VA 777 - best seats

[Quickstatus]

The current 20 really is fine. I'm ok with PE on sale, but can't justify J. I use points to bring in my family with me for the June school holidays or if cash flow has taken a hit!

I'm back to BNE in PE just before Easter so, according to the seat map, I won't see the new layout. I would like to know how the new economy cabin looks! I hope that they add some padding to the seats - VA has the thinnest padding!!

I suspect the new PE seats are going to be even thinner to accomodate more seat pitch.

 

[bullerdude]

I suspect the new PE seats are going to be even thinner to accomodate more seat pitch.




View attachment 66495

I'm just hoping that VA has had enough sense to choose a PE seat that at minimum on par with the competition. There are many models available that are spacious and comfortable... so hopefully they picked a good one.

 

[93D]

Hate to break you bubble but I'm pretty sure its the same seat just recovered.... and of course less of them.

 

[Quickstatus]

Hate to break you bubble but I'm pretty sure its the same seat just recovered.... and of course less of them.

Looks thinner but you could be right!.

From VA:“The Premium Economy cabin itself will be more spacious and comfortable, with more legroom than any other Australian airline and new cushioned seating to make the journey more restful.


New cushioned seating - to me its been "enhanced" AKA thinner!

 

[Fiches Mouser]

Speaking of PE, I'm surprised we still don't even know what kind of seat they've bought.

Does anyone have any further info on it? Any insiders out there?

 

[VulpesVulpes]

Difficult to say.
737 R3 is always on short haul
NZ777 Bulkhead Y is different as its a row of 10.

I wont fly a 777 with 10 across unless there is no other choice. Similarly A330/340/350 with 9 across and even the 787 with 9 across might be similar despite all the hype surrounding the "plastic fantastics"

Yeah I am aware - I am more concerned with the lengthways difference in this instance. I was in a no-other-option scenario however for the short AKL-BNE hop I would take it over the VA 737

is the 737 the normal 3/3 domestic virgin plane (sorry I don't know)? If so, I think there's more leg room in the 777
on the wall at row 20 is where the bassinets go, which are 36cm wide from the wall and then there's enough room to get up from your seat to get passed it (squeezing). The tvs that come out of the arm rests have to go down usually for someone to get by but i found that in the qantas a380 premium Econ.

Ill put it this way, I suggested upgrading to premium econ and hubs said he'd rather the bulkhead leg room. He's sat in row 20 4 one way 14 flights and no complaints.

Yeah bang on, the 737 is the VA domestic workhorse

That is exactly the kind of answer I am after - thanks so much for your help

 

[Cryptarcadian]

So I flew on VA1 a few days ago...

Row 20 is excellent for knee room, not so much for leg extension. Unlike row 3 on the 738s and E90s, there is no cut out at the bottom of the bulkhead.

I'm 180cm/6' and I could not stretch out fully, whereas I find row 3 gives me effectively unlimited leg room. Row 20 gets two full windows and a view into a third, which is sweet. 20D/E/F seems to have a bit less leg room to start with, though I didn't measure or test sit. 20C/H don't have this problem though, as the bulkhead wall is only about two seats wide and it is actually the aisle in to premium economy directly ahead of you, with unlimited legroom. Being bumped is not an issue as no passengers should be moving forward/backward at this point, there only being a curtain in front of you and no lavatories.

Conclusion: 20A/B/J/K can be quite comfortable for a couple who don't mind sitting diagonally to share the leg room, with some criss-crossing of legs, and I would pick it again over any other non-exit row. For a solo traveller though, 20C/H is really what you want.

 

[Fiches Mouser]

So I flew on VA1 a few days ago...

Row 20 is excellent for knee room, not so much for leg extension. Unlike row 3 on the 738s and E90s, there is no cut out at the bottom of the bulkhead.

I'm 180cm/6' and I could not stretch out fully, whereas I find row 3 gives me effectively unlimited leg room. Row 20 gets two full windows and a view into a third, which is sweet. 20D/E/F seems to have a bit less leg room to start with, though I didn't measure or test sit. 20C/H don't have this problem though, as the bulkhead wall is only about two seats wide and it is actually the aisle in to premium economy directly ahead of you, with unlimited legroom. Being bumped is not an issue as no passengers should be moving forward/backward at this point, there only being a curtain in front of you and no lavatories.

Conclusion: 20A/B/J/K can be quite comfortable for a couple who don't mind sitting diagonally to share the leg room, with some criss-crossing of legs, and I would pick it again over any other non-exit row. For a solo traveller though, 20C/H is really what you want.

Brilliant! Very useful review, thank you Cryptarcadian! A friend and I are in 20K/J in a few weeks. Sightly OT, but how was it otherwise? Haven't flown VA long-haul for a few years. Did your status get acknowledged at all?

 

[Milefest]

Sightly OT, but how was it otherwise? Haven't flown VA long-haul for a few years. Did your status get acknowledged at all?

Flew VA1 recently too. From my experience I was treated the same as all the other pax, which was quite well.

Although in the last hour of the flight, the cabin supervisor was going seat to seat greeting all of the Gold and Plat pax, was a nice touch.

 

[Quickstatus]

the cabin supervisor was going seat to seat greeting all of the Gold and Plat pax, was a nice touch.

My L plate daughter who carries the WP card due to family pooling thought the greeting at end of flight was very weird especially as the CSM has very clammy hands - according to her they were "iccky".

She did immediately tie it into the platinum status.

Though DL wont admit her into their lounges in the US.....

Thanks Cryptarcadian for the review of Row 20.

Thats why I tend to avoid bulkheads like the one you describe. That lack of ability to stretch out that little bit is a negative for me as "man-spreading" in those seats would not usually be possible.

 

[Foreigner]

Flew VA1 (35G) and VA2 (34H).

If I were to travel on 777 again I would select D and G over the other aisle seats.

 

[serfty]

OK, I think there may be an issue with 20H - I had it selected for both my upcoming flights but have been moved to 21C. 20H is now blocked.

I wonder if there are movement/lighting issues.

Anyway, going by the following post, I don't think I mind (At least I don't need to pay $135 each way):

Just flew VA 1 in row 21ABC the first left hand side row. Now apart from the bassinet row (which he had for miss 6.month old) it has a generous room to the bulkhead which is a toilet. Now this toilet is curtained off but FA told us to skip through. Funny enough it is curtained off to the PE in front as well. Now 21C is a peach as you stare down the walkway back into PE and J on take of and landing.. DEF is set closer to the bulkhead and and so is row 20. Try to avoid that row. Now the rest of the rows are quite generous in the pitch, which I noticed would of been great for premium VFF. I guess not now...

Great if you get the front cabin but at that price you will be up with the "kids"