How to Get the Best Seat on the Airplane | ExpatWoman.com
 

How to Get the Best Seat on the Airplane

Posted on

8 July 2015

Last updated on 16 December 2015


How to Get the Best Seat on an Airplane

EW has some insider tips on how to try and get the best airplane seat!

We have all had a great experience on a plane and we have all had that annoying experience one! Whether it be a seat that you are convinced is smaller than the one next to you or you are sitting in a seat that doesn’t recline fully, has a broken TV screen or sitting next to someone noisy. So, first of all what constitutes as a good seat? Some flyers prefer an aisle while others prefer a window seat...

Seats at the Front
These seats are always popular. This is because most airlines board from the front of the plane. It is just nice when you arrive at your destination you will be more likely to be off the aircraft and going through passport control getting closer to the beach while the other 300 passengers are still trying to disembark.

B747

The Seats at the Back
This is contrary to point above. If you can handle waiting a little longer in passport control then it might be worth choosing a seat at the back of the aircraft. On a lot of wide-body aircraft, the plane gets narrower at the back. Why is this useful to know? Some airlines have a 3-4-3 configuration on an aircraft in economy. When the seats get to the back they change to a 2-4-2 configuration because they cannot quite fit the 3rd seat in. This means that you have a lot more space around you and sometimes a little extra space to stretch those legs!


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Upper Deck Seats
Some airlines have economy on the upper deck level of their aircrafts. There are only two commercial aircraft with two deck levels. A Boeing 747 and an Airbus A380. Try and check with your airline about what aircraft you are on for your flight. The reason these are better is that they tend to be quieter cabins as you cannot hear the noise of the engines so much. Great for night flights when you need to sleep!

Bulk-Head Seats
Some people love these seats. The have a bit of extra leg room and no one in front of you. They are several locations of bulkhead seats through the aircraft. They are often near a galley or a toilet. Hence why there is a bulkhead to separate it.

Emergency Exit Seats
There are a lot of regulations about who can sit in these seats. But if you are fit, healthy and over 16 years of age* you can sit in them. They are great for two reasons: there is lots of extra leg room, and the second reason is that you don't have to worry about anyone invading your limited personal space as no one can recline the seat in front!

aircraft setas

So we've compared the best places to sit while flying... But how exactly do you go about getting those great seats!?

Frequent Flyer Programmes
Airlines sometimes over sale their seats, which means that they have to upgrade people. Good news for us. They like to reward loyalty though. Sign up when you book your tickets, even if you’re not a frequent flyer, it might get you bumped up one day. Unfortunatel, the good old days of just saying you’re on honeymoon do not get you far. But it’s always worth a mention… You just never know!

Ask
Bulk head seats are not usually available to be pre-assigned by the customer. They usually keep them free for customers traveling with young children or medical needs. It’s always a great idea to ask at check in if there is any available yet? If they say no just ask politely at the gate as they will have a better idea by then if they are still needed. Another top tip is chose who you ask. Always scan the check in staff to see who is the most smiling... They will probably be the most helpful.


SEE ALSO: Ever wondered what it's like to live in city in high altitude?

Pay to Pre Book
Most airlines will let you book your seats before the check in time. If you want to chose you seats more than 24 hours before you fly then you can usually pay the airline a small fee to do this. Just check with the airline’s reservation team. Some will even let you book months in advanced! You must bear in mind that due to operations of airlines sometimes the seats you have pre-booked change (usually due to an aircraft change). If this happens make sure you get a refund for the service you have not received.

Online Check-In
You can check in online before the day of your flight. Some airlines even let you check in 36 hours before the flight. Do it as soon as you can because you can also choose your seats when checking in. Most people now check in online and just use the bag drop at the airport. If you can avoid it never leave it to the airport to check in. This is especially true if you are traveling as a family as you might be split up if there are no seats next to each other. Around 70% of passengers check in online.

Pay for an Emergency Exit Seat
Some airlines offer their extra leg room seats at a small price range from 200- 800 AED. Always check with your airline if they provide this service. You can even do this at check in if you forget. If you are really tall it could be worth paying that little extra to pay for the seats with extra leg room. You will then know that you can enjoy your flight in comfort and hassle free.

Remember to be polite and always smile. You never know where it might take you. Safe travels everyone!

*This is according to the CAA. Ages vary from ailrines around the wolrd between 15-18.