What is the best seat on the plane? It is a very common question among travelers and since it is increasingly common for them to charge you for the selection, it is better to choose wisely.
Everything will depend on the model of the plane you are traveling on, short flights usually mean smaller planes with only two 3-seat areas on each side. While large planes can even be double-deckers with many more alternatives.
Regardless of which aircraft you travel on, here are some tips for choosing your seat.
Window or hallway?
- Ventanilla is ideal for having good views and is usually more comfortable because you have a place to recharge when you sleep and no one bothers you to go out.
- Hallway is perfect for those who like to get up a lot during the flight, whether to walk or go to the bathroom.
- The middle seat has no advantages and has all the disadvantages. You find yourself between two people (if you travel alone, strangers) and you don’t even have a single charger because it is shared with someone from somewhere. Whenever you can, choose your seat in advance to avoid these places.
Travel tip. Some couples, when they see that the flight is not very full, choose to choose the window and the aisle, leaving a place between the two and hoping that no one wants that place and this way they have more space.
First rows, middle or last rows?
Normally the first seats on the aircraft are the most sought after (and even the most expensive. These are the ones just after Business class or first class and are the first to get off the economy class plane.
However, consider that on many small planes (normally short flights), you can also disembark from the back so choosing the last rows is not a bad option. Of course, this area is usually noisier than ahead, but it is usually easier to find a place here.
Complete your trip!
I do not recommend the last row because normally they transport material for the flight there, so there will be no space for your suitcase or carry-on luggage. However, a few rows earlier is fine.
Extra seating space
Many decide to pay for extra space on the plane, however, if you do, check that it is not about the emergency exits or that you meet the requirements to sit there. Normally they ask that you speak English (international flights), that you are not a person with reduced mobility, an elderly adult or a child (or a parent traveling with babies) and that you are able to follow the instructions. Being in these places does not mean greater difficulty, but you do have to comply with what was described above. Also consider that during takeoff and landing you cannot have absolutely anything with you, everything has to go in the overhead compartments, even small bags.
Sit near the bathroom
Normally I prefer to avoid the seats next to the aircraft bathrooms and it’s very simple: they are noisy because people constantly pass by your place and sometimes they can even smell bad.
What if my seat was randomly assigned?
As I wrote at the beginning, in many cases you are randomly assigned a seat and you have to pay to change it. If you don’t want to pay, but don’t like where you were seated, I recommend that you arrive early to check-in and request a change of seat. As long as it is the same class, they normally will not charge you for the change.
What seats are safest on the plane?
Of course nothing is guaranteed in the event of a mishap, but there are still many who choose to choose the seats that are statistically safer. Below is an infographic from El Mundo so you know which are the safest seats on the plane and choose them if it is your priority.
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