Last year, I crossed the Atlantic in an Airbus 330, I believe. (Business class) This year, all of the labels say 330-300, 330-300, or something of the kind. The schematics show a different layout, and I no longer see the beguiling video that showed the most excellent private cocoon I had last year.
I'm trying to make high season reservations (some like it hot) to Naples, but I'm not sure I could physically handle it if I had a regular seat. No, I'm not a princess, except in my mind. That 180 complete flatbed, that I could motor up and down without disturbing anyone, got me there in one piece, if only to eat oatmeal for six months to pay myself back. I can't figure out what happened to the plane I booked last year. I've been looking at Seatexpert.com. Is there something better? I'm determined to book today, but I need your help. Thanks so much. I only wish I knew something that would help you, my admirable veteran voyagers. S
Posted by
Lake Forest, CA, USA
1633 posts
What airline did you fly on previously and what airline do you plan on flying on? I think some airlines configure their planes differently.
Posted by
Bainbridge Island
3098 posts
The seat type depends as much on the airline as the type of plane. Some have true flat-ged seates, and some do not. As suggested above, SeatGuru is great for explaining that and viewing seat configurations for the specific airline and type of airplane.
Posted by
OP
United States
223 posts
Same airline, U.S. Airline. Same airports, same time of day.
Posted by
Corvallis OR
7026 posts
Needless to say the airline probably has a limited number of planes configured the way yours was, maybe they just vary the routes that they fly those planes on.
Posted by
New York, NY, USA
11294 posts
Each plane is configured according to the order by the airline, not by type of plane. So, if Lufthansa, British Air and SAS each order an Airbus 330-300, each one will have different layouts, beds, entertainment systems, etc. Then, of course, planes are renovated after they enter service, which means some will be the "old" layout and some the "new" one - often on the same route. You can look at Seatguru and Seatexpert, but do be aware that the actual plane you fly can still be different. That happened to me on Turkish Air; the plane we flew from JFK to IST was the one on Seatguru, but the plane back was a different model despite it being listed as the same one. On the plus side, it had some electrical outlets under some seats; on the minus side, the overhead luggage storage compartments were smaller.
Posted by
OP
United States
223 posts
Praise to you all. I got my seat, I got my price, I got written confirmation that the transatlantic flight and class rule, even for the tiny plane leg. While I was in that lovely anxiety period, a flight popped up that makes me on time (assuming) for lunch on arrival, not during closed hours. Yeah, and thanks. What a difference you all make in my life. Thank you thank you. Sarah