Out The Window ?

Just a couple of things my fellow globe trotters if you please..

I’ve read a couple of trip reports on here about various UC seats and the visibility, some good, some bad.... I am fortunate enough to have 2K on the A346 to SYD, well I have read some reports to say that the view out the window is the same as anywhere else onboard in UC and you have to strain your neck to see anything - and other reports suggesting this is the best seat in UC for a great view due to the extra space in front of you... so has anyone sat here on the A346 and can they either confirm or deny these claims? (Maybe even a Cabin Crew might know?)

Oh and my second point, I hear that being at the front on night flights they make the first few rows "sleeper sections" and the crew promptly close all blinds.. well is this true also and once they're shut that’s it - you get a stern look from the crew if you have a gander 35,000ft down? - I must admit im a big kid when it comes to flying and always love the view be it night or day, so im sure to have the odd sneaky peak anyway!

Thanks guys - keep up the good work !
[oo]

2K is often my seat on the 346. From memory I think you can see a little better but frankly you always have to strain your neck if you want to look out of the window in UCS unless you're in Zone A of a 747. Do be aware that on most 346s the WC is directly in front of 2K these days.

The formal snooze zone is only in operation ex-east coast of the USA, but the cabin crew will want to close the blinds so people can get some sleep. A quick peek at night time isn't going to hurt, I would have thought.

BC

Originally posted by BlackCat
2K is often my seat on the 346. From memory I think you can see a little better but frankly you always have to strain your neck if you want to look out of the window in UCS unless you're in Zone A of a 747. Do be aware that on most 346s the WC is directly in front of 2K these days.

The formal snooze zone is only in operation ex-east coast of the USA, but the cabin crew will want to close the blinds so people can get some sleep. A quick peek at night time isn't going to hurt, I would have thought.

BC

Yeah i've now heard about the WC by 2K - Great!!! - Ahh well i best just sit at the bar for 24hours then ! - I did call virgin and they said that it was the most sort after seat (I guess they would say that eh?) - and the only one left on my flight was 12K i think... So ive stayed put where i am. If nothing else at least im away from the bar and i can sleep when tiredness kicks in.

I'm like you. I NEVER get bored of looking out of a window at 35000 feet (okay the Atlantic is a bit monotonous, but other than that).

Sure a peak at night will be fine. The only times when I feel self concious are when the cabin lights are still dimmed but you lift up the blind and the cabin then is filled with the brightest early morning sun there is.

Enjoy UC to Sydney, its a good (albeit terribly long) experience...

Dean

I had 2K on a recent flight back from PVG. The extra space is great for spreading your toys out on.
I can't say the view is any easier than other UCS seats, that said I did get some stunning photo's over London on arrival, some of which I must post here soon.

It is certainly a nice private seat and the Lav wasn't in any way annoying as even on a busy flight there was never more than one person waiting and they tend to wait in the area foward of the lav next to a door.

I'm an avid window watcher, but do find I get a stiff neck after too long in a UCS.

Originally posted by PVGSLF
I had 2K on a recent flight back from PVG. The extra space is great for spreading your toys out on.
I can't say the view is any easier than other UCS seats, that said I did get some stunning photo's over London on arrival, some of which I must post here soon.

It is certainly a nice private seat and the Lav wasn't in any way annoying as even on a busy flight there was never more than one person waiting and they tend to wait in the area foward of the lav next to a door.

I'm an avid window watcher, but do find I get a stiff neck after too long in a UCS.

Great PV and would something worth seeing if you had some shots too boot - get them posted !! [oo]

cheers !

The flight to Hong Kong passes over some unbelievable terrain, particularly over mongolia, but unfortunately for passengers it doesn't get seen, you actually hit pretty blinding daylight quite early on into the flight and if just one person opens a blind alot of people round them would be woken up.

I once got to sit in the Cocpit jumpseat all the way to Honkers pre 9/11 (no seat available for staff in the cabin). It was worth being denied Alcohol and IFE to get that increadible view.

However, doesn't the Loo on the A346 had a window now? That would be a great spot for a bit of sightseeing! LOL

I seem to remember the loo having a frosted window, which I thought was a bit strange.

Paul

Originally posted by karnsculpture
I seem to remember the loo having a frosted window, which I thought was a bit strange.

Unless you're getting changed into your sleepsuit or taking a p at the gate.

Cheers, Howard

Originally posted by Howard Long

Originally posted by karnsculpture
I seem to remember the loo having a frosted window, which I thought was a bit strange.

Unless you're getting changed into your sleepsuit or taking a p at the gate.

Cheers, Howard

If we really must save the blushes of any at-gate loo users, instead of frosted glass, why not take a leaf out of SAS's book; the biz class WCs on their A343s have a little black venetian blind integrated between the outer window and the inner perspex bit. And they have *two* windows in each.

I've heard it said they're the Best Bog in the Sky....

I've never done that trip before, (vs200) so this one is going to be for the real travellers out there, but is it mostly a day flight after leaving LHR? - I know with it being a 21:30 deperature its gunna be damn dark out there, but as we are heading into the sun, i guess a lot of the flight towards HKG will be in daylight...? Then i guess night time from HKG down to SYD ? - Really keen to get some shots whenever possible.... especially over the Mid-East / Asia..

[:?]

Around halfway (perhaps slightly before), time will have moved on five or so hours, and the plane will also have tracked forward about five hours or so worth of time zones, so it'll be sunrise - about 8am then. At that stage you'll be somewhere round about the South of deep interior Russia on North Central Asia heading for Mongolia.

So, pretty much a half-and-half flight in terms of day/night.

If I recall correctly, you get the most "interesting" part of the flight, east of the Ural Mountains in daylight....
It really is facinating, complete nothingness as far as the eye can see, save for the occassional settlement or oil town. And then over Mongolia which is a place where culture is almost untouched by 20 or 21st century influence. Mongolia is a place really on my "To Do list".

I recently flew in seats 2k and 4a to miami and back and i didnt think there was any better view out of the window in 2k. However the extra space you get is fantastic. [y]