Here is the best business class seat on a Qantas Boeing 747
By David Flynn, November 23 2017
Business travellers and frequent flyers know the value of choosing their seat well in advance, especially when setting out on a long international flight.
Along with their passport number they can reel off a list of their preferred seats, plus a few to avoid at all costs.
If you’re flying on your own, when it comes to Qantas’ fleet of refurbished Boeing 747-400s, here are two seat numbers to etch into your memory: 5B and 5J.
These are prime spots for solo travellers booked on one of the revamped jumbos which long ago dropped first class for an enlarged business class cabin that extends into the aircraft’s nose.
Row 5 is the first row behind the wall which used to separate business class from first class, with exits to the left and right sides.
However, while the rest of the 747‘s lower deck business class cabin has a pair of seats by the windows, 5B and 5J are on their own.
There’s no need to share the armrest with your neighbour because you have no neighbour – what would usually be the 5A and 5K window seats are located too close to the exit door and the protruding bulk which contains the emergency slide.
In place of that seat is a customised module with its own magazine bin and what amounts to a personal locker.
The magazine bin is wide enough to keep a slim laptop bag at hand.
And while Qantas uses the locker to stow your pillow, blanket and duvet, relocating those into the overhead bin frees up this space for more of your carry-on kit.
What business travellers will love about the locker is that when you close the lid you’re rewarded with a large secondary workspace where you can spread out your documents and folders or temporarily park your laptop.
And the space in front of the missing 5A and 5K seats is ideal for parking your carry-on bag if you want it to remain within easy reach throughout the flight.
Being located at an exit row, 5B and 5J also boast insane legroom. And while they’re technically aisle seats you’ve still got your own window.
To score one of these prized two spots you’ll need to be travelling on one of the refurbished 747-400s which regularly fly between Sydney and Los Angeles (and then on to New York), as well as Sydney to Santiago and Johannesburg, and Brisbane-Los Angeles.
David Flynn is the Editor-in-Chief of Executive Traveller and a bit of a travel tragic with a weakness for good coffee, shopping and lychee martinis.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
10 May 2011
Total posts 732
Great tip, definitely the seat to book when flying solo!
Qantas
22 Oct 2012
Total posts 319
I've been lucky to sit in one of these sits on a trip to Santiago. Yes, they'd have to be the best seats on that plane, at least for a person flying alone. Being an exit row you have plenty of leg room, and the side locker is very roomy, so your personal space can be very tidy.
However, this seat configuration is only available on one version of Qantas's 747's, for they have 3 versions, and most of them get rotated to various routes depending on maintenance and other requirements.
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
22 Apr 2013
Total posts 143
3E & 3F would also be primo possies, I would think too.
24 Oct 2010
Total posts 2555
Yep, for two people travelling together 3E & 3F are absolute gems!
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
26 May 2014
Total posts 465
Phily, I think there are really only 2 versions, QF just treat the 6 ERs as different to the 3 non-ERs that have the Skybed2. So those 9 aircraft have the single J seats in row 5. The one remaining 747 with F is the second seating version and is the only 747 that does not have the single J seats.
10 Mar 2011
Total posts 526
Good timing for this report... I've just given myself 5K on this configuration so look forward to trying it out. Shame the return flight isn't one of these planes!
Qantas
22 Oct 2012
Total posts 319
If it's 5K then you're in a plane with 2-2-2 seating. The article explains how row 5 is 1-2-1 seating.
10 Mar 2011
Total posts 526
Sorry... I meant 5J. It's definitely this plane according to the seat map.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
15 Jan 2013
Total posts 50
Flying to Dallas at Christmas time, but there is two of us, have chosen 14 K/J over and 14 A/B back upstairs, the reasons i chose these was:
1) No baby bassinets upstairs and
2) Exit row
Would others agree if two travelling these are better than in the pointy end on the lower deck?
26 May 2012
Total posts 149
There is a bassinet upstairs and it's infront of 11 J/K.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
15 Jan 2013
Total posts 50
Yeah you are right, well only one, looks like the middle cabin lower deck is only section without one
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
23 Aug 2012
Total posts 23
14K is my favorite on the 747. As you have noted, it is the exit row upstairs and I think it better than most seats down stairs. 14 A is also pretty good but the seat is further foward in relation to the window so a bit more difficult to see out if you are after the view.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
25 Sep 2012
Total posts 19
Great to know about this. Shame every seat isn't like that!
United Airlines - Mileage Plus
17 Feb 2016
Total posts 45
Um...every seat is like that and better...just not on Qantas..it's like it's QF's homage to the numerous other airlines (Like SQ !) who have much better business class on all of their machines (ok not the 330.)
Cathay Pacific - Asia Miles
25 Apr 2013
Total posts 542
Don't these two seats just look like Emirates A380 (with many exceptions, but still same storage space and comfort)?
02 Dec 2011
Total posts 47
Fabulous report. Re-assigned myself to 5B on a SYD-SIN flight. Woohoo!
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
03 Jul 2011
Total posts 186
Any idea what the PAX in 6A & 6K get infront of them instead of the back of the row 5 seat capsule?
24 Oct 2010
Total posts 2555
A chunk of plastic.
Cathay Pacific - Asia Miles
25 Apr 2013
Total posts 542
LOL!
03 Jan 2012
Total posts 96
I go for upstairs in exit row Aisle seat everytime on the old Jumbos. Great seat with acres of space around you. No one needs to climb over you to get to the loos either.
Qantas
22 Oct 2012
Total posts 319
Yup, upstairs in the 747 has a nice feel, being quieter and a smaller area than downstairs. A bonus is that those with a window seat have a handy storage bin.
On the other hand, almost all the seats upstairs, except for the exit row, result in either climbing over a sleeping person, or being climbed over. That's bad enough for couples, but not good at all for single travellers.
My strong prefence now when flying in J is to go for the centre seats, so that whether flying alone or with partner, both of us have direct aisle access with neither of us climbing over anyone. The advantage of window seats is lost on long-haul flights, for most of the flights these days seem to be in darkness for most of the flight, and the shades are down for almost the whole flight anyway.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
17 Aug 2012
Total posts 2204
In a 2-2-2 layout, the centre pair always wins. However, unless you happen to be 3E and 3F on a 747, the centre seats in J are in sets of 3, with a middle seat.
I assume you are mostly on the A380?
Qantas
22 Oct 2012
Total posts 319
You're right Watson. I was thinking A380, which I use wherever possible. It has 2-2-2- in J, whereas the 747 has 2-3-2- in J.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
17 Aug 2012
Total posts 2204
I think that's why 3E and 3F are so loved - they're the only centre pair on the 747, and they're also staggered from the side pairs.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer - Chairmans Lounge
01 Sep 2011
Total posts 413
thanks cfor giving away the secret :)
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
13 Jul 2012
Total posts 43
Yes, I've snagged 5B a few times and it is terrific.
10 Mar 2011
Total posts 526
Due to a plane change, I actually flew on one these 744's yesterday and I'm afraid I have to disagree with your view that 5B and 5J are the best pick. I sat in 5B and it was pretty cold sitting there right next to the door. It was also quite an annoying seat due to the fact that it is right behind the front section so people are often walking past and bumping into the seat. As it is also by the door, people like to stretch their legs around there and when the seat it reclined flat, it juts right out and people again bump into you. Sure you have your own seat but it's not all that it's made out to be.
The best seats are on row 14 upstairs. No doubt about it.... but let's face it, with the A380 style seats on the 744, any Business seat is pretty darn good.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
14 Sep 2012
Total posts 381
I flew recently Singapore to Sydney on Qantas QF6 which would be their flagship 747 flight between these cities and was on the original angle Skybed 1. I thought it was a 'one off' but the crew told me this is a regular occurrence. I notice in the article above it also mentions this. Is this for real? There used to be an A380 on this route before all the Dubai change. I'm leaning towards SQ on my Singapore trips until QF has lie flat guaranteed.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
17 Aug 2012
Total posts 2204
They are losing on SIN-SYD. Badly. Double-daily angled-flat versus quadruple-daily fully-flat and satay.
10 Mar 2011
Total posts 526
Actually SQ have their Regional product (angled flat) on one flight to Sydney per day... or at least they used to.
Your point is still valid though... and the fact that it is going to take a year for QF to introduce their new seats on the A330 (which seems a ridiculously long turn around time to do it!) will see them continue losing business to SQ.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
17 Aug 2012
Total posts 2204
No, you're right. While SQ 241/242 (the early morning SIN-SYD and evening SYD-SIN) has been upgraded to a 77E with the "new" J, SQ 211/212 is currently operated by a regional 773.
Still getting stomped, though, and that's quite sad.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
14 Sep 2012
Total posts 381
Thanks all. Why doesn't QF put their new A380ised 747 on the Sydney Singapore route permanently. It seems bizarre when they are up against SQ on this flagship route. Or have I got it totally wrong and the route is only a 2nd tier one?
10 Mar 2011
Total posts 526
Actually they are starting to do that on certain days. I have a couple of flights to Singapore in November and am on the refurbed 744 on those flights. Hopefully they become the standard!
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
17 Aug 2012
Total posts 2204
I hope to God Almighty they become the standard.
10 Mar 2011
Total posts 526
Ha... Wouldn't count on it but I hope so too!
Qantas
25 Nov 2014
Total posts 1
Isn't the person sitting in the EXIT row responsible in an emergency? As I am 70 I am not sure I want the hassle but would like to sit on my own as I travel on my own.
11 Jul 2014
Total posts 13
It was the 737 that required you to remove the overwing exit in case of emergency if sitting at that location.It would be the crew that arm/disarm and deploy the slides on the 747.
17 Sep 2015
Total posts 388
The single seat depicted in row 5 is deficient in that for 'passenger protection' against trolleys that bump into seats, as well as other passengers, it's better to have the console next to the aisle not next to the window.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
10 May 2012
Total posts 134
Exit row upstairs is the only way to go! Never mind slumming it with the riff raff down below. LOL
03 May 2013
Total posts 672
The nose is quietest spot of all 3 J class zones on QF 744's.
Emirates Airlines - Skywards
05 Jun 2017
Total posts 28
Hmmm....all those Emirates detractors seem to have overlooked the 2-3-2 layout from row 5 backwards. No criticisms?
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
10 Jun 2013
Total posts 1
Just returned fro. SYD-JNB-SYD and had 14J/K in both directions. Absolute favourite seats. Exit row with incredible space with storage bins next to 14K. No jumping over fellow pax 14J (wife in this case). Whilst the seat faces the two J class flight attendents for a short time during takeoff and landing, this provides ample opportunity for conversation with attendants, personalising journey which generally leads to extra attention in flight service..also less line up for bathroom.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
26 Oct 2017
Total posts 92
I don't know but I find it a little a bit of an indictment on today's society that many feel they don't like another human being next to them even in business or first. Sharing a just a few words with someone makes the journey feel quicker and sometimes excellent International contacts are made. Most people know when to zip it when another passenger wants to work or switch off. Having said that, had I missed those seats, I wouldn't want to sit at 5 E with 1 pax on both sides (in/out inconvenience) if that was the last seat on board. If I were running Qantas I would have configured 2-2-2 at Row 5 rather than 1-3-1. That extra seat would generate extra revenue too. Oops, apologies as I can hear the solo hermit lovers saying SHHH.!
07 Dec 2018
Total posts 1
what are seats 16 j & k like in the upper deck, are they noisey with the galley behind or do able?
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
08 Jun 2018
Total posts 7
Yup .. have always loved 5B or 5J. These are the premium seats on QF's Queen of the Sky. Unfortunately for tomorrow's flight I couldn't get .. so 3J was best ... at least in the "nose" is nice as lot's of space, Feeling sad already as it might be one of the last 747 flights on QF.
11 Apr 2018
Total posts 30
also interested in views on 16j/k upstairs for couple flying. Row 14 is blocked ou for us :)
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