Best seat positions on planes?

[joebloggs]

right about ordering the special meal, i try and order a kids meal for myself if not a veggy one

as for your son Graham, soon as the plane started to take off, little joe started shouting 'wer'e going to crash, we're all going to die ' little wouldn't shut up and when we landed he shouted out 'see i told you we would be ok!'

[Arthur Little]

Air France 747-400's have economy upstairs

... so, too, does Singapore Airlines ... as, the second time I travelled with them, I was offered a spacious, Economy Class seat upstairs. Marvellous!

[South-east boy]

take a look at this website page, hopefully u will be able to make a good choice if the best seats are still available:-

http://www.seatguru.com/airlines/Cat..._747-400_B.php

Malcolm

Yup, that site is quite handy, that's where I got the seat plan for my 2nd flight on the 777 from, but it didn't come up with the seat plan for my 1st flight on the 747-400 when I typed in the flight no.-it was there, but in grey, so coulnd't open anything, but I found it in Cathay's plane list on there.

With the yellow seats where it says some draw-backs, does it mean that it's better than the standard white coloured seats or not as good?

On the 747-400, http://www.seatguru.com/airlines/Cat..._747-400_B.php with seat rows 66,67 and 68 near the back where they only have 2 seats on the outside, there looks like a fair bit of room between the window-side seat and the outside of the plane, does this mean that you can get out that way if you had the window seat or would you have to still get past the person next to you on the aisle side?

I want a window seat from Hong Kong to Manila on the 777-300 for sure as it's only a short flight, so I probably won't need to get out much and I want to see some views!

[South-east boy]

I take this chance to wish you a great trip .
In addition to the good advice already given on booking the best seats, I suggest that you log on to the Cathy Pacific website - http://www.cathaypacific.com/cpa/en_GB/homepage - as your top priority on Tuesday at 12.30 pm !
• Click on “ Manage Your Trip “ then from the drop down menu “ Manage My Booking “
• Select the button for “ Non-Member of Marco Polo Club / Asia Miles
• Enter your name exactly as booked, together with either Booking Reference Number OR eticket Number ( which presumably you already have, and should have printed in duplicate for security )
• Select button for Hong Kong flight ( and then repeat for Manila flight )
• Click on “ My Details “ then “ Seat/Other Services “
• You should be able to book your chosen seats for both these flights at the same time .
• The reason for booking your seats as soon after 12.30 pm as possible is that you will get the best choice of seats which are still available . Seats with extra legroom will not be available ( unless you pay about 75 GBP extra for each flight ) . Similarly new Premium Economy seats have been recently fitted on some of the Cathay Pacific Long Haul flights to Hong Kong – they are the best but only available at a premium of at least 600 GBP. Once you have booked your seat(s) you can print your Self-Print Boarding Pass or send Mobile Boarding Pass to your mobile device for the flight to Hong Kong.



Good luck .

Thanks Alan! That helps a lot!

[grahamw48]

with seat rows 66,67 and 68 near the back where they only have 2 seats on the outside, there looks like a fair bit of room between the outside seat and the outside of the plane, does this mean that you can get out that way if you had the window seat or would you have to still get past the person next to you on the aisle side?

No, getting out from the window seat is no different except only one person to climb over.

BUT there is a gap about a foot wide between the UPPER part of the seat seat and window, which due to way the panel is shaped can be crammed with luggage/pillows so you can really get your head down.

[CBM]

I am a regular customer of Cathay Pacific, UK / HK/ Manila; this is in part out of loyalty as once long ago I worked for its parent company and I know just how good its engineering and its committment to safety are - it's one of the two or three best airlines in the world.

Yes you book straight through and with Cathay the connection over Hong Kong is very good - the two flights use gates quite near to each other and Cathay's ground staff are excellent.

You do need to pass through security in Hong Kong and they are quite thorough.

The HK/MNL flight is always full with Cathay and you will do well to assume that your fellow passengers will be toting an absurd amount of hand carry baggage - Cathay takes a more relaxed view of this than some other airlines, but only on this route, and not to the extent of compromising safety.

Note that you will be arriving at Terminal One in Manila and if you want to extend your visa you do this at the booth to your left BEFORE immigration control and you MUST pay cash in Pesos.

[South-east boy]

No, getting out from the window seat is no different except only one person to climb over.

BUT there is a gap about a foot wide between the UPPER part of the seat seat and window, which due to way the panel is shaped can be crammed with luggage/pillows so you can really get your head down.

Wonder why it says that a window seat in row 66 and 67 is a green good seat (looks like it has space that's the width of another seat between it and the outside), but the aisle seat is a white standard seat and row 68 window and aisle seat has some draw-backs?

[grahamw48]

I don't know, but with my flatulence and nervous tic, personal space is never a problem for me it seems.

[raynaputi]

right about ordering the special meal, i try and order a kids meal for myself if not a veggy one

as for your son Graham, soon as the plane started to take off, little joe started shouting 'wer'e going to crash, we're all going to die ' little wouldn't shut up and when we landed he shouted out 'see i told you we would be ok!'

Good thing it's Little Joe who shouted that and not you..or else you'd be thrown out right away!

[South-east boy]

There's another similar website to Seat Guru called Airline expert.com that has similar gradings for the seats with some being the same grades as on Seat Guru, but some are different. If you look at Cathay Pacifics 773-300(773), it shows rows 62-67 at an angle whereas Seat Guru shows them straight. What is also better about Airline expert over Seat guru is that when you hover the mouse over which seat that you're looking at, it gives pro's and cons on that seating area!

[Doc Alan]

On the 747-400, http://www.seatguru.com/airlines/Cat..._747-400_B.php with seat rows 66,67 and 68 near the back where they only have 2 seats on the outside, there looks like a fair bit of room between the window-side seat and the outside of the plane, does this mean that you can get out that way if you had the window seat or would you have to still get past the person next to you on the aisle side?

I want a window seat from Hong Kong to Manila on the 777-300 for sure as it's only a short flight, so I probably won't need to get out much and I want to see some views!

Tim, you do realise that full details appear on your screen if you " hover " your cursor over each seat ? Your last post #40 has just confirmed it !! Of course every traveller wants the best seats, so good luck tomorrow from 12.30 pm .
That site is now out of date, as you will find between 26 - 34 seats towards the front of Economy Class are now " Premium Economy " and not available. The good news for the future is that Cathay Pacific are progressively fitting new more comfortable long-haul Economy Class seats on Boeing 777-300ER and Airbus A330-300 aircraft during 2012-2013 .

[South-east boy]

Tim, you do realise that full details appear on your screen if you " hover " your cursor over each seat ? Your last post #40 has just confirmed it !! Of course every traveller wants the best seats, so good luck tomorrow from 12.30 pm .
That site is now out of date, as you will find between 26 - 34 seats towards the front of Economy Class are now " Premium Economy " and not available. The good news for the future is that Cathay Pacific are progressively fitting new more comfortable long-haul Economy Class seats on Boeing 777-300ER and Airbus A330-300 aircraft during 2012-2013 .

Yeah, but when I hover the mouse over the seats in Seat Guru, it dosn't seally say anything, it just says seat number and letters have: -nothing! Lol!

[stevewool]

any seat is a good seat, as long as you get there

[brinormeg]

Interested in this thread too as im 6ft3! Fly out on the 31st but unfortunately the dates mean ive got 29 hrs on the way out

Got a direct back to amsterdam then aberdeen on the way back though so that be better!

[grahamw48]

Just stick your legs out into the aisle as I do and trip everybody up.

[Arthur Little]

trip everybody up ...

... then ask them if they enjoyed their trip.

[lastlid]

Just stick your legs out into the aisle as I do and trip everybody up.

I kind of use that as a sneaky way to get extra legroom...

[stevewool]

i used to do that till the trolley dollies pust there way past sixe 12 shoes, soon wakes you up, but waking up to these big red lips smiling at you, well its worth the pain

[South-east boy]

i used to do that till the trolley dollies pust there way past sixe 12 shoes, soon wakes you up, but waking up to these big red lips smiling at you, well its worth the pain

[South-east boy]

With the 777-300 it says they start serving food at the front, so by the time it reaches the back, some choices might not be available. Is that the same with the 747-400 too, as it doesn't mention that in the notes where it does with the 777-300!

[Dedworth]

With the 777-300 it says they start serving food at the front, so by the time it reaches the back, some choices might not be available. Is that the same with the 747-400 too, as it doesn't mention that in the notes where it does with the 777-300!

They won't let you starve there's 2 galleys and you never know they might lay on a specially configured food special aircraft and Mr Seat Guru's info will be meaningless

[raynaputi]

Better to choose your special meal early online..I always do and I was always served first..although one time I've regret it coz the meal they served to the others looked more appetizing than the one I got..

[South-east boy]

Better to choose your special meal early online..I always do and I was always served first..although one time I've regret it coz the meal they served to the others looked more appetizing than the one I got..

The only thing with the special meals is that are mainly different types of vegetarian & muslim + the child menus etc. While some of them sound nice, I don't want to miss out on anything that's even nicer!

[South-east boy]

Well, I just booked my seat to Hong Kong -got 66A with more space around. Couldn't book the 2nd flight from Hong Kong to Manila until 48 hours before that actual flight which will be 9.10am tomorrow morning. That seat I want nearer the front, so it's quicker through immigration and I see Viva quicker!

[Doc Alan]

Well done Tim, Cathay Pacific are obviously sticking rigidly to the 48 hour check in rule, good luck with tomorrow’s booking .
The meal arrangements are now beyond your control and Cathay Pacific is a reliable airline ! Just make sure of things you CAN control, including money :-
• Don’t exceed the 20 kilograms allowance for check in baggage and 7 kilograms for cabin baggage.
• Have a look at the health checklist here ( http://filipinaroses.com/showthread....to-Philippines ) .
• Copy of passport and travel insurance separate from originals.
• Spare unblocked mobile phone for local Philippines sim card.
• Camera with spare battery.
• Have a look at latest FCO advice (http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/travel-and-...ia/philippines ) and consider registration with FCO Locate service ( http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/travel-and-...g-safe/Locate/ ) .
• Don’t worry ! Enjoy your trip – you have Viva there to look after you !

[South-east boy]

Well done Tim, Cathay Pacific are obviously sticking rigidly to the 48 hour check in rule, good luck with tomorrow’s booking .
The meal arrangements are now beyond your control and Cathay Pacific is a reliable airline ! Just make sure of things you CAN control, including money :-
• Don’t exceed the 20 kilograms allowance for check in baggage and 7 kilograms for cabin baggage.
• Have a look at the health checklist here ( http://filipinaroses.com/showthread....to-Philippines ) .
• Copy of passport and travel insurance separate from originals.
• Spare unblocked mobile phone for local Philippines sim card.
• Camera with spare battery.
• Have a look at latest FCO advice (http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/travel-and-...ia/philippines ) and consider registration with FCO Locate service ( http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/travel-and-...g-safe/Locate/ ) .
• Don’t worry ! Enjoy your trip – you have Viva there to look after you !

Thanks Alan. Got a 30KG allowance luckily, especially with Viva's Birthday presents etc!

Got most of those meds etc and just had Typhoid, Hep A and Tetanus/Polio/diptheria jabs earlier today! They recommended Malaria tablets, but think I'll leave those.

[South-east boy]

Does anyone know how long before the flight you are meant to be there/check-in properly? Can't seem to find where it says!

[grahamw48]

I allow a couple of hours before flight departure time.

[Terpe]

I always follow recommended advise to check-in as early as possible.
For long haul flights I try to check-in 3 hours before scheduled departure.

It sounds a lot but you may be surprised just how much time it can take to clear all processes.

Generally boarding will take place about 45 mins before scheduled departure.

Importantly, be sure to follow security rules especially regarding liquids etc.

You can read more here

Enjoy your trip

[RickyR]

I always go with the policy that íf i'm paying for the flights and its non-flexible, arrive at the airport 2 or 3 hours before. If work is paying and its flexible, I arrive at the airport about 45 mins before lol.

As mentioned above, Cathay is a very good airline. Good In-Flight Entertainment, and food is generally good. In economy they have seats which when you recline, they don't infringe on anyone elses space, they bottom part slides forward so you only reduce your own legroom. Some people like them, some people hate them.
Transfers in Hong Kong are generally easy, just follow the signs, and then it's a very big and open plan airport, free wifi if you have a laptop and some very cheap places to eat.
I'm sure you'll have a great flight, but one big piece of advise, don't overload yourself with unecessary things. You'll be tired when you arrive in Manila and it's hot. Don't bother using up baggage space with shower gels, towels, cleaning products etc, they can all be bought cheaply on arrival, and I'm sure you're mahal will enjoy helping you go find what you need. Its probably best to avoid taking jeans with you (they are heavy and use up the baggage allowance), go for light cotton trousers and shorts, and remember clothes are cheap over there so you can also buy some things when you arrive if you want.