If you fly for a short time, then perhaps this issue is not acute for you. And for those who fly often, who are going on a long flight, it is important to know where best places in airplane. After all, you must admit, when planning a vacation to distant hot countries, we dream that it would be a success, and the impression of it would not be blurred by the “difficulties of the flight”. I don’t want to sit somewhere in a cramped middle row, squeezed between too well-fed passengers or get into the tail section, where there is not even a porthole, to have a neighborhood next to the toilet, where passengers endlessly ply.

If you know the brand of the aircraft on which you plan to fly, then the aircraft diagram 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 general rules which we will describe here.

Window 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 bizarre views of clouds;
• you will not be disturbed by squeezing to the exit.

These places have only one drawback: it will be difficult for you to go out into the aisle, if you need to go to the toilet, you will have to disturb the 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

Seats have advantages for long-legged and restless people. Here you can stretch your legs into the aisle, get up, stand for a while, freely go to the toilet. After landing, again, you will get off the plane faster. On the other hand, these are the most restless places. Stewardesses with carts drive endlessly, sometimes they even hurt. Every time you have to get up when someone goes to the toilet.

Golden mean

Some, after weighing the pros and cons of the extreme seats, deciding where it is better to sit on the plane, will take the seats in the middle, they are not too restless and will not disturb the neighbors much. If you need to get up, then at least not through everyone and fewer people pass through you, which means they will be less likely to disturb you.

Seats behind emergency exits

These seats are located away from the previous row, so sitting here is quite comfortable, you can stretch your legs, go to the toilet without disturbing anyone. Often, air carriers leave such places for physically fit 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.

Seats behind emergency hatches

These are very uncomfortable places in the sense that the seats are not thrown back, they are fixed so as not to block the passages to the emergency exits. If the row is located between two escape hatches, then the passenger has the advantage that there is some additional space in front of him.

At the front of the plane

They are convenient because passenger service starts from these places, and you have a larger selection of food and drinks. In addition, the advantage of front row passengers is that they will be able to go down the stairs of the aircraft faster. The negative point of these places is that passengers with children often take tickets here, since fasteners for baby strollers are made in the bow. Well, what is it like to fly next to a child who is naughty, everyone knows.

Seats at the tail of the aircraft

There are usually economy class seats and it is considered that there are few amenities. However, the biggest benefit, which will probably outweigh all the others when deciding which seats to choose on an airplane, is safety. According to statistics, during crashes and accidents, it is the passengers in the tail section that most often survive, since the main blow always falls on the nose of the aircraft.

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 the passenger service of the tail section is obtained 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 can stretch your legs;
• no one will throw a chair on you.

However, please note that the first row, in front of which there are no seats, may be after the rows of another 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 all the way, and cradles for babies are often attached to the wall. You can buy tickets for these places if necessary.

The last row

Seats in the last row are very uncomfortable, because the seats do not recline, and if they do, they do not recline very much, and you will not be able to rest properly, especially if the flight is long.

This is a short description of all types of seats on the plane, but you also need to take into account such factors:

• number of service classes in the cabin;
• distance between rows;
• number of seats in a row.

All these characteristics are different for different models of liners.

Scheme for buying good seats on an airplane

1. Find out the model of the liner on which you are going to fly. It would be good to consult with airline employees, find out in general about the degree of cabin comfort: the availability of sockets, the distance between the rows, is there a TV, where the toilet is located.
2. Buy your ticket online or at self check-in kiosks at the airport, if available. So you can choose free comfortable spot. On the websites of airlines, you can find diagrams of aircraft cabins.
3. If you buy tickets at a regular box office, just ask where you need to, "at the window" or "at the aisle."
4. Think about what is most important for you during the flight, what will you do - look out the window or sleep. It may be important for you to get out of your seat at any time freely.
5. Please note that the numbers and letters that designate places can be written in both Cyrillic and Latin, and the place may have a different arrangement depending on this.
6. Try to buy tickets for freer flights. Usually planes are loaded on Fridays and weekends, and in time - morning and evening flights. If you want to choose comfortable seats for yourself, 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.
7. To choose good places, you must also take into account the direction of the 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 in the opposite direction, to the North, then the sun would be on the right.

What to do if you managed to buy only an uncomfortable place

Try to arrive at the airport on time for check-in and boarding. Then you will have a few minutes after landing to take a more convenient place, suddenly this will be among the free ones. Do not ask permission from the flight attendant, transfer yourself. When the landing is completed, and the plane begins to climb, it will be impossible to transfer. When the liner has already gained altitude and it will be allowed to get up, it may turn out that these places are already occupied by more efficient passengers. In any case, you should not be upset, since you will always have time to take your purchased place.

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An uncomfortable seat on an airplane can make you feel uncomfortable during the entire flight, and cause fatigue and fatigue at the end of the journey. But this can be avoided if you find out in advance which seats on the plane will be the most convenient and comfortable for you.

Place near the porthole

Advantages

• If you are flying during the day and plan to read, good lighting will be a plus.
• You can enjoy the view from the window, but this also depends on the flight time - at night, unfortunately, you can't see much.
• Here, your neighbors will not squeeze through your place to theirs and cause you additional inconvenience.

disadvantages

• From such a place it is more difficult to get up and go, for example, to the toilet. You yourself will have to squeeze in and disturb your neighbors.

Aisle seat

Advantages

• From this place you can freely get up, go to the toilet without disturbing the neighbors.
• Here you can stretch your legs into the passage - this is especially true during a long flight.
• After the plane has landed, you can get to the exit a little faster than others.

disadvantages

• You will have to get up every time the neighbors want to get up and go out.
• Other passengers and flight attendants will walk around you with carts that can hit you.

Seats in the middle of the row

Seats in the middle of the row combine all the advantages and disadvantages of the porthole seats and the aisle seats. It’s a little quieter here than at the aisle, but you have to let the neighbors through and disturb the other neighbors yourself if you want to go out.

Seats near emergency exits

Advantages

• These seats are the most attractive and comfortable in terms of space - the distance to the next row of seats is slightly increased here, and some aircraft do not have a row of seats at all in front of the emergency exit seats. This allows passengers to calmly stretch their legs, get up and go to the toilet without disturbing the neighbors.

disadvantages

• In order not to block the approaches to the emergency hatches, the backs of the seats in these rows have a small angle of inclination or can be fixed at all.
• Despite the increased space hand luggage, which you took with you on board, cannot be placed here - the approach to the hatches cannot be blocked by hand luggage.
• Elderly people and passengers with children should not be in these places - often these places are given to physically strong men. This is because in the event of an emergency evacuation, such a person is more likely to be able to open the escape hatch and help the crew evacuate people.

Seats located in front of the cabin

Advantages

• Traditionally, seats in the front rows are considered the most comfortable.
• There are no more chairs ahead, no one will recline the back of their seat on you, so there is enough space to stretch your legs.
• If you are traveling with small children, then it will be easy to place a cradle or stroller here.
• Usually food and drinks are served from the front of the cabin, which will provide you with a wider selection of drinks and food.

disadvantages

• Since the seats in the front rows of the cabin most often go to passengers with children, there will hardly be silence in the front of the cabin.

Seats in the tail

Advantages

• There is an opinion that the safest places are located in the tail section of the aircraft (according to existing statistics, of all the passengers who survived the accident, 67% sat in the tail).
• It happens that passengers are released simultaneously from the bow and tail sections. In this case, you will get off the plane faster.
• On unloaded flights, the seats in the tail are usually empty, and flying without neighbors is much more pleasant - you can not only get out freely, sit by the window, but even sleep on 3 chairs at once.

disadvantages

• Vibration is felt more strongly in the tail section of the aircraft.
• There are sometimes long queues for the toilet.
• Flight attendants usually get to this part of the plane with carts already empty, so passengers in the tail section of the plane are usually limited in their choice of an assortment of drinks and food.
• Most likely, the backs of the seats in this row do not recline or are very limited in this.

How to get the best seat on a plane

And although in some airlines for some aircraft it is now possible to buy a ticket with a fixed seat for a flight, nevertheless, in most airlines, tickets are sold without a specific seat in the cabin. You can choose a seat on the plane during check-in for the flight yourself, using online check-in or at the check-in desk at the airport. But in this case, you will need to come to check-in in advance in order to be able to choose.

If you nevertheless received a ticket for a not very convenient seat, then immediately after landing you can try to take a more convenient seat (if there are empty seats in the cabin).

An experienced traveler, even before boarding the plane, is sure that he will be comfortable flying. He knows how to extract the right information from a seating plan and book the most comfortable seat long before he arrives at the airport.

He takes into account a lot of nuances and as a result enjoys the journey. Yes, in order to be able to do this, you need to make a lot of flights - or read the Kidpassage article once.

It contains everything you need to know about the best airplane seats and how to book them. Our review will be especially useful for parents with babies: they definitely need to know how to choose a seat on an airplane so that the flight goes smoothly.

Aircraft seat classes

The comfort of the seats and the range of services on the plane depends on which class you are flying. All seats in the cabin are divided into three main classes - economy, business and first class.

Most often, tourists buy economy class seats. In terms of comfort, they can be compared with modern buses: seats are installed in the cabin, between which a small legroom is left.

People of average height will be able to get comfortable, but long-legged passengers need to know which seat is best to choose.

Parents with restless children will also need a life hack for choosing seats in economy class: who would want a child to stomp on their feet for several hours of flight?

However, flying in economy class does not mean depriving you of all amenities. You will definitely be fed during the flight, besides, many airlines offer free baby food- ask how to order such a service (usually, such a need must be reported 24-48 hours before the flight).

For babies, you can reserve a hanging cradle. Often, air carriers give small tourists gifts - toys, coloring books, stickers: new entertainment will help the child pass the time in flight. Each seat can be equipped with a TV.

Note that an economy class ticket imposes a baggage restriction: most often it is allowed to carry up to 20 kg of baggage per person free of charge. You can take hand luggage into the cabin by placing it on a special shelf or under a chair.

Business class seats on the plane are somewhat more comfortable. The distance between the seats is greater, and the seats themselves are usually arranged so that during the flight you can relax.

Business class passengers are offered more plentiful and refined meals, and the free baggage allowance is increased. Also, seats in business class are equipped with sockets, so that passengers can charge their smartphone or connect a laptop.

Sometimes planes have first class seats. This is the most comfortable class for long-haul flights, but also the most expensive. A common bonus for first and business class passengers is a separate check-in counter for boarding.

Please note: some airlines introduce their own gradation of seats on the plane, creating seats superior comfort in economy class.

Where is the best place to sit on an airplane?

You will be surprised, but travelers do not have a single opinion on which seats on the plane are better. Preference is influenced by various factors, from the height of the passenger to his ideas about safety.

We propose to consider several options for accommodation in the cabin in order to find out their advantages and disadvantages.

1. Seats along the sides of the aircraft. Convenient if the child wants to look out the window or you are going to read, draw with the baby, do other things that require good lighting.

If your family takes up all the adjacent seats, you will have two additional advantages: you will not disturb the neighbors if you need to go to the toilet, and the tallest member of the family will be able to straighten his legs in the aisle.

2. Aisle seats. Suitable if you have a restless child - he will have the opportunity to at least stretch a little in the aisle. With a baby who will sleep in your arms, it is better not to choose this place: on the one hand, you will be disturbed by fellow travelers who need to go to the toilet, on the other, by flight attendants delivering food around the cabin.

3. Front row seats. The most comfortable seats on an airplane for flying with a baby: usually it is in the front row that mounts for a hanging cradle are provided. Since there are no seats in front, no one will lower the back of their chair and take away your space.

Also, passengers in the front seat are usually the first to receive food and can choose from any of the proposed menu options. But there are also disadvantages: a bag with children's things that will be needed during the flight cannot be pushed under the seat in front.

I'll have to put it at my feet, and this will take up space. Another drawback is that, as a rule, the armrests of the seats in the first row do not rise, so you cannot turn neighboring seats into a solid sofa.

4. Seats in the middle row in wide-body aircraft. Not a bad choice if you manage to occupy three adjacent chairs. If the flight is relatively short, then the flight attendants and passengers passing along the rows will not annoy you.

5. Seats in the tail. According to statistics, these are the safest places on the plane. If the fear of air travel is great, climb deep into the cabin and switch to dreams about what family fun waiting for you in a few hours. But if you are not afraid to fly, it is advisable not to choose seats in the tail of the aircraft - the cons greatly outweigh the pros.

The backs of the seats in the last row do not recline, and a long flight can be a torment. Also, at the end of the salon, a small queue of people who want to get to the toilet usually gathers.

Almost all the information you need about the benefits of a particular place can be obtained by studying the plan of the salon. You will find it on the websites of air carriers or on aggregator websites offering a search for air tickets.

For example, the SeatGuru service allows you to find an aircraft by flight number and study the cabin layout. A description is given for each place on the plan: the width of the chair, the distance between the seats, the location of the portholes, sockets, and toilets are indicated.

If the air carrier offers extra-comfort seats, they will also be marked on the diagram.

Aircraft emergency exit seats

Emergency exits in the aircraft are located, as a rule, on both sides in the middle part of the cabin. If you manage to get into the seats in front of which the emergency exits are located, then in flight you will feel very good.

The main advantage of these seats is the increased distance between the seats. The child will be able to move without leaving the main aisle, it will be easier for you to get out to the toilet, and the lowered backs of the front seats will not be particularly bothersome.

But it should be noted that usually next to the emergency exits they try to put strong passengers who, in case emergency situation be able to help other people get out of the cabin. Children under 12 and pregnant women are not seated in these places.

Even if there are a lot of empty seats on the plane, and you manage to get next to the emergency exit, you will have to put your hand luggage on the top shelf.

Please note that some airlines offer emergency row seats for an additional fee.

Where is the best place to sit on a plane with a child

With all the pros and cons, the best place on an airplane for a flight with children is the front rows of seats. It is important that there are much more pluses: increased space in front of the chair, the presence of fixtures for the crib, the ability to choose food.

In addition, there is less shaking in the front of the aircraft if the aircraft enters a turbulent zone.

It must be said that the employees who check in for the flight often try to allocate seats on the plane for children under 2 years old in the front.

This means that there may be several babies next to you, not each of which will sleep peacefully all the way. If silence is more important to you than a hanging cradle, ask for a seat in the middle of the cabin.

In the case when you are flying alone with a child over 2 years old (and such a traveler needs a separate seat), try to take first and third place in a group of three seats.

If the flight is not loaded, it is possible that no one will be put in an empty seat between you. And you will have an extra seat - on an airplane with a child, it is better to have at least a small island for games and recreation.

When choosing a seat on an airplane, do not try to get into the tail section with children. But if there are a lot of empty seats in the liner, then after the announcement of the end of the landing, you can move to the tail and take three adjacent seats. It is quite possible to put a child to sleep there.

Please note: check-in staff do not always pay attention to the age of travelers and may give seats to parents and children in different parts of the cabin. Therefore, during check-in, ask to be placed next to the children.

How to choose a seat on an airplane using an electronic ticket

There are two ways to sit in the cabin of the aircraft that you like the most. The first is to find the location of the seats on the plane before departure, study their benefits, be at the check-in desk two hours before departure and ask to be seated in the selected seats.

The front desk clerk is likely to meet you halfway unless those seats are already filled. The fact is that advanced travelers try to book a seat on the plane immediately when buying an electronic ticket.

Advance booking of seats in the cabin is the second way to ensure your comfort during the flight. We recommend that you choose your seats on the plane online immediately after you have bought an e-ticket.

This service is provided by many airlines, as well as aggregator sites. When there is no line of people who want to check in for a flight behind you, you can safely study how the seats are located on the plane and choose the most convenient ones.

It is enough to mark the necessary seats on the interactive diagram, and the airline will receive information about the seat reservation. Then at the airport you will be sure that you will be accommodated in the cabin with comfort.

Sometimes at the time of booking it turns out that the best seats are already taken. Do not rush to get upset: this may mean that the airline holds the most comfortable seats until check-in opens.

Often they are left in order to accommodate passengers with babies or tall people. In this case, we recommend using the first method - come early to check-in and ask to be seated comfortably.

Important: not all airlines provide the possibility of booking seats before check-in opens. It is also not possible to book seats on low-cost flights.

Now you know what needs to be done to make the flight go smoothly. Let's share a few more little things that will help you get the most profitable seats.

• Do not be lazy to study the scheme of the aircraft. So you will know in advance how not to be on uncomfortable place- for example, next to the toilet (and in large liners bathrooms are located not only in the tail of the aircraft).
• Look for testimonials from travelers who have flown the same type of aircraft you will be flying. From there you can get useful information: from the temperature on board to the small services that make the flight easier.
• Try to get on a less busy flight - there will be more chances to get a good seat. Usually for flights on weekdays, except Friday, fewer passengers than on the weekend.
• During registration, ask to be placed in the places you like. If you haven't decided on a seat, just say that you would like to sit next to the window, or in the aisle, or in the front row. You can also ask " quiet place»: the plan of the aircraft does not provide information about the location of the engines, but employees know where the hum of the engines is heard the least.
• If you still got unfavorable seats, transfer to the best ones after the announcement of the end of boarding.
• Do not take places behind which emergency exits are located. These chairs usually do not have reclining backs or the backs recline slightly.
• Some airlines provide passengers with the most comfortable seats for a surcharge. You can resort to this service to play it safe. But if you use our tips, then in most cases you can comfortably get on the plane and at no extra charge.

Some 150 years ago, people covered a distance of 200 km in 2 days. Who among them could have imagined that at the beginning of the 21st century, after spending just a few hours, it would be possible to be 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 interfere with either those who fly rarely or the regulars of airships.

Classes of service in passenger air transportation

Aircraft service level classification includes three main classes:

1. Economy class;
2. Business Class;
3. 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 not common, 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 aircraft passengers. Most of the seating on the ship falls into this category. On the ticket, belonging to the class is indicated by a special letter in the “CL” column. Depending on the airline and the selected fare, this can be any letter of the Latin alphabet. For different carriers, the same letter can mean different rates.

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 tail of the liner or in the center, so passengers with extra comfort seats are the first to leave the plane;
• The width of the seats and the distance 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 rows from 75 to 90 cm also reduce the comfort of such a trip;
• Not all seats in the standard cabin are laid out. Seats at emergency exits, in front of the sanitary unit and the food compartment are equipped with seats, the backs of which can only be in an upright position;
• Meals in economy may vary from carrier to carrier. The diet and assortment in this class is much simpler than in the business class cabin;
• Check-in for a flight for passengers from this category does not provide for any benefits and takes place at a standard desk at the airport. A special bus delivers travelers to planes. AT major airports there are telescopic bridges to which the aircraft moored. In this case, the passengers themselves go on board as soon as boarding is announced;
• Aeroflot's maximum carry-on baggage weight must not exceed 10 kg. luggage compartment will transport a suitcase no heavier than 23 kg free of charge. Sometimes free baggage is not allowed, it depends on the conditions of the air carrier.

Advantages of traveling in a regular cabin:

• Ticket prices for economy class when traveling in one plane are very different from the first and business;
• The tail section of the aircraft is the safest place during the flight according to research;
• Service in the cabins of some airlines includes the provision of a blanket, pillow, headphones, a folding table, as well as a pocket with standard literature. The list is different for each carrier. Other accessories may be added to this list, or vice versa, depending on company rules and conditions.

Superior class

An intermediate service was first launched by KLM in 1976. Business class is between the highest and lowest levels of service. Aeroflot differs from economy in the food and attention paid to passengers.

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

• The cost of the ticket assumes compliance with the definition of "price-quality". A ticket to such a cabin on the same plane will always be more expensive than economy and cheaper than first class;
• The seats are usually wider than standard, the intervals between the rows are more spacious, the aisles in the cabin are wide. Depending on the liner, the business class cabin may be different. Types of seats are fully reclining and with an angle of 160 degrees;
• Business passengers have unlimited access to food and drink throughout the flight. The menu includes an extensive range of dishes;
• The weight of hand luggage and main luggage, which can be carried free of charge, is 2 times more than that of the economy. These conditions are provided by Aeroflot;
• Business class passengers check-in for a flight out of turn, at a separate counter. Upon completion of registration, travelers are offered a free zone with food, drinks, internet. Here you can comfortably wait for the start of boarding;
• Many airlines practice transfer to the airport, as well as delivery to the destination upon arrival. The cost of the service is included in the ticket price.

It is worth noting that the declared level of service is not always true. It is possible that a plane is landing for landing, in which only economy class seats are provided. In this case, even with a ticket to the zone with increased comfort, the passenger is forced to fly on general terms, without knowing how business class differs from economy class.

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

Flight with royal service

There are many privileges for first class passengers. Free delivery to the air harbor and taxi to the hotel at the end of the trip. The lucky person will be waiting for landing in the best airport lounge. In large air harbors it happens that the zone of increased comfort is equipped with beds and showers. Gourmet snacks and drinks are served here. Most often, these passengers do not go to the check-in desk at all - they are met by a specially designated airport employee (from a separate entrance), escorted to the VIP lounge and conducts the check-in procedure himself.

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 a chair, and other attributes. Armchairs are fully laid out and turn into a full bed. The interior depends on the carrier. Elite menu, expensive drinks are provided in unlimited quantities. The quality of interior materials, utensils, accessories - all at the highest level. Passengers of the 1st class are the first to board the board, on a special transport. Baggage over 45 kg and hand luggage in unlimited quantities for them is implied free of charge.

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

Booking classes

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

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

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.

The T class of booking in the economy cabin from Aeroflot is popular. The fare has its limitations - the date of the return flight is strictly fixed, the ticket is redeemed within a day from the date of its issue, it is impossible to select a seat in advance, unfavorable conditions in case of cancellation of the reservation. The inconvenience is compensated by the favorable cost, for which the tariff is popular.

For comparison, class Y for the same carrier involves flying in economy, with open date return trip, without restrictions on the payment of 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. The cost of a ticket with a type of Y reservation will be much more expensive than a T class.

Some airlines have strict cabin seating policies depending on the type of booking. In the recent past, Kuban Airlines had a “Flight strictly in the 20th row” tariff. Two people from business class may have a different assortment on the menu, and in the first class someone will hear more neighbors.

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

Video

Aircraft seat classes are an opportunity for people to choose the best conditions for their air travel. Passengers with different needs and wallets fly in full accordance with their capabilities.

Not everyone can afford a business class flight and take several more space than the standard seat. Those who fly often know that the chance of landing with a large person or someone with different ideas about hygiene is very high. It is impossible to avoid this, but you can try to sit near the window or in the aisle, if it will be more comfortable for you to survive the hardships of the flight.

Russian Forbes gives practical advice on how not to miscalculate with a seat on an airplane.

1. Learn more about the model and seating arrangements on the aircraft

You can find out on which model of aircraft a particular flight is made on the airline's website. Aircraft different airlines quite different from each other in the comfort of the salons. The websites SeatGuru, SeatExpert have all the details about the layout of a variety of aircraft: the presence of electrical outlets and TVs in the backs of the seats, the location of the toilets, the spacing between the rows (usually it is 80 cm, but some companies, such as JetBlue, increased it by 5 cm) - this seemingly small difference is very noticeable during long flights.

The first row behind the business class is considered the most convenient: there is more legroom, no one is sitting in front of you - which means that no one leans back on you, you will be the first to get food, drinks, newspapers, you will get blankets and pillows, for traveling 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 lift 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 longer than in the rest of the cabin, but depending on the layout of the cabin, the seat backs often do not fall (on long flights, you will regret this) and you cannot keep a hand on the floor luggage. The rules prescribe to plant only tall adults in these places.

“Honestly, for obvious reasons, registration is primarily looked at to make sure that this person is physically strong, energetic and, how can I put it, quick-witted,” says Boris Rybak, director of the consulting company Infomost. - When emergency he must open the door and help the crew evacuate the passengers.”

Although there are cases when even a fragile girl could convince an airline employee that she needed to fly in this particular row.

In the middle of the cabin, for a significant part of the flight, you find yourself “locked” in carts with food, drinks, newspapers, and duty-free goods. In addition, rows 8-20 are usually the noisiest zone in the aircraft, all the noise of engines and turbines is concentrated here. But there is no such information on websites and cabin maps, and only airline employees at check-in can help you find a quieter place - different types of aircraft have different noise distribution schedules.

At the tail of the plane, the seats are a little narrower (such is the geometry of the plane) - it’s closer to sit there, it shakes harder, a small selection of food, newspapers and magazines (according to the principle - what’s left), next to it is a toilet, which most often has a queue - which means noise. The only plus is that the tail seats are considered safer.

2. Book in advance

Advance booking allows you to choose your seats on the plane long before the flight. 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. Company british airways since October of this year, introduced an additional fee for booking: now for the opportunity to choose a convenient seat for passengers economy class you will have to pay 10 pounds ($16) on European flights and 20 pounds ($32) for long flights, and 20 pounds ($32) and 60 pounds ($98) respectively for business class passengers. But most air carriers (with the exception of low-cost ones, which charge everything) still provide this service for free when buying tickets both on the Internet and at airline offices. But few people know about it - because for some reason neither the carriers themselves nor the agents particularly advertise it.

When booking a seat in advance, you can also order special food for yourself (which few people also know about) - all air carriers have different lunch options. Transaero, for example, offers a choice of about 30 different meals - vegetarian, kosher, Muslim, low-calorie, diabetic and others, plus 2 types of baby food.

3. Use online registration

You can also choose a seat convenient for you during online check-in, this procedure is becoming more and more popular - you can check in at the airport at special kiosks, and even on the airline's website. Thus, you save a lot of time (you can arrive at the airport at least 50 minutes before departure), however, there are a number of restrictions - you must travel without luggage, without small children, without animals. In general, this option is suitable for a businessman traveling light. In addition, some companies, such as Delta or Air Berlin, do not display seats near emergency exits (and they are considered good by travelers) in the online check-in system, holding them for tall and large passengers. The second point is that not all companies in Russia have online check-in counters, and so far only in Moscow - in Dodomedovo and Sheremetyevo-2.

In the near future, the creation of a single group boarding pass, which will allow you to get seats next to each other, for example, a large family or a group of passengers - for this they will not have to be all at the airport at the same time, 1 person will be able to register the entire company: the data of several travelers at once will be stored on the chip of one ticket.

4. Arrive early for check-in

Do not neglect the simplest and most proven way to get the desired seat in the cabin: do not be lazy and arrive at the beginning of registration. According to the director of the press service of Transaero airline Sergey Bykhal, "airline employees at check-in always try to accommodate passengers and take into account their wishes." For those traveling alone, this option is also possible: take a chance and play the lottery - arrive, on the contrary, 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 from which all other passengers already refused.

5. Choose Low Traffic Days to Fly

Experts recommend, if possible, to schedule 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 is quite possible to sleep on three chairs.

6. Try "unofficial ways"

A few years ago, the practice of obtaining good places on board or access to business class for a bribe to airline employees (500 rubles invested in your passport can still open your way to a place at emergency exit but we don't recommend it). The American Forbes.com tells the story of a passenger who, on a flight from New York to Germany, was helped by a hundred dollar bill to get into business class. True, on the way back with the German airline staff, the same trick did not work.