In this series, iBestTravel’s team of writers and editors answers your travel problems and provides tips and hacks to help you plan a hassle-free trip. This week, John’s insights aim to guide you in selecting the best seat when flying.
Question: When I am considering flights online, I often wonder if there is a preferred seat to choose in economy. I always seem to get assigned a seat where I can’t relax. Are any seats better than others that I should know about? Or are there seats that I should avoid?
Answer: I feel your pain… often literally. You won’t be surprised to discover that I fly a lot, and even selecting a seat can be complicated. In general, beyond the “window or aisle” question, here are some important tips and hidden pitfalls to consider.
Is it Worth Paying for a Seat in Economy Class?
First things first: if you desire a good seat these days, you’ll likely need to pay for it. If you choose not to, you risk being auto-allocated a middle seat, or something right next to the onboard lavatories. Consequently, evaluate if it’s worth spending extra or if you’d rather save money for other travel experiences.
When selecting your seat in coach class, avoid any seats near the lavatory. Additionally, babies are often placed in the first row “bulkhead” seats, so if you’re sensitive to noise, opt for something in the middle of the cabin.
Moreover, keep in mind that many seat map websites may be outdated, airline seat selection pages often lack important details, and different airlines can have varied layouts on the same type of aircraft – meaning that 11A might be great on one plane but dreadful on another. It’s advisable to compare multiple sources, especially if seat choice is critical for your comfort.
Choose by Aircraft Type
When booking your flight, you’re likely to find wider seats if you choose an Airbus over a Boeing. While this may not hold true in every case, it has generally proven accurate in my experience.
Favor Center Aisle Seats for Long-Haul Flights
Particularly on long-haul wide-body flights, strive for the center aisle seats. If you prefer an aisle seat, it’s usually better to choose one in the middle section. This choice means that the middle seats next to you will likely fill up last—thereby reducing the likelihood of passengers continually climbing over you.
Critical Considerations for Exit Row Seats
Be selective about first row “bulkhead” and exit row seats. These seats can provide extra legroom but also come with potential drawbacks, such as a lack of recline or a restricted seat pitch. In some cases, they may have narrower seat widths to accommodate side-opening tray tables. Furthermore, certain bulkhead row seats might feel like they offer less legroom compared to standard seats since your feet cannot slide underneath.
Beware of Seats Without Windows
Some rows may not feature windows to allow for necessary cabling or air ducts, with Ryanair’s seat 11A typically being a notable example on their Boeing 737-800s fleet. These omitted windows are often located just ahead or behind the wings or at the back of the aircraft. As such, it is beneficial to perform a brief online search for “[your airline name] no window row” for clarity.
Understanding “Infinite Legroom” Seats
On certain airplanes, the layout of seats next to the emergency exits creates a situation where only an aisle and a middle seat are available in the adjacent row, allowing the window seat behind to offer an entire seat’s worth of legroom. Additionally, select Airbus A380s feature crew rests underneath, leading to emergency escape hatches that replace what would typically be a seat. For example, the seat 62D on Singapore Airlines boasts significant extra legroom. Therefore, it’s imperative to review the complete seat map to ensure you don’t overlook great seating options!
