Cathay Pacific will switch to 10-across coach seating on the 777-300ERs it flies to the U.S. (Image: Cathay Pacific)
How can an airline increase passenger capacity when it can’t add more flights? One way is to add more seats in each aircraft, and we’re seeing that emerging as a trend in some carriers’ Boeing 777 fleets. The latest airline to announce such a change is Cathay Pacific, which flies 777-300ERs on its routes to San Francisco, Los Angeles, Chicago, Boston and New York JFK.
Cathay chief executive Ivan Chu Kwok-leung told the South China Morning Post that the airline is faced with a shortage of takeoff and landing slots at its Hong Kong base, and the only way to boost revenue is by adding more seats per slot. So Cathay will start reconfiguring its 777 economy cabins from nine-across to 10-across seating, although the job might not be finished until 2018.
He said Cathay wants to preserve its 32-inch seat pitch, so it will shrink seat width from 18.5 inches to 17. He noted that 3-4-3 seating on Boeing 777s is becoming the “standard” among international carriers.
Say good-bye to relatively spacious nine-across 3-3-3 seating seen here on Cathay Pacific’s 777s. (Image: Chris McGinnis)
And he might have a point about that. Boeing has noted that about half of the 777s it delivered in 2015 were had 10-across coach seating; in 2008, only 30 percent had that configuration.
Among U.S. carriers, American has 10-across seating on some 777s, and United earlier this year confirmed it is installing the tighter configuration on 19 777s that it uses mainly for domestic routes. Delta currently has 9-abreast on its B777s.
Other international airlines with 10-across seating on at least some of their 777s include Emirates, Etihad, China Airlines, China Eastern, ANA, Air New Zealand, Swiss, KLM and Air France. A few months ago, Taiwan’s EVA Air said it would switch from nine-across to 10-across seating on its new 777s.
Readers: Would you pay more to fly nine-across vs. 10-across seats in economy? Avoid airlines with 10-across? Please leave your comments below
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Phil B says
October 7, 2016 at 6:31 pmI’m a million miler on both Delta and American, and until recently had entertained notions of pushing for 2M on AA. However, with over 400K still to go coupled with their service plunge under UselessAir management that seems like a losing proposition. I’ve already faced this 10-across problem on several trips to Asia this year, which I solved by flying JL and SQ. JL Sky Wider, in particular, was quite a pleasant surprise. Frequent Flyer programs are dead, and no amount of company scrip (or airline miles as some people persist in calling them) is worth the abuse the US-flag carriers are dishing out these days.
Carl Carr-Johnson says
October 6, 2016 at 5:43 pmThanks for the info. I’m going to HKG in December and and wondering who I should book my ticket through. Sounds like it will be SQ.
Chris McGinnis says
October 4, 2016 at 1:29 pmInteresting! And a good tip… to book a window seat if stuck in 10-abreast on a B777 –chris
rdinsf says
October 4, 2016 at 12:01 pmI flew one of those 10 across 777s on KLM from Amsterdam to Capetown. What was worse than the seat being narrower – the aisle was substantially narrower than other planes. Result was impossible for me to sleep in that seat, as constant bumping by passengers and crew going up the extra-narrow aisle.
David says
October 4, 2016 at 9:32 amAvoid 10 across seating unless you don’t mind rubbing shoulders with everyone.
Toby says
October 4, 2016 at 6:23 amI like that analogy LOL
Clay Cooksey says
October 4, 2016 at 3:43 amYeah I’d pay more for another inch and a half of seat width! It’s getting ridiculous, and is a main cause of air rage. How many rats can you fit in a coke can?
Salvatore Johnson says
October 4, 2016 at 2:10 amAll of us should do everything possible to pass the news that we will not stand this crap and will boycott any airline that wants to be greedy and have 10 across seating on the 777.
I can understand having these seats on flight under 2 hours, but come on for long-haul flights this is inhumane and for older passenger could create blood clots and health concerns.
If people start boycotting more of these airlines and switch to airlines like Etihad, then Cathay will get the idea that this is not right and people will no longer endure it.
Toby says
October 3, 2016 at 5:23 pmI fly out of JFK a lot so I have Many options. For flights over 7 hours, space and comfort are my primary considerations. My new favorite airline is Etihad and I will now choose the longer route on Etihad on the A380 over a shorter route in a smaller plane and a tighter seat. Its too bad because Cathay has outstanding service.
Daniel Faranight says
October 3, 2016 at 12:50 pmTerrible! I may be in the minority, but I’d much rather have more width than legroom. My legs can withstand more discomfort than my shoulders.
John R. Grout says
October 3, 2016 at 12:09 pmI will not fly cattle class for flights of more than two hours duration. For shorter flights, I prefer an aisle seat on Southwest to airlines that promise more but charge a whole bunch more for checked luggage.
al says
October 3, 2016 at 11:32 amTerribly disappointing to hear this as I travel from SFO to HKG yearly either on CX or SQ. Now it’s going to be all SQ. Hope SQ won’t change their seating. At 19″ it’s the best in its class.
02nz says
October 3, 2016 at 11:22 amI can understand wanting to go to ten-across for their regional 777’s, but the 777-300ERs fly some really long routes (e.g. HKG-LAX) that will be really miserable in ten-across. And let’s not pretend the slot issue at HKG is the real reason – this is about money, plain and simple.