seat width on BA 777: what is the difference between traveler and traveler plus?

Nenen

Does anyone know where I can find out the actual width of the seat cushion (i.e. the distance between the armrests available for passenger hips rather than the distance between the outside edges of the armrests) on a British Airways Boeing 777-200 4-Class for traveler and traveler plus please?

Dh and I have just returned from Barbados flying with BA. On the outward journey we were in the ordinary traveler class and, as I'm overweight I found it rather narrow for my hips and a little uncomfortable (although leg room was fine). Therefore on the return journey, having seen an advert for an upgrade with a wider seat, (as well as greater pitch etc) we paid almost £150 extra for seats in traveler plus. However, when we boarded and I went to sit down I found that although the overall measurement of the seat was a little wider as the armrests were bigger, the seat cushion (i.e. space available for my hips) was actually narrower! To add insult to injury the armrests are immovable (so I couldn't even put it up and 'share' my dh's seat) and all the controls for the audio stuff are down the inside of the armrests causing further discomfort as they dug into me!

At first I thought it was just me and, given how embarrassed I always feel about my size, just squeezed myself in saying nothing. Then a few minutes later a young lady in her twenties and her father arrived in seats across the aisle and had the identical problem. Unfortunately for her, she was even larger than me and simply could not squeeze herself into the traveler plus seat at all. She had to aks the FA if she could be downgraded back to traveler class where she would be able to get into the seat.

The FA treated her as if she was dirt on the bottom of her shoe and I felt so sorry for the young woman. The FA told her she would have to go and find someone willing to swap seats with her.... something she did but I was far too embarrassed to do. I know that passengers who are not overweight hate having to sit next to someone large (and I can quite understand it) believe me I wish I didn't have this difficulty, but both this young woman and I were prepared to pay extra not only for our own comfort but also to avoid encroaching on someone else's seat... all to no avail.

The FA insisted to the young woman that the seats in Traveler plus were wider and was extremely unpleasant until I finally had the courage to speak up and admit (publically as by now people were staring) that I had a similar experience. Even then she was reluctant to admit there was any problem.

I have googled and searched for info on seat width and found that seatguru.com states that seat width on traveler is 17.5" as opposed to 18.5" in traveler plus. However, I'm almost certain that this is the overall seat width including wider armrests and not the actual space available for my, more than generous, posterior! Can anyone confirm or deny this please?

The flyer (of which I have a copy) clearly states the seats are wider and I think it is very misleading advertising if it is only the armrests that are wider and not the seat cushion itself. I feel very aggrevied that I paid almost £150 and was in fact less comfortable that I had been in the cheaper seats.

When we returned to Gatwick the young lady and I went to speak to BA customer services and got told that the seat pitch was greater (that was true) and the width was too but, as both she and I had the same problem, I'm not convinced. I have tried emailing BA to ask the exact measurements and got an email back saying I need to telephone them as they cannot help by email. I really do NOT want to spend my time tomorrow being held in a telephone queue listening to moronic mucis and getting increasingly upset! I don't want this incident to spoil my holiday memories but on the other hand I believe BA needs to know about this and would hope they would change their advertising and I could get at least some of the extra I paid back.

If anyone had any information or advice (other than go on a diet!) I'd be grateful.

withabix

You will get a better response to this on the BA Executive Club section of Flyertalk:

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=446

The likelihood of receiving a refund is extremely low IMO.

Personally I find the space between the arms on a BA WT+ seat is spacious and definitely wider than those in WT and I'm classed as being at the bottom end of clinically obese on those medical charts (14st and 5'7").

It might help us answer your question if you define what you class as 'overweight'.

£150 for a one way upgrade was the bargain of the year for a long haul flight as well!!

donny_osmonds_mad_fan

you are right they are not the same for sure and also the bulk head seats are way smaller too thus no good for us larger bottomed ladies. I am fine in an economy seat yet find bulk head too restrictive and uncomfy...I was kindly given a bulk head once at the gate but had specifically not requested that when offered it at check in, was on another airline staff ticket and therefore you dont wish to argue but on board asked to move to an empty three seats where I could lift the arm rest and sleep anyways...weirdly I dont have problems with the seatbelts in economy, or first but for some reason united airlines seat belts were too small..same size belts in wider seats as I am more than fine in economy..weirdness but there you are lol

hammy_the_hammer

the seats are 1" wider ....i think you have to be realistic as Club are only 2.5" wider than WT and First 3.5" wider than WT.
the only easy answer might have to be buying an extra seat in WT by ringing BA and arranging.
btw the wider seat isn't seen as the main advantage of WT+.....seat pitch and laptop power are the attraction to many business travellers .

donny_osmonds_mad_fan

oops mine should have said....in uniteds business class the seat belts were the same length as the seatbelts in econmy yet have to stretch further across the larger seat anyways..

Nenen

hammy_the_hammer wrote: »

the seats are 1" wider ....i think you have to be realistic as Club are only 2.5" wider than WT and First 3.5" wider than WT.
the only easy answer might have to be buying an extra seat in WT by ringing BA and arranging.
btw the wider seat isn't seen as the main advantage of WT+.....seat pitch and laptop power are the attraction to many business travellers .

Thanks for the info... however, do you know if the 1" bigger is the actual cushion size (i.e. space for hips) or the overall width of the whole seat due to wider armrests?

I'm sure you're right when you say that the main attraction for business users buying upgrades is pitch and laptop power, however, the BA flyer advertising this upgrade states (in the following order)
1) quieter private cabin
2) 20% more personal space
3) wider seat and greater recline
4) 7" more legroom

Thus the wider seat is clearly advertised and thought important enough to list it before legroom (based on pitch) and laptop power is not even mentioned. I happen to think that this advert is very misleading but not sure how embarrassed I'm going to be if I try challenging this with BA... in my experience, being overweight is seen as a good reason for some customer services agents to be rude and patronising!

donny_osmonds_mad_fan

I guess it can be read in one of two ways...yes the overall seat width may well be wider but then wider could also mean personal space for instance wider because the arms are bigger and thicker and gives you more arm/stretch space as it were so the space between passengers is greater, but then they should maybe make it clearer. If I was you I would just write a letter not mentioning your complaint but just ask for the seat cushion width...then if they give you the measurements go from there.

moonrakerz

Always found this site to be useful:

http://www.seatguru.com/airlines/British_Airways/British_Airways_Boeing_777-200.php

Nenen

donny_osmonds_mad_fan wrote: »

If I was you I would just write a letter not mentioning your complaint but just ask for the seat cushion width...then if they give you the measurements go from there.

Thanks for your help and support; it is much appreciated. I had exactly the same idea as you and have emailed BA customer services THREE times in the last two days requesting the exact seat cushion WIDTH measurements (sorry to 'shout' but as you can probably tell I'm getting somewhat tense with BA).

Their reply to each email was to tell me the seat pitch (measurement from back of one seat to back of the seat in front). I don't know how I can make the question any more explicit and can only assume that their lack of 'understanding' of my question means they know they have something to hide. I'm at a loss as to know how to proceed when they won't tell me the width measurements and no one else seems to know them either!

Nenen

moonrakerz wrote: »

Always found this site to be useful:

http://www.seatguru.com/airlines/British_Airways/British_Airways_Boeing_777-200.php

Thanks very much for trying to help but, as I mentioned in my first post, I had already looked on seatguru and found that they gave seat widths but they don't state whether this is the width of the actual seat cushion or including the armrests.

qwerty123456

The 18.5 inch measurement is indeed the seat cushion. The reason you may have found it to be less wide in your experience is because the arm rest is rigid and solid whereas in economy there is a gap under the armrest and can be moved. The gap under the armrest in the economy seat may have given you some extra room.

I suppose it could also be that because you'd paid extra you were expecting substantially more room when in reality most of the extra room is in the seat pitch rather than the seat width.