Best seats in Economy on BA - flying to and from San Francisco?

[disgracefullyyours]

Please can someone help an inexperienced traveller?

I'm flying from London to San Francisco in a couple of months (before Thanksgiving), my first long haul holiday in many years. Going solo on a bucket list trip.

Flying out from Heathrow at 11.45 and arriving in SF at 14.55. Two decks on the plane and most seats are still free.

Journey 2: Flying back overnight from SF at 20.35, arriving at Heathrow the following day at 15.10. One deck and again most seats are still free.

I can't afford to upgrade to PE but can afford to pay for my seats. Which ones are more comfortable than others? It's more the return flight coming back that I'm concerned about as I'm a light sleeper.

I've read it's best to go upper deck if you've got the choice as it's usually quieter - is this right?

I just don't want to end up in the middle seat for either journey!

I've attached a pic of the seat formation.

There is not much to choose between them really. I like a window seat, always have to sacrifice this for one of our kids to have it these days, but it allows you to lean against the window a bit more comfortably. Unfortunately travelling alone means you will have a stranger next to you and if you want to get out to use the bathroom you have to ask them to move. Others like the aisle for this reason. Often near the back of the plane, where it narrows at the tail, they have some rows with two by the window instead of a block of 3. I like to sit in those seats. It does mean you are last off the plane though.

I was going to recommend seat guru, but apparently its closed years ago! I don't know how this site compares, but seat guru used to provide reviews and good/bad about every seat- only partial window, near the toilets, seat doesn't fully recline etc.
seatmaps.com/

Thanks both. I’ve decided to pay for an aisle seat there and a window seat coming back (to help me sleep) in a block of two as they have just on that flight. Thanks for that info @TeamGeriatric

Don’t go near the galley or toilets as you get lots of banging and clanking in the galley and folks lining up for the loos. Def try and get extra leg room but not a bassinet seat if you can. Enjoy!

I’d go for an aisle seat at the back of the plane, if it’s a quiet flight there’s a good chance the seat next to you will be empty (you’ll be last off though if that bothers you, doesn’t bother me as luggage takes so long anyway).

I personally like being by the toilets as a comfort thing for me with anxiety, but yes it does get traffic.

Frequently done long haul. Definitely aisle out window back.