Best and worst places to sit on a plane
The Best and Worst Places to sit on a plane
Discover our guide for those travelling on a who are looking to fly soon and want to book their seat. This guide is complete with tips to help you avoid the worst seats and secure the best seats on your next flight.
Where is the best place to sit on a plane?
The best places to sit on a plane are exit rows, end of the aisle seats or window seats, and also seats close to the front are typically considered the best seats on a plane. On short-haul flights, you might want an end of the aisle seat near the front in your cabin so you can leave as quickly as possible on arrival. On an overnight flight, you might prefer a window seat so that you can rest your head. Nervous flyers may want to prefer sitting over the wing of the aircraft, where there is less turbulence.
Exit row seats normally give you that little extra legroom, but it isn't appropriate if you are flying as a family. Children aren't allowed to sit in exit rows, and by the US law, infants are not permitted in the aisles directly in front or behind an exit row either.
Many travellers also prefer bulkhead seats, meaning seats which are directly behind a physical barrier for instance walls, curtains, or screens that separate different parts of the plane. Because there aren't any seats directly in front of you and you can often get some extra legroom as well. If you've decided which seats you want to choose to click on this guide to help you to book your seats.
How can you get the best seat on your plane?
Buy your tickets early
Seat availability will depend on when you book your tickets, the earlier you book the ticket the more choice you'll get from the seat you really want. If you're unable to buy your tickets at least a few weeks before, ensure to check-in online when you can before your flight to choose a seat or arrive at the airport early if online check-in is not available.
Join a frequent flyer program
This is the most genuine trick in the book you can use. Providing your frequent flyer number at the time of reservation goes a long way towards getting you that best seat, especially if you're a trusted, high-ranking member. Most frequent flyers tend to be first in line for upgrades.
Purchase a better seat
Many airlines now offer economy-class seats with extra legroom for an additional fee. For example, JetBlue’s “Even More Space” seats, many of which are in exit rows, have up to seven extra inches of seat pitch. United offers Economy Plus access to high-ranking frequent flyers and to any travellers who pay the annual fee; this entitles you to a few extra inches of seat pitch toward the front of the coach cabin. (If any Economy Plus seats are still available at flight time, they can be purchased on a one-time basis.) Other airlines offer similar programs.
Confirm your seat at check-in
Most airlines allow its passengers to check-in online up to 24 hours before their flight departure. At this point, you can confirm the seat you have already chosen or even choose a nicer one.
Where is the worst seat on a plane
The middle seat in the cabin of the plane is generally the most undesired seat. Rows near flight attendant areas and restrooms are known to be noisier and tend to have more traffic, and seats very close to overhead display screens can be uncomfortable, or a little bright if you are trying to sleep.
The seat near the bathroom may not be a good choice as you don't want the smell of excretions every time the door is opened. Misaligned window seats can also be annoying when you've paid for a window seat and only can see half the window.