Which airline for NY or Tokyo....

Efour

Efour

Efour

Caporegime
Joined
8 Sep 2005
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Location
Norrbotten, Sweden.
We are planning a trip to either or both soon but the now wife is chewing my ear off about the flights

She's not aswell travelled, until she met me, fnar fnar, and has a bit of a plane phobia, not fear of flying but more to do with sitting by someone else for 7h+ is too un-swedish.

I'm literally too big to burden a stranger I'm 6'6" on a short day and my shoulders dig so far out to the next seat, I'm not Mr slim either.. it's not humane for me to sit by the stranger....

Anyway, what I'm asking is what long haul airline, and/or what planes am I looking for that have a 2 seat configuration these days?

Preferably economy or premium economy at a push, I woulduch rather spend money at the destination than on a upto 14h flight... yes it's hell but hopefully can sleep off most of the time, cramped or not.

Hope that makes sense.
Paying for a gap seat is always an expensive option but I'd prefer to save the cash obviously.
 
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Personally I'd say a 14h flight in economy is pretty grim - I've only done it once (~9 hour) after an unexpected change of aircraft and did not enjoy. Usually I'd pay extra for a comfort/gap seat on anything that kind of duration.

Personally my experience really is flying to the US or Canada where I've had good experiences with KLM - not flown much out eastwards and suspect they code share for those kind of trips so you might end up on a BA flight or something anyhow.
 
I've started using Jet Blue for London-NYC trips. Their economy seats have the most legroom and you can usually get their even more space seats for the same as a standard economy seat from Delta/BA. They also have reasonably priced business seats as well.

The extra bonus is when landing at JFK they usually land at the smaller terminal 5 so no 1hr plus waits at passport control

it's pretty rare to get transatlantic flights with a 2 seat row unless it's a bulkhead seat or something that blocks the 3rd seat for economy. For premium the Delta flights I've got have always been a 2 3 2 layout for premium economy
 
Flew a380 to new Zealand, 17 hours via Qatar airlines and it was fine. You need to look at what aircraft are available when your flying.

If your going at a cheaper time you can get upgraded for cheap, we managed business to Japan for an extra 200 (one way) on the a380.
 
Save your pennies and upgrade to Prem Economy for Japan. I've done economy to Japan and back with BA and ANA. I can do it just fine but i am 5'8 with short legs, I can actually, with some twisting if sitting in the window seat or aisle, straighten my leg whilst sitting down.

Most of the planes are 777, so it's a 3-4-3 configuration i think but flight dependent. There are a 2 seats together at the rear of the plane, 8 seats in total. If you are stuck in economy then get the first few seats by the door, it costs a bit more usually but you get infinity legroom as far as you can stretch, although that is a 3 seats together.

I know BA has A380 but i don't know if they fly on the Japan route, there are A380 on the NYC route though, forgot which airline, google should tell you.
 
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check the plane used would be better i find. I am 6.2 and flying longer just kills me for in small seats for holiday, unless its huge amount premium is better though they get booked up quickly.
 
Yep. I know I'm a stinge. But yeah premium econ, will probably be the way to go.

I'm sure I saw planes with 2 4 2 seating
Which I thought was odd.

Even economy with 2 4 3 seating....

I guess I'll have to do some research.
Although this must be unlikely.
JAL?
 
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Virgin premium economy for the NYC trip?

I seem to remember their PE seating being 2-3-2 from the last time I flew with family LHR - LAX - LHR in 2015

Entirely bearable for the 10.5 hour flight as was their PE to and from Johannesburg a few years before that was 14 hours.

I’m only 182 cm tall, so other folks experience may differ.
 
Check out Jet Blue for NYC (as mentioned). They are using Airbus 320’s so small narrow bodied plane, but their legroom is strong I believe. Their business class is great in a 1 by 1 seating (due to narrow body) and cuts the price compared to Virgin (who I use) and BA. I have spoken to a couple of people who have used their business class service and outside the posh lounge experience it is comparable.

Economy would by my idea of hell on long haul at your height and I’d at least seek Premium if budget allows.
 
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Terminal_Boy said:
Virgin premium economy for the NYC trip?

I seem to remember their PE seating being 2-3-2 from the last time I flew with family LHR - LAX - LHR in 2015
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We usually use Virgin PE for NY (flight too short to justify upper) it's generally pretty good though the armrests between the seats is too wide and narrows the seat, used to love their PE when it was upstairs on the 747
 
Rannoch said:
I was going to fly with them next month when I visit my brother in Thailand. I have booked with KLM as the flight from Amsterdam is direct. KLM get good reviews and you get a flat bed :)
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I came back form HK yesterday om BA, due to Russian stuff flight was 14h20., had the old seats though and not the new Club Suite
 
When I went to Tokyo I had Japan Airlines and it was fantastic, to add I'm also 6ft 6 and I rang them up weeks before my flight and explained I struggle with normal seats.
They put me in the front row
 
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Singapore Airlines from Manchester to Singapore was decent for cheap seats.

I'm not a stretched as op, but my knees are screwed and I am lanky.

I wasn't all that uncomfortable to be honest.

Just remember to walk about every so often so you don't get all sore and stiff.
 
I'm 6 ft 1 and travelled economy quite a lot of times using Vietnam Airlines dreamliner aslong as you have isle seat it all good. Even times I've had the whole row to myself or some people have buggered off and ended with the row which is nice. Also a plus if you love Asian food to travel on the Asian airlines.
 
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