46A is the Best Seat on Boeing 747
By Jian Shuo Wang on 2006-06-13 23:27 · FlightsThis is not a secret, but very few people know it, and most people either don’t care or don’t know.
The best seats in the economy class of Boeing 747 or UA858/UA857 are 46A or 46K. Why?
Economy Plus
United Mileage program has a special grade called “United Mileage Plus Premier” membership. Holders of this card can enjoy seats with bigger space than other Y class seats. Fortunately, I am a Premier member of United.
The Seats have all the Benefits
46A and 46K are window seats. I like window seats. Although during the 10+ hours of flights, only few minutes after departure and before landing are really interesting, I still enjoy pressing my noise onto the window and see what is happening outside. During the flight, to have a sense of what is happening outside is important for me. I am that type of curious people.
Also, it is just at the emergency exit. There are no seats before the seat. So you can extend your legs as far as you can.
You don’t need to interrupt others to leave your seats and walk around, and exercise. It is combination of good view of a window seat, and convenience of a aisle seat.
There is something even better. The kitchen is just besides you. You have easy access to all beverage in a DIY manner even when everyone is in deep sleep.
Other Options
46B, 46C, and 46I, 46J are also good choice. There are 6 seats available on one air crafts. 35A to 35 K are also good. They are as the same arrangement as row 46. The only problem for 35A and 35K are, they don’t have a window. If it is the case, 35C and 35I may be much better to combine convenience of aisle seat and big space of emergency location seats.
Frequent Fliers
Many frequent fliers know the secret. When I was seated at 46J during my flight back from San Francisco to Shanghai, the gentleman seated at 46K told me, he only fly with 46J, United in his recent years. If there is not 46J, or 46A, he would rather delay the flight. His agency knows his preference well, and every time he get on board, he is sure that he will get the seat he likes.
P.S.
There is nothing else interesting during the flight. On flight, I enjoyed the movie Webeldon (2004).
The flight typically arrive earlier than expected (5:45 pm v.s. scheduled 6:18 pm).
17 Comments
Glad to know you're safely back home. :)
Sam
I still enjoy pressing my noise onto the window and see what is happening outside.
> noise? nose?
Hao
You may not be able to enjoy those comfy and spacious Boeing seats in future years.
The Chinese obviously want an Airbus manufacturing plant in China. They also likely want all of Airbus's technical and proprietary info.
Question: will Airbus sell its technical *Airbus* heart and soul to China?
Plane plant?
Airbus is considering building a plant in Tianjin, which would be the first of its manufacturing facilities to be located outside of Europe. China has approved the French company's plan to build an A320 assembly plant, but Airbus has not yet made a final decision. The Chinese market for planes is expected to reach US$230 billion by 2023; as of October 31, 2005, Airbuses made up about 29% of the Chinese fleet. Boeing is still the leader in this market, something a China Airbus plant could possibly change.
Why didn't Ebay allow you to fly in the business class for international travel? I thought it is a good company and treats its people well?
Go Boeing! Beat Airbus!
BBC News
Last Updated: Monday, 19 June 2006, 17:36 GMT 18:36 UK
Crisis talks over Airbus troubles
Mr Forgeard says problems with the A380 should be put in perspective
The management of embattled aerospace group EADS has met for the first time since the Airbus-owner announced a severe profit warning.
The firm's shares plunged 26% when it reported further delays in the delivery of its Airbus A380 superjumbo.
EADS also faces allegations of insider dealing, after co-chief Noel Forgeard sold shares in the firm in March.
Opposition politicians in France have called for Mr Forgeard's position at the head of the firm to be reviewed.
Executives present
Mr Forgeard insists he sold the shares before he knew of delays to the plane and did nothing wrong.
Internal divisions are causing difficulties for the Franco-German group with reports that changes in senior management could be imminent.
I sold the shares in a completely transparent manner
Noel Forgeard, EADS co-chief executive
Check EADS' share price
The company confirmed a management meeting took place on Monday but downplayed its significance, saying it was not a formal board meeting.
According to unconfirmed industry sources, the firms four most senior figures - co-chairmen Arnaud Lagardere and Manfred Bishchoff, Mr Forgeard and fellow chief executive Tom Enders - were all present.
Mr Enders has acknowledged that the current situation constituted a crisis for EADS which had extended beyond Airbus.
Political pressure
The A380s has been delayed because of problems with its wiring and airlines are now calling for compensation over the six-month extra wait.
The delays are expected to reduce the firm's annual earnings by 500m euros ($630m; £340m) between 2007 and 2010.
But in an interview in French business newspaper La Tribune, Mr Forgeard said the problems "must be put in the proper perspective".
They did not "raise questions about the quality of the design of the airplane itself", he said.
The question I am asking is whether today Mr Forgeard can stay at the head of the EADS group
Francois Hollande, French Socialist leader
Mr Forgeard said he was "shocked" by the claims he had profited from insider knowledge when he, three of his children and two other executives sold shares before the A380 announcement was made.
"I sold the shares in a completely transparent manner," Mr Forgeard said.
"The only question is whether I had privileged information at that time. The answer is categorically no."
Pressure is growing on the French government - which owns 15% of EADS - to intervene in the situation.
"The question I am asking the prime minister is whether today Mr Forgeard can stay at the head of the EADS group?" Francois Hollande, the Socialist Party leader, said.
http://www.seatscorecard.com/United-Airlines-Boeing-747--400.html
Just for your reference.
Similar for row 46.
My personal preference is for an aisle seat in the middle section around row 40. I like that because only one person, not two, needs to get out ... and it's far enough back from the screen that the light isn't a bother. But, indeed, the legroom isn't as good as the aisle seat in the exit row :-)