I think.