Although the right seat can make a long-haul flight much more pleasant, travelers usually give little thought to where they sit when they purchase their airline tickets, and often just let a boarding agent assign them a seat at check-in.
Choosing your own seat these days is a simple matter, as most airlines give passengers the opportunity to choose it online. Just go to the seating plan of the plane, and click on your choice.
One thing the airline doesn’t do is offer recommendations. You pick your seat and take your chances.
A few simple tips will make the selection process much more rewarding.
Things to consider:
- Where are the engines located? Sitting immediately behind the engines can make for a noisy ride. Best choice is over, or in front of the exhaust.
- Stability of ride? This can be especially important if you suffer from motion sickness. On most aircraft sitting over the wing usually provides the smoothest ride, while the most motion is experienced in the tail section.
- Is it a “premium” seat? Some seats offer more space, and can carry an extra charge. Whether it’s worth the cost depends on your own needs. If you have really long legs, or are a restless flier and like to get up often, the minimal extra cost is worth it.
- How much legroom does it offer? Some seats, due to crew seating or bulkhead location may provide reduced leg-room.
- How many seats are in the row? On a long-haul flight climbing over other passengers (and having them climb over you) every time you need to get up is unpleasant for everyone.
- Window or aisle? This is strictly a matter of personal preference. Sitting by the window gives the opportunity of leaning against the wall, but provides less chance to stretch out, and makes it more awkward to get up.
- Is it an exit door seat? Seats by an exit usually have extra legroom, but you are responsible for opening the door in an emergency. Because of this airlines impose restrictions on who can sit in these seats.
- Is the seat near the washrooms? This may be more convenient if you are a frequent user of these facilities, but involves increased traffic, and the possibility of odors.
- Is the seat in a high traffic area? Service areas and washrooms can result in frequent movement of passengers and crew.
- Are there utility boxes located under or near the seat? Modern planes have sophisticated entertainment systems which are great for passing the time, but are often placed under seats. This results in reduced legroom or storage space for carry-on items.
- Is there a bulkhead behind the seat? These seats usually restrict how far the seat reclines, and sitting in a fully upright position for long periods is tiring.
- How long to deplane? Generally passengers exit by the front doors. For those sitting in the tail section, it can be a long wait.
Where do you find the answer to questions about seating? The airlines own seating plans don’t offer much information. Fortunately there are websites such as seatguru.com that give all the information needed to pick the right seat. Begin by selecting the airline, then the type of plane, and simply scroll over the seat to see any potential problems. Once you have made your decision, go to your airline’s website and make your selection.
Be forewarned! Airlines sometimes make changes to aircraft type based on passenger load. If this happens, your seat choice becomes meaningless. Check back frequently with the company’s website to keep up to date with changes.
When more information is required than can be found online, contact the airline directly. Your travel agent can also be helpful when problems arise.
Newer, long-range aircraft, often mean non-stop flights of sixteen hours or more. If planning a long-haul flight, when you purchase your airline ticket, choose your seat carefully, as it can make all the difference for a pleasant and relaxing flight.
