seating preference

Hi Tricia,

Go to www.seatguru.com. It lets you look up your airline, airplane, etc. in order to find the best sort of seats on it and will tell you what rows to stay away from.

One tip I got from my sister who flies a lot - if you are right handed, get an aisle seat on the left side of the aisle so when you are using your right hand, you aren't banging into the person next to you.

Also, I prefer aisle seats so I can get up without feeling like I am disturbing my seat mate and so I'm a little less "trapped" as I sometimes get a little claustrophobic on long flights.

I hope this helps.

Roxanne

I think the best seats on any Aircraft are the two forward-facing ones at the very front with the awesome view! But they are almost always occupied and must be reserved one month in advance!!

Seat Guru is a great site. When booking a seat I always try to book what is called bulk head seats, not sure if this is what the previous poster was refering to, but they are the first row of seats in coach, and if it's a big plane there can be two sections each with bulk head.

I like these seats because you have almost 3 times more leg room, and your right infront of the tv screen (I'm kinda short so it's hard to see over the chairs sometimes). Different airlines have different policies when it comes to booking these seats, some let you book them online as soon as you book, others hold these seats until check-in, because they are useful for people traveling with childern as the seats provide a spot for a bassenet. Just ask and they may give them to you. The only down side is you have to put all your items in the overhead bin, but the good thing is because I'm short I can put my feet up which makes for a more comfortable ride.

My husband loves window seats for himself. He likes to look out if there is anything you can see. I like the aisle for ease of getting out. I hate the middle seat, someones elbow is always on the armrest. If your plane has a seperate middle section I would avoid it if possible. They seem claustophic to me. Tricia, I think you would probably like a window seat for you first flight. You can look out leaving and when the sun comes up when you are almost there you can look out again. Also, you can lean you head against the window when you are sleeping. If you are "able body" you can ask for and evacuation row set too.... more let room.

Sue we flew on a plane that went from three to two rows, and we had the seat immediatly behind the three seat to two seat change. We really liked it as the third seat in front of us gave us more room to shove our shoes etc.. but if you are just in the 2 seat row behind us that is a lost benefit. So if you can get the first row of 2 behind 3 go for it!!

I prefer aisle seats so I can get up when I want.

Flight attendant was referring to the pilot and co pilot seats,, she is a bit nutty about flying( as befits her career choice) I would hate to sit in the cockpit,, my hubby has his private pilots and I hate sitting up front, I much prefer pretending I am NOT hurtling through space.

I think the worst seat in the house is any middle seat,, I would hate it, especially on the big planes I swear I would go nuts from claustrophobia,,,

Think about the type of flyer you are. Aisle- For me (week bladder, and I can't sleep-ever) very important on intercontinental flights! Who wants to wake up the big guy on the aisle several times? But for my daughter- Window (she loves to sleep and wants to be inside so she's not disturbed and whe loves to lean her pillow against the window to sleep).

Thanks for all the input. It is all helpful I appreciate it.

I checked seat guru for our flight in June and found that in the very back of some planes, the rows go from 3 seats to 2 seats, because of the narrowing on the plane. It appears that there is extra elbow room, although it will take us forever to get off the plane,

Anybody have a comment on this (so I can change it if it's a totally wrong seat)?

I'm a window seat traveler because I love to look out at the world below - especially on transatlantic flights. However, airlines are becoming more militant in insisting that windows stayed closed when there's light outside so the tyrannical majority of passengers can sleep. So a window seat becomes worthless unless you are able to sleep for the duration of the flight. In an aisle seat you can get up much easier.

Back of the plane may appear to be better seating, but if the restrooms are back there, you will have more company than you ever imagined. Also, on our last BA flights the back of the 767 was NOT where you wanted to be - hot, cramped and a miserable seat assignment. The crew could only apologize (and that's why we'll never go British again)!

Martin....just for clarification...you say you'll never travel BA again because the crew kept apologizing for the poor seating arrangements on the Boeing 767?

I'm with Martin about the back of the bus (or Boeing) not being the best place to be...
The Lavs get stinky mid-flight, lines to use it and doors slamming shut, the temperature is often too cold or too hot, more so too cold IME, and it's where the Seniors (most Seniority, not age) like to hold position.

(I've got nothing against Senior Crew, I guess with a decade flying I'm getting there, myself, hurray!) My point is, it is the least amount of work and farthest away from us (the Incharge) so they can slack off with less direct supervision. And that they do! Take note sometime. It's often the more Junior F/A's who can only hold the positions up front nearest the Incharge. I've never seen it fail in all the years I've been flying.

Our flight in June will only be our 2nd to Europe. My husband and I will sit across the aisle from each other in AISLE seats. No crawling over anyone...can get up without fretting about disturbing others...less claustrophobia for one of us...perhaps a bit unconventional not to sit side by side, but we both agree that the ability to stretch and stand more frequently is important. That middle seat is a bummer.

Sue,
My wife and I flew from SEA to LHR in those same seats. I would choose them again if I had the chance! The downside is that the video screen is in the center of the seat in front of you. Since the seats are a little bit inset, the screen and tray table are a little off-center too. But you also get the third seat to put stuff under, which gives you more leg room.

When we flew from SEA to CDG, we flew on a plane with pairs on the sides, which was great too. One on the window and one on the aisle. We put ourselves far enough back that we weren't right at the bathroom/galley area, yet not buried exactly in the middle either.

When I fly, I'll be on an Airbus Industrie A330-300 and a Boeing 747-400

My only question regarding this (and it may apply to the poster) is that when you look at the seat maps, in economy the wings are huge and i am wondering if i sit on a window seat in those ones, will i miss seeing much out the window?? I would love to be able to look out the window as we fly in...

any suggestions?

Leanna, there isn't much to see when you are flying over water for hours at a time.

I know, as I said i would like to be able to see London as I fly in :) plus as someone mentioned, theire daughter finds it good to sleep there :)

I prefer the 2 seaters in the back of the plane. If you take the window seat, you definitely have more room. I always fly Virgin and they have these seats.
Also they have always started serving from the rear!
Sure it takes longer to get off (never understand the people who clog up the aisles BEFORE they even open the doors!). But by the time you get to the terminal, you won;t have to wait as long for your baggage!!! You are also closer to the johns!

Norm
When an airline takes your money and promises to deliver you across the ocean, the standard of comfort should not be the minimum required to keep you alive. A 9-hour flight of sheer misery (our cabin was so hot and with virtually no air movement) is not what a reputable airline should stand for. With cramped seating and seat arrangements ordered by the airline from the manufacturers, the very least the line could do is provide fresh air, drinks, and a modicum of sympathy for us in steerage. I bet the flight crew is aware of conditions in the cabin (but is unable to voice these concerns).

Norm -
When an airline takes your money and promises to deliver you across the ocean, the standard of comfort should not be the minimum required to keep you alive. A 9-hour flight of sheer misery (our cabin was so hot and with virtually no air movement) is not what a reputable airline should stand for. With cramped seating and seat arrangements ordered by the airline from the manufacturers, the very least the line could do is provide fresh air, drinks, and a modicum of sympathy for us in steerage. I bet the flight crew is aware of conditions in the cabin (but is unable to voice these concerns).

Should one wish to criticize the seating arrangements on any aircraft, blame NOT the manufacturer of said airplane. The airline company is the one that decrees the pitch (distance between seats fore and aft) and arrangement of the seats, as well as where the lavs and galleys are located. So if the flight crew is apologizing for the lousy seating, at least they recognize that the folks who sign their paychecks haven't a clue as to what it is like in the back of the bus.

To the poster flying from Oz to London - if the seating arrangement shows you as overwing, then you'll be looking down upon a lot of metal, not London.

Martin...thanks for clarifying that. I can understand the "hot" part of your complaint...things do break down from time to time. But no refreshments? Wow, BA service must be slipping. I also have trouble with the "cramped" part, since the seats in the last row are the same size, and with the same seat pitch, as all the others. They don't recline as far because of the lav walls behind them, but that goes with just about any aircraft in service with any airline today. I actually find the 767 one of the more comfortable airliners to fly in today. And I figure that if I want anything more than "cattle class" treatment with any airline, I'll have to pay for it.

Not a seat preference but a plane preference. For my flight over I like to NOT have a TV in the seat in front of me - for me this means booking on a Continental 757. Now, if I do have a TV whatever - I'd just rather not have my son or I tempted to watch TV and would like to sleep. On the way back - long day flight - I need a flight with personal TVs - for us that's CO 767s. Gotta have TV for that flight or we'll go crazy.

Check out seat guru so you know which are the good seats on your aircraft.

Make your reservation with your frequent flyer number (get one if you don't have one already), in theory you are more likely to get a good seat.

Check online for the ability to change your seat. For domestic travel, I always check-in online and see what seats are available 24 hrs in advance. For international, it may be 48 hour check-in and you may be able to play with your seats at the time of booking.