Best seat on the plane: tips & tricks - Flightright UK

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Best seat on the plane: tips & tricks

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Key Points about “Best seat on the plane”

  • Provides tips for choosing the best seat on a plane.
  • Discusses seat selection based on legroom, recline, and location.
  • Suggests checking airline seat maps before booking.
  • Offers advice for specific needs such as traveling with children.
  • Recommends using third-party seat selection tools.


You had a flight delay or a flight cancellation? Check your rights now and increase your chances of compensation

The best seats on the plane: Flights can be very stressful, especially because you can hardly move your body and legs for several hours. The time can then drag on endlessly, and you can hardly wait to finally get off the plane to move your legs (stress-free flying). Therefore, to make a flight more enjoyable, it is important for air travelers to know the best seats on the plane and the tips and tricks on how to get them. Read more about this in the blog article. 

Where is the best place to sit on the plane?

Where is the best seat on the plane? This is certainly a question many air travellers ask themselves when they complete the online check-in. Which seat is best on the plane depends on various factors. It is clear that you have more comfort in First Class or Business Class than in Economy Class. However, you also pay a high additional price for this. However, since most air travellers fly economy class, this article focuses on that.

What are the best seats on the plane?

The best seats on the plane also depend on the traveler’s taste. Is it important to you to be able to get off quickly or to have a lot of legroom, for example? All this plays a role in deciding which are the best seats on the plane. Especially on long flights, the so-called XL seats at the emergency exits are very popular. The disadvantage is that many airlines charge extra for the additional space. If you want to experience as little turbulence as possible, it is best to book a seat above the wings. It has been proven that turbulence is least noticeable there. 

Another good choice is a seat in the front of the plane, as vibrations are also less noticeable there than in the back. If you get hungry quickly on the plane, you should also book a seat as far to the front of the plane as possible, as they usually start serving the food at the front. If, on the other hand, it is particularly important to see a lot of the flight, you should book a window seat. If you have to go to the toilet often or want to move around a bit on the plane, an aisle seat is advisable. 

Have you experienced a flight delay/cancellation?

According to the EU Air Passenger Rights Regulation, the amount of compensation is calculated according to the flight route (distance):

Short distance up to 1500 kmMedium distance up to 3500 kmLong distance from 3500 km
e.g. London – Edinburghe.g. London – Athense.g. London – Tokyo
250€400€600€

Is it better to sit in the front or the back of the plane?

Is the best seat on the plane in the front or in the back? Travellers often ask themselves this question when booking. The answer: it depends. If you have a fear of flying, you should try to avoid the back of the plane. It shakes and jolts more violently there than in the front if there is turbulence. The seats above the wings are also somewhat quieter, especially during take-off and landing. On the other hand, you have a little more peace and quiet in the rear of the aircraft. The service trolley does not come by all the time, and experience shows that the toilet is used much less in the rear than in the front.

How are seats allocated on the plane?

The distribution of seats on the plane is usually regulated very precisely. For the most part, seats are booked and also allocated from the front to the back, as the front rows are closer to the doors in case of emergency. To distribute the in-flight catering, crew members also usually go from front to back. 

Is there a free choice of seat on the plane?

Changing seats on the plane is largely possible after consultation with the crew. The fixed seating arrangement is not intended to keep passengers away from seats that are available, but to ensure maximum safety on board. A friendly request to the crew usually helps to find another free seat or to change seats with another passenger.

Can I simply change seats on the plane?

In principle, all passengers must be seated in their previously assigned seats when the aircraft takes off. Therefore, it is usually not possible to change seats in the aircraft during take-off, as the balance of the aircraft can be lost by changing seats. However, in principle, there is nothing to be said against changing to another seat once the aircraft has reached cruising altitude. However, you should always ask the flight attendant before doing so, as on some flights certain seats are intentionally left empty. 

Can I choose seats during the check-in?

As part of the online check-in process, it is now possible with almost all airlines to reserve a seat online. However, it is usually only possible to reserve a window or aisle seat, for example, for varying reservation fees. However, especially on long-haul flights, you may not have to pay anything for the service, especially if you check in early enough.

Why is it not allowed to change seats on the plane?

Passengers should not simply change their seats if they are not happy with it. This can lead to safety problems and annoy the flight attendants. Some seats are only designed for certain groups of people. For example, only people who are physically fit and speak good English should sit at the emergency exits so that they can quickly assist in an emergency. If you would like to change seats after all, you should politely ask the flight attendant if this is possible.

Where do you have the most legroom on a plane?

If passengers are particularly keen on having more legroom, the front seats or emergency exits offer the most space. Chances of getting such a seat increase if you book early enough or are willing to spend more money for the seat.

Best seats on the plane with baby! – Where?

Finding a good seat on the plane with a baby is important. Otherwise, the flight can be very stressful for you and your fellow passengers. A baby on the plane often means stress, because it can cry or shriek very easily. To avoid this, it is best to sit with a baby on the plane in a quiet place where it does not shake so much in turbulence. If the baby is still small, he or she can sit on the parent’s lap. If the baby is already a little bigger, there are suitable seats provided by the airline. 

Best seats on the plane with children! – Where?

Finding the best seats on a plane with children can sometimes be difficult. But where is the best place to sit on a plane with children? It depends on how old and tall the children are. For example, do they need more legroom or can they share a seat with their parents. If they are very frightened of flying, it is best to find a rather quiet seat near the wings or in the front of the plane. If the child is very active, an aisle seat makes sense, as this way other passengers do not have to get up when the child wants to stand or walk.

Where is it loudest on the plane?

It is noisiest at the back of the plane, because the noise is concentrated at the end of the plane. The further forward you sit, for example in front of the wings and engines, the quieter it is. It is also louder at the emergency exit, as the doors there are significantly less insulated.

Special seats on the plane! – Where?

Especially on long flights, the so-called XL seats at the emergency exits are very popular. The disadvantage is that many airlines charge extra for the extra space. If you want to experience as little turbulence as possible, it is best to book a seat above the wings. It has been proven that turbulence is least noticeable there. Another good choice is a seat in the front of the plane, as vibrations are also less noticeable there than in the back. If you get hungry quickly on the plane, you should also book a seat as far to the front of the plane as possible, as flight attendants usually start serving food at the front.

What happens if you do not reserve a seat on the plane?

If you don’t select a seat during online check-in, you don’t have to worry about not being taken on board. You will simply be allocated a random seat. This can mean that several people with the same booking end up sitting separately on the plane. It is also rather unusual to end up in one of the coveted seats without a reservation.

A brief summary of the best seats on the plane for you

The best seats on the plane: 

  • Empty rows or rows of two make flying more pleasant
  • If you sit far towards the front, you can get off the plane quickest, and you also have the quietest seats on the plane.
  • If you want to have your meals quickly, you will do yourself a favour by sitting close to the kitchen; however, you’ll also have to deal with the disadvantages of this type of seat.
  • All in all, it can be said that there is no such thing as THE perfect seat on the plane, because everyone has different ideas of what a perfect seat should be, but most passengers are quick to agree on the worst seats!

Worst seats on the plane 

  • The seat in the middle of a row
  • The seats right near the toilets
  • Seats near the kitchen, where people spend a lot of time cleaning up and preparing food.

Tip: In order to secure the desired seat, it is possible to check in earlier via online check-in and thus reserve the specific seat online in advance.

How can Flightright help you?

Your trip is well planned, all included: Holiday and travel gadgets! Vacation budgets! But now your flight is delayed, canceled, or Overbooked? You are stuck at the airport.

Tip: Flightright helps you enforce your air passenger rights! With us, you can check your claims free of charge in two minutes. ✔️Easy, ✔️fast & without ✔️risk

According to the EU Passenger Rights Regulation, passengers are entitled to compensation in the event of a delay, cancellation, overbooking, or missed connection. You can claim up to 600 euros of compensation per person (minus commission fee). This compensation is independent of the ticket price. Flightright enforces your right for you. If necessary also in court.

As experts on the subject of air passenger rights, we enforce your right to compensation against the airline! Flightright’s air passenger rights experts are also happy to help you with ticket reimbursements

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