I just changed our seats from Row 42 (44 rows in the plane) to window seats Row 16 & 17 (did not have any other two together). I want as quiet a seat as possible and felt that there would be way too much activity in the back but I don't want to be too near the engine-noise. (We are flying to Amsterdam). Is anyone familiar with this plane? Did I do the right thing. Thanks for any input.

I personally like the DC 10 and the window seats, because there are only two together there. And in my opinion, the farther back in the plane, the worse off you are. I don't recall hearing engine noise anywhere but near the rear of the plane. Check seatguru.com for more info.

What airline are you flying? Northwest is the only schedule airline I know that's still flying DC-10 across the Atlantic, and their planes end with Row 38 in the back.

But anyways, the further to the front the better on these planes.

BTW, Northwest's new A330-300 do have 42 rows. I think your flight has been switched to this newer plane. The A330 is a quiet plane, so it's not like the back will be noisier. However, rows 10-28 on these planes do have 2" more legroom, so maybe that's worth splitting up for.

Not to mention that if you're flying NWA and it's an A330-300 versus DC-10, you have seat back entertainment with good options.

Thanks to all. It's very confusing. I did go to seatguru and looked before I called NW when my TC said we had row 42 and only saw the DC-10 with 38 rows. (Yikes!) I asked the agent if these planes had the seat back screens (I'm spoiled by Air France)and she said no. I would be thrilled with the newer plane.

What flight number, from where, and when?

To AMS, Detroit is mostly A333 now, Seattle is switching over, but Memphis and MSP are still all (or mostly) DC-10s.

rkkwan: I don't have the flight number with me but it is out of Boston at 6:15PM on April 29.

gomiki - NW38 on April 29 BOS-AMS is a Airbus 330-300 (333). I pulled up the seatmap, and while the back of the plane is pretty full, there are still plenty of "Elite" seats up front.

I didn't know this before, but they blocked a lot of the aisle seats - B, C, G, H up there. That's why you have to split up for two window seats.

My suggestion for you is to pick 14J, 15J, 16J or 17J. As 14H, 15H, 16H and 17H are still all unclaimed "Elite" seats, and since you are only 10 days from departure, chances are those seats will remain open.

Then at exactly 24 hours before departure, use online check-in to switch so both of you can seat together up there as those "Elite" seats should be released to anybody then. If not, go to the airport a little early and ask an agent to do it for you.

Good luck.

rkkwan: Wow, how do you do that!! I had done what you suggested but booked the A side (through the agent). Any difference? I know it's just the other side of the plane. Does this plane have seat back screens? I will try the on-line check in as you suggest. Thank you for you help.

gomiki - Actually, I was thinking about it just after my last reply. I saw 16A and 17A taken, and those are actually you and your companion. 16B and 17B are both open, so you are set. It's extremely unlikely both 16B and 17B will be taken between now and when online check-in opens up on 4/28. Just switch then.

How I did that? I went to nwa.com and fake a booking on your flight. That way I can pull up the seatmap and see which seats are taken, which seats are reserved for Elites.

Another option you may try when doing online check-in right at the 24-hour mark is to see if the exit row seats 10H/J, 29A/B, and 29H/J may be available to you. But read the caveats on seatguru.com about those seats.

rkkwan: Thank you!!