When it comes to traveling, one of the most stressful aspects is picking that perfect seat. Whether it is a short one-hour flight or an hours-long international haul, the plane seat you select could make a major difference in the type of flight you have.
This guide offers tips and free resources to help you choose the ideal seat. ✈️
Seat Selection Resources
SeatMaps is a great, free resource for travelers to help them pick that perfect seat. It provides detailed aircraft seat maps, lists key information for seats per class, and color-codes seats to indicate their preferability. Seat ratings are aggregated from submitted customer reviews and data on partner sites.
To find the seat map for your flight, go to the site’s homepage and select the date, as well as the from and to locations of your trip. The search result will provide the seat map along with information about the aircraft, reviews, and links to other sources. Some search results also include pictures and videos. Note that some aircraft may have multiple versions of a seat map.
On the seat map, hover your mouse over any seat to view additional information and learn why it may or may not be a suitable seat.
Another great aspect of SeatMaps is that it provides a profile for each airline, offering helpful information such as luggage limits, check-in rules, pet policies, and more. You can access the airline profiles from this page.
Before SeatMaps, SeatGuru was the go-to site for travelers. Although the website remains accessible, the information is no longer updated, making it a less reliable source.
An additional resource I recommend when selecting a plane seat is YouTube. When you visit YouTube, search for your airline and aircraft model and include the term “seat map.” For example, “American Airlines 777-300ER seat map”. These videos provide an immersive look into a plane’s interior, giving travelers a better sense of the layout, overhead bin capacity, and in-flight features, such as seatback television sets.
Seat Selection Tips
The following are some tips to keep in mind when selecting a seat.
✈️ The front of the plane tends to be quieter than the back.
✈️ The section near the wings is generally more stable during turbulence and offers a smoother ride.
✈️ If you have a short connection, sit towards the front of the plane for quicker disembarking.
✈️ Bulkhead seats provide more legroom but may not offer underseat storage.
✈️ Review seat information in SeatMaps to confirm your window seat actually has a window.
✈️ Seats in front of an exit row do not recline.
✈️ Avoid, if possible, seats near the lavatories; the smell and noise can be bothersome, particularly on overnight flights.
✈️ Aisle seats may not be the best for overnight flights, as flight attendants and travelers can bump into you while you sleep.
Bonus Tip: Regarding in-flight meals, those seated towards the front of their respective cabins will generally have more choices. As flight attendants approach the back, usually, all that is left are the least preferred options.
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