Why do some passengers get the best seats on the plane, while others suffer in the toilet aisle? If you know a few secrets, then even the economy class can travel comfortably. We tell you how to get a comfortable seat during the flight
Service class and upgrade
Obviously, the higher the class, the more comfortable the flight and the more expensive the ticket. Business (and the rare and expensive first one) is much more comfortable than economy and its improved options, but such tickets are many times more expensive. There are services that allow you to view maps of seats in certain aircraft. For example, if you want to fly a Delta Boeing 717, you can see the seat map here https://seatmaps.com/airlines/dl-delta/boeing-717/ . But you can get into the business by using the upgrade for miles that accumulate when you participate in airline and alliance mile programs. Many miles can be accumulated by frequent flyers - for example, whose work is associated with constant business trips. In this case, you should get mileage program cards of those companies that make the majority of flights.
Another option is to use a payment card issued by the bank jointly with one or another airline, when spending on the card is converted into bonus miles. By the way, it is much more profitable to buy tickets for award miles from many airlines in business class - each such “mile” spent saves more rubles than when issuing an economy ticket in a similar way. Therefore, sometimes it is beneficial even to “buy” miles from another person, although airlines are trying to fight this practice.
You can also upgrade the service class for money when you have already purchased an economy ticket - for example, an improved economy or business ticket. Sometimes it can be more profitable than buying a business class right away, but there can be no guarantees. Another risk is that there will be no available seats at the time of the upgrade request. For some carriers, such a request can be made no earlier than a few weeks before the flight, for others - only on the last day.
Another option to get into the business is as a compliment from an airline to frequent flyers with the highest tier card, but that doesn't happen often. Sometimes ordinary passengers are transferred to the business, but the reason for this is overbooking - when more tickets are sold than seats on the plane, and all passengers are on the flight. Finally, some airlines, when reaching a certain level in the loyalty program, have a bonus in the form of several free upgrades during the year.
Comfort seats and emergency row
On most aircraft, there are several rows in the economy cabin, which are referred to as the so-called extra-comfort seats. They differ from the usual ones in increased legroom, and also often one or two passengers are occupied there in a standard block of three seats (due to the less availability of these seats), due to which there is also more space in width. Access to them is usually open to holders of high statuses of the airline's loyalty program or for a small surcharge, which often must be paid directly on the official website of the airline when editing your booking.
It is possible to sit on more spacious seats and for free: to do this, you need to register for an emergency row with a non-reclining back - the one behind which there is another emergency row, but with full chairs and access to it for a fee. But flying on the emergency lane is not only a privilege, but also a responsibility. Firstly, you need to be ready to assist guides during evacuation in emergency situations, and you will have to act quickly. To do this, you should study the memo on opening emergency exits and actions in case of emergency. And secondly, you need to speak either the national language of the airline or English. Also, on the emergency row, it is forbidden to keep luggage at the feet during takeoff and landing, even under the seat in front, as is allowed in normal seats.
In the nose, tail or wing? By the window or in the aisle?
Even if you do not consider privileged seats, there are key features with ordinary seats too. For example, if you plan to work at a computer, it makes sense to choose a seat by the window so that as few prying eyes as possible look at your screen, and also so that expensive equipment does not meet with a heavy flight attendant cart during food service - this often happens if you get carried away with work and even slightly turn the laptop towards the aisle. Ideally, choose a seat in the emergency row, as the passengers in front of you will have their backs locked and they will not be able to damage your computer by suddenly reclining. Sleeping is also better by the window, as you can lean on the fuselage wall. Reading is also there, as there is nothing better than natural light.
But it is better for tall people to sit near the aisle, since there is an opportunity to stretch their legs obliquely - you just need to follow the movements of other people. Similarly, the aisle seat is better suited for those who drink a lot or who, due to the characteristics of the body, fluid is excreted with great frequency - then you do not have to constantly disturb the neighbors for going to the toilet and back. This is especially true on long flights.
There can be no consensus on the location in different parts of the cabin. In the front part of the passenger cabin, there is less waiting for disembarkation (and, in theory, queues for passport control), but the seating density on medium-loaded flights is usually higher there than in the tail. This means less chance of the middle seat being vacant. Also ahead, food service starts earlier (not only will you eat faster, but the choice of dishes is guaranteed not to run out) and from there the collection of dirty dishes begins. The main disadvantage of the nasal segment is that there are often passengers with small children who can cry loudly throughout the flight.
But the cherished emergency exits with places of increased spaciousness are located in the middle part of the cabin, and there is a little less shaking (for some reason, many are afraid of it) in the area of \u200b\u200bthe wings. But these same wings can interfere with making a spectacular shot in flight - there are people for whom this is important. There is also an opinion that in the area of \u200b\u200bthe wings there is the most noise from engines, but the author of the material does not agree with him, being insensitive to noise levels. For most people, there is unlikely to be a significant difference in this regard. The tail part of the cabin is good because there are often empty seats and there are more chances not to sit close to a neighbor if the flight is incomplete.
Sometimes you even manage to stretch out on three chairs and sleep lying down - a weighty argument to register for the penultimate row for a night flight to an unpopular destination. Just remember that the kitchen, located in the nose (in the business cabin) and in the tail of the aircraft, is an additional source of noise: carts and dishes rattle, flight attendants talk to each other. Finally, according to some statistics, rear seats are considered safer in crashes - for aerophobes, this can serve as a calming factor.
A couple more hacks
Whoever checks in for a flight earlier has the widest possible choice of seats. Therefore, it makes sense to arrive at the airport early (usually check-in starts 2 hours before departure). But it’s even better to use online check-in (usually a day before departure), and on the spot just drop off your luggage at a separate counter if necessary. If you see a long check-in line at the airport, you can use the self check-in kiosk and choose a seat there, after which you can check in your luggage.
Before the flight, study the cabin of the aircraft - you can find out the model of the liner on the airline's website or by the flight number using special services on the Internet. You will be able to see where the emergency rows, partitions are located, how many seats are installed (there are asymmetrical salons, where there are two seats on one side and three on the other) and where the exits, toilets and kitchens are located. It will become much easier to navigate immediately.
Another life hack - if you are flying together and the flight is not very popular, then with a high probability you can get rid of the third person in a row. To do this, one needs to register at the aisle, and the other at the window, preferably in the back of the cabin. The chances that some lonely traveler will be put between you in this case are quite small, and if this happens, then for sure he will agree to change his disadvantageous “middle” to a “window” or “passage”. By the way, changing places, as well as dispersing into free ones after landing or takeoff is a normal practice. But only with the permission of the flight attendant.
Finally, keep in mind that if the plane, upon departure/arrival, parks not at the terminal, but on the airfield, then there is no point in rushing to board and disembark - usually whoever got on the bus earlier is the farthest from the exit from it.