What are luxury seats on an airplane? How to get the most comfortable seat on a plane

If the flight is short, then perhaps this issue is not urgent for you. And for those who fly often and who are going on a long flight, it is important to know where the best seats on the plane are located. After all, you must admit, when planning a vacation to distant hot countries, we dream that it will be a great success, and the impression of it will not be blurred by the “difficulties of the flight.” You don’t want to sit somewhere in a cramped middle row, squeezed between overly plump passengers, or end up in the tail section, where there is not even a window, or be next to the toilet, where passengers are endlessly plying around.

If you know the make of the aircraft on which you are planning a flight, then the diagram of the aircraft can be viewed on the official website of the carrier. In most cases, such information is not available and it is better to use some when purchasing tickets general rules which we will describe here.

Porthole seats have many advantages:

good lighting, especially if you are going to read;
you can admire the views of cities during takeoff and landing or the bizarre views of clouds;
you won't be bothered by squeezing your way to the exit.

These places have only one drawback: it will be difficult for you to go out into the passage, if you need to go to the toilet, you will have to disturb your neighbors. If you do not like to do this, but have a need to go out often, then it is better to take a ticket closer to the aisle.

By the passage

The places have advantages for long-legged and restless people. Here you can stretch your legs into the passage, stand up, stand for a while, and go to the toilet without hindrance. After landing, again, you will get off the plane faster. On the other hand, these are the most restless places. Flight attendants drive around with trolleys endlessly, sometimes even hitting us. Every time you have to get up when someone goes to the toilet.

Golden mean

Some, having weighed the pros and cons of the outer seats when deciding where it is better to sit on the plane, will take the seats in the middle; they are not too restless and they will not have to disturb their neighbors too much. If you need to get up, then at least you don’t have to go through everyone and fewer people pass through you, which means they will bother you less often.

Places behind emergency exits

These seats are located further away from the previous row, so it’s quite comfortable to sit here; you can stretch your legs and go to the toilet without disturbing anyone. Air carriers often leave such places for physically trained people, who in the event of an accident and evacuation (God forbid!) will be able to open an emergency exit. Also, according to the rules, it is strictly forbidden to block the passage to these places with suitcases.

Places behind emergency hatches

These are very inconvenient places in the sense that the chairs cannot be thrown back, they are fixed so as not to block the passages to the emergency exits. If the row is located between two emergency hatches, then the passenger has the advantage of having some additional space in front of him.

At the front of the plane

They are convenient because passenger service begins precisely from these places, and you have a larger selection of food and drinks. In addition, passengers in the front rows have the advantage of being able to walk down the plane faster. The negative aspect of these places is that passengers with children often take tickets here, since there are mounts for baby strollers in the bow. Well, everyone knows what it’s like to fly next to a child who is naughty.

Seats at the back of the plane

The seats here are usually economy class and there are considered to be few amenities. However, the biggest benefit that may outweigh all others when deciding which airline seats to choose is safety. According to statistics, during crashes and accidents, it is the passengers in the tail section who most often survive, since the main impact always falls on the nose of the plane.

Often on unloaded flights these seats remain free, and you can easily take several at once and even sleep. The disadvantages of these places include the fact that passengers in the tail section are served last.

What's good about the first row?

There are no seats in front of the first row on the plane, this is a big advantage:

you will be able to stretch your legs;
No one will recline the chair on you.

However, please note that the first row, in front of which there are no seats, may be after the rows of a different class of service or the one in front of which the kitchen is located. In this case, you will have to look at the wall the whole way, and bassinets for babies are often mounted on the wall. You can buy tickets for these places if necessary.

The last row

The seats in the last row are very uncomfortable because the seats do not recline, and if they recline, it is only a little, and you will not be able to rest properly, especially if it is a long flight.

This is a brief description of all types of seats on the plane, but you also need to take into account the following factors:

number of service classes in the cabin;
distance between rows;
number of seats in a row.

All these characteristics are different for different airliner models.

Scheme for purchasing good seats on a plane

Find out the model of the airliner you will be flying on. It would be a good idea to consult with airline employees and find out in general about the level of comfort of the cabin: the presence of sockets, the distance between the rows, whether there is a TV, where the toilet is located.
Buy your ticket online or at self-check-in kiosks at the airport, if available. So you can choose free comfortable spot. On airline websites you can find diagrams of aircraft cabins.
If you buy tickets at the regular box office, just ask where you want them, “window” or “aisle.”
Think about what is most important to you during the flight, what will you do - look out the window or sleep. It may be important for you to freely get out of your place at any time.
Please note that the numbers and letters that indicate places can be written in both Cyrillic and Latin alphabet, and the place may have a different location depending on this.
Try to buy tickets on more open flights. Typically, planes are busy on Fridays and weekends, with morning and evening flights. If you want to choose for yourself comfortable places, try to plan your trip in advance and take tickets from Monday to Thursday, for flights that depart at lunchtime or 2-3 hours later.
To choose good places the direction of flight must also be taken into account. For example, if you are flying from North to South in the morning, the sun will be on the left side. If you were flying to reverse direction, to the North, then the sun would be on the right.

What to do if you only managed to buy an inconvenient place

Try to arrive at the airport on time for check-in and boarding. Then you will have a few minutes after landing to find a more comfortable seat, in case one is available. Do not ask the flight attendant for permission; change seats yourself. When the landing is completed and the plane begins to gain altitude, it will be impossible to change planes. When the liner already gains altitude and it is allowed to get up from your seat, it may turn out that these seats are already occupied by more efficient passengers. In any case, you shouldn’t be upset, since you will always have time to take your purchased seat.

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 the 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 experience more opportunity for a selection of dishes 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 do not immediately understand what this pretty girl wants from you, she will strongly suggest that you change what is comfortable and certainly the most safe place 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).

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 those with 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, it is better to occupy them 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 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:

distance y emergency exit increased to front row;
in some models of passenger airliners, there is no row of seats in front of these seats;
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 movements;
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 so 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:

There is nowhere to put away a bag with things that are necessary for babies on a flight.
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.
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.

For the first time I flew in Aeroflot comfort class. Previously, I tried to fly business class for long distances, but the crisis forced me to tighten my belt. In the case of Shanghai, the math is very simple. An economy class ticket cost 25,000 rubles, a comfort class ticket cost 60,000 rubles, and a business class ticket cost 130,000 rubles. And I still remember the times when for 50,000 you could buy an Aeroflot business class in Tokyo! I will tell the children.

Here we need to make a small insert. My old rich friend Leva from New York flew to China to visit me. The same Leva who works at Google and told you about why he loves America. So, while I was saving, Leva decided to show off and flew to China first class Cathay Pacific. A ticket there, by the way, costs almost 1,300,000 rubles (one million three hundred thousand) ONE END! Yes, and no discounts. This is how ordinary employees of the evil corporation, Google, live. Leva generally loves to boo. For example, in Shanghai he rented a suite at the Park Hyatt, one of the most luxury hotels cities. Why in it? Firstly, the Google office is located there, and it will be convenient for Leva to go down to work in slippers after breakfast, and secondly, there are discounts for Google employees there (3%, it seems).

I’ll tell you more about Leva, who is basking in luxury, but for now, read whether it’s worth flying Aeroflot comfort class.

01. So, Aeroflot's new Boeing 777s have a comfort class cabin. It is located between business and economy classes.

Comfort passengers are not entitled to any special privileges before boarding, except perhaps an increased baggage allowance. Check-in is at the economy counters, there is no priority boarding, the business lounge will also be closed to you. So don’t flatter yourself, before the flight you will be like a mere mortal.

02. What's next? Next are the unusual chairs. This is a hard cocoon, that is, the back is fixed. This is a plus, since neighbors in front and behind will not bother you. No one will lean back on you, no one will hit you in the back.

03. There is also an increased distance between the seats, 97 cm. This is approximately the same as in economy at the emergency exit. That is, you can fully stretch your legs forward, and your knees will not rest against the front seat.

04. There is a footrest.

05. But you won’t be able to sleep normally. The seat back in the comfort class does not recline. The seat moves forward, and the back simply slides down the cocoon. Look, I completely unfolded one chair, but not the other. There is practically no difference. I would say that it is even more comfortable to sleep in economy. In addition, the armrests also do not rise, so even if you are flying in a half-empty cabin, this will not allow you to grab free seats and sleep.

06. Another plus is a very large table. It's even bigger than business class. The table can easily accommodate two trays or a laptop and a tray of food. You can put papers, a tablet, a laptop on the table and work. This is the main advantage of the comfort class.

07. Working here is a pleasure!

08. Another big plus is that there is a 220V socket and USB.

09. Workplace for 8 o'clock.

10. By the way, the chair is a little wider than in the economy one, 49 centimeters. In addition, there is a wide armrest between the seats, so that both passengers can use it without disturbing each other.

11. Comfort class passengers are given a welcome drink, but only water or juice. In business, champagne is added to them. By the way, on domestic flights Aeroflot began pouring donkey urine instead of normal champagne. They found the cheapest Russian sparkling wine at 200 rubles per bottle and are trying to treat passengers with it. It's better at international ones.

12. Comfort class passengers are not entitled to an amenity kit. Instead, they give only uncomfortable slippers and a blindfold.

13. And here is the most unpleasant thing. No alcohol is served in comfort class! Some kind of hellish redneck "Aeroflot". That is, they give you a bottle of wine on some flights, but most comfort class flights are alcohol-free! Saved on a bottle of wine. However, you can’t even buy alcohol. I don’t understand Aeroflot’s policy at all. In business class they pour as much as you want, you can eat shit. Let’s say you don’t want to bother with a huge economy, and they don’t fill it. But why was the comfort class passengers, who paid a lot of money for the ticket, deprived of the joy of libations? European airlines provide wine or beer even in economy on short flights. But Aeroflot decided to enforce prohibition. So bring your booze with you;) It’s not for me to teach you. For this, Aeroflot receives a huge minus.

14. Shanghai flight menu

15. Looks delicious.

16. But in reality - nothing special.

17. Food is a mixture of economy and business. Appetizers and dessert are from the economy menu, but the main course is on a glass plate, just like in business class. True, they don’t give you soup) But the cutlery is metal and the napkin is normal.

18. Regular economy snacks.

19. Chicken. Quality is a C grade. In general, it is not clear why Aeroflot positions food as business class; it falls short.

At this moment I can’t help but remember Leva. They served him a jar of black caviar as a snack... It's good to work at Google.
http://levik.com/i/p/2016/cn/ca10.jpg

20. Each chair has a built-in monitor with movies and other entertainment. The films are fresh, so if you forgot to download them to your tablet, you won’t be bored on the road. There is a USB socket.

21. To summarize. In general, the comfort class turned out to be quite good. This is an improved economy. If you have a day flight and want to work normally for 8-10 hours and save money, then I would fly quietly in comfort instead of business. There are conditions for working there (except alcohol). But if the flight is at night and you want to get a good night’s sleep, then there are no alternatives to business class yet. If there is no money for business class, then I would probably take economy, there is a chance to occupy several seats if the flight is not full, and sleep well.

The comfort and pleasure of air travel significantly depend not only on the equipment of the aircraft and the service on board, but also on what kind of seat in the cabin you get. And the longer the flight, the stronger this dependence, since sitting for several hours in the same position is not very comfortable, and, in general, there is no place to walk around the cabin.

And if for an ordinary passenger a seat is a kind of lottery, then an advanced one always tries to take the most comfortable seats, and, other things being equal, even chooses the airline whose planes are more comfortable to sit on. So, let's fly. What are the best seats on an airplane?

Firstly, convenience is characterized by the width of the seats and the distance between the rows. Moreover, if the width is set by the manufacturer and depends primarily on the type of aircraft, then the distance between the rows is determined by the airline ordering the aircraft, and it is they who choose the balance between on-board capacity and passenger comfort. Thus, in economy class cabins, the distance can vary from 28 inches (71 cm) to as much as 40 (101 cm) - the difference is visible to the naked eye. In the first case, you will barely squeeze into your seat, rest your knees on the back of the chair in front and will hardly be able to move, and in the second you will even sit cross-legged.

Secondly, convenience is characterized by the relative position of the seats. Most often they are arranged in blocks - 1+2, 2+2, 2+3, 3+3, 2+4+2, 3+3+3, 2+5+2, 3+4+3. For narrow-body aircraft, the most common scheme is 3+3 (for all airlines); for wide-body aircraft, depending on the type of aircraft and airline, any of the last four schemes can be used.

Seats located near the porthole, are convenient because, firstly, you control the window (close the bright sun, open it in the dark), and, secondly, no one will disturb you during the flight, you can sleep, read or watch movies peacefully the whole way. It is inconvenient only to get things from hand luggage and go to the toilet, but these are more likely your neighbors’ problems than yours 😉 However, out of love for others, you can put your bag under the seat of the chair in front and not disturb anyone.

Aisle seats They are convenient because you can stretch your legs into the aisle if the distance between the chairs is small, and you can also get up at any time to stretch or go to the toilet. The disadvantage is that you are unlikely to be able to sleep or immerse yourself in reading: you will probably need to get up from time to time to let your neighbors out, and other passengers, moving along the aisle, will grab the back of your seat.

Places in the middle, that is, between other seats, no one likes: they combine the disadvantages of window and aisle seats, without having their advantages, while being squeezed between two broad-shouldered men all the way, for example, is also not very pleasant.

Third, the comfort of a seat is determined by its location in the cabin. The worst thing, of course, near the toilets: there is noise, and smell, and a queue in the aisle. As a rule, toilets are located in the rear of the aircraft, but in relatively larger ones they are also often located in the middle of the cabin, so general rule– sit as close to the front of the cabin as possible. However, some passengers, on the contrary, try to choose last rows, since if the plane is not fully loaded (and on average it is 80%, i.e. you should count on it), there are high chances that no one will be seated next to you, and then you can single-handedly occupy the entire block of seats, which significantly expands the list of available positions 😉

In general, the best thing is in a row at the emergency exits, since there the distance between the seats is almost always greater than usual, which allows you to sit comfortably. Also, the chair at the porthole near the emergency exit may be completely absent, which creates truly royal comfort for the one who sits immediately behind the emergency exit at the porthole, i.e. on the next row. Some airlines may not have any other seats depending on the cabin layout. And here in the row before the emergency exit, most likely, the backrests will not recline.

There are, however, “controversial” places. For example, if the emergency exits are next to each other. In this case, the second row will be comfortable, but the backs in the first row will not recline. There is also a twofold situation with the first row of “economy” after business class. If the two salons are separated from each other by a curtain, then there will be plenty of legroom. If there is a rigid partition, then there will only be a lot of space for the knees, and it will be difficult to stretch the legs forward. But in long-haul airliners, the distance between the partition and the central blocks of seats is usually very large. But always be prepared for the fact that if there is a lot of space in front of you, it means that the chair itself may be narrower, since the table in this case is often retracted into the armrest. It may also be that you are sitting at the emergency exit, and there is nowhere to put your legs: the box in which the inflatable ladder is hidden is in the way.

In business class, choosing a seat is not so difficult: you sit either by the window or by the aisle, and even with the rather rare blocking of seats 3 in a row, the person sitting in the middle will not be squeezed or disturbed, because both neighbors will sit in the aisles. The difficulty here is different: various airlines The chairs themselves are very different. For some, they fold out into a horizontal couch ( lie-flat), someone has it slanted ( angle lie-flat) - this applies to long-haul aircraft; in medium-haul aircraft, some have leg support, some do not, the angles of the backrests vary greatly, and some even use a transformable cabin. In it, “economy” turns into “business” by moving the armrests so that a three-seat unit becomes a two-seat unit, but with a wide central armrest - for example, AirFrance/KLM.

How to find and choose the place of your dreams? The algorithm is like this:

First, we study the sites listed here: On them you can find options for cabin layouts of various airlines. Unfortunately, not everyone - this time. And, unfortunately, even for one airline, the layout of different boards of the same type can be different - they are often published on airline websites, but not all of them. It is unknown which one you will get, so you will have to check the seat maps after registration has begun. However, preferred places can be spotted in advance.

In any case, it is important to remember that the layout of the cabins and the numbering of seats different airlines different, so numerous tips found on the Internet like: “On the A320 you need to sit in seat 10A” are valid only for a specific airline, and even then not always. You can only listen to general advice like: “In a Boeing 747 it is better to fly on the upper deck” or “In a Tu-154 it is much more spacious in the first cabin.”

Secondly, as soon as it opens online registration, if it is available for your flight, you need to go through it. The closer to the beginning, the greater the chance that good places have not yet been taken. However, more often than not, you will find that they are “busy” from the very beginning. In fact, this most often means that they are blocked - for example, places at emergency exits are closed for online registration because not everyone can sit on them, but only those who, if something happens, will be able to open this exit manually. Since the airline does not know if, for example, you have a broken arm or a dislocated joint, or if you are a fragile girl, you can only get these seats at the check-in counter at the airport. However, some airlines, such as Aegean Airlines, allow you to select “emergency” seats online, asking you to confirm that you will be able to open and hold a hatch of a certain weight.

On seats near the partition passengers with children are seated in bassinets - therefore, these rows are also often not available during online check-in, and they can also only be obtained at the counter. And good seats may be unavailable because they are placed there only for an additional payment or for special merits - for example, Aeroflot has a “Space +” service, within the framework of which they are offered. By the way, they do not consider the seats at the emergency exit by the window “elite”, since there is no ordinary armrest there, but only a small one built into the hatch, so you can get legroom for free.

Why then online check-in if good seats are only given at the airport? Very simple. Online, you need to choose slightly less preferred seats: for example, immediately behind the emergency row (because the one with his legs stretched out, as a rule, is less likely to want to recline his back in your direction), or simply on a block of two seats, or on the last row - in general, so that if you fail to take the best seats, you would not get completely uncomfortable ones.

Now with boarding pass we go to the airport to the business class or baggage claim counter ( Drop-Off), where there is no queue, and please transfer us to Right place(I don’t remember even once being refused). We can find out whether it is free (or just blocked) on Expertflyer or using their free mobile application (Android, iOS). If the seats are occupied, then all that remains is to board the plane last and assess the situation - perhaps there are free rows somewhere, and you can take them after the announcement “boarding is over.”