✈️ Secrets to choosing the best seat on the plane

A great vacation should start with the plane taking off, but this rule only works if you managed to book the best seat on board. But how can you get it? We share three of the most important tips.

Sign up for airline loyalty programs

Joining loyalty programs is a very good opportunity to receive information about discounts and convenient flights first. Typically, all airlines try to keep a few seats for their favorite customers and frequent flyers.

These programs also provide affordable upgrades and in-flight options. For example, on some flights you can choose economy class seats with extra legroom.

Study the map of seats on your plane

Before a flight, many companies are willing to show a diagram of the aircraft on the selected flight. Then travelers can see which seats are still available and how much they will have to pay to choose them. Keep in mind that most airlines charge a seat selection fee.

In fact, many travel services even let you see information like legroom and seat width, as well as all available premium and economy seats when booking flights, in case customers want to upgrade.

The “Best Place” Depends on Your Needs

To choose the best destination, you need to understand your travel needs. Before booking tickets, it is advisable to think about when you are planning a flight and with whom. Then it will be easy to choose a comfortable place.

Let's look at the example of red-eye flight. These are relatively short flights at night, when passengers are unable to sleep, which puts a lot of strain on the optic nerves. Just one of these are flights between Los Angeles and New York, which last about six hours. Planes depart from 22:00 to 1:00 and arrive from 5:00 to 7:00. For travelers on such flights, it is better to take a window seat if they want to sleep and not be disturbed.

For those traveling on business and in a hurry, it is better to choose seats near the aisle at the front of the plane. Then you will be able to quickly exit. And passengers with children should consider bulkhead seats—we're talking about seats that are adjacent to the walls separating sections of the aircraft. By choosing these chairs, you will get extra legroom and a small space for kids to move around. Then children will be able to move without disturbing other passengers.

You can choose a seat when booking, but if it’s not possible, you can always make a corresponding request to the airport employee at the check-in counter. From personal experience I can say that passengers are always met if possible.

On my first flight, I was very nervous, and I had to fly in the back of the plane. But in the queue I met a girl who had a seat at the beginning, and she asked the airport employee to issue tickets with adjacent seats. The girl immediately took the necessary positions.

If it comes to boarding, and you are still without the desired seat, then you can try asking the crew if you can change places during the flight. Flight attendants will know what seats are available and, if available, will be happy to assist you.

In general, before the flight, do not forget to carefully study all the possibilities and ask clarifying questions, because the comfort of the flight depends on this.