How to get the most comfortable seat on the plane. Features of choosing comfortable seats in the cabin
Until recently, you can buy tickets for flights only at the airport. This caused discomfort, since there is no possibility of choosing a passenger seat. You also need to stand in a long queue, spending a lot of time. Now you can buy tickets online, and at the same time choose the most comfortable seat. Each airline has an official website.
What you need to choose a place
To choose a passenger seat in the cabin of an airliner for a comfortable journey, you can act in several ways:
- purchase an electronic ticket;
- choose a place during the purchase of documents directly at the airport;
- ask the flight attendant to leave for the passenger certain place on board upon landing.
Air carrier employees cannot always remember the requests of each passenger. Therefore, it is better to book a seat on the plane electronic ticket. To do this, you need a computer or a modern gadget with an Internet connection.
Seat selection at the time of ticket purchase
This is the most convenient option. Reservation of seats on the plane is carried out directly on the website of the air carrier. To do this, you must perform the following steps:
- go to the company's website;
- to book a ticket;
- choose comfortable spot for the flight.
advantage this method is quick pick and seat reservation. Despite this, there are certain disadvantages. Some airlines charge an additional fee for the seat selection service. It varies between 16-32 dollars. USA.
Some airlines block the selection of seats that are near emergency exits or in the front rows. They are comfortable to sit on, as there is enough space in front to stretch your legs and have a great rest. These chairs are designed to accommodate pregnant women or with a child under 1 year old, people with disabilities, passengers with animals.
Important! Near emergency exits, it is forbidden to buy tickets for passengers traveling with children over 1 year old. A child can pull the emergency door handle. This will lead to depressurization of the cabin.
If it was not possible to choose a seat on the plane when buying a ticket, you can do it upon arrival at the airport. To do this, at the check-in desk, you must inform the airline employee of your wishes.
The passenger needs to know that it is possible to choose a convenient seat on board the airliner only after booking a ticket on the official website of the company. On other online resources that offer tickets at a reduced cost, this option is not available.
Seat selection during online check-in
The advantage of this method is that you can book a passenger seat from any convenient place. To do this, you will need access to the Internet, and the ability to print a ticket.
Online registration of seats on the plane begins one day before departure. And it ends 45-60 minutes before it. The passenger independently chooses the most convenient seat.
Main advantages:
- no need to arrive at the airport a few hours before departure for check-in;
- no need to stand in line;
- it is enough to go through passport and customs control.
In addition to the visible advantages, there are also disadvantages. Some airlines do not allow online check-in and seat selection for passengers with pets, small children, or luggage.
It is worth noting that some foreign airlines provide online check-in for passengers with luggage. At the same time, they increase the norm to 7 kg. These are nice bonuses for buyers.
Note! In any case, you must arrive at the airport in advance to check in your luggage. It must be weighed and handed over at a special rack.
To start online check-in, you need to go to the official website of the air carrier. Each ticket has a booking number. It is entered in the corresponding field in the window that opens. An additional window will open the layout of the salon. It remains to choose a suitable place by indicating its number in the appropriate field.
It happens that convenient places are occupied. The air carrier independently books them. These seats accommodate passengers with children, disabilities, with animals. It is better to arrive at the airport in advance and ask at the reception to book a specific seat.
Through mobile offers
Airlines develop official Internet resources. Anyone can use them. For greater user convenience, special mobile applications are provided. They are also company websites. They need to be downloaded to a gadget that is connected to the Internet.
They are for the following:
- booking;
- buying tickets;
- registration of insurance;
- online registration;
- obtaining information on the status of all flights of the air carrier;
- checking the balance of the Bonus Miles account, if such a promotion has been announced by the company;
- obtaining information about airport services.
Using these apps is pretty easy. You need to follow the same steps as when booking seats on the official website of the company. The passenger will need a ticket number. It is indicated in the corresponding field. After that, a window will open on the gadget's screen, in which the salon scheme is presented. You just need to click on the place you like. After that, confirm your choice.
It must be remembered that booking a seat through mobile applications can be expensive, like on official sites. It is best to book a seat through online intermediaries.
Each airline has its own seat marking in the cabin. So, for example, places 1E and 1B can indicate several options at once: near the aisle and porthole. Previously, it is better to independently look at the additional decoding of the marking of the chairs on the company's website.
Crowded places are considered to be near the kitchen and sanitary facilities. The aisle chairs are also uncomfortable. Especially for passengers who prefer to sleep in flight.
Interesting fact! According to statistics, the least number of tickets are purchased for flights during lunch hours. This can be used to get the most comfortable seat.
If you were unable to choose a seat during online check-in or when purchasing a ticket, you can do it directly at the airport. To do this, you must inform the employee of the air carrier about the most convenient place for the passenger, which he chose for the flight.
If the place is booked incorrectly, you can still correct the situation. You need to check in for the flight, board the aircraft, wait for the message from the flight attendant “Boarding completed”. After that, ask him to take another free seat. As a rule, passengers are not denied this.
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Choosing a seat on an airplane is a complex and responsible process. The flight itself is tiring, even if you need to cover a short distance, so it is very important to take a seat with high level comfort. Having studied the scheme of places, their location, a person will find the best option for himself.
Service classes
Aircraft scheme
The seats are arranged according to a certain pattern. Knowing it, you can find the most attractive option for yourself.
ABC-DEF notation
Every traveler needs to know that:
- A and F- window seat
- B and E- In the middle;
- C and D- by the passage.
Row numbering
Numbering in progress from the nose of the plane. The row number is indicated by a number. For example, if the ticket says "4A", then this is the fourth row, a window seat. At the beginning of the cabin, seats are considered the most comfortable, they are usually offered to passengers with.
How many seats are on a passenger plane?
The maximum number of seats depends on the aircraft model. There are planes that can carry an unthinkable number of passengers. The leader is Airbus A380, which is able to accommodate the largest number of passengers and fly with 852 passengers on board. The aircraft was built in 2005. Great Britain, France, Italy took part in the production.
The second place in terms of passenger capacity is occupied by Airbus A340-600. It flies when there are just under 700 passengers on board. The seats are of the highest class. They are made of expensive materials, are comfortable, soft and quite wide.
There is plenty of space between the seats, so that passengers can take the most comfortable position. The presented aircraft have three rows of seats, each with four to five seats.
Passengers in the Airbus A340-600 are located on two decks. There are enough seats in a spacious plane for everyone.
There is also standard number of seats. Often in planes from 250 to 350 seats. If the direction is not international, the number of seats can reach 150-200. Exact amount seats cannot be named, because it all depends on the model of the aircraft.
seating arrangement
In order for the flight to bring only positive emotions, you need to take care in advance about choosing a place.
What are the most convenient places?
Most comfortable places are window seats. You can look out the window and enjoy the beauties of the planet, or read a book, because this is the brightest place. The text will be illuminated in the best way. Moreover, no one will squeeze past the passenger at the window in search of their place.
Some travelers are crazy about places in the middle. They have both pluses and minuses. The main advantage is that you can look out the window, because the distance to it is very small, and on the other hand, going to the toilet is much easier than a person at the window. The last passenger will be hurt by people passing by, and the person in the middle will be able to avoid this.
However, there is not much space in this case and the traveler may feel squeezed.
Seats in the tail
The main plus of the seats in the tail of the aircraft is this. If you believe the statistics, the passengers who survived the accident flew in the back of the liner. They make up 67% of total number survivors.
If the flight is "not loaded", then the seats in the tail are usually empty. In this case, passengers can sleep on three seats at once, enjoy peace and comfort.
In the near future
Just a few years ago, standing room might have seemed like something of a surprise, but now more and more manufacturing companies are thinking about creation such seats. Every year there are more and more passengers. Standing places could be the best option for flights over short distances. Such seats are less comfortable, but more affordable.
Standing seats do not currently exist on aircraft, but they will become a reality in the near future. Airbus has already presented aircraft structure with these seats. In the near future, standing places will appear in the liners. Domestic aircraft are not equipped with such seats. However, this is one of the developments of the future.
Also in you will find useful information about what to do if the ears are blocked on the plane.
Some places that you think are the best may well deliver discomfort in flight.
Avoid whenever possible
The following places should be avoided:
- Over the wing— Passengers will not be able to see the bewitching landscape;
- Seats in a row in front of the emergency exit— chairs at such seats do not recline;
- Places next to the toilet Passengers will constantly pass by. The flight will make a person nervous. Sleep is unlikely.
Sit at the porthole, but be aware!
This location is preferred by most travelers. This is a great chance to admire the planet from a bird's eye view. However, it must be remembered that there is one significant drawback of such a place: go out it will be quite difficult.
We'll have to disturb the passengers in the middle and on the edge. This will make them nervous.
Get, drinks too very uncomfortable. A person will make a lot of effort to stretch out his hands and get the dishes. Otherwise, you will again have to disturb the neighbors and ask them for help in transferring drinks and food.
How to find your place?
Some rules will help the passenger to quickly find the right seat:
- Necessary carefully examine the ticket. It contains information that will help you find a place. The letters and numbers on the ticket will help you navigate;
- If you have any difficulties, you can ask the flight attendants for help. They are happy to help the passenger sort it out;
- Row and place indicated on the panel above the seats. It is difficult not to notice them, but the increased attentiveness of the traveler will not be superfluous.
In order for the flight to be the most comfortable, the chosen seat does not disappoint the passenger, one should take into account expert advice:
- The place is selected for your own needs. If a person often visits the toilet, then it is better to purchase an aisle seat;
- Long stay in a sitting position very tiring, therefore, at long distances, experts recommend passengers to move, turn their heads, stretch their necks. It will improve mood, improve well-being;
- You can choose a place. On the official website of the airline. This innovation is relatively recent;
- Don't be in a hurry to choose a place., it is necessary to take into account all your habits, features. If a person is accustomed to comfort, then it makes sense to purchase a seat in the first class.
Read about the parameters of baggage that is allowed to be carried on an aircraft.
Simple tips will help the traveler make the flight much more enjoyable. Only positive, joyful memories will remain.
Watch the video on how to choose a seat on an airplane:
Pros:
They are characterized by the fact that the distance to the next row is somewhat increased, which allows you to pass the time of the flight with great comfort - stretch your legs, stand up if necessary, without disturbing your neighbors. Some types of aircraft do not have a row of seats in front of the seats at the emergency exit / hatch.
Minuses:
Often, airlines, for security reasons, practice leaving these places for people who meet the requirements “a healthy mind in a healthy body” - it is assumed that in the event of an emergency evacuation, such a person will not be confused, will be able to open the emergency hatch and help the staff to evacuate people, but, Of course, not all airlines undertake such a “layout”.
In this regard, passengers with children, animals and the elderly cannot be here.
Another of the minuses is that the approach to the hatches cannot be blocked by hand luggage.
The row, which is located in the section between the two emergency exits, has a plus. In this case, you will have extra space in front of you.
Seats located in front of the cabin
Pros:
Most often, catering starts from the “nose”, so the front rows suggest the convenience and breadth of the choice of drinks and food offered. As a rule, if the seat is in the tail section of the aircraft, then the passenger is limited in the choice of assortment (everything is taken apart at the very beginning).
In addition, the first row is a great opportunity to be one of the first to go down the ladder.
Minuses:But here there are also disadvantages - often mounts for baby cradles are installed in the bow, and passengers with small children can be here. This does not contribute to comfort if you are going to work or relax.
Whoever flew near a child who does not tolerate the flight well and cries all 7 or 12 hours, he knows.
Seats in the tail
The only, but significant plus of this place is its relative safety. According to the statistics of the US National Transportation Safety Board for more than 30 years, the number of surviving passengers of air crashes, depending on where their seats were in the cabin, is as follows:
The highest percentage of surviving passengers was in the tail section of the cabin (behind the edge of the wing of the aircraft) - 69%, the section above the wing - 56% of survivors, as well as in the economy section in front of the wing. In the forward section of the cabin, where business class and first class are usually located, the average survival rate was 49%.
Since when falling from a high altitude, the aircraft falls nose first, the clearances capture the tail section the least. This was the reason for the placement of the "black box" in the tail section of the aircraft, and this also led to the opinion that here are the safest places.
In my opinion, this is more of a psychology of self-hypnosis (IMHO - to survive in a crashed plane from a height, there is no chance, wherever the passenger is sitting), but there are pluses here too: as a rule, on not very popular flights, there are much fewer passengers, that will bother you. The same applies to passengers with children - as a rule, you will not meet them here, unless it is a charter somewhere to places of mass Russian tourism during the high season.
But the largest number of accidents occur, often, during takeoff / landing, as a result of errors by pilots or airport employees, due to poor coverage and the condition of the runway, or other factors. In this case, you can be saved. Think about where the plane will hit first when landing or taking off? It seems to me that most likely the nose, respectively, the main blow will fall on the front seats, which will slightly extinguish the impact force, then the blow will fall on the middle of the cabin and on the wings, from which fuel will flow out and ignite. The shock wave will reach the rear seats with the least power, which will allow passengers to survive.
Thus, the rear seats are the safest in the cabin, since the plane takes the main blow on the nose, but again it all depends on the situation.
The central seats in the aircraft are usually located above or close to the wing, which contains aviation fuel, which, in the event of a plane crash, ignites. Therefore, the most dangerous places are the seats in the middle of the cabin. If we compare the front seats and the middle ones in terms of safety, then the number of deaths in the front seats and in the middle ones is approximately equal.
From the point of view of the safe side - left or right, the statistics give equal chances, the probability of the lateral roll of the aircraft in one direction or another during landing is the same.
So, basically, write on the Internet. Honestly, it's hard for me to judge, but in my opinion, if you are primarily concerned about your safety, then it is better to choose a place near the emergency exit. This, in most cases, is still safer, although less convenient.
Imagine a situation that there was a plane crash, the plane was partially damaged, everyone is alive, but a fire started on the plane and the cabin is filled with black poisonous smoke, inhaling which you can die. What will happen? That's right, most likely, panic, and now think about who will be the first to leave the plane? And the first to leave it is the one who sits in places closer to the emergency exits, which means that they will have more chances to escape.
For the same reason, people whose seats are closer to the aisle are in a better position during accidents
You can find out which seat will be near the emergency exit in a particular aircraft from the seating diagrams.
As far as safety is concerned, but as far as comfort is concerned...
It's believed that The most comfortable seat on the plane is the penultimate row, on the right side of the aisle. The fact is that it is at the end of the cabin that there is the greatest likelihood of free / empty seats, and therefore it is quite realistic that you will get a lot of free space, sitting on three chairs at once: you can get free seats to the right and left of you, on which you can arrange not only your bags, but generally lie down and sleep
Why is it necessary to take seats on the right? Because the sale of air tickets is carried out strictly in rows (with the exception of those cases when the passenger asks for a certain seat himself), rows A, B, C go first, which are located on the left side, so the probability a large number people up there.
After them come the right rows, D, E, F, which are usually empty when the aircraft is not fully loaded (this is important !!!). Well, it is clear that if the download is complete, then all the above recommendations will be meaningless.
Safety is also an important advantage, because it is no secret to anyone that there is simply no more secure place than the tail of an aircraft. And the kitchen can be located close to these places (not always), and all your orders will be delivered as quickly as possible.
Why choose a seat near the aisle? In order for a smaller number of people to show a desire to settle down with you in the neighborhood. If you sit near the window, then nothing will prevent other passengers from sitting next to you, and then all the comfort will come to naught.
But when you sit at the aisle, and place your bags on the next seat, then such a spectacle will be subconsciously perceived by other passengers as a barrier, so the number of people who want to be accommodated in the neighborhood will be minimal.
An even better option would be to immediately get a pillow and a blanket after landing, and lie down to sleep on two or three chairs at once, in which case it is unlikely that anyone will disturb you so that you move away and let him sit down in the same row.
First row / Row in front of which there are no seats
If your row is first (this can be not only the “first row” physically, but also the first row after another class of service, or the first row in one of the sections of the cabin, in front of which there are no seats), then a significant advantage of this arrangement is that no one will throw back their seat on you. In conditions of a small distance between the rows of the economy class, this can be very important.
Of the minuses, we note that most likely there will be a partition or a kitchen / toilet in front of you. It is not very convenient for some passengers to look at the “wall” for the entire flight. Also, there may be fastenings for cradles in the wall. What it is fraught with - read above.
Last row/Row with no seats
Most likely, the backs of the seats in this row do not recline or are very limited in this. This happens when there is an emergency exit, toilet, kitchen, other technical room or wall behind you.
Summarize
Here, in a nutshell, is a list of good/bad places a traveler can look forward to. But it is worth noting that interior layout aircraft are significantly different from each other, and this factor must also be taken into account.
In addition to the fact that the seats are 2,3,4 in a row, it is necessary to take into account the distance between the seats, the number of classes in the cabin, and other features. After all, the same company uses different types of aircraft for flights.
1. Liner model, the smallest details comfort of salons (presence of TV, electrical sockets, row spacing, location of toilets) can be easily found on the airline's website.
2. If you specifically know what kind of seat you would like to get, you should ask this question when checking in for a flight at the airport (seats that are not occupied after online check-in are distributed there).
If you have no idea about the location of the seats, ask to see the layout of the cabin of the liner - all free seats will be highlighted in the appropriate color.
Also, when checking in at the airport, you can simply ask for seats "by the window", "by the aisle", etc. Usually the staff does not refuse.
3. In modern airports, you can use the services of self-registration kiosks and choose your seat. Also, almost always this can be done when registering online on the website of the airline you have chosen - this will significantly save time.
This service is already provided by the largest Russian airlines.
The traditional way check-in is best done two hours before departure. If places are issued in this way, the first registered ones have wide selection from available locations.
4. If possible, you should use less busy flights - in this case, the comfort of the flight will increase significantly, because you (if you wish) will even have the opportunity to sleep on three free seats, the main thing is not to forget to ask the stewardess to bring a pillow and a blanket.
Busiest days are Sunday and Friday with morning and evening flights. If you have time, choose to fly on Monday, Tuesday, or Thursday, noon or afternoon flights.
5. In order not to get into trouble, you should take into account the spelling of the letters indicating the number of the place - they can be either Russian (1A, 1B, 1C, 1G, 1D, 1E) or Latin (1A, 1B, 1C, 1D, 1E , 1F), and in certain situations, these are, as they say, two big differences, capable of overshadowing the impression of the flight.
After all, for example, seat 1 "B" - will have a different arrangement, meaning both an aisle chair and in the middle of a row. This must be taken into account in order not to get from place 1B (which you thought was at the aisle) to the place in the middle (as it turned out that this is not the Russian "B", but the Latin "Bi").
Also, be careful with the letter "E".
Therefore, it is better to choose seats with single-digit letters: 1A is always a window seat, 1C - in any cabin layout it will be an aisle seat.
Advice. If you fly often, then you know the main strain of everyone (who does not fly in business class;) is to sit in the middle seat in a row of three seats. Knowing and understanding this phobia, you can turn it to your advantage and less often have a neighbor next to you during the flight.
When you check-in, if you are flying alone, ask the staff to seat you in seats near the window and on the aisle. Nobody likes to sit in the middle and if the plane is not packed to capacity, then you will not have an unwanted neighbor. If you're flying alone, you can arrange this maneuver with another person you like who, like you, travels solo. Or just ask to be seated in the aisle where the window seat is full.
The only problem here is that with a clogged plane, you will be separated by a stranger. It remains only to agree with him so that he moves.
6. Be sure to take into account the direction of flight - with the right choice of place, the sun will not blind your eyes: East - West (the sun always shines on the left), West - East (on the right).
If there is a need to fly on a morning flight, the direction North - South will please the sun on the left side, and South - North - on the right.
How not to accidentally take the worst places
- Study the scheme of the liner on which you will fly, if possible
- Check with an airline representative if possible.
- Before the flight, decide what is more important for you - to look out the window or the ability to freely get up from your seat, for example, to the toilet
- Studying the interior scheme, select best places, guided by the same rules that we have given in this article
- Do not take a seat at the very tail, close to the toilets, galley and other technical rooms.
- Do not take seats in which the seats do not recline or are limited in this
- Do not take a seat between emergency exits or behind which it is located
If, nevertheless, you "got" on an uncomfortable chair
If you still received a ticket for a not very convenient seat, then immediately after landing you have a few minutes to take a more convenient free space (if there are empty seats, of course). And it’s better not to be shy and change seats on your own, and not wait for the services of a flight attendant.
After the last person appears on board, and the stewardess announces “Boarding is over”, you have 5 minutes to take a comfortable free seat.
There is little time, because after the aircraft has reached the required speed, it will be strictly forbidden to rise from the passenger seat. Well, after climbing, it is likely that all the most comfortable seats on the plane will be occupied by faster and smarter passengers. Yes, and don't worry about it. You will always have time to sit in your rightful (according to the ticket) seat.
But still it is better to choose the most comfortable seat immediately when buying a ticket and checking in for a flight.
All of the above tips are suitable for standard passenger, narrow-body aircraft, such as Airbus A-319 and 320, Boeing-737, SSJ-100, Yak-40, etc., and for wide-body airliners. In addition, there are many more options to take a comfortable passenger seat.
I hope that these simple tips will help you fly comfortably without unnecessary nervous stress.
So what are best places in airplane? This question worries mainly beginners. If a person goes on an air travel for the first time, he wants to get only positive emotions from this event. Very often, the unfortunate location of the chosen place leaves an unpleasant impression on the whole trip and a reluctance to use the services of the airline again.
Those who have to fly very often know better than anyone how important comfort is during a long flight. Therefore, "old-timers" tend to book seats on the plane in advance, choosing good seats at their discretion.
The choice of the most comfortable place depends on a number of factors, the main of which is its cost. The aircraft cabin is divided into three classes - first, business class and economy.
First class is not available on all planes. This is the most comfortable class for long-haul flights, where there are even lying places, but also the most expensive. Slightly cheaper business class: it is equipped comfortable chairs with a large distance between them, which makes it possible to take a comfortable position during the flight. Business class passengers have the opportunity to use the built-in sockets to recharge their gadgets.
Ordinary tourists prefer to fly economy class, which resembles the interior of an intercity bus with rows of seats close together and little legroom between them. This causes a number of inconveniences for owners of long legs, passengers with children or people with special needs.
However, a number of amenities are guaranteed for economy class passengers:
- free lunch;
- baby food, which should be ordered a day or two before the flight;
- hanging cradle for an infant;
- Depending on the carrier, seats in Economy Class are equipped with TVs.
It is very important that during the flight a person feels comfortable, and the trip leaves only pleasant impressions. Therefore, even when purchasing economy class tickets, you need to foresee which seats are best to choose.
In this matter, everyone is guided by their personal preferences, physiological characteristics and safety considerations.
Window seats
If you want to look out the porthole during your trip and admire the beauty of the sky, clouds, landscapes floating under the wing, then you will probably prefer to sit next to it. In addition, it is more convenient to sit here for sleeping or reading. Advantages of a window seat:
- the possibility of observing a wonderful view overboard the liner during daylight hours;
- no one will disturb you during the flight;
- good lighting for reading.
Important: despite the undoubted advantages, the porthole seats have their drawbacks, the main of which is the need to disturb the neighbors in order to go to the toilet.
Aisle seats
For long-legged people flying in economy class, it is better to choose an aisle seat - this will give you the opportunity to relax by stretching your legs in the space between the rows. In addition, there are other advantages that seating near the aisle on an airplane has:
- the ability to get up without disturbing the neighbors;
- unhindered going to the toilet at any time, which is very important for people with special needs;
- a chance to get to the exit before the others when landing.
Despite the convenience for movement, places extreme to the aisle have their drawbacks:
- passengers and flight attendants going to the toilet will constantly scurry past you, carrying food or drinks, and even sometimes touch you while driving;
- you will have to get up every time to let your neighbor out or let him go to his place.
Of course, you have to choose between two evils - and if you are uncomfortable sitting in the middle of a row or at the porthole due to too small a distance between the rows of seats, then it is still preferable to choose an aisle seat.
Airplane seats above the wing
As for the seats on the plane above the wing, then occupy them better people with the weak vestibular apparatus- in the area of \u200b\u200bthe wing, "chatter" is practically not felt, this is the most stable place on board. At the same time, there may be no porthole here, which is not suitable for lovers of contemplation of heavenly beauties. Also, according to statistics, the wing area is the most dangerous place for passengers in case of emergency, since the fuel tanks are located precisely in the wings of the aircraft.
Seats at emergency exits
Each aircraft has emergency exits, which are located in its middle part on both sides of the cabin. Many seasoned air travelers prefer to choose seats that are located after the emergency exits. The advantages of this choice:
- the distance at the emergency exit to the front row has been increased;
- in some models of passenger airliners, there is no row of seats in front of these seats at all;
- there are no constantly lowered backs of the front seats, which cause a lot of inconvenience during the flight.
This makes it possible to freely get up from the chair, without creating inconvenience for your neighbors in the row, and also to sit comfortably in it, stretching your legs.
A person who loves freedom of movement will love the emergency exit/hatch seats.
What can not be said about those who are used to traveling in comfortable chairs. The fact is that the chairs located next to the emergency exit have their backs fixed at a slight angle, and it is impossible to change their position. This is due to the need to provide free access to emergency exits if necessary.
In addition, the row at the emergency exit has its drawbacks:
- cannot be kept hand luggage- it should be put on the top shelf;
- passengers with children under 12 years of age, pregnant women, people with physical problems are not allowed to sit on these seats.
It is interesting! The ban on placing children, pregnant women and the disabled at emergency hatches is simply explained - almost all airlines, with rare exceptions, place physically strong passengers in these places, who, in the event of an emergency, could help flight attendants open an emergency exit and organize the evacuation of passengers.
Therefore, if you are a physically strong person, you can safely choose a place for yourself at the emergency exit - at least you will be provided with freedom of movement.
Seats in the tail
The tail of an airplane is not the best for lovers of long journeys. The main advantage, which only a few pay attention to, is the comparative safety for those sitting in the tail section in the event of an aircraft accident. According to American statistics, 67% of plane crash survivors are passengers sitting in the tail of the plane. However, there are some other small advantages:
- if the airport is not equipped with telescopic ladders, and passengers are released through the nose and tail of the aircraft, you have a chance to leave the board among the first;
- tail seats are not popular, so if the flight is not full, you can comfortably sit on a row of empty seats and sleep during the flight.
Cons of places located in the tail:
- the backs of the seats in the tail section do not recline, so you can’t count on a comfortable flight;
- in the tail, the “chatter” is most strongly felt, which causes a lot of trouble for passengers with a weak vestibular apparatus;
- since there is also a toilet in the tail section, you will be constantly disturbed by passengers passing into it, slamming doors and specific smells.
Therefore, having weighed all the pros and cons, most passengers prefer to choose seats away from the tail of the aircraft.
The best seats on a plane with a child
Passengers traveling with young children try to choose the best seats on the plane to ensure comfort for the child. With all the pros and cons, the most comfortable seats on an airplane for children are the front row of seats.
Front row pros:
- in front of the chairs there is an increased space for the free movement and movements of the child;
- there are mounts for a hanging cradle, which is important for passengers with babies;
- when flight attendants start serving lunch, passengers in the front rows get their food first;
- there is a choice suitable option from the proposed menu;
- the shaking is not so much felt when the airliner enters the turbulence zone.
Along with the undoubted advantages, the seats in the first row of seats are not very convenient for passengers with small children for several reasons:
- There is nowhere to put a bag with things that are necessary for babies in flight.
- Armrests do not rise at the first row seats, so it is uncomfortable for the baby to sleep in the arms of their parents.
- During check-in for a flight, the company's employees allocate seats for passengers with children in the forefront. If there are several kids nearby, they can interfere with each other.
Therefore, if you do not need a hanging cradle, it is better to choose a place closer to the middle of the cabin. The most advanced passengers choose the first and third places in a row - it is likely that no one will be put in the middle seat, and then you can, by folding the armrests, arrange a sofa for the baby to sleep, or a place to play.
It is better to avoid choosing seats in the tail section if you are flying with a child. However, if the liner is not fully loaded and the last row is completely empty, you can, after coordinating your actions with the flight attendant, take it. Then you will get the maximum free space to ensure a normal sleep for the child.
Important: get the necessary information about the seats in a particular aircraft model, the width of the seats, the distance between them, the location utility rooms, portholes, you can use the services of the SeatGuru service. On the above diagrams of the location of the salons, the best places for this model are also indicated.
We have covered only the main characteristics of places located in various parts aircraft. However, each airline, depending on the model of the operated liner, has its own characteristics and preferences when implementing the most comfortable seats. If you don’t want to get into trouble, it’s better to find out in advance which airline and which model of aircraft you will use for the flight, go to the company’s website, select the model you need and in the “Best Places” section, look at the options that are suitable for you. Even if you did not find the scheme of the desired model, use our tips - they will help you make the right choice.
Not everyone can afford to fly in business class and take up a little more space than a standard seat. Those who fly often know that the chance of landing with a large person or someone with different ideas about hygiene is very high. It is impossible to avoid this, but you can try to sit near the window or in the aisle, if it will be more comfortable for you to survive the hardships of the flight.
Russian Forbes gives good advice how not to miscalculate with a seat on the plane.
1. Learn more about the model and seating arrangements on the aircraft
You can find out on which model of aircraft a particular flight is made on the airline's website. Aircraft of different airlines are quite different from each other in terms of cabin comfort. The websites SeatGuru, SeatExpert have all the details about the layout of a variety of aircraft: the presence of electrical outlets and TVs in the backs of the seats, the location of the toilets, the spacing between the rows (usually it is 80 cm, but some companies, such as JetBlue, have increased it by 5 cm) - this seemingly small difference is very noticeable during long flights.
The first row behind the business class is considered the most convenient: there is more legroom, no one is sitting in front of you - which means that no one leans back on you, you will be the first to get food, drinks, newspapers, you will get blankets and pillows, for traveling with small children, it is possible to attach a cradle for babies to the wall and put Baby chair. But even here there are drawbacks - because of the tables hidden in the armrests, it is impossible to raise these armrests and turn the chair into a sofa, or put a sleeping child on your lap. And if, for example, you are going to work or prepare for a business meeting on the way, it is hardly worth striving to sit in the front rows: neighborhood with children (and they are usually the most here) is unlikely to contribute to concentration.
Seats at emergency exits are also held in high esteem by experienced travelers: the row spacing here is 15 cm longer than in the rest of the cabin, but depending on the layout of the cabin, the seat backs often do not fall (on long flights, you will regret this) and you cannot keep a hand on the floor luggage. The rules prescribe to plant only tall adults in these places.
“Honestly, for obvious reasons, registration is primarily looked at to make sure that this person is physically strong, energetic and, how can I put it, quick-witted,” says Boris Rybak, director of the consulting company Infomost. “In the event of an emergency, he must open the door and help the crew evacuate passengers.”
Although there are cases when even a fragile girl could convince an airline employee that she needed to fly in this particular row.
In the middle of the cabin, for a significant part of the flight, you find yourself “locked” in carts with food, drinks, newspapers, and duty-free goods. In addition, rows 8-20 are usually the noisiest zone in the aircraft, all the noise of engines and turbines is concentrated here. But there is no such information on the websites and schemes of salons, and only airline employees at check-in can help you find a quieter place - in different types aircraft have different noise distribution graphs.
At the tail of the plane, the seats are a little narrower (such is the geometry of the plane) - it’s closer to sit there, it shakes harder, a small selection of food, newspapers and magazines (according to the principle - what’s left), next to it is a toilet, which most often has a queue - which means noise. The only plus is that the tail seats are considered safer.
2. Book in advance
Advance booking allows you to choose your seats on the plane long before the flight. This is especially convenient for those who fly big companies- it is difficult to expect that you will all be able to sit next to each other. British Airways has introduced an additional booking fee since October this year: now economy class passengers will have to pay 10 pounds ($16) for the opportunity to choose a convenient seat on European flights and 20 pounds ($32) for long flights, and 20 pounds ($32 ) and 60 pounds ($98) respectively for business class passengers. But most air carriers (with the exception of low-cost ones, which charge everything) still provide this service for free when buying tickets both on the Internet and at airline offices. But few people know about it - because for some reason neither the carriers themselves nor the agents particularly advertise it.
When booking a place in advance, you can also order special food for yourself (which very few people know about) - different variants Lunches are offered by all air carriers. Transaero, for example, offers a choice of about 30 different meals - vegetarian, kosher, Muslim, low-calorie, diabetic and others, plus 2 types of baby food.
3. Use online registration
You can also choose a seat convenient for you during online check-in, this procedure is becoming more and more popular - you can check in at the airport at special kiosks, and even on the airline's website. Thus, you save a lot of time (you can arrive at the airport at least 50 minutes before departure), however, there are a number of restrictions - you must travel without luggage, without small children, without animals. In general, this option is suitable for a businessman traveling light. In addition, some companies, such as Delta or Air Berlin, do not display seats near emergency exits (and they are considered good by travelers) in the online check-in system, holding them for tall and large passengers. The second point is that in Russia not all companies have online check-in counters, and so far only in Moscow - in Dodomedovo and Sheremetyevo-2.
In the near future - the creation of a single group boarding pass that will allow you to get seats next to each other, for example, a large family or a group of passengers - for this they will not have to be all at the airport at the same time, 1 person will be able to register the entire company: the data of several travelers at once will be stored on the chip of one ticket.
4. Arrive early for check-in
Do not neglect the simplest and proven way to get the desired seat in the cabin: do not be lazy and arrive at the beginning of registration. According to the director of the press service of Transaero airline Sergey Bykhal, "the airline's employees at check-in always try to meet the needs of passengers and take into account their wishes." For those traveling alone, this option is also possible: take a chance and play the lottery - arrive, on the contrary, at the very end of registration: if you are lucky, you can be given a seat in business class, and if you are not lucky, you will get a seat from which all other passengers already refused.
5. Choose Low Traffic Days to Fly
Experts recommend, if possible, to schedule flights on the days and hours of the least busy airports - these are Monday, Tuesday, Thursday. The busiest days are Friday and Sunday. The busiest flights are in the morning and in the evening. In the half-empty cabins of “weekday” flights, the flight attendants themselves will offer you to transfer to unoccupied rows - it’s quite possible to sleep on three chairs.
6. Try the "unofficial ways"
A few years ago, the practice of obtaining good places on board or access to business class for a bribe to airline employees (500 rubles invested in your passport can still open your way to a seat at the emergency exit, but we do not recommend this). American Forbes.com tells the story of a passenger who, on a flight from New York to Germany, was helped by a hundred-dollar bill to get into business class. True, on the way back with the German airline staff, the same trick did not work.
