Here’s a retro one from US Air for this installment of Vintage Airline Seat Maps. While this particular map is from 1987, US Air’s fleet of BAC 1-11s (British Aircraft Corporation “One-Elevens”) originally flew for Mohawk Airlines from 1965 to 1972.

In 1972, Allegheny Airlines acquired Mohawk, and at the turn of deregulation in 1979, Allegheny rebranded as US Air.

This single-class configuration seated 79 passengers, had one lavatory and I’m sort of shocked to see a closet and other “storage” denoted as “ST.” I’m surprised US Air didn’t remove the forward closet to squeeze in two more seats in the late 80s.

Obviously, 9C would be preferable for a solo traveler and 9D & 9E for a couple. Seats 17A, E and F must have been rather uncomfortable.

Where would you sit?

Related posts:

Piedmont Airlines Fokker F28-1000 Seat Map

Piedmont Airlines Boeing 727-200 Seat Map

US Air DC-9-30 Seat Map

Here’s United’s original international configuration of their Boeing 767-300 fleet for this installment of Vintage Airline Seat Maps.

Seating a total of 206 passengers, first class offered 10 seats in the 2-1-2 configuration, business class (then called Connoisseur Class) was in the typical 2-2-2 layout with 38 seats and coach seated 158 passengers in the 2-3-2 format.

Rows 13 and 14 were the crew rest seats on international flights, but were often available for revenue passengers when this aircraft flew domestic routes. The first class seats did recline to 180 degrees, as I recall, and seat pitch in business class was actually pretty tight by today’s standards (about 42”).

I worked for United in 1998 and loved non-revving on this bird. My favorite seats were 2A/F and 6A/F. Truth be told, I was fortunate to have always scored a first or business seat back then. I’d go for 16A/G in economy, of course, if I had to pick. Keep in mind this was pre-Economy Plus.

Where would you sit?

Related posts:

United Airlines 767-200 From 1987

American Airlines 767-200 From 1987

TWA 767-200 From 1987

Delta Air Lines 767-200 From 1987

I previously posted American’s 707-123 and 707-323C seat maps and now bring you their sibling, the 707-323B, for this installment of Vintage Airline Seat Maps.

The only difference from the -323C is the addition of seats 22A and 22F. I’ve learned the ‘C’ variant was developed as a convertible aircraft capable of switching from a passenger version to a freighter. There must have been some type of cargo door or mechanism preventing a full row of seats in row 22 on that bird.

Neat things on this aircraft are the luggage rack and bar in first class, and a coat compartment in coach. This is a pre-deregulation map from 1977, so although seat pitch information isn’t provided, I’d imagine coach was incredibly spacious and offered just about the same amount of forward space as first class.

In first class, I’d probably prefer a seat away from the galley in row four or five. In coach, 10A or 10F would be my preference for a great view of the wing, engines, landscape below and of course to watch what was probably some HD inflight entertainment.

Where would you sit?

Related posts:

American Airlines 707-123 Seat Map

American Airlines 707-323C Seat Map

American Airlines TV Commercial from 1972 Showcasing Their ‘Luxury Fleet’

As I’ll be flying a United 747 this week to Australia, I looked back at all the seating configurations United had over the years and bring you one from 1998 for this installment of Vintage Airline Seat Maps. It’s not that vintage, I know, but it was a unique layout given the amount of premium cabin real estate.

Seating a total of 301 passengers in a 36/123/142 format, this aircraft frequently flew the Chicago to Narita nonstop route. I was working for United at the time and non-revved my little heart out in first class as the front cabin rarely filled to capacity. Business was almost always full through a combination of revenue passengers and op-ups for coach oversales.

The lack of a galley across from door one made row five incredibly spacious – even the C/D seats, though it doesn’t appear as such on the map. I’d definitely opt for the exit row upstairs in business class and probably be keen on 44C in coach, or a window in one of the two-seaters in rows 57 through 59.

Where would you sit?

Related posts:

United Airlines Boeing 747-SP

Cathay Pacific Boeing 747-200

Pan Am Boeing 747-100

American Airlines Boeing 747-SP

The Airbus A310 is a shortened version of its A300 predecessor widebody aircraft and I’ve selected a Pan Am A310 for this installment of Vintage Airline Seat Maps.

Seating a total of 225 passengers, 18 seats occupied the forward cabin, called either First Class domestically or Clipper Class (business) internationally. Here you’d definitely find me in row two, probably in a window seat.

Economy had 207 seats in a comfortable 2-4-2 configuration, except the last several rows where this aircraft has significant fuselage tapering (as does the A300). I’d definitely opt for a window seat near the leading edge of the wing for the view forward and that of the engine.

I believe all of Pan Am’s A310s went to Delta after its demise, and then to FedEx where many are still flying today. Like clockwork, I see a FedEx A310 depart from Burbank every evening around 7:30pm.

Where would you sit?

United Airlines had a few variations of the Boeing 727-200 flying the skies in 1979 and I’ve selected the -222A configuration for this installment of Vintage Airline Seat Maps.

Seating a total of 132 passengers, there were 14 seats in first class with 38” pitch and 118 in coach at 34” pitch (ah… those were the days of “economy plus” throughout coach). It’s interesting to note they had a flight attendant jumpseat at 15D in the overwing exit row. The later versions I flew in the 1980s didn’t have this location.

I’d sit faaaar away from the smoking section in first class and probably go for 2A or 3D. In coach, I’d definitely be in a window near the leading edge of the wing.

Where would you sit?

Related seat map posts:

United Airlines Boeing 727-100 (1978)

Continental Airlines Boeing 727-100

Eastern Airlines Boeing 727-100

American Airlines Boeing 727-100 (1977)

American Airlines Boeing 727-100 (1985)

Let’s kick off the Memorial Day weekend with another Vintage Airline Seat Map, shall we? I previously posted two other versions of American Airlines’ DC-10s from the past (here and here), and the one appearing below was seen flying the skies in 1987.

Seating a total of 313 passengers in a high-density “Hawaii” configuration, there were only 16 First Class seats scrunched up there where the fuselage begins to taper towards the flight deck. It appears they removed the front galley on this version to accommodate the seats, which were in a 2-2-2 layout.

Economy seated 297 passengers in the common 2-5-2 configuration. Something interesting to note is that they had an entire closet dedicated for just blankets (near the rear lavatories).

I’d definitely be seated in ‘Zone 1’ ahead of door two. In First, you’d likely find me in the second row and in economy I’d probably go for row five or six.

Where would you sit?

Delta Air Lines had quite a few variations of the Lockheed L-1011 TriStar flying the skies in the 1980s, including this one and this one, and I’ve selected another version for this installment of Vintage Airline Seat Maps.

Appearing below is Delta’s L-1011-250 seat map from 1987. It seated a total of 269 passengers across three classes of service. First Class seated 12 passengers in “Sleeper” seats – the old school style – in a 2x2x2 configuration. Business Class on this stretched version of the L-1011 offered 54 seats, 14 more than the shorter -500 series Delta flew during the same period, in a 2x4x2 layout. Coach had 203 seats in the usual 2x5x2 configuration.

In First Class, you’d find me in 1F. The first few rows of Business Class would be ideal and in coach I’d definitely try to get a window in row 21.

Where would you sit?

It’s time for another Vintage Airline Seat Map and I’ve selected an unusual one this week. World Airways – I know… they mislabeled it World Airlines – primarily flew (and currently flies) members of the military to war zones the world over along with other contracted business.

If Wikipedia is correct, they currently operate a couple of different configurations of the MD-11, the successor to the DC-10 – some with “premium” seating unlike the all coach 354-seater Douglas bird below.

It’s interesting that this seat map denotes row nine as having the most legroom. Perhaps it did, but if I were flying on this airplane, you’d find me in one of the exit row aisles or maybe seat 3D or 3G. I’d have to imagine the pitch was pretty tight. Also notice the bank of seven lavs in the back… whoa!

Where would you sit?

I previously posted the international configuration of a TWA L-1011-100 TriStar and I’ve selected the airline’s domestic version for this installment of Vintage Airline Seat Maps.

This L-1011 also had three classes of service, but the business class – Ambassador Class – cabin was in a 2 x 4 x 2 layout versus the more spacious 2 x 2 x 2 found on the other bird. First Class also appears to have a tighter pitch, though the description still labels the seats as “Sleepers.”

Seating a total of 275 passengers, there were 28 seats in First, 48 in Ambassador Class and 199 in coach. Like the international configuration, there were no dedicated lavatories for Ambassador Class, which I find a bit odd.

In First Class you’d find me in row two or three, row eight or nine in the middle cabin, or row 17 or 18 in coach.

Where would you sit?