Many passengers want to choose a seat on the plane, and it is very desirable that this seat be by the window, because you really want to look at the clouds, seas and cities passing below... But when choosing seats, there are other interesting and important points that need to be taken into account:

  • There are airlines that offer to choose a seat during online check-in (for example, UIA, Turkish Airlines, Lufthansa). This is especially convenient for those who fly in large groups: it is difficult to expect that they will all be able to seat you next to each other;
  • You can always choose your seat when checking in at the airport. Therefore, you should not neglect the simplest and most proven way to get the desired seat in the cabin: do not be lazy and arrive at the beginning of registration;
  • If you fly with low-cost airlines, you will most likely have to pay extra for choosing a seat (about $10-15);
  • If you often fly with one airline, then get a “Loyal Customer Card”. Show it at the counter, and getting a seat with a more comfortable location will be very likely;
  • Often planes are not 100% full. After boarding, you can take any free seat;
  • For those traveling alone, the following option is possible - arrive at the very end of registration. If you are lucky, you may be given a seat in business class, and if you are unlucky, you will get a seat that all other passengers have already refused;
  • By choosing a seat by the window, at the back of the plane, there is a chance that the flight will take place without neighbors nearby;
  • It is more comfortable to sit on two, three or four seats than on one =), so, if possible, plan your flights on days and times when airports are least busy - Monday, Tuesday, Thursday. The busiest days are Friday and Sunday. The busiest flights are morning and evening. In the half-empty cabins of “weekday” flights, the flight attendants themselves will offer you to change seats to unoccupied rows - it’s quite possible to sleep on three seats;
  • Most passengers like to sit by the window, some in the aisle, no one in the middle;

  • Passengers prefer to sit closer to the front of the plane. Every day, hundreds of laptops break because the passenger sitting in front suddenly reclines the seat, which breaks the computer on the lap of the person sitting behind. The chances that it will be broken by the person sitting in front are reduced if you choose a seat at the beginning of the cabin, or behind the passenger who is sitting in front. emergency exit(seat backs do not recline);
  • Sitting near the emergency exit will give you more legroom;
  • If you are flying with animals, it is also more convenient to sit near the emergency exit;
  • It is better for those who get motion sickness to sit near the wings, since there is less “chattering” in this area;
  • In a 2-4-2 layout, if the fours are completely free, then sit in the middle seat in the middle row. Due to the dislike of the middle row, you have a greater chance of sitting comfortably in two chairs with the armrests raised;
  • When traveling as a couple and with a 3-2-3 layout, you can book one seat by the window and the second by the aisle. Most often there are no people willing to take the middle place;
  • There is no safest place to sit on an airplane. All seats are at the same risk;
  • The first row behind business class is considered the most comfortable. There is more legroom, no one sits in front of you - which means no one reclines their chair back on you, you will be the first to receive food, drinks, newspapers, blankets and pillows. For those traveling with small children, it is possible to attach a cradle for babies to the wall and install a child seat. But this also has its drawbacks: due to the tables hidden in the armrests, it is impossible to lift these armrests and turn the chair into a sofa or place a sleeping child on your lap. And if, for example, you are going to work on the road or prepare for a business meeting, you should hardly strive to sit in the front rows: being close to children (and there are usually more of them here) is unlikely to contribute to concentration;
  • Seats near emergency exits are also held in high esteem by experienced travelers: the spacing between the rows here is 15 cm greater than in the rest of the cabin, but depending on the layout of the cabin, the backrests of the seats often do not lower (on long flights you will regret this), and you cannot keep them on semi hand luggage;
  • Typically, rows 8 to 20 are the noisiest area on the plane; all the noise from engines and turbines is concentrated here;
  • In the back of the plane, the seats are a little narrower, it’s more cramped to sit there, the shaking is stronger, there’s a small selection of food, newspapers and magazines (based on the “what’s left” principle), there’s a toilet nearby, which most often has a queue.

Use advice from Airlife and fly comfortably! Pleasant flight!

How to choose the most comfortable and safest seats on a plane? What should you pay attention to based on your needs?

Spending several hours in the sky is quite difficult. Therefore, airline passengers try to make themselves as comfortable as possible. The first step is to choose the optimal chair. Of course, you need to arrive at the airport at the start of check-in, and not 30 minutes before departure. Otherwise, you will not get the best, but worst place in the cabin.

Another option: check in for the flight yourself using an online service - there will definitely be a place to show your skills in practice.

How to choose a comfortable and safe place?

There is heated debate about the tail section of the aircraft. Proponents argue that seats in the rear of the aircraft are the safest. Air crash statistics confirm this. In addition, most of the rear seats are often left empty, so on a night flight you can always fold out several seats and go to bed in comfort. But many passengers don't like the tail section of the plane because the toilets are located there. Therefore, you will constantly have to endure a queue of people in the immediate vicinity of your place. This is not always convenient.

Many passengers choose exclusively a seat near the window. Some people like to look at the sky and earth through the clouds, while others value natural light. And luggage from the upper compartments will never accidentally fall on your head. But if you have to go to the toilet, you will have to disturb two neighbors at once.

Near the passage the places are the most restless. Flight attendants with trolleys and other cabin passengers will constantly walk by. But during quiet hours, you can easily put your feet into the aisle and fly in more comfortable conditions. When leaving the plane, you will not need to wait or disturb anyone. The most uncomfortable chairs are those located in the middle of two neighbors.

If you come across a 3-lane salon, then it is especially important to choose comfortable seats.

At the front of the aircraft, mounts for cradles are often installed. Therefore, passengers with babies are most often seated there. And it doesn't come close worthwhile places comfortable for other passengers.

Onboard service most often begins from the bow, less often from the tail. Therefore, passengers occupying the front seats have more options for choosing food and soft drinks. The gangway is also located closer to the front of the aircraft. When disembarking from the plane, passengers sitting in the forward section have a slight advantage over other people.

Are the emergency exit seats comfortable?

There is another type unusual places, which can also be intentionally selected on an airplane, are emergency exit seats. For example, in airbus 320/321 they are located in the area of ​​row 10. Many travelers consider them to be the most advantageous in the entire cabin - the distance between the seats is wider, and therefore it is possible to comfortably stretch out your legs. True, there are three nuances that may warn you against flying on these specific rows:

  • The distance to the seats in front, although impressive, is the backrests do not recline . Be prepared to spend the entire flight sitting at an angle of almost 90 degrees. There's no time for stretched legs here!
  • Passengers who unexpectedly received tickets for “emergency” seats, on foreign flights knowledge will be required in English . The flight attendant will certainly ask you how “do you speak English”? And if you don’t immediately understand what this pretty girl wants from you, she will strongly suggest that you change the comfortable and certainly the safest seat on the plane to the one that comes to her hand first.
  • In the rows of seats near the emergency exits you will be asked to send all your hand luggage upstairs prepared for flight. This applies to absolutely everything - even women's handbags. Getting anything - water, pillows, books, tablets, napkins, warm clothes, comfortable shoes, etc. - will have to happen during the process. And the flight attendants will not be happy about it. This is because the passages in these rows should be as free as possible and ready to provide access to emergency hatches at any time.

The most comfortable seats on the plane

The right seat on the plane means both comfort and safety!

Now let's summarize. What seats to choose on the plane to make the trip comfortable, and at the same time protect yourself and your loved ones?

  • Seat by the porthole . The advantage is daylight. In addition, passengers enjoy the most breathtaking views. The disadvantage is the neighbors who will have to be disturbed every time they leave the chair. But in the end, these are not your problems 😉
  • Seats in the rear section at a relative distance from the toilets . The advantage is that they often remain free, and therefore give the opportunity to get comfortable! Again, getting to the toilet is not difficult 😉
  • Seats near the aisles towards the front . These are the most comfortable seats on the plane for short flights. If you don’t want to waste extra time when going out, choose them!

The most uncomfortable seats on a plane

Based on the results of the article, it turned out that there are seats on planes that you shouldn’t rush to occupy:

  • Seats in the middle of the row . There may be 1 or 2 of them (if it is large airliner, like Boeing 777). No particular advantages were found. There is only one drawback, but a significant one - neighbors, neighbors and again neighbors.
  • In the popular airbus 320 and 321 airliners catastrophically uncomfortable 8th and 9th rows , where not only the distance between the seats is narrowed, but also the trajectory of the reclining backrest is limited. All thanks to the 10th row, where the emergency exit is located (see plan below).
  • Seats in the front with provisions for carrycots . The advantage is comfortable seats if there are no children under 1-1.5 years old on board. If they are present, then the advantages turn into one continuous disadvantage.

The most controversial places on board

These, of course, are the rows of seats at the emergency exits - the same 10th row. We found a lot of disadvantages in such accommodation, but passengers continue to snap up these seats like hot cakes. This is partly explained by the layout of the classic airbus 320, where the seats near the emergency exits are called "seats increased comfort"(see plan).

Frequent flyers know how important it is to choose the best seats on the plane in order to have a good time at altitude and arrive at your destination fresh and rested, rather than sitting stiffly throughout the flight and tensely looking at the clock, dreaming of being there as quickly as possible. For those passengers who know what type of airliner they will fly on: an Airbus or a Boeing, it is definitely worth getting acquainted with the seat layout on the plane in order to take care of choosing the best seats in advance.

Someone, when purchasing a plane ticket, hopes for luck and expects that he will get a good seat anyway, but is often disappointed when he finds himself in a middle row seat, finding himself sandwiched between full neighbors, while others are “lucky” to find themselves in the very back seats on the plane, with your back to the toilet, and these seats cannot be reclined, and there are a lot of people constantly cruising past you. In order not to get into a similar situation and not to let everything take its course, we recommend that you take care in advance of choosing the best seat on the plane. But for this you need to know all the subtleties, which is why we decided to give you a few useful recommendations How to get a good and comfortable seat in the cabin.

First, you need to find out exactly what model of aircraft your flight will be operated on; this is easy to do, you just need to go to the website of your carrier airline. There are many airlines and their aircraft fleets vary, however, it is possible to learn about the line-up of airliners and see the layout of seats in the aircraft cabin. By the way, there you will also see information that is important for passengers, such as the location of sockets, toilets, you will learn about the presence of televisions on the back of the seats, and the size of the intervals between the rows. At first it will seem to you that this information is not so important, perhaps yes, if you are flying only a couple of hours, but for a long flight it will be important. Let's look at the pros and cons of each type of seat on the plane.

– many passengers love them, and no wonder, because you can admire the beauty through the glass: fluffy clouds, small towns, rivers, mountains, ships at sea. But, if your flight takes place at night, there is no point in having a window, because you won’t see anything anyway. It’s convenient to just sleep in this place, because you won’t have to let anyone through on the way out and no one will bother you. During daylight hours it will be no less comfortable to read here, especially since the natural light from the window creates additional convenience. The only disadvantage of choosing a seat by the porthole is the need to disturb your neighbors if you need to go to the toilet or just want to stretch your legs and walk around the cabin. It is best to choose such places for thin people, not taller than average, as well as for those who plan to sleep on the road.

- Very good places on the plane, you can get up from them at any time to go to the toilet, without disturbing anyone, stretch your legs, in addition, you will leave the plane faster after landing. But, not everything is so rosy, as you will have to get up to let passengers out of the window and middle seats. Also, people will constantly walk past you, flight attendants will carry carts. However, a seat next to the aisle is perfect for a tall or overweight passenger, because he will be able to stretch his legs into the aisle, if necessary.

- not very comfortable seats on the plane, you are in a space limited on all sides, between two neighboring passengers and it will be a great success if they are miniature in size. But more often the opposite is true. Of course, getting up and going to the toilet from the middle row chair will be easier than from the one by the window, but you will still have to disturb one neighbor, and another will bother you if he needs to go out. It is better to choose these seats for people of average build, so that there is no problem getting up and squeezing through the seats each time to let a neighbor out.

– an excellent option that experienced travelers and tall people prefer to choose. The fact is that there is an increased interval to the next row, which is fifteen centimeters greater than the usual distance between the rows of seats. Sitting in such a place during a flight is much more comfortable, because you can stretch your legs and get up at any time without disturbing anyone. But before you plan to buy this place, it is worth looking at the layout of the cabin of the plane with which you are going on a flight, because some types of airliners do not have seats near the emergency exit, or in some aircraft it is impossible to lower the backrest of such seats, this is problematic during a multi-hour flight, in addition, placing hand luggage You are not allowed on the floor near the emergency exit. According to the rules, tickets for such seats are prescribed to be sold only to tall people, but there are exceptions. But you shouldn’t hope to buy a ticket for these seats with children or an elderly person - this is prohibited by the instructions. The airline expects that during an emergency evacuation, the person sitting in this seat will help the flight attendants open the emergency hatch and remove people from the cabin.

– more comfortable and wider seats, they are taken apart at the beginning of check-in for the flight. It is very comfortable to sit here, in addition, food begins to be served from the “nose” of the cabin, so the passenger in these seats has the opportunity to choose something from a wider range of drinks and food. Also, you will be among the first to get off the plane upon arrival. There are also disadvantages here, since most often they try to seat passengers with small children on the “bow”; cradles are attached there. Being next to a small child who screams endlessly does not contribute to comfort during the flight, especially if you plan to spend a lot of time in the air.

- not the best popular places in the cabin, but are considered the safest, since according to statistics, most of the passengers who survived disasters and accidents occupied seats in the rear. Another advantage of these seats is the proximity of the toilet, but this is also their disadvantage, because people will pass by you during the entire flight. It will be a bit cramped to sit in the tail, and there is more shaking there, however, in the tail there are often empty seats, which gives passengers the opportunity to sleep while stretching out on the free seats. But there are still disadvantages: while the flight attendant brings the cart with food to the passengers sitting in the back, there is practically no choice of food and drinks left. But, as compensation, on big planes Passengers leave the bow and tail at the same time, so you can quickly leave the aircraft if you sit in the back. These seats are often chosen by passengers with children, who often have to be taken to the toilet.

– they are located behind business class, that is, this is not the “first row” as such, but there are no seats in front of it, so it’s comfortable to sit, no one can recline the back in front of your face. But it often happens that on some types of aircraft there is a partition in front of these seats, or there is an on-board kitchen, or a toilet cabin, and what is most uncomfortable is that sometimes baby cradles are attached there. That is why these seats in the cabin are often given to families with small children, as well as elderly and overweight people. There are many advantages to such a place: they will bring you food and drinks first, offer you the press, and hand out blankets and pillows. Among the minuses, we can note the impossibility of removing the armrests, since they are fixed, due to the fact that there is a table hidden inside, and also, a person without children will feel uncomfortable being next to them, since because of their noise, he will not be able to help but sleep and concentrate at work or reading.

– this is not a very comfortable flight option, because passengers sitting in these seats are constantly surrounded by trolleys carried by flight attendants. This is also a very noisy part of the plane, where engine noise and the hum of turbines are concentrated. Most often this is row from eight to twentieth in the middle of the cabin.

How to choose the best seat on a plane?

You need to book it in advance. This is recommended for passengers flying with a large family or a group of friends, as well as with small children. Contacting the air carrier early will allow you to choose those seats that seem more convenient to you and meet all your expectations from the flight. Some European airlines charge an additional fee for the service of choosing the best seat when booking, but most companies provide this option free of charge to passengers who arrive early for check-in or have purchased a ticket with a fixed seat in advance via the Internet or at the airline office. If you used the service advance reservation seats on the plane, you have the right to choose a meal option from different types lunches.

Choosing the best seat on the plane can be done through online check-in; you can do this either at the airport itself, going to a special kiosk, or by going to the airline’s website. This procedure saves time, but only passengers without luggage, children or animals can use it. But it is worth taking into account that a number of airlines do not offer good seats near emergency exits through the online check-in system; they can be obtained at the check-in counter, and only if you are tall, plump, or have enviable charm. And within our country, not everything is so good with online check-in counters: so far they are only at two Moscow airports, Dodomedovo, and the second, Sheremetyevo. Therefore, it is best to arrive in advance at the beginning of check-in for the flight, and then ask the airline employee for a better seat.

As for the recommendations of aviation experts, if it doesn’t matter to you what day of the week you fly, then take a closer look at the days with the least flight traffic: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, when airplane cabins are half empty and you have the opportunity to choose seats. But Friday and Sunday are considered the most congested days.

Let's find out which seats are best to choose and which ones only as a last resort on popular types of airliners that are available in almost all airlines in the world.

- On aircraft like Airbus A319 good places considered: seventh row seats A, B, C, D, E, F; sixth and eighth row seats A, B, C, D, E, F; twentieth row seats C, D. Bad seats are considered: twenty-first row A, B, C, D, E, F.

- On aircraft like Airbus A320 good seats are considered: thirteenth row seats A, B, C, D, E, F; as well as all seats in the first row, eleventh row, twelfth row; in the twenty-eighth row, seats C and D. The worst seats on the Airbus A320 are all the seats in the twenty-ninth row.

- On aircraft like Airbus A321- the largest airliners from Airbus, the best places considered: eighth row seats A, B, C, D, E, F; twentieth row seats A and F; first row seats A, C, D, F; eighteenth row seats A, B, C, D, E, F; nineteenth row seats B, C, D, E; thirtieth row, seats C, D. The worst seats are considered to be: thirty-first row, seats A, B, C, D, E, F.

- On aircraft such as Boeing 737-800– This plane comes in two types. With a one-class cabin for one hundred and eighty-four passengers, where the best seats are considered to be: the fifteenth row of seats B, C, D, E; sixteenth row seats A, F; fourteenth row seats A, B, C, D, E, F; first row seats A, B, C, D, E, F; tenth row seat A; eleventh row seats A, F; thirteenth row seats A, B, C, D, E, F; the thirtieth row of seats C, D. Bad seats are considered: the thirty-first row of seats A, B, C, D, E, F. An aircraft with a two-class cabin, where there are sixteen business class seats and one hundred and forty-four economy class seats, there The best seats are: third row, seats A, B, E, F; seventh row seats A, B, C, D, E, F; tenth row seat A; eleventh row seats A, F; thirteenth, fourteenth, fifteenth rows seats A, B, C, D, E, F; thirtieth row of seats C, D. Bad seats are considered: thirty-first row of seats A, B, C, D, E, F.

- On aircraft such as Boeing 747-400- a huge aircraft designed to carry five hundred and twenty-six people. The best places in it are considered to be: the first row, seats A, C, H, K; third row seat D; ninth row seats A, C, D, E, G, H, K; twenty-fourth row seats A, C, D, E, G, H, K; twenty-seventh row seats C, D, G, H; thirty-second row seats B, C, H, J; thirty-third row seats A, K; thirty-fourth row seats D, E, F, Q; forty-second row seats A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, J, K; forty-third row seats A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, J, K. Bad seats are considered: fifty-sixth row seats A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, J, TO.

- On aircraft such as Boeing 777-300ER- also a large aircraft with three classes of service, designed for four hundred and two passengers. We are not considering business class, since all the seats there are good. The best seats in economy class are: eleventh row, seats A, C, F, Q, H, K; fifteenth and sixteenth rows seats A, K; seventeenth row seats A, C, D, E, F, G, H, K; eighteenth row seats C, H; twenty-fourth row seats A, C, D, E, F, G, H, K; thirty-sixth row seats A, C, D, E, F, G, H, K; thirty-eighth row seats A, B, C, H, J, K; forty-sixth row seats C, N; forty-seventh row seats C, N. Bad seats are considered: twentieth row seats A, K; fiftieth row seats A, C, N, K; fifty-first row seats D, E, F, G.

So what are the best seats on the plane? This question worries mainly beginners. If a person goes on an air trip for the first time, he wants to get only positive emotions from this event. Very often, the unfortunate location of the chosen seat leaves an unpleasant impression of the entire trip and a reluctance to use the airline’s services again.

Those who fly very often know better than others 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 own discretion.

The choice of the most comfortable place depends on a number of factors, the main one 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-distance flights, where there are even lie-flat seats, but it is also the most expensive. Business class is a little cheaper: it is equipped with comfortable seats 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 built-in sockets to recharge their gadgets.

Regular tourists prefer to fly economy class, which resembles a lounge intercity bus with rows of seats close together and little legroom between them. This causes a number of inconveniences for owners 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 infants;
  • Depending on the carrier, economy class seats are equipped with televisions.

It is very important that a person feels comfortable during the flight, and that the trip leaves only pleasant impressions. Therefore, even when purchasing economy class tickets, you need to foresee in advance 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 window while traveling and admire the beauty of the sky, clouds, and landscapes passing under the wing, then you will probably prefer to sit near it. In addition, it is more convenient to sleep or read here. Advantages of a window seat:

  • the opportunity to observe a wonderful view overboard the ship during daylight hours;
  • no one will disturb you during the flight;
  • good lighting for reading.

Important: despite the undoubted advantages, porthole seats have their disadvantages, the main one of which is the need to disturb neighbors in order to go to the toilet.

Aisle seats

For long-legged people flying 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 of sitting near the aisle on an airplane:

  • the ability to stand up without disturbing your neighbors;
  • unhindered access to the toilet at any time, which is very important for people with special needs;
  • a chance to get to the boarding gate before others.

Despite the ease of movement, the places at the extreme ends of the aisle also have their disadvantages:

  • Passengers and flight attendants going to the toilet, serving food or drinks, will constantly scurry past you, and sometimes even touch you while moving;
  • You will have to get up every time to let your neighbor out or let him into his place.

Of course, you have to choose between two evils - and if sitting in the middle of a row or by the window is uncomfortable for you because the distance between the rows of seats is too small, then it is still preferable to choose a seat by the aisle.

Airplane seats above the wing

As for the seats on the plane above the wing, take them better for people with a weak vestibular apparatus - in the area of ​​the wing the “bumpiness” is practically not felt; this is the most stable place on board. At the same time, there may be no porthole, 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 an emergency, since the fuel tanks are located in the wings of the aircraft.

Seats near emergency exits

Each aircraft has emergency exits, which are located in the middle part of the aircraft on both sides of the cabin. Many experienced air travelers prefer to choose seats that are located after emergency exits. The advantages of this choice:

  • the distance at the emergency exit to the front row has been increased;
  • in some models passenger airliners, in front of these places there is no row of chairs at all;
  • There are no constantly lowered backrests 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 with your legs stretched out.

A person who loves freedom of movement will like seats near emergency exits/hatches.

The same cannot be said about those who are used to traveling in comfortable chairs. The fact is that in the seats located next to the emergency exit, the backs of the seats are fixed at a slight angle, and it is impossible to change their position. This is due to the need to ensure free access to emergency exits if necessary.

In addition, the emergency exit row has its disadvantages:

  • You cannot carry hand luggage with you - it must be put on the top shelf;
  • These seats do not accommodate passengers with children under 12 years of age, pregnant women, or people with physical problems.

This is interesting! The ban on placing children, pregnant women and disabled people near emergency hatches is explained simply - almost all airlines, with rare exceptions, place physically strong passengers in these seats, who in the event of an emergency could help flight attendants open the emergency exit and organize the evacuation of passengers.

Therefore, if you are a physically strong person, you can safely choose a seat near the emergency exit - at least you will be guaranteed freedom of movement.

Places in the tail

The tail of an airplane is not the best for those who like long trips. The main advantage, which only a few pay attention to, is the comparative safety for those sitting in the rear section in the event of an aircraft accident. As American statistics show, 67% of survivors of plane crashes are passengers sitting in the back of the plane. True, there are still small advantages:

  • if the airport is not equipped with telescopic bridges, and passengers are released through the nose and tail of the plane, you have a chance to be among the first to leave the plane;
  • Seats in the back are not popular, so if the flight is not fully booked, you can sit comfortably in a row of empty seats and sleep during the flight.

Disadvantages of places located in the tail:

  • the backs of the seats in the rear do not recline, so you can’t count on a comfortable flight;
  • the “bumpiness” is felt most strongly in the tail, which causes a lot of trouble for passengers with a weak vestibular system;
  • Since there is also a toilet in the rear section, you will be constantly disturbed by passengers passing through it, slamming doors and specific odors.

Therefore, after weighing the pros and cons, most passengers prefer to choose seats away from the rear of the plane.

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. Taking into account all the pros and cons, the most comfortable seats on the plane for children are the front row of seats.

Front row advantages:

  • in front of the seats there is increased space for the child’s free movement and movement;
  • there are mounts for a hanging cradle, which is important for passengers with babies;
  • When the flight attendants start serving lunch, passengers in the front rows get their food first;
  • it is possible to select the appropriate option from the proposed menu;
  • The shaking is not felt as much when the airliner enters a turbulence zone.

Along with the undoubted advantages, seats in the first row of seats are not very comfortable for passengers with small children for several reasons:

  1. There is nowhere to put away a bag with things that are necessary for babies on a flight.
  2. The armrests of the first row seats do not rise, so it is uncomfortable for the baby to sleep in the arms of the parents.
  3. During check-in for a flight, company employees allocate seats for passengers with children in the front rows. If there are several babies nearby, they may 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 seats in a row - there is a high probability that no one will be seated next to you in the middle seat, and then you can, by folding down the armrests, arrange a sofa for your baby to sleep on, or a place to play.

It is better to avoid choosing seats in the rear section if you are flying with a child. However, if the plane is not fully loaded and the last row is completely empty, you can, by coordinating your actions with the flight attendant, occupy it. Then you will get maximum free space to ensure normal sleep for your child.

Important: you can get the necessary information about the seats in a specific aircraft model, the width of the seats, the distance between them, the location of utility rooms, and windows, using the services of the SeatGuru service. The given interior layout diagrams also show the best locations for this model.


We have covered only the main characteristics of the seats located in various parts of the aircraft. However, each airline, depending on the model of the aircraft it operates, 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 desired model and in the “ Best places» see the options that suit you. Even if you haven’t found the diagram for the model you need, use our tips - they will help you make the right choice.

If you like to travel a lot and often, then you probably spend a lot of time on the road, namely on board an airplane. If the flight does not last long, then you do not pay attention to minor inconveniences, but if you need to fly for 8-10 hours, then comfort is of great importance, and all other things being equal, I will always choose more convenient flight conditions.

The comfort of your flight depends on many factors - on-board entertainment, but most importantly - on the convenience of the place where you will spend almost the entire trip. Today I want to talk about the differences between different seats on board an airplane, how to find out in advance which cabin your flight will have, and how to choose the seat you like.

To choose the best seat on board an airplane, you first need to know which plane you will be flying on. Moreover, even the same planes different airlines may have different seat configurations, so it is important to find out not just the type of aircraft, but the specific aircraft.

You can do this even before purchasing a ticket on the airline’s website (in the flight schedule) or in the ticket search engine.

For example, when searching for a ticket to, you can immediately see the name of the airline and flight number in the route description. Let's look at the example of a London-New York flight:

The first segment of the flight will be carried out by Norwegian Air, flight number DY-2802. Using this information, you can learn more about a specific aircraft at www.seatguru.com and www.seatexpert.com.

2. Where to find the interior diagram

You can also view the interior diagram on specialized websites.

Let's try to find a diagram of the aircraft cabin for the same flight London-New York for the first flight segment at www.seatguru.com.

First, on the main page we enter the necessary information - the name of the airline and the flight number (we already found them out on the ticket search engine or on the airline’s website):

A window opens where you can see what the plane will be like. To see the interior diagram, click “View map”:

A page opens with detailed information about the aircraft, as well as a seat layout:

3. Features of different seats on board the aircraft

In addition to studying the diagrams in detail, you need to remember some of the features of different places on board and select the best place based on your needs. Let's look at the different types of seats on the plane.

3.1. Emergency exit seats

If your height is above average, then these places are created especially for you! The row opposite the emergency exit has much more legroom than regular seats. But there are also restrictions - hand luggage will have to be put in the luggage rack, because... Safety rules do not allow things to be placed in the passage to the emergency exit. So you can’t put anything under your seat or the seat in front of you. Also, passengers with children are not seated at emergency exits, because it is assumed that there should be a person sitting at the emergency exit who will be able to help flight attendants open the emergency exit and evacuate passengers.

Also keep in mind that if your seat is located in the row that is located in front of the emergency row, then you will not be able to recline the back of your seat so as not to block the emergency exit.

3.2. Seats at the beginning of the plane

  • Most often, the very first row is reserved for frequent flyers and for passengers with children. So keep in mind that you may not be able to sleep due to a crying baby. Although you are not immune from this in other places, the probability here is higher.
  • Service starts right from the front rows, so you will have the maximum choice of dishes.
  • You will have to walk to the toilet, because... Business class toilets are not normally usable.
  • After landing, you will be able to leave the plane in the first rows, right after the first and business class passengers.

3.3. Middle seats

These places do not have pronounced disadvantages or advantages. When choosing a seat in the middle of the plane, pay attention to whether the wing of the plane will block your view if you plan to sit near the window.

3.4. Seats at the back of the plane

According to statistics, the seats located in the rear of the aircraft are considered the safest, because... Most of the passengers who survived the plane crash were in the tail section.

But there are no absolutely safe places, so let's look at other features of these places:

  • there are toilets in the rear, which on the one hand is convenient - you don’t have to go far, but on the other hand, people will always be walking next to you, so it can be very noisy.
  • The last rows do not always have windows, so if you want to enjoy the views, look at the diagram of the plane you will be flying in advance.
  • Also, in the last row the backrest may not recline, because extra bed not provided.
  • If you like to photograph the view from the window, then keep in mind that there may be poor visibility in the tail section due to the exhaust plume.
  • If the plane is not packed to capacity, then most of the free seats are usually in the rear section, so you can occupy several seats at once, lounging comfortably.
  • If you are flying with a transfer, it is better not to sit at the very back of the plane, because... You will only be able to leave as the last one, thereby losing a lot of time.
  • food distribution usually starts from the beginning or middle of the plane, so if you haven’t ordered a special meal, some dishes may no longer be enough for you (for example, you only eat fish, and only a few servings of meat will remain).

3.5. The most uncomfortable places

In addition to relatively comfortable places that have both advantages and disadvantages, there are also places that are strictly not recommended to sit on, for example:

  • seats in the row located in front of the emergency exit. You will not be able to recline the backrest.
  • seats in the middle row (if the plane has three rows of seats, with a 3-3-3, 3-4-3, 2-5-2 layout). Especially if you are sitting in the middle of this row, it is difficult to get out to the toilet, you may have to let passengers through, it is also difficult to get something from the luggage compartment, it takes the longest to get out after the plane stops.
  • places near the toilet - there may be an unpleasant smell, and people scurrying back and forth will not allow you to rest.

4. How to book a specific seat on board

When you have decided on the place you want to take, you need to book it. This can be done either in advance or immediately before departure. At the same time, you need to understand that the sooner you book a place, the greater the chances of getting exactly what you want.

So, there are several options for booking a place.

4.1. Reservation when purchasing a ticket

If you, then most likely it will be possible to immediately reserve a seat on board upon purchase. Find out about this option immediately.

Peculiarities. If you are flying low-cost, then most likely an additional fee will be charged for booking a specific seat. So I don’t see the point of booking something in advance, only if you really need a certain seat for some reason (for example, you are traveling with a child and want to be sure in advance that you will sit next to you or take a seat in the first row) . If you do not reserve a place in advance, then it is likely that you will be able to use another selection option, more on that below.

4.2. Booking in your personal account

If you bought your ticket from an intermediary (for example, through Skyscanner), then you can manage your booking on the airline's website. Just go to the airline’s website, register (or immediately go to your personal account if you are already registered) and personal account go to the “my bookings” or “manage booking” section. There you can already select seats (if there is such an option) or, for example, insert a card number to track miles.

4.3. Selecting a seat during online check-in

Online check-in usually starts 24 hours before the plane departs, but sometimes it opens earlier; you need to find out on the airline’s website. It is best to register immediately, in the first minutes after registration begins, so there will be a greater chance that you will have time to book the right place. To avoid missing time, set yourself a reminder. Again, this option does not apply to low-cost companies, because... there the choice of seat is only for an additional fee.

4.4. Selecting a seat during check-in at the airport

Here, too, it makes sense to arrive at the airport early in order to be among the first to check in. The best seats are already taken, but at least you can choose a window or aisle seat, in the middle of the plane or at the back. If you resort to the check-in counter at the last minute, then most likely you will no longer be able to choose a seat. This applies to flights on popular destinations at the height of the season. If you are flying in the low season and the plane is half empty, then towards the end of check-in you can, for example, ask for a seat in a free row where there will be no one next to you.

4.5. Selecting a seat after boarding is complete

As soon as the landing is announced, you can safely choose more comfortable spot. This applies, first of all, to low-cost airlines, because... This is the only free seat selection option.

Another feature of low-cost airlines is that they sell slightly more tickets than seats on the plane, because... According to statistics, about 10% of passengers do not show up for their flight. Therefore, passengers who arrived last can often be seated in the best seats, sometimes even seated in business class (if, of course, it is provided for in this low-cost airline).