ual 747 LAX - SYD
 

Hello,

I qualify for Econ Plus but am seated in economy bulk-head near the front. I am not familiar with this 747, which is better? I am 6-2 and generally need legroom, but bulkheads can be so nice.

According to UAL web-site, there is not individual entertainment sysetms except in 1st and business? T or F?

tia

True.

Check seatguru.com for comments about specific seat in UA's fleet.

UAL's website is not the best but they wouldn't be telling you that if it wasn't true. In that "mini-cabin", as seatguru describes it, you can expect the video screen to be on the bulkead wall of seats defg of row 32. If you were in 32c then if you tilt your head back and look up to the right then you will see a video monitor (it would be in the aisle, dropped down from the ceiling).

I'm 6'3" and want/need the legroom so I avoid the bulkhead seats. Maybe 32C or 32H would work (bulkead side-aisle).

thanks for the replies

I did check seatguru and it's clone seatexpert, but wanted actual experiences.

I am shocked about the entertainment.

Don't be so shocked about the lack of personal video screens in coach. Many airlines don't have them in the 744, including Air France, Lufthansa, KLM and others, not to mention Northwest.

And don't forget that UA has been in bankruptcy for many months now. They don't have the cash to upgrade their cabins, and in fact they have some 747-400s stored in the desert while many Asian routes are being flown with 777s instead.

When flying internationally you get a better product and experience when you choose a non american carrier. Should have tried Air New Zealand or Quantas. Flying for 14 hr with no PTV in 2005 is just unheard of. UAL flights are usually filled but because of mismanagement they are bankrupt. oh, rumor has it that UAL come out of bankruptcy next month.

Just a question for my own curiosity - has ANZ installed PVT on their 747's now? They didn't have them in late 2001. Have flown Qantas since then, but liked ANZ otherwise.

United on the other hand... that's the one I'd pass on too.

Air New Zealand is not retrofitting their 747 to have individual screens (and to add premium economy class). Their new 777 has it too.

But AirNZ doesn't fly LAX-SYD non-stop. It's via AKL or it's a codeshare on UA.

Good to know, in case ANZ ever has a good promo. But, generally that lack of non-stop is mostly a deal breaker for me too.

Any thoughts that a "break" along the way from LAX to MEL was a good idea, evaporated on having to reboard that last 4.5 hr leg. One of the most miserable short flight I think I've ever been on, even though the plane and service was fine.

A "break" in Auckland is definitely not a good idea. Definitely should do non-stop. On the other hand, a multi-day stop over in Tahiti sounds good to me. :)

I flew Qantas back in 2002 and they did not have individual tv's in coach, but this December, I'm flying from LHR to Perth on Qantas. I'm assuming they have the individual seatback entertainment. Am I correct?

Qantas began to install individual screens in coach on their 747s in 2001. All have them now.

For PER-SIN you may be flying a A330. Not all of them has individual screens, I believe.

Hi there,

Just noted a post a while back from Rkkwan saying that Air NZ was not retrofitting their 747's. This may have been a typo as this is not quite correct.

All their 747's are being retrofitted with new cabins. The program is somewhat delayed because of the knockon effect of a strike at Boeing a couple of months back (Air NZ could not take planes out of service to upgrade them as their 777's were not being delivered from Boeing on time).

By this time next year all the 747's will be upgraded. All flights from San Francisco to AKL currently use the upgraded 747's (that were completed before the strike) and from December will use the brand new 777's. Therefore PTV's in all seats.

If you fly from LAX to SYD on Air NZ you do currently stop in AKL and change to either a 767 or and Airbus A320. The break gives you a chance to stretch your legs and do some shopping though.
Hope this helps.

Hope this helps

Thanks, Kiwi. I'm pretty sure I meant to say &quot;Air NZ is <b>now</b> retrofitting...&quot;