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How to get the most comfortable seat on the plane. Rossiya will sell good seats at online check-in

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

  • There are airlines that offer to choose a seat in the cabin during online check-in (for example, UIA, Turkish Airlines, Lufthansa). This is especially convenient for those who fly in large companies: it is difficult to expect that you can all be seated side by side;
  • You can always choose a seat during check-in at the airport. Therefore, do not neglect the simplest and 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, then you will most likely have to pay extra for choosing a place (about $ 10-15);
  • If you often fly with the same airline, then get a Loyalty Card. Display it at the counter, and getting a seat with a more comfortable location will be very likely;
  • Often the planes are not 100% full. After landing, you can take any free seat;
  • For those traveling alone, the following option is possible - to arrive at the very end of registration. If you are lucky, you can be given a seat in business class, and if you are not lucky, you will get a seat that all other passengers have already refused;
  • By choosing a seat by the window, at the tail of the plane, there is a chance that the flight will take place without neighbors nearby;
  • It is more convenient to sit on two, three or four seats than on one =), so, if possible, plan flights on the days and hours of the least busy airports - these are Monday, Tuesday, Thursday. The busiest days are Friday and Sunday. The busiest flights are in the morning and in the evening. In the half-empty cabins of “weekday” flights, the flight attendants themselves will offer you to transfer to unoccupied rows - it’s quite possible to sleep on three chairs;
  • Most passengers like to sit by the window, some in the aisle, nobody in the middle;

  • Passengers prefer to sit closer to the nose of the aircraft. Hundreds of laptops break every day when a passenger in front reclines the seat abruptly, which breaks the computer in the lap of the person sitting behind. The chances that the person sitting in front will break it are reduced if you choose a seat at the beginning of the cabin, or behind the passenger who is sitting in front of the emergency exit (the seat backs do not recline);
  • If you sit at the emergency exit, then you will have more legroom;
  • If you are flying with animals, then it is also more convenient to sit at the emergency exit;
  • Near the wings, it is better to sit down for those who are motion sick, because there is less “talking” in this zone;
  • In a 2-4-2 arrangement, if the fours are completely free, then sit in the middle chair in the middle row. Due to the dislike of the middle row, you have a greater chance of cozying up on two chairs by raising the armrests;
  • When traveling together and with a 3-2-3 layout, you can book one seat at the porthole, and the second at the aisle. Those wishing to take the middle place are most often not found;
  • There is no safest place to sit on an airplane. All seats are in the same risk area;
  • The first row behind the business class is considered the most convenient. There is more legroom, no one sits in front of you - which means no one leans back on you in their chair, you will be the first to get food, drinks, newspapers, you will get blankets and pillows. For travelers with small children, it is possible to attach a cradle for babies to the wall and put a child seat. But there are also disadvantages here: because of the tables hidden in the armrests, it is impossible to raise these armrests and turn the chair into a sofa or put a sleeping child on your lap. And if, for example, you are going to work or prepare for a business meeting on the way, it is hardly worth striving to sit in the front rows: neighborhood with children (and they are usually the most here) is unlikely to contribute to concentration;
  • Seats at emergency exits are also held in high esteem by experienced travelers: the row spacing here is 15 cm larger than in the rest of the cabin, but depending on the layout of the cabin, the seatbacks often do not lower (on long flights, you will regret this), and you can’t keep on half hand luggage;
  • Typically, rows 8 to 20 are the noisiest area on the plane, where all the noise of engines and turbines is concentrated;
  • At the tail of the plane, the seats are a bit narrower, it’s closer to sit there, it shakes harder, a small selection of food, newspapers and magazines (on a “what’s left” basis), there is a toilet next to it, which most often has a queue.

Use advice from Airlife and fly comfortably! Pleasant flight!

Emergency exit seats

There is usually enough legroom in front of the emergency exit seats. These places have only one drawback: it is almost impossible to select them during online registration. An employee of the airline must put you there when checking in at the airport. This is done so that passengers sit at the emergency exits, who in an emergency can open the hatches and help with the evacuation.

Much more likely to get these advantageous places if you or your companion is a physically strong man.

Seats in the front of the cabin

In front of these chairs, increased legroom is often also left. From the additional bonuses: food is being delivered from the nose of the aircraft, so you can choose dishes from the entire assortment, and not from what is left.

But there are nuances. Many airlines leave the first row for mothers with children, as a cradle for an infant can be installed here. So, even if you find yourself in a cherished place, there is a risk of being surrounded by crying children.

Seats at the windows

From these chairs you can look out the window, read in natural light, photograph clouds (if the airline allows shooting on board). Restless neighbors will not squeeze past. And you can sleep, not only leaning back in the chair, but also clinging to the wall.

What are the worst seats on an airplane?

Seats in front of the emergency exit

As a rule, the seats do not fold out here so that the backs do not block the road in case of an emergency. At the same time, the seats in front of the row are fully functional. Therefore, there is a great risk of flying with your nose and knees buried in the back of a neighbor in front.

Seats in the last row

These chairs also do not fold out, as there is a wall behind them. To the minuses, one can add the fact that the flight attendants' trolley with food and drinks reaches the passengers of the last row fairly empty. There will be nothing to choose from, you have to eat what they give.

Places at the toilets

The flow of passengers striving for the restroom, and the sound of doors opening and closing, will not let you sleep.

How to get a comfortable seat

Pay

When checking in for flights and for non-refundable tickets, a seat is assigned automatically. As a rule, these are uncomfortable chairs. But airlines offer to choose a seat for a fee: the more convenient it is, the more expensive. For Pobeda, a seat change will cost 149-999 rubles, for S7 - 300-1,000 rubles, for UTair - 1,500 rubles. Since the service is provided on a commercial basis, the best places are honestly indicated on the salon diagrams.

Choose a seat in advance and indicate it at check-in

The location of the seats in the cabin depends not only on the model of the aircraft, but also on the airline. For example, on board charter flights, the maximum possible number of seats is most often set. This means that the distance between them is reduced to a minimum.

To understand where the plane has emergency exits, toilets, how many rows are in the cabin and which one is the last one, read the reviews. On the SeatGuru website, you can enter the aircraft model, flight number and get a cabin map. Seat layouts in the cabins are also available on the websites of the airlines.

Use the knowledge gained during check-in online or at the airport. For example, the best economy class seats on a Boeing 737-800 aircraft at Aeroflot are in the sixth (first row of economy class) and thirteenth (at the emergency exit) rows. But the twelfth row is not the best choice: although the legroom is increased, the seats most likely do not recline.

Aeroflot.ru

Choose the least loaded flight and transfer

Least of all those wishing to fly are recruited for flights on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday in the middle of the day. You can register at any place, and then transfer to a convenient one. It is better to first ask the flight attendant if this is allowed. Airlines that offer a seat change for an additional fee do not welcome such initiative.

Keep in mind that on the eve of the holidays, any flight will be loaded.

Register among the latest

An option for those who fly with a low-cost airline, but do not want to pay for a seat. The system automatically puts you in uncomfortable chairs. Passengers for money choose the most convenient. By the end of registration, there are free places of medium comfort, one of which you can take for free. But it’s also not worth delaying registration too much: when overbooking, you simply won’t be put on a plane.

What tricks do you know for choosing the best seats on an airplane?

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 small inconveniences, but if you need to fly for 8-10 hours, then comfort is of great importance, and other things being equal, I will always choose more convenient flight conditions.

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

To choose the best seat on board an aircraft, you must first find out which aircraft you will be flying on. Moreover, even the same aircraft from different airlines may have a different seating arrangement, so it is important to find out not just the type of aircraft, but the specific aircraft.

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

For example, when searching for a ticket for a flight, you can immediately see the name of the airline and the 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 operated by Norwegian Air, flight number DY-2802. Using this information, you can learn more about a particular aircraft at www.seatguru.com and www.seatexpert.com.

2. Where to find the interior layout

You can also view the scheme of the cabin on specialized sites.

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

First, on the main page, enter the necessary information - the name of the airline and the flight number (we already learned them 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 layout of the salon, click "View map":

A page with detailed information about the aircraft opens, as well as a seating diagram:

3. Features of different places on board the aircraft

In addition to a detailed study of the schemes, you need to remember some features of different places on board and select the best place based on your needs. Consider 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! There is much more legroom in the row opposite the emergency exit than in regular seats. But there are also restrictions - hand luggage will have to be removed to the luggage rack, because. safety rules do not allow you to put things in the aisle to the emergency exit. So you can’t put anything under your own or under the seat of the passenger in front. Also, passengers with children are not allowed to sit at emergency exits. it is assumed that there should be a person sitting at the emergency exit who will be able to help the flight attendants open the emergency exit and carry out the evacuation of passengers.

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

3.2. Seats at the beginning of the plane

  • Most often, the very first row is booked for frequent flyers and passengers with children. So keep in mind that you may not be able to sleep because of a crying baby. Although you are not insured against this in other places, but here the probability 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 normally not allowed to be used.
  • After landing, you will be able to leave the plane in the first rows, right after the first and business class passengers.

3.3. Seats in the middle of the plane

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 tail of the aircraft

According to statistics, the places located in the tail section of the aircraft are considered the safest, because. most of the passengers who survived the 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 tail section, which, on the one hand, is convenient - you don’t have to go far, but on the other hand, people will always walk next to you, so it can be very noisy.
  • there are not always windows on the last rows, so if you want to enjoy the views, look in advance at the diagram of the aircraft on which you will fly.
  • also on the last row the back may not recline, because. no extra bed provided.
  • if you like to photograph the view from the porthole, then please note 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 empty seats are usually in the tail section, so that you can take several seats at once, comfortably lounging.
  • if you are flying with a transfer, then it is better not to sit at the very tail of the plane, because. You can only leave the last one, thereby losing a lot of time.
  • food distribution usually starts from the beginning or middle of the plane, so if you did not order special meals, some dishes may not be enough for you (for example, you eat only fish, and only a few portions with meat remain).

3.5. The most uncomfortable places

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

  • seats in the row located in front of the emergency exit. You won't be able to recline your back.
  • seats in the middle row (if the aircraft has three rows of seats, with the layout 3-3-3, 3-4-3, 2-5-2). 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 yourself, it is also difficult to get something from the luggage rack, it takes the longest time to get out after the plane has stopped.
  • places next to the toilet - there may be an unpleasant smell, as well as people scurrying back and forth will not let you 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. You can do this both in advance and immediately before departure. At the same time, you need to understand that the earlier you start booking a place, the more likely it will be to take exactly what you want.

So, there are several options for booking a seat.

4.1. Booking when buying a ticket

If you, then most likely it will be possible to book a place on board immediately upon purchase. Find out about this option right away.

Peculiarities. If you are flying on a low-cost airline, 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 for some reason you really need a certain place (for example, you are traveling with a child and want to be sure in advance that you will sit next to or take a seat in the first row) . If you do not book a seat 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 account

If you bought your ticket from an intermediary (for example, through or 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 go to the “my bookings” or “manage booking” section in your personal account. There you can already select places (if there is such an option) or, for example, insert a card number to count miles.

4.3. Seat selection during online check-in

Online check-in usually starts 24 hours before the departure of the aircraft, 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 the start of registration, so there will be more chances that you will have time to book the right place. In order not to miss the time, set yourself a reminder. Again, this option does not apply to low-cost companies, because there is a choice of seats only for an additional fee.

4.4. Seat selection 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 seat at the window or in the aisle, in the middle of the plane or at the end. If you resort to the front desk at the last minute, then most likely it will no longer be possible to choose a seat. This applies to flights to popular destinations during high season. If you are flying in the low season and the plane is half empty, then closer to 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. Seat selection after boarding is completed

As soon as the landing is announced, you can safely choose a more convenient place for yourself. This applies, first of all, to low-cost airlines, because this is the only free seat selection option.

Also, a feature of low-cost airlines is that they sell a little more tickets than seats on an airplane, because. according to statistics, about 10% of passengers do not come to the flight. Therefore, the passengers who arrived the latest can often be put in the best seats, sometimes even put in a business class (if, of course, it is provided in this low-cost).

We reveal a few secrets that will help you gain a little more space at the top.
Trying to fit a meter-long leg into the 75-centimeter space between the seats on an airplane is like trying to cram a month's supply of clothes into a fully packed suitcase. In both cases, the result will be deplorable: discomfort, confusion, 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 to help us travel comfortably without spending too much.

1. Seize the moment

Choose the right time to check in. Many airlines begin check-in a day, or even two, before departure. And the sooner you go through this procedure, the more likely it is to grab the most convenient place.

Check-in with airlines
Aeroflot - 30 hours before departure;
S7 - 30 hours before departure;
Ural Airlines - 23 hours and ends 4 hours before the flight departure (for flights from Yekaterinburg and Moscow, online check-in ends 1 hour before the flight departure);
Vim Avia - 24 hours before departure, if you are traveling by domestic regular flights from Moscow, Krasnodar, Sochi, Makhachkala, Pevek, Magadan and 12 hours before departure if you are traveling by 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 the web check-in information on the website of the airline you plan to fly.

2. Install surveillance

Usually online check-in closes 4 hours before departure. If you checked in late, use the ExpertFlyer app to let you know 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 check-in desk and ask for it.

3. Take advantage of the status

Do you stay loyal to one airline? Most likely, you will be offered the best seats. When you arrive at check-in, present your airline loyalty card and in most cases, you will be welcomed.

4. Climb to the "Kamchatka"

Sit at the end of the plane. People try to take places in front, because the noise from the engines is stronger in the tail, the toilet and disembarkation take longer. Therefore, often the last row is left empty.

5. Hunt for a dream

Every plane is equipped with an "open" seat - the dream seat - an empty seat in the front row. When boarding the plane, mark its location, and after takeoff, run to the place of your dreams at the speed of Hussein Bolt.

6. Do your research

Do your research. Having chosen a flight, do not be too lazy to look for information about it on the airline's website, and only then book a seat.

The Best and Worst Airplane Seats
(using A320 as an example)
Etihad Airways and Aeroflot on the A320 have the best seats 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 back. Worst places - 25 row.
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 row 30.
At Alitalia, the same model has only one row with good seats - 12, the backs of the seats do not recline on rows 10 and 11.
On the Airberlin A320, you should choose seats BC and DE in row 13, uncomfortable in row 11.

7. Who does not take risks does not fly comfortably

Trying to get the best seat on an airplane can be risky, especially for long-haul flights lasting 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 cost of one ticket is returned to the buyer (this does not apply to "non-refundable" fares). You can do the same. In this way, you will reserve the next seat, providing yourself with enough space. You can only hope that the plane does not fill up.

8. Double trick

If you are traveling as a couple, book a window and aisle seat. This is easy to do during web check-in. It is rare for an airline to fill in gaps between two passengers, and even if it does, it is always possible to negotiate and swap seats.
If you are flying alone, choose a row where someone has already booked a window or aisle seat. Choose another outer seat in this row, leaving the middle free. The same rule applies here as in the case of a "pair" flight, of course, if the plane is not completely full.

9. Kinder, even kinder...

Be courteous to employees. The fate of your flight is in the hands of 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 cheating

Water bottle trick. This is the last resort, and we do not recommend resorting to it unless you are driven to despair and are ready to endure the annoyance of the passenger ahead. Slip a water bottle between your fold-out table and the seat in front. Then such a chair cannot be reclined. Maybe this is a violation of the etiquette of flights, or maybe the violation is just reclining the seats. Look at the situation, but this trick, which allows you to gain a few centimeters, is worth keeping in mind.

Before you buy to 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, and the flight convenient and preferably without transfers. A real assistant in planning a trip has been and remains the “calendar of low prices”.

For the first time, I flew in an Aeroflot comfort class. Previously, I tried to fly business class for long distances, but the crisis forced me to tighten my belt more tightly. In the case of Shanghai, the math is very simple. An economy class ticket cost 25,000 rubles, a comfort class ticket 60,000 rubles, and a business class ticket - 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. In China, my old rich friend, Leva from New York, flew to me. The same Leva who works at Google and told you about why he loves America. So, while I was saving, Leva decided to goof 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 WAY! 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 Lyova to go down to work after breakfast in slippers, and secondly, there are discounts for Google employees (3%, it seems).

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

01. So, there is a comfort-class cabin on the new Aeroflot Boeing-777s. It is located between business and economy classes.

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

02. What's next? Next up are some fancy chairs. This is a hard cocoon, that is, the back is fixed. This is a plus, since the 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 the 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 seatback in the comfort class does not recline. The seat moves forward, and the back just slides down the cocoon. Look, one chair I completely laid out, the second is not. There is practically no difference. I would say that it is even more comfortable to sleep in the economy. In addition, the armrests also do not rise, so even if you fly 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 is even more than in business class. On the table, two trays or a laptop and a tray of food can easily fit. You can put papers, a tablet, a laptop on the table and work. This is the main plus of the comfort class.

07. It's a pleasure to work here!

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, 49 centimeters. In addition, there is a wide armrest between the seats, so that both passengers can use it without interfering with 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, Aeroflot began pouring donkey urine instead of normal champagne on domestic flights. They found the cheapest Russian sparkling wine at 200 rubles per bottle and are trying to treat passengers with it. The international ones are better.

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 a bottle of wine on some flights, but most comfort class flights are non-alcoholic! Saved on a bottle of wine. And 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. Suppose you don’t want to mess around with a huge economy, and they don’t pour it there. But why did they deprive the joy of libations of comfort-class passengers who paid a lot of money for a ticket? European airlines give wine or beer even in economy on short flights. But Aeroflot decided to make a dry law. So take the booze with you;) It's not for me to teach you. For this, Aeroflot gets a fat minus.

14. Shanghai flight menu

15. Looks appetizing.

16. But in fact - nothing special.

17. Food is a mixture of economy and business. Snacks and dessert from the economy menu, but hot on a glass plate like in business class. True, they don’t give soup) But the metal appliances and the napkin are normal.

18. The usual snacks from the economy.

19. Hen. Threesome quality. In general, it is not clear why Aeroflot positions food as a business class, it falls short.

I can't help but remember Leva at this moment. They served him a jar of black caviar for 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, it won't be boring on the road. There is a USB socket.

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