Having just returned from my trip to Newark I thought I would share my experience of the 343 old pe seat vs the 346 'wash' (I think this is correct) seat. I travel mostly in UC and I have seen previous comments on the lack of details surrounding the other cabins.
We flew out on Miss Behavin (Hmmmm, wasn't too sure about the tail strike on this one but all was OK!) which is fitted with WASH seats.
We had 19A and 19C. As had been reported 19A only has 1 window but in all honesty this did not really cause a problem. How much can you see in the dark at 35000 feet anyway?
Seats where wider than the standard but leg room was particularly poor (I am 6'3" and a bit). When then seat back in front was put fully back the bulging seat pocket (Not from my belonging I might add) was rubbing against my shins. I had to push myself was back into my seat in order than either my shins or my knees did not hit the seat in front. Even with the seat in front in the full upright position there was not much in the way of leg room. I couldn't, for example, lift my leg rest up to anywhere that would give me any comfort.
The tables, which are stored in the arm rest did not move forward enough. This essentially pressed into my stomach (which is slightly larger than it probably should be[8D] but I am not 'huge' by any stretch) and I had to recline the seat about half way to get comfortable. Now try eating at half recline. Needless to say a bib would have helped.
The larger TV screens where very welcome right up until the point where the person in front recline fully. I tilted the screen to the further extent but the bottom of the screen was still at an angle which meant it had inverted (ie all the colours were in negative). This made any film unwatchable. I saw many people with this problem so I know this wasn't just my screen.
On the return flight (VS18) we had Diana. A 343 with the old style PE seat. Apart from no VPort, A smaller screen and slightly reduced width of the seats the seats themselves offered far more legroom. Even at full recline the screen was clearly visible. At upright and recline the tray (again stored in the arm rest) could be easily moved forward to allow someone a lot larger than me to sit comfortably and eat a meal without having to recline.
The problem with the 343 is the Cabin (and lack of Vport). You have to walk through economy to get to the toilets.
Personally I didn't enjoy the newer seats at all. I hope VS give more thought to leg-room on the brand new seats and test the view on the screens when the seats are fully reclined.
I think this pretty much covers it all. Hope you find this beneficial.
Paul
We flew out on Miss Behavin (Hmmmm, wasn't too sure about the tail strike on this one but all was OK!) which is fitted with WASH seats.
We had 19A and 19C. As had been reported 19A only has 1 window but in all honesty this did not really cause a problem. How much can you see in the dark at 35000 feet anyway?
Seats where wider than the standard but leg room was particularly poor (I am 6'3" and a bit). When then seat back in front was put fully back the bulging seat pocket (Not from my belonging I might add) was rubbing against my shins. I had to push myself was back into my seat in order than either my shins or my knees did not hit the seat in front. Even with the seat in front in the full upright position there was not much in the way of leg room. I couldn't, for example, lift my leg rest up to anywhere that would give me any comfort.
The tables, which are stored in the arm rest did not move forward enough. This essentially pressed into my stomach (which is slightly larger than it probably should be[8D] but I am not 'huge' by any stretch) and I had to recline the seat about half way to get comfortable. Now try eating at half recline. Needless to say a bib would have helped.
The larger TV screens where very welcome right up until the point where the person in front recline fully. I tilted the screen to the further extent but the bottom of the screen was still at an angle which meant it had inverted (ie all the colours were in negative). This made any film unwatchable. I saw many people with this problem so I know this wasn't just my screen.
On the return flight (VS18) we had Diana. A 343 with the old style PE seat. Apart from no VPort, A smaller screen and slightly reduced width of the seats the seats themselves offered far more legroom. Even at full recline the screen was clearly visible. At upright and recline the tray (again stored in the arm rest) could be easily moved forward to allow someone a lot larger than me to sit comfortably and eat a meal without having to recline.
The problem with the 343 is the Cabin (and lack of Vport). You have to walk through economy to get to the toilets.
Personally I didn't enjoy the newer seats at all. I hope VS give more thought to leg-room on the brand new seats and test the view on the screens when the seats are fully reclined.
I think this pretty much covers it all. Hope you find this beneficial.
Paul
