Avoid the fight over arm rests and overhead bin space at all costs
25 June 2024
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Summer travel is upon us, which often means navigating crowded airports and gritting teeth on sold-out flights. It’s enough to make anyone feel claustrophobic – when it comes time for boarding, we wouldn’t blame you for wondering, how full is my flight going to be?
Flying on a completely full plane is certainly a hassle – it can complicate everything from stowing carry-on luggage to attempting to sleep on board, not to mention the fact that already shrinking airline seats feel even more cramped when every spot is occupied. Moreover, post-pandemic, many of us are acutely aware of the germ-spreading that occurs when spending hours within inches of travelling strangers.
Fortunately, there are several measures you can adopt to protect your elbow room on your next flight. It all starts with checking how full your flight will be ahead of time – and then proceeding accordingly.
There are various straightforward ways to get an estimate of how many passengers will be on your plane before you are shuffling down the jet bridge. However, it is important to remember that none of these strategies is a guarantee against overcrowded planes. Airline seating charts can always change – even up to the last minute – as passengers waiting on standby are cleared to board, fliers are transferred from other cancelled or delayed flights, or the original aircraft is switched with a different plane with fewer seats.
With those caveats in mind, here are three simple ways to assess how full a plane is before boarding so that you can, at the very least, mentally prepare for your flight.
Log into your airline’s app
Many airlines provide valuable information such as seat maps that are accessible via their apps and websites. These maps will show you the layout of every seat on the plane and indicate whether it has been booked or not.
For instance, British Airways allows fliers to log in to its app or website and view the fullness of the seat maps for their flights. “Every customer (regardless of cabin and ticket type) has the option to choose their seat 24 hours before departure,” a spokesperson for British Airways explains.
Some airlines let you view the most current version of the flight’s seat map by logging in with the passenger’s last name and confirmation code. (You will have to follow prompts to change seats, but you can view the map without confirming a seat change.)
These tools will provide a reliable indication of how full you can expect the flight to be. Nevertheless, remember that most airlines continue to assign seats throughout the check-in process, and seats might be shuffled by gate agents to accommodate families and other travellers who require special attention.
Sneak a peek at check-in
Depending on your airline, you’re likely able to get a glimpse at the seat map during the check-in process, which begins 24 hours before departure. This usually comes with the chance to select or purchase seats, showing how many open seats are available the day before your flight.
If the plane appears too crowded for comfort, you’ll have time to switch to a new flight – although many airlines in the US have eliminated change fees for most cabin classes, this may not be the case elsewhere. For example, Ryanair charges a fee for date alterations, and EasyJet has fees ranging for changes and cancellations.
If you have elite status, you may have further options. United Airlines, for example, offers a same-day confirmation service on select flights for all passengers with elite status – this allows them to switch to an earlier flight in the same cabin class at no charge, without incurring a fare difference.
Contact your carrier’s customer service
When in doubt, reaching out to the carrier’s customer service line may yield useful information. If you are reluctant to wait on hold, many airlines offer customer service chat features. British Airways, easyJet, and Virgin Atlantic all provide live chat options, and many UK airlines have text options available for customer assistance.
