The best seat and the one to avoid: what you need to know before choosing a seat on the plane
If you fly Ryanair you know very well that if you want a few extra millimeters for your legs you have to go for the seats [...]
If you fly Ryanair, you know very well that if you want a few extra millimeters for your legs, you should aim for seats positioned near the emergency exits.
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If, however, you are a commuter of the skies you also know that those seats, which many companies charge extra for, give you more legroom but at the same time are very limited.
If you have flown in the "emergency exit rows" before, you know very well that these are the ones most controlled by the stewardesses, where you cannot keep bags or other items with you during takeoff and landing. This means you'll have to put everything in the (often overflowing) overhead bin and possibly get up to get your tablet or laptop after takeoff and put it away before landing.
Then there is the peculiarity that low-cost airlines operate only one model of aircraft: FR flies Boeing 737, while Easyjet uses Airbus A320, so everything is standardized. In contrast, all other airlines use different aircraft models, with cabin configurations varying even for the same model.
In this article I will try to explain the 6 things you need to do before you choose your seat to make your flight more enjoyable.
A small premise. My preference for short-haul flights is the aisle-side seat, while for long-haul flights I always choose the window-side seat.
In the short range, I don't worry about having to get up if those who sit next to me have to get up to go to the bathroom or stretch their legs, on the one hand I am unlikely to fall asleep on a flight of a couple of hours and on the other hand there is less chance of physical necessity. Similarly, being seated aisle-side allows, as soon as the announcement of "boarding completed" is given, one to move freely to a less crowded row or closer to the exit.
On the contrary On a long-haul flight, no matter the class of travel, I always and always point toward the window-side seat. The person sitting by the window is "free" from any impediment. I will never have to unplug the headphone cable or the cable to charge my pc to let the passenger who sits next to me through. I will not be awakened in the night by my neighbor who needs to go to the bathroom. The flight attendant will not risk spilling coffee on my laptop. I will definitely have a few extra inches and be able to manage the curtain, deciding whether to raise or lower it.
But let's come to the tips to follow before booking your flight and choosing your seat on board:
- Before booking you need to figure out which model the route is operated under. Of course if you fly Emirates you may end up on a 777 or an A380, but even then you may end up on a more or less modern configuration and therefore more or less comfortable and full of optionals.
- Once the model is understood look for information on cabin configuration. There is a lot of difference in business between a 1-2-1 setup where all passengers have aisle access and a 2-2-2 where window-side passengers cannot move without "stepping over" their neighbor. The same is true in economy; understanding how the cabin is set up can allow you to locate premium seats without paying extra. You can find the best information on the company's website or a site dedicated to this. Seatguru allows you to learn about all configurations in detail, read chair reviews, and see photos from other travelers.
- Pay attention to the portholes, check that the row you choose is not, for example, the one without a window or conversely that yours is the row with two portholes instead of one.
- Figure out if there are and where the outlets are, a 12-hour flight without an outlet can be dramatic, it can happen that in a row of 3 seats in economy there are only two outlets, here is one thing to check before selecting a seat.
- Avoid places near common spaces Which are the noisiest areas of the aircraft. Ça va sans dire away from the bathrooms, but also from small areas where passengers can stop and have a word or where the crew prepares meals.
- If you travel in economy, aim for the "bulkhead" seats, i.e., the first few rows, sure it might go against the #5 advice but in this case the disadvantage of being "front row" is mitigated by some small benefits such as the fact that the service will start from your row, but most importantly you will have at least a couple of extra inches for your legs.
- If you are not traveling with children, stay away from places for children. There are few companies, but some are doing so, that indicate at the seat selection stage the seats where small children might be seated, even though headphones now insulate against noise it is not pleasant to be awakened, or worse not to sleep, because the child traveling nearby will not stop screaming.
Recently I happened to fly with British Airways in an "old" 777/200, I was convinced that I would be in a very uncomfortable old business class and instead to my surprise the cabin had just been renovated with the brand new club world suite, a completely different way of traveling.
