In reading about the new planes being built by Boeing, I see where they are boasting larger bins for luggage. I guess that's good, but with some airlines/airports allowing only one piece of carry-on, does it really matter if there is more overhead space for luggage? Am I missing something?

What I really want is a wider coach seat (some of us baby boomers are expanding just a bit)--and I'd like to be able to stand up straight. There is so little space between rows, it's got to be a safety issue.

Boeing built the plane to sit 2-4-2 seating in coach but most of the airlines that are buying it (Airlines in the States) are configuring the plane 3-3-3 seating to fit one more seat in each row.

It appears that Boeing should rename the airline "The Squeeze Liner.@

Either book a Business Class seat or fly with a foreign airline.

<b>Wally</b>,

let's compare:

The only 2 US based airlines that have placed 787 orders (AFAIK and please correct me if I'm wrong) are NW and CO

NW does not fly 777s so can't compare but let's take CO and compare to your favorite BA and another one of the world's best airlines CX.

All 3 fly 777s and guess what <b>Wally</b>? all 3 are configured 3-3-3 in economy.

Imagine that!

so what makes you think that the 787s will be any different?

It's up to the airline to configure the cabins. Boeing delivers the planes without seats.

Have you read some press release that we all missed stating otherwise?

Wally has a point. The 787 is narrower than the 777, so with the same 3-3-3 seating, either the seats, the armrests or the aisles will be narrower, depending on whose 777 you're comparing to. But it's 100% correct that it's the airline that orders the seats. There are Airbuses currently flying with 3-3-3 or 767 with 2-4-2.

However, what luvtotravel wonders is unfounded. The seats/aisle in a 3-3-3 on a 787 will be about the same width as current 747 with 3-4-3 seating, which has been every airline's configuration since the late 70's. There's no safety issue.

As for overhead space, yes, it makes a difference with a full plane, even with just one piece of bags. Easier to put in and take out, taking less time than having to reshuffle bags. And it's a comparison with its targeted replacements - the 767s and the A330/340, not the 777. So, it'll probably have about the same amount of overhead space as the larger 777, which it'll need because it's also 3-3-3.

If you want wider aisle, then fly an airline that have 2-4-2 on their 787, a 777 or a 767. Over half of 787's customers have indicated they'll indeed put 3-3-3 on their new planes.

&quot;Either book a Business Class seat or fly with a foreign airline.&quot;

Why do people think that you should be quiet if you don't have a choice? This business of telling people uncomfortable in coach to fly business class is just elitist snippiness, on a par with &quot;they don't have bread? Then let them eat cake&quot;?

Or were you, Wally, just being sarcastic?

Funny, all the airlines that put 3-4-3 on a 777, 3-3-3 on an Airbus, 2-4-2 on a 767; all airlines that seats with 29&quot; pitch, and seats with no recline are <b>all foreign airlines</b>.

But you get a free drink. That makes everything okay.