abram

We think we will be able to use our FF miles when we go to Germany to meet our new grandaughter, who is due in 8 days.

It won't change our decision, but what might I expect re: business class seats on the DTW-FRA leg?

Thanks.

Rastaguytoday

www.seatguru.com for the seat selection.

Website for amenities.

travelgourmet

The NW A330 has lie-flat at an angle seats. I find them to be pretty middle-of-the-road. Comfortable for lounging, and decently comfortable for sleeping. Decent room (60" of pitch, and good width). There is a partial privacy screen when you recline the seat. Better than nothing, but I prefer the seats that are in a full shell, rather than the partial shell.

You should have a good entertainment system with a decent number of choices, all on-demand. You should also have a power port, if you prefer to plug in a laptop.

Food can be hit or miss. Sometimes it misses really badly. The drink selection is decent, but nothing spectacular.

You will also get an amenity kit. Well-stocked, but it doesn't have premium toiletries or anything. It includes socks and an eye mask.

Enjoy the flight. It should be a very nice experience.

abram

Thank you, travelgourmet, for all the detailed information. I especially wanted to know about the seats themselves, as my idea of a good flight is one I can sleep through.

Rastaguytoday

Abram,

If you had a chance to look at seatguru, you would have seen that they give a pretty good explanation about the seats for Business Class; and also the pitch and seat width.

According to seatguru, the seats are not quite, but almost 180 degrees.

abram

travelgourmet's answer was so helpful that I didn't feel the need to look further.

Rastaguytoday

Abram,

It's just the way I am, but I always double check forum statements.

travelgourmet

Without tooting my own horn, I'm a little confused as to what one would expect to get from Seatguru? I use it a lot, but not to get an idea of what a business class seat is like. This is particularly true for the "lie-flat" type. There is a broad range of these and Seatguru simply doesn't give you enough information to tell them apart.

Rastaguytoday

Travelgourmet,

Did you click on the More Info button?

At least that tells you whether or not you have a true lie flat or an angles lie flat bed.

I use this info to start my searches.

travelgourmet

I did. But my point is that doesn't tell you much. There is a HUGE difference between many of the lie-flat seats. The "almost" in "almost 180 degrees" is a whole big enough to drive a mack truck through. I like some of these seats, but others are really bad, and Seatguru doesn't really differentiate.

For example, I think that the newer Air France lie-flats are incredibly comfortable. The KLM lie-flats, on the other hand, are truly awful, and might be a step-down from the old-school recliners. So, you might end up going with a KLM lie-flat over a recliner seat that is more comfortable.

Between materials, the angle to the floor, fixed vs partial vs no shell, etc, Seatguru simply doesn't give you much information with which to decide between carriers.

I just think it gives you too little information when deciding between business class seats.

Patty

I agree with travelgourmet that there's a huge difference between the various lie-flats and seatguru simply doesn't give enough info to distinguish.

Rastaguytoday

Patty,

If you read my last sentence, I use seatguru to start my searches.

I certainly don't end there.

There is a plethora of websites out there, (have you seen the ones where pictures are taken of the food served?) and, once I know the kind of bed, I start really searching.

I also show novice flyers that I know,seatguru, so they at least don't sit in a crappy seat. I've never seen an airline assign a 'good' seat initially.

Patty

I actually disagree with many of seatguru's color coded ratings.

Rastaguytoday

Patty,

If you have something better than seatguru, I would really like to know what it is.

Can you share?

Patty

Just my personal experience

rkkwan

Seatguru is not for comparing seats among airlines.

It is sometimes useful in selecting specific seats on a particular aircraft.

And some of the information is wrong, which makes the colors wrong as well.

abram

We're flying NW regardless of the seats becuase that's where our FF miles are--so I was curious enough to ask (and appreciate travelgourmet's answer) but not curious enough to "start really searching" a "plethora of websites."

Rastaguytoday

Abram,

I like the A330 in general.

The basic seating is 2-4-2 in coach.

If there are 2 of you, try to get a 2 seat.

Seat guru does say "Coach Class: 31-33.0" pitch, with greater pitch is in Rows 10-28".

Pitch is the distance between you and the seat in front of you. The more pitch the better.

Within rows 10-28, pick which side you want to be in. I'm left handed and partially deaf in my left ear. I always sit on the left side so I can hear her and we each eat in relative comfort.

However, the closer to the middle of the plane, the quieter is is from plane noise. However, you will then probably have a stranger sitting next to one of you.

My wife tends to use the lavatory more than I do, so I put her on the aisle. This means for us, that I would look at the A-B seats.

Think about the two of you and your personal circumstances, and decide which side you want to sit in.

abram

We plan to fly business class, so all of the seats are 2-2-2. I prefer a window and my husband prefers an aisle--which side doesn't matter to us. He gets up often to use the restroom, and I rarely, if ever, do on a flight, so it works for us.

rkkwan

More specifically, pitch is the distance between one set point on your seat and the same set point in the seat a row ahead (or behind) you.

Actual roominess also depends on the design of the seat. A thin seatback will give you more room with the same pitch, but it may also be less comfortable for your back.