The best seats in Delta's BusinessElite on the Boeing 777-200LR

Flying across the Pacific in BusinessElite on Delta's Boeing 777-200LR? We've got hand-picked recommendations for the best seats in business class on your flight between Sydney and Los Angeles.

Delta's BusinessElite is a combined business/first class that's the airline's top offering, and on the 777 you'll find fully flat beds, laid out in a herringbone configuration with your feet pointing towards the aisles.

Read more: what you need to know when comparing business class layouts

Delta arranges the seats with an unusual letter choice: A on the left hand side by the window, B & C in the middle (separated by a thin partition), and then D on the right hand side by the window. (Normally, it's usual A on the left and K on the right, with D and F or G usually middle seats. Don't be caught out!)

Since every seat has direct aisle access, there's no reason to pick the B or C middle seats. So go for a window seat, where'll there'll be nobody snoring their way to America on the other side of the thin partition from your head.

The seats are 20 inches (51 cm) wide and 78 inches (199 cm) long when converted to bed mode — tall enough for a six-footer. You'll find power at every business seat and on-demand entertainment that swings out from the wall in front of you.

The best seats on the plane

3A 3D 4A 4D 5A 5D : these window seats are in the larger forward cabin away from engine noise, but set back from the lavatories and galley kitchens to avoid disturbance.

3B 3C 4B 4C 5B 5C: if sleeping is a priority, these are good enough as second choices, although you will have a fellow passenger potentially snoring on the other side of the partition.

The worst seats on the plane

10C 11C 11D: these seats surround the rear lavatory, so they're ones to miss.

Row 1, Row 7, Row 10, Row 14: at the forward and rear of each cabin, these seats are closest to lavatories, galley kitchens and economy to the rear. Avoid them to keep the noise and light disturbance to a minimum.

More guides in AusBT's Best Seats series

• British Airways Club World (long-haul business), Boeing 777-300ER
• Cathay Pacific Business Class (new seats), Airbus A330
• Emirates Business Class, Airbus A380
• Qantas Business Class, Airbus A380 (new version)
• Virgin Australia Business Class, Boeing 777

John Walton

Aviation journalist and travel columnist John took his first long-haul flight when he was eight weeks old and hasn't looked back since. Well, except when facing rearwards in business class.