Emergency exits on an airplane. The best seats on the plane: what to choose? Choose a place in advance and indicate it when registering

We reveal a few secrets that will help you gain a little more space on high.
Trying to fit three-foot-long legs into the 75cm space between airplane seats is like trying to cram a month's worth of clothes into a fully packed suitcase. In both cases, the result will be disastrous: discomfort, disorder, and something will definitely stick out. However, we still don't want to spend extra money on luxury seats, which means we'll have to learn a few tricks that will help us travel comfortably without spending extra money.

1. Seize the day

Select the correct time to register. Many airlines begin check-in a day, or even two, before departure. And the sooner you go through this procedure, the more likely you are to grab the most comfortable spot.

Checking in for flights with airlines
Aeroflot – 30 hours before departure;
S7 - 30 hours before departure;
Ural Airlines - 23 hours and ends 4 hours before flight departure (for flights from Yekaterinburg and Moscow, online check-in ends 1 hour before flight departure);
Vim Avia – 24 hours before departure if you are traveling on domestic scheduled flights from Moscow, Krasnodar, Sochi, Makhachkala, Pevek, Magadan and 12 hours before departure if you are traveling international flights from Moscow to Rimini, Ovda, Catania;
Air France - 30 hours before departure, with the exception of flights from Atlanta, Detroit and Minneapolis - 24 hours before departure;
Lufthansa - 23 hours before departure;
Etihad Airways - 23 hours before departure;
Alitalia – 48 hours before departure.
You can always check information about web check-in on the website of the airline you plan to fly with.

2. Set up surveillance

Usually online registration ends 4 hours before departure. If you checked in late, use the ExpertFlyer app to alert you when the best seats are available. Install the application on your smartphone, enter flight information, set up an alert and wait for the signal. As soon as the program informs you that a more convenient seat is available, go to the reception desk and ask to take it.

3.Take advantage of the status

Do you stay loyal to one airline? Most likely, you will be offered better seats. When you arrive for registration, present your card regular customer Airlines and in most cases, will meet you halfway.

4. Climb to Kamchatka

Sit at the back of the plane. People try to take seats in the front because the noise from the engines is louder in the rear, and the toilet and disembarkation take longer. Therefore, the last row is often left empty.

5. Hunting for a dream

Every plane is equipped with an “open” seat—the dream seat—an empty seat in the front row. When boarding a plane, mark its location, and after takeoff, run to your dream destination at the speed of Hussein Bolt.

6. Conduct research

Do your research. Having chosen a flight, take the time to look for information about it on the airline’s website, and only then book your seat.

The best and worst seats on a plane
(using the example of A320)
Etihad Airways and Aeroflot have the best seats on the A320 in rows 6 and 10; you should not choose row 8, as there is an emergency exit behind it and you will not be able to recline the seat. Worst places– 25th row.
The Aeroflot airline has the A320 model in two configurations, in the second case (V2) the best seats are located in rows 6 and 14, the worst are in row 30.
Alitalia has the same model with only one row with good places– 12, the seat backs do not recline in rows 10 and 11.
On Airberlin's A320, you should choose seats BC and DE in the 13th row; it is uncomfortable in the 11th row.

7. He who does not take risks does not fly comfortably

Trying to get the best seat on a plane can be a risk, especially on long-haul flights lasting from 10 to 17 hours or more. Buy two tickets. Some airlines require in-body customers to purchase two seats. If the plane is not overcrowded, the buyer will be refunded the cost of one ticket (this does not apply to “non-refundable” fares). You can do the same. This way, you reserve the seat next to you, giving yourself plenty of space. All you have to do is hope the plane doesn't fill up.

8. Double the trick

If you're traveling as a couple, reserve a window and aisle seat. This is easy to do during web check-in. The airline rarely fills gaps between two passengers, and even if this happens, you can always negotiate and switch seats.
If you're flying alone, choose a row where someone else has already reserved a window or aisle seat. Select the other end seat in that row, leaving the middle empty. The same rule applies here as in the case of a “paired” flight, of course, if the plane is not completely full.

9. Kinder, even kinder...

Be courteous to your employees. The fate of your flight is held in their hands by the airline staff, so they are the ones who can give you the best seat. The advice is simple: be kind to people and they will be kind to you.

10. Sleight of hand and no deception

Water bottle trick. This is a last resort and we do not recommend resorting to it unless you are desperate and willing to endure the annoyance of the passenger in front. Slide a water bottle between your folding table and the seat in front. Then such a chair cannot be reclined. Maybe this is a violation of flight etiquette, or maybe reclining seats are a violation. Depending on the situation, this trick, which allows you to gain a few centimeters, is worth keeping in mind.

Before you can book the best seat on the plane, you need to buy a ticket. When buying a plane ticket, you always want the price to be low, the flight to be convenient and, preferably, non-stop. The “low price calendar” has been and remains a real assistant when planning a trip.

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 a plane?

Firstly, comfort 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, comfort is characterized by the relative arrangement 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.

Places located near the porthole, are convenient because, firstly, you control the porthole ( bright sun- closed, dark - opened), and, secondly, no one will disturb you during the flight, you can sleep peacefully the whole way, read or watch movies. It's just inconvenient to get things out of 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: different airlines have very different seats. 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 varies from airline to airline, so numerous tips found on the Internet like: “On the A320 you need to sit in seat 10A” are only valid for a specific airline, and even then not always. You can only listen to general councils 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 chances that good places not busy yet. 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 ask to be moved to the 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 empty rows somewhere, and you can take them after the announcement “boarding is over.”

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 luxurious hotels in the city. 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 hours.

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 to bottle 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 only give you uncomfortable slippers and a blindfold.

13. And here is the most unpleasant thing. Alcohol is not served in comfort class! Some kind of hellish redneck of 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.

Some 150 years ago, people covered a distance of 200 km in 2 days. Who among them could imagine that at the beginning of the 21st century, after spending just a few hours, you could find yourself on another continent. An airplane is one of the best gifts that humanity has given itself. Learning to understand the intricacies of choosing a class of service on board and booking an air ticket will not hurt either those who fly rarely or regulars of airships.

Classes of service in passenger air transportation

The aircraft service level classification includes three main classes:

Economy class;
Business Class;
First grade.

Note! For air carriers, this gradation is not mandatory. Some airlines introduce their own scale or add new positions between the well-known ones: business premium between first and business class on an airplane, economy comfort between economy and business, etc. This practice is rare, because for the convenience of both passengers and the carriers themselves it is easier to use a single system.

Standard level of service

Economy class is the most popular among airline passengers. Most of all seats on a ship falls into this category. On the ticket, class membership is indicated by a special letter in the “CL” column. Depending on the airline and the chosen fare, this can be any letter of the Latin alphabet. For different carriers, the same letter may indicate different tariffs.

Disadvantages of air travel in economy class on an airplane:

Economy class air travelers have to spend more time on board upon arrival. The seats here are located at the rear of the aircraft or in the center, so passengers with increased comfort seats are the first to leave the plane;
The width of the seats and the distances between the rows are minimal. It will be difficult for a large person to fit on board an Aeroflot flight, on seats up to 46 cm wide. Standard aisles between the rows from 75 to 90 cm also reduce the comfort of such a trip;
Not all seats in the standard cabin recline. The places at the emergency exits, in front of the sanitary block and the food compartment are equipped with seats, the backs of which can only be in a vertical position;
Economy meals may differ between carriers. The diet and assortment in this class are much simpler than in the business class cabin;
Check-in for a flight for passengers from this category does not provide any benefits and takes place at a standard counter at the airport. A special bus delivers travelers to their planes. IN major airports There are telescopic bridges to which the aircraft is moored. In this case, passengers themselves board as soon as boarding is announced;
The maximum weight of Aeroflot hand luggage should not exceed 10 kg. The luggage compartment will carry a suitcase no heavier than 23 kg free of charge. Sometimes free transportation baggage is not allowed, it depends on the conditions of the air carrier.

Pros of traveling in a regular cabin:

Prices for tickets in economy class when traveling on the same plane are very different from first and business;
According to research, the tail section of an aircraft is the most safe place During the flight;
Service in the cabins of some airlines includes the provision of a blanket, pillow, headphones, folding table, and a pocket with standard literature. The list is different for each air carrier. Depending on the company's rules and conditions, other accessories may be added to this list or vice versa.

Superior class

The intermediate type of service was first launched by KLM in 1976. Business class is between the highest and lowest levels of service. The differences from Aeroflot's economy are in the food and attention paid to passengers.

Advantages and disadvantages of traveling in a cabin with a higher level of service:

The ticket price assumes compliance with the definition of “price-quality”. A ticket to such a cabin on the same plane will always be more expensive than in economy and cheaper than in first class;
The seats are usually wider than standard, the intervals between the rows are more spacious, and the aisles in the cabin are wide. Depending on the airliner, the business class cabin may vary. Types of seats can be fully reclining and with an angle of 160 degrees;
Business passengers have unlimited access to food and beverages throughout their flight. The menu offers a wide range of dishes;
The weight of hand luggage and main luggage, which can be carried free of charge, is 2 times greater than that of economy. These conditions are provided by Aeroflot;
Business class passengers check in for the flight out of line, at a separate counter. Upon completion of registration, travelers are offered a free area with food, drinks, and the Internet. Here you can comfortably wait for boarding to begin;
Many airlines offer transfers to the airport, as well as delivery to your destination upon arrival. The cost of the service is included in the price of the air ticket.

It is worth noting that the stated level of service does not always correspond to reality. A situation is possible when a plane arrives for landing, which only has economy class seats. In this case, even having a ticket to the increased comfort zone in hand, the passenger is forced to fly under general conditions, without ever knowing the difference between business class and economy class.

In favor of these travelers is their right to free cancellation of the ticket, with a refund of the full cost without fees. He can also reschedule the flight to another day.

Flight with royal treatment

First class passengers enjoy many privileges. Free delivery to the airport and taxi to the hotel at the end of the trip. The lucky person will wait to board in the best airport lounge. In large air harbors It happens that the increased comfort zone is equipped with sleeping places and showers. Fine snacks and drinks are served here. Most often, these passengers do not go to the check-in counter at all - they are met by a specially designated airport employee (from a separate entrance), escorted to the VIP lounge and themselves carry out the check-in procedure.

Each passenger in this class has a large individual space on the plane. This is a whole room with a bed, a business area with a table and chair, and other attributes. The chairs fold out completely and turn into a full bed. The interior varies by carrier. Elite menu, expensive drinks are provided in unlimited quantities. The quality of finishing of interior materials, dishes, quality of accessories - everything is on par. top level. 1st class passengers board first, using special transport. Carriage of baggage over 45 kg and unlimited hand luggage is free of charge.

The disadvantage is high price which not everyone can afford. Also, not all flights provide this type of service - such a cabin is more common on transatlantic flights.

Booking classes

Each airline develops its own tariffs and the conditions they offer. The conditions include the comfort of the seat, rules in case of exchange or return of a ticket, and others. The list of conditions that accompany the selected fare will be more profitable for the passenger, the higher the type of booking.

When booking, each fare is indicated on the ticket by a letter of the Latin alphabet. Two tickets purchased for the same class may differ in price if they have different types reservations.

Note! The lower the price, the more restrictions the ticket will have for all classes of service. But the service always corresponds to the selected class.

T class booking in the economy cabin from Aeroflot is popular. The tariff has its limitations - the date of the return flight is strictly fixed, the ticket is redeemed within 24 hours from the moment it is issued, you cannot select a seat in advance, unfavorable conditions in case of cancellation of the reservation. The inconveniences are compensated by the favorable price, for which the tariff is popular.

For comparison, class Y from the same carrier involves flying in economy, with an open date for the return trip, without restrictions on paying for such a ticket, with the opportunity to get a seat in business class (there are rules specified in the fare description) and many other permitted benefits. A ticket with reserve type Y will cost much more than class T.

Some airlines have strict cabin seating policies, depending on the type of booking. In the recent past, Kuban Airlines had a tariff “Flying strictly in row 20”. Two people in business class may have different menu options, while in first class someone will be able to hear their neighbors more.

Important! The lower the class of the booking, the fewer tickets are available for sale at this rate.

Video

Airplane seat classes are a way for people to choose the best conditions for their air travel. Passengers with different needs and wallet thickness fly in full accordance with their capabilities.

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 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 for 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. This way you can choose a free, comfortable seat. 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 comfortable seats, 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 seats, you must also take into account the direction of flight. 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.