Comfort class at Aeroflot: improved economy or worse business? Rossiya will sell good seats at online check-in. Emergency exits on the plane.

Even the shortest flight always causes a lot of anxiety for the traveler. And this is not surprising, because many people still experience real fear of flying in the sky and believe that they definitely cannot be comfortable. However, experienced travelers know exactly how to make their few hours in the air as enjoyable as possible. An important role in this matter is played by what seats you will sit in during the flight. We think that no one will like to travel sandwiched between two well-fed neighbors or to spend the entire flight watching people crowding around your seat, wanting to get to the toilet. Therefore, after the cost of the ticket and the reliability of the airline, you should pay attention to which seats on the plane are best to choose. Of course, there is not always unity on this issue, because much depends on the passenger’s build, the company with which he is flying, as well as personal preferences and the brand of the airliner. But we will try to give you general recommendations on which seats are best to take on the plane if you want your air travel to be smooth.

Flight class

What are the best seats on a plane? This question can be answered in different ways, but most passengers know for sure that the comfort of a flight directly depends on what class you travel in. This nuance directly affects many travel characteristics: seat comfort, level of service, quality and choice of food. This is especially important when your flight takes more than four hours and comfort becomes the most important condition. Therefore, if you are thinking about which places to go, try to choose a higher flight class when planning your trip.

Modern air carriers offer their customers the following travel options:

• Economy class;
• Business Class;
• first grade.

Each of the options listed has its pros and cons. So before we find out, for example, which are the best seats on an economy class plane, we'll give brief description each class of flight.

What to expect from a budget trip?

Most passengers travel by air this way. After all, economy class tickets always have a low cost and are available to the general mass of tourists. Those who often fly by plane compare such a trip in terms of comfort with a trip on a bus. The airliner's cabin is equipped with reclining seats; the distance between the seats will allow passengers of average height and build to stretch out their legs and sit comfortably. You will definitely be fed during the flight, and many airlines also give children gifts consisting of coloring books, pencils and various games that help while away the flight.

However, keep in mind that economy class does not boast big amount amenities. For many passengers, the distance between the seats and rows seems too small, and they cannot sit comfortably. This turns into serious problem when the flight lasts several hours. In addition, traveling in economy class imposes some restrictions on baggage allowance. IN Lately major airlines provide seats in the most budget class of flights increased comfort. They usually cost a little more than regular ones, but the demand for such tickets shows that they are very popular among tourists.

Flying in business class

Traveling in business class is extremely comfortable; there are comfortable seats that you can fully recline and relax during a long and tiring flight. In addition, passengers receive delicious à la carte dishes and a wide range of alcoholic drinks. Each chair is equipped with such pleasant little things as, for example, sockets to recharge laptops and smartphones.

For many tourists, the answer to the question “which seats on the plane is best to choose for a pleasant and memorable trip” is obvious - naturally, in business class.

Most expensive trip

Not every airline can boast of having first class seats on board. It is one of the most comfortable of all the above, but also the most expensive at the same time. Travelers who can afford this type of flight receive a host of benefits, including a dedicated check-in counter and preferential boarding.

It is worth noting that first class flights will seem the most convenient to tourists, but, unfortunately, not every passenger can afford such a luxury. Therefore, in further sections of the article we will try to find out which seats on the plane are best to choose for a comfortable and enjoyable trip.

Porthole seats

Many passengers think the best places chairs located near the porthole. Undoubtedly, they have many advantages, but they are not suitable for all travelers.

You can choose such places if you plan to get some sleep during the flight, because no one will disturb your sleep by sneaking to the toilet. It is quite convenient to be at the porthole for those who plan to occupy themselves with reading or working on a laptop. There is enough light here, so your eyes won’t get tired, and you can spend your flight in comfortable conditions.

However, keep in mind that it will be difficult to go to the toilet from here - you will have to constantly apologize and disturb other passengers nearby.

Is it comfortable to fly on the aisle?

For those trying to figure out which airplane seats are best for restless travelers, consider aisle seats. They allow you to get up at any time, give you the opportunity to stretch out comfortably, and also go to the toilet without thinking about disturbing your sleeping neighbors, for example. It's nice that passengers sitting near the aisle are practically the first to go down the stairs after the airliner lands. And therefore, they have a chance to complete all the documents at customs without unnecessary fuss and receive their luggage before other tourists.

But don’t forget about the disadvantages that aisle chairs have. It will be quite difficult for you to doze off or just relax, because other passengers and flight attendants are constantly walking between the rows. In addition, be prepared to get up from your comfortable chair every time your neighbors decide to go to the toilet or just stretch their legs.

Places in the center

In most articles that give advice on which seats on the plane are best to reserve for yourself at check-in, the seats in the center are called the least suitable option of all possible. However, in reality it all depends on who is traveling. For example, for families with children, these places are the most convenient for placing a child. Judge for yourself, he will feel both parents, and during sleep he will be able to stretch out, sitting on the laps of mom and dad. Therefore, many families try to occupy three seats next to each other when checking in for a flight.

But people traveling alone will not be very comfortable sitting in the center seat surrounded by two strangers.

Emergency exits: pros and cons of places

Some passengers mistakenly believe that emergency exit seats are the best and are often disappointed with their flight. After all, in fact, the seats at emergency exits on an airliner have their own classification. You need to know this when checking in for your flight and choosing seats on board.

The lucky ones are those travelers who managed to get into a row of seats between two emergency hatches. There is plenty of room here even for passengers taller than average, and you can fully recline the seat back without irritating passengers sitting behind you. It is also quite comfortable to sit in the seats that are located in front of the emergency exit. They have increased row spacing, and many airlines even leave space behind by removing a row of seats. However, keep in mind that such places usually do not accommodate women, children and the elderly, who will not be able to act calmly in a critical situation. Do not forget that the rules of air carriers strictly prohibit placing them near the emergency hatch. hand luggage.

Places after emergency exits are considered the most undesirable for this category. long journey. The seats are firmly fixed in one position, so the flight will be extremely unpleasant.

Seats in the nose of an airliner

The choice of such a place for air travel in many cases is completely justified. Passengers seated at the front of the aircraft will receive drinks and food first during lunch. They don't have to worry about the flight attendant running out of juice or mineral water. In addition, they are the first to leave after landing, but this is where mothers and babies are often placed. A baby cradle can be conveniently secured in the front part of the cabin, so preference is given to this category of passengers when checking in. If you don't tolerate traveling surrounded by crying babies or plan to work during the entire flight, then try to choose other seats.

Tail section of an airliner

The seats in the tail have long been recognized as the most uncomfortable. There are always crowds of people here and there is practically no choice of hot food, and after landing passengers will have to leave after all other travelers.

However, often the tail compartment is not completely filled, so it becomes possible to comfortably sit on three chairs at the same time and get a good night's sleep. According to statistics, during the crashes, about seventy percent of the survivors were sitting in the tail of the plane.

First rows of seats

Some passengers deliberately choose seats in the front rows of seats. They have a lot of advantages: no one will recline the seat back in front of your nose, and a wall or partition in front creates a certain atmosphere of privacy even in a full aircraft cabin.

The best places to travel with children

If you are traveling with a full group, then information about which seats on the plane are best to choose - after all, flying with a child is quite difficult, you must admit - is not an empty phrase for you. You will find this section of the article useful.

Usually the first rows of seats are considered the most comfortable. In them, your child will not disturb other passengers, for babies there is the opportunity to secure a cradle, the choice of dishes is the widest, and turbulence is least felt.

Most often, the airline representative who checks in for the flight takes into account the fact that parents and children must sit next to each other. However, it would not be superfluous to remind about this, because in the process of work, some employees may not pay attention to the age of the child.

Try to get seats in the front part of the cabin, because if the plane is not fully loaded, you can always move to the back and put your baby to sleep in the three free seats. Otherwise you will still have good places in the front rows, where it is quite comfortable with a child.

What are the best seats on an Airbus?

General advice on choosing seats in the cabin may not always be effective, because they do not take into account the structural features of the airliner. This nuance must be taken into account when thinking about which seats on the plane are best to choose. Airbus, for example, is a fairly popular aircraft model among Russian airlines. It has several modifications, each with its own characteristics.

The Airbus 319-100 airliner provides for the sale of tickets in two categories: business and economy. For passengers of the second group, the most comfortable seats will be in the third row. They are the first and are separated from the other cabin by a curtain, this makes it possible to sit very comfortably while traveling. The tenth row is often called “seats of increased comfort”, because in front of them there is an emergency exit and travelers are accommodated with greater comfort.

The interior configuration of the Airbus 320 aircraft suggests that the most convenient places are those that are in the third, tenth and eleventh row. The economy countdown starts from the third row seats and there is a partition in front of them. This prevents the seat in front from reclining due to its absence. The tenth row is distinguished by a wide aisle from one row to another. However, do not forget that the position of the chairs is securely fixed, so you can only comfortably stretch your legs. The eleventh row can be considered the most suitable for long flights; the backrests recline here, and the distance in front is quite enough for even a very tall passenger to sit comfortably.

What are the good seats on a Boeing plane?

These airliners are also often used by Russian air carriers. A popular model is Boeing. What seats on the plane would be better to choose if you were flying on board this model? We will reveal this secret to you now.

For passengers, there is serious confusion due to the slightly different interior configurations of these airliners. In one version there is a row with two chairs. Here the most desirable seats will be in the fourth, thirteenth and fourteenth rows. The fourth row begins the countdown in the economy class cabin. There will be a partition in front of passengers that does not reach the floor. This allows travelers to sit in any position convenient for them. Flight attendants start serving food from these places, so you won’t have any problems choosing. The thirteenth row is not suitable for everyone, because behind it there is an emergency exit, which means the transformation of the seat is impossible. However, there are only two seats and plenty of legroom. The fourteenth row has the most important advantages over other seats: reclining seat backs and an increased passage between the rows.

The second version of the interior configuration is identical to the first, but here the numbering is shifted by one and there are no rows with two seats. Therefore, similar to the previous description, the seats in the fourth, twelfth and thirteenth rows will be comfortable here.

We hope that after reading our article you will be able to easily check in for your flight via the Internet and choose the most comfortable seats for yourself and your family. Enjoy your flight and have a soft landing!

Some 150 years ago, people covered a distance of 200 km in 2 days. Who among them could imagine that at the beginning of the 21st century, after spending just a few hours, you could find yourself 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 hurt either those who fly rarely or regulars of airships.

Classes of service in passenger air transportation

The 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 rare, 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 airline passengers. Most of all the seats on the ship fall into this category. On the ticket, class membership is indicated by a special letter in the “CL” column. Depending on the airline and the chosen fare, this can be any letter of the Latin alphabet. For different carriers, the same letter may indicate different tariffs.

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 rear of the aircraft or in the center, so passengers with increased comfort seats are the first to leave the plane;
• The width of the seats and the distances 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 the rows from 75 to 90 cm also reduce the comfort of such a trip;
• Not all seats in the standard cabin recline. The places at the emergency exits, in front of the sanitary block and the food compartment are equipped with seats, the backs of which can only be in a vertical position;
• Economy meals may differ between carriers. The diet and assortment in this class are much simpler than in the business class cabin;
• Check-in for a flight for passengers from this category does not provide any benefits and takes place at a standard counter at the airport. A special bus delivers travelers to their planes. IN major airports There are telescopic bridges to which the aircraft is moored. In this case, passengers themselves board as soon as boarding is announced;
• The maximum weight of Aeroflot hand luggage should not exceed 10 kg. Luggage compartment will transport a suitcase no heavier than 23 kg free of charge. Sometimes free transportation baggage is not allowed, it depends on the conditions of the air carrier.

Pros of traveling in a regular cabin:

• Prices for tickets in economy class when traveling on the same plane are very different from first and business;
• According to research, the tail section of an aircraft is the most safe place During the flight;
• Service in the cabins of some airlines includes the provision of a blanket, pillow, headphones, folding table, and a pocket with standard literature. The list is different for each air carrier. Depending on the company's rules and conditions, other accessories may be added to this list or vice versa.

Superior class

The intermediate type of service was first launched by KLM in 1976. Business class is between the highest and lowest level service. The differences from Aeroflot's economy are in the food and attention paid to passengers.

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

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

It is worth noting that the stated level of service does not always correspond to reality. A situation is possible when a plane arrives for landing, which only has economy class seats. In this case, even having a ticket to the increased comfort zone in hand, the passenger is forced to fly under general conditions, without ever knowing the difference between business class and economy class.

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

Flight with royal treatment

First class passengers enjoy many privileges. Free delivery to the airport and taxi to the hotel at the end of the trip. The lucky person will wait to board in the best airport lounge. In large air harbors It happens that the increased comfort zone is equipped with sleeping places and showers. Fine snacks and drinks are served here. Most often, these passengers do not go to the check-in counter at all - they are met by a specially designated airport employee (from a separate entrance), escorted to the VIP lounge and themselves carry out the check-in procedure.

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 chair, and other attributes. The chairs fold out completely and turn into a full bed. The interior varies by carrier. Elite menu, expensive drinks are provided in unlimited quantities. The quality of finishing of interior materials, dishes, quality of accessories - everything is on par. top level. 1st class passengers board first, using special transport. Carriage of baggage over 45 kg and unlimited hand luggage is free of charge.

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

Booking classes

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

When booking, each fare is indicated on the ticket by 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.

T class booking in the economy cabin from Aeroflot is popular. The tariff has its limitations - the date of the return flight is strictly fixed, the ticket is redeemed within 24 hours from the moment it is issued, you cannot select a seat in advance, unfavorable conditions in case of cancellation of the reservation. The inconveniences are compensated by the favorable price, for which the tariff is popular.

For comparison, class Y from the same carrier involves flying in economy, with an open date for the return trip, without restrictions on paying for 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. A ticket with reserve type Y will cost much more than class T.

Some airlines have strict cabin seating policies, depending on the type of booking. In the recent past, Kuban Airlines had a tariff “Flying strictly in row 20”. Two people in business class may have different menu options, while in first class someone will be able to hear their neighbors more.

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

Video

Airplane seat classes are a way for people to choose the best conditions for their air travel. Passengers with different needs and wallet thickness fly in full accordance with their capabilities.

If the flight is short, then perhaps this issue is not urgent for you. And for those who fly often and who are going on a long flight, it is important to know where the best seats on the plane are located. After all, you must admit, when planning a vacation to distant hot countries, we dream that it will be a great success, and the impression of it will not be blurred by the “difficulties of the flight.” You don’t want to sit somewhere in a cramped middle row, squeezed between overly plump passengers, or end up in the tail section, where there is not even a window, or be next to the toilet, where passengers are endlessly plying around.

If you know the make of the aircraft on which you are planning a flight, then the diagram of the aircraft 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 when purchasing tickets general rules which we will describe here.

Porthole 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 the bizarre views of clouds;
• you won't be bothered by squeezing your way to the exit.

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

The places have advantages for long-legged and restless people. Here you can stretch your legs into the passage, stand up, stand for a while, and go to the toilet without hindrance. After landing, again, you will get off the plane faster. On the other hand, these are the most restless places. Flight attendants drive around with trolleys endlessly, sometimes even hitting us. Every time you have to get up when someone goes to the toilet.

Golden mean

Some, having weighed the pros and cons of the outer seats when deciding where it is better to sit on the plane, will take the seats in the middle; they are not too restless and they will not have to disturb their neighbors too much. If you need to get up, then at least you don’t have to go through everyone and fewer people pass through you, which means they will bother you less often.

Places behind emergency exits

These seats are located further away from the previous row, so it’s quite comfortable to sit here; you can stretch your legs and go to the toilet without disturbing anyone. Air carriers often leave such places for physically trained 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.

Places behind emergency hatches

This is not very comfortable places in the sense that the chairs 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 emergency hatches, then the passenger has the advantage of having some additional space in front of him.

At the front of the plane

They are convenient because passenger service begins precisely from these places, and you have a larger selection of food and drinks. In addition, passengers in the front rows have the advantage of being able to walk down the plane faster. The negative aspect of these places is that passengers with children often take tickets here, since there are mounts for baby strollers in the bow. Well, everyone knows what it’s like to fly next to a child who is naughty.

Seats at the back of the plane

The seats here are usually economy class and there are considered to be few amenities. However, the biggest benefit that may outweigh all others when deciding which airline seats to choose is safety. According to statistics, during crashes and accidents, it is the passengers in the tail section who most often survive, since the main impact always falls on the nose of the plane.

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 passengers in the tail section are served 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 will be able to stretch your legs;
• No one will recline the chair for you.

However, please note that the first row, in front of which there are no seats, may be after the rows of a different 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 the whole way, and bassinets for babies are often mounted on the wall. You can buy tickets for these places if necessary.

The last row

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

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

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

All these characteristics are different for different airliner models.

Scheme for purchasing good seats on a plane

1. Find out the model of the airliner you will be flying on. It would be a good idea to consult with airline employees and find out in general about the level of comfort of the cabin: the presence of sockets, the distance between the rows, whether there is a TV, where the toilet is located.
2. Buy your ticket online or at self-check-in kiosks at the airport, if available. This way you can choose a free, comfortable seat. On airline websites you can find diagrams of aircraft cabins.
3. If you buy tickets at the regular box office, just ask where you want them, “window” or “aisle.”
4. Think about what is most important to you during the flight, what will you do - look out the window or sleep. It may be important for you to freely get out of your place at any time.
5. Please note that the numbers and letters that indicate places can be written in both Cyrillic and Latin alphabet, and the place may have a different location depending on this.
6. Try to buy tickets on more open flights. Typically, planes are busy on Fridays and weekends, with morning and evening flights. If you want to choose comfortable seats, 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 seats, you must also take into account the direction of 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, the sun would be on the right.

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

Try to arrive at the airport on time for check-in and boarding. Then you will have a few minutes after landing to find a more comfortable seat, in case one is available. Do not ask the flight attendant for permission; change seats yourself. When the landing is completed and the plane begins to gain altitude, it will be impossible to change planes. When the liner already gains altitude and it is allowed to get up from your seat, it may turn out that these seats are already occupied by more efficient passengers. In any case, you shouldn’t be upset, since you will always have time to take your purchased seat.

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

Russian Forbes gives practical advice on how not to make a mistake with your seat on the plane.

1. Find out more about the model and the location of seats on the plane

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

The first row behind business class is considered the most comfortable: there is more legroom, no one sits in front of you - which means no one reclines their seat back on you, you will be the first to receive 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 install a child seat. But this also has its drawbacks - because of the tables hidden in the armrests, it is impossible to lift these armrests and turn the chair into a sofa, or to place a sleeping child on your lap. And if, for example, you are going to work on the road or prepare for a business meeting, you should hardly try to sit in the front rows: being close to children (and there are usually more of them here) is unlikely to contribute to concentration.

Seats near emergency exits are also held in high esteem by experienced travelers: the spacing between the rows here is 15 cm greater than in the rest of the cabin, but depending on the layout of the cabin, the backrests of the seats often do not lower (on long flights you will regret this) and you cannot keep your hand on the floor luggage The rules require that only tall adults be seated in these seats.

“Honestly, for obvious reasons, when registering, first of all they look to ensure that the person is physically strong, energetic and, how can I put it, smart,” says Boris Rybak, director of the consulting company Infomost. - When emergency situation 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” by carts with food, drinks, newspapers, and duty-free goods. In addition, rows 8-20 are usually the noisiest area on the plane; all the noise from the engines and turbines is concentrated here. But there is no such information on the websites and diagrams of salons, and help to find more quiet place Only airline employees at check-in will be able to tell you - different types of aircraft have different noise distribution schedules.

In the back of the plane, the space is a little narrower (this is the geometry of the plane) - sitting there is more crowded, the shaking is stronger, there is a small selection of food, newspapers and magazines (based on the principle of what is 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 your seats 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 groups - it is difficult to expect that they will all be able to seat you next to each other. British Airways has introduced an additional booking fee since October of this year: now, for the opportunity to choose a convenient seat, economy class passengers will have to pay 10 pounds ($16) on European flights and 20 pounds ($32) on long flights, and 20 pounds ($32). ) and 60 pounds ($98) respectively for business class passengers. But most airlines (with the exception of low-cost airlines, which charge everything) still provide this service for free when purchasing tickets both online and at airline offices. But few people know about it - because for some reason it is not particularly advertised by either the carriers themselves or the agents.

If you pre-book your place, you can also order special food for yourself (which few people know about either) - different variants All airlines have lunches. Transaero, for example, offers a choice of about 30 different lunches - vegetarian, kosher, Muslim, low-calorie, diabetic and others, plus 2 types of baby food.

3. Use online registration

You can also choose a seat that is convenient for you during online check-in; this procedure is becoming increasingly popular - you can check in at the airport at special kiosks, and even on the airline’s website. This way 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, for example, Delta or Air Berlin, do not display seats near emergency exits (which are considered good by travelers) in the online check-in system, reserving them for tall and large passengers. The second point is that not all companies in Russia have online registration counters, and so far only in Moscow - at Dodomedovo and Sheremetyevo-2.

In the near future - the creation of a single group boarding pass, which will allow, for example, a large family or a group of passengers to get seats next to each other - for this they will not all have to come to 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 registration

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 Sergei Bykhal, “the airline’s employees at check-in always try to meet passengers halfway and take into account their wishes.” For those traveling alone, this option is also possible: take a chance and play the lottery - on the contrary, arrive at the very end of check-in: if you are lucky, you may be given a seat in business class, and if you are unlucky, you will get a seat from which all other passengers have already refused.

5. Choose days of least traffic to fly.

Experts recommend, if possible, scheduling flights on days and times when airports are least busy - Monday, Tuesday, Thursday. The busiest days are Friday and Sunday. The busiest flights are morning and evening. In the half-empty cabins of “weekday” flights, the flight attendants themselves will offer you to change seats to unoccupied rows - it’s quite possible to sleep on three seats.

6. Try "unofficial ways"

Just a few years ago, it was a widespread practice to get good seats on board or to get into business class by bribing airline employees (500 rubles included in your passport can still open your way to a seat at the emergency exit, but we do not recommend this). 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.

Frequent flyers know how important it is to choose the best seats on the plane in order to have a good time at altitude and arrive at your destination fresh and rested, rather than sitting stiffly throughout the flight and tensely looking at the clock, dreaming of being there as quickly as possible. For those passengers who know what type of airliner they will fly on: an Airbus or a Boeing, it is definitely worth getting acquainted with the seat layout on the plane in order to take care of choosing the best seats in advance.

Someone, when purchasing a plane ticket, hopes for luck and expects that he will get a good seat anyway, but is often disappointed when he finds himself in a middle row seat, finding himself sandwiched between full neighbors, while others are “lucky” to find themselves in the very back seats on the plane, with your back to the toilet, and these seats cannot be reclined, and there are a lot of people constantly cruising past you. In order not to get into a similar situation and not to let everything take its course, we recommend that you take care in advance of choosing the best seat on the plane. But for this you need to know all the subtleties, which is why we decided to give you a few useful recommendations how to get good and comfortable place in the cabin.

First, you need to find out exactly what model of aircraft your flight will be operated on; this is easy to do, you just need to go to the website of your carrier airline. There are many airlines and their aircraft fleets vary, however, it is possible to learn about the line-up of airliners and see the layout of seats in the aircraft cabin. By the way, there you will also see information that is important for passengers, such as the location of sockets, toilets, you will learn about the presence of televisions on the back of the seats, and the size of the intervals between the rows. At first it will seem to you that this information is not so important, perhaps yes, if you are flying only a couple of hours, but for a long flight it will be important. Let's look at the pros and cons of each type of seat on the plane.

– many passengers love them, and no wonder, because you can admire the beauty through the glass: fluffy clouds, small towns, rivers, mountains, ships at sea. But, if your flight takes place at night, there is no point in having a window, because you won’t see anything anyway. It’s convenient to just sleep in this place, because you won’t have to let anyone through on the way out and no one will bother you. During daylight hours it will be no less comfortable to read here, especially since the natural light from the window creates additional convenience. The only disadvantage of choosing a seat by the porthole is the need to disturb your neighbors if you need to go to the toilet or just want to stretch your legs and walk around the cabin. It is best to choose such places for thin people, not taller than average, as well as for those who plan to sleep on the road.

- very good seats on the plane, you can get up from them at any time to go to the toilet, without disturbing anyone, stretch your legs, in addition, you will leave the plane faster after landing. But, not everything is so rosy, as you will have to get up to let passengers out of the window and middle seats. Also, people will constantly walk past you, flight attendants will carry carts. However, a seat next to the aisle is perfect for a tall or overweight passenger, because he will be able to stretch his legs into the aisle, if necessary.

- not very comfortable seats on the plane, you are in a space limited on all sides, between two neighboring passengers and it will be a great success if they are miniature in size. But more often the opposite is true. Of course, getting up and going to the toilet from the middle row chair will be easier than from the one by the window, but you will still have to disturb one neighbor, and another will bother you if he needs to go out. It is better to choose these seats for people of average build, so that there is no problem getting up and squeezing through the seats each time to let a neighbor out.

– an excellent option that experienced travelers and tall people prefer to choose. The fact is that there is an increased interval to the next row, which is fifteen centimeters greater than the usual distance between the rows of seats. Sitting in such a place during a flight is much more comfortable, because you can stretch your legs and get up at any time without disturbing anyone. But before you plan to buy this seat, you should look at the layout of the cabin of the aircraft with which you are going on a flight, because some types of airliners do not have seats near the emergency exit or in some aircraft it is impossible to lower the backrest, this is problematic during during a multi-hour flight, in addition, you cannot place hand luggage on the floor near the emergency exit. According to the rules, tickets for such seats are prescribed to be sold only to tall people, but there are exceptions. But you shouldn’t hope to buy a ticket for these seats with children or an elderly person - this is prohibited by the instructions. The airline expects that during an emergency evacuation, the person sitting in this seat will help the flight attendants open the emergency hatch and remove people from the cabin.

– more comfortable and wider seats, they are taken apart at the beginning of check-in for the flight. It is very comfortable to sit here, in addition, food begins to be served from the “nose” of the cabin, so the passenger in these seats has the opportunity to choose something from a wider range of drinks and food. Also, you will be among the first to get off the plane upon arrival. There are also disadvantages here, since most often they try to seat passengers with small children on the “bow”; cradles are attached there. Being next to a small child who screams endlessly does not contribute to comfort during the flight, especially if you plan to spend a lot of time in the air.

- not the best popular places in the cabin, but are considered the safest, since according to statistics, most of Passengers who survived disasters and accidents occupied seats in the rear. Another advantage of these seats is the proximity of the toilet, but this is also their disadvantage, because people will pass by you during the entire flight. It will be a bit cramped to sit in the tail, and there is more shaking there, however, in the tail there are often empty seats, which gives passengers the opportunity to sleep while stretching out on the free seats. But there are still disadvantages: while the flight attendant brings the cart with food to the passengers sitting in the back, there is practically no choice of food and drinks left. But, as compensation, on large planes passengers leave the nose and tail at the same time, so you can quickly leave the aircraft if you sit in the back. These seats are often chosen by passengers with children, who often have to be taken to the toilet.

– they are located behind business class, that is, this is not the “first row” as such, but there are no seats in front of it, so it’s comfortable to sit, no one can recline the back in front of your face. But it often happens that on some types of aircraft there is a partition in front of these seats, or there is an on-board kitchen, or a toilet cabin, and what is most uncomfortable is that sometimes baby cradles are attached there. That is why these seats in the cabin are often given to families with small children, as well as elderly and overweight people. There are many advantages to such a place: they will bring you food and drinks first, offer you the press, and hand out blankets and pillows. Among the minuses, we can note the impossibility of removing the armrests, since they are fixed, due to the fact that there is a table hidden inside, and also, a person without children will feel uncomfortable being next to them, since because of their noise, he will not be able to help but sleep and concentrate at work or reading.

– this is not a very comfortable flight option, because passengers sitting in these seats are constantly surrounded by trolleys carried by flight attendants. This is also a very noisy part of the plane, where engine noise and the hum of turbines are concentrated. Most often this is row from eight to twentieth in the middle of the cabin.

How to choose the best seat on a plane?

You need to book it in advance. This is recommended for passengers flying with a large family or a group of friends, as well as with small children. Contacting the air carrier early will allow you to choose those seats that seem more convenient to you and meet all your expectations from the flight. Some European airlines charge an additional fee for the service of choosing the best seat when booking, but most companies provide this option free of charge to passengers who arrive early for check-in or have purchased a ticket with a fixed seat in advance via the Internet or at the airline office. If you have used the service of pre-booking your seat on the plane, you have the right to choose a meal option from different types of lunches.

Choosing the best seat on the plane can be done through online check-in; you can do this either at the airport itself, going to a special kiosk, or by going to the airline’s website. This procedure saves time, but only passengers without luggage, children or animals can use it. But it is worth taking into account that a number of airlines do not offer good seats near emergency exits through the online check-in system; they can be obtained at the check-in counter, and only if you are tall, plump, or have enviable charm. And within our country, not everything is so good with online check-in counters: so far they are only at two Moscow airports, Dodomedovo, and the second, Sheremetyevo. Therefore, it is best to arrive in advance at the beginning of check-in for the flight, and then ask the airline employee for a better seat.

As for the recommendations of aviation experts, if it doesn’t matter to you what day of the week you fly, then take a closer look at the days with the least flight traffic: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, when airplane cabins are half empty and you have the opportunity to choose seats. But Friday and Sunday are considered the most congested days.

Let's find out which seats are best to choose and which ones only as a last resort on popular types of airliners that are available in almost all airlines in the world.

- On aircraft like Airbus A319 good places considered: seventh row seats A, B, C, D, E, F; sixth and eighth row seats A, B, C, D, E, F; twentieth row seats C, D. Bad places considered: twenty-first row A, B, C, D, E, F.

- On aircraft like Airbus A320 good seats are considered: thirteenth row seats A, B, C, D, E, F; as well as all seats in the first row, eleventh row, twelfth row; in the twenty-eighth row, seats C and D. The worst seats on the Airbus A320 are all the seats in the twenty-ninth row.

- On aircraft like Airbus A321– on the largest Airbus airliners, the best seats are considered to be: the eighth row, seats A, B, C, D, E, F; twentieth row seats A and F; first row seats A, C, D, F; eighteenth row seats A, B, C, D, E, F; nineteenth row seats B, C, D, E; thirtieth row, seats C, D. The worst seats are considered to be: thirty-first row, seats A, B, C, D, E, F.

- On aircraft such as Boeing 737-800– This plane comes in two types. With a one-class cabin for one hundred and eighty-four passengers, where the best seats are considered to be: the fifteenth row of seats B, C, D, E; sixteenth row seats A, F; fourteenth row seats A, B, C, D, E, F; first row seats A, B, C, D, E, F; tenth row seat A; eleventh row seats A, F; thirteenth row seats A, B, C, D, E, F; the thirtieth row of seats C, D. Bad seats are considered: the thirty-first row of seats A, B, C, D, E, F. An aircraft with a two-class cabin, where there are sixteen business class seats and one hundred and forty-four economy class seats, there The best seats are: third row, seats A, B, E, F; seventh row seats A, B, C, D, E, F; tenth row place A; eleventh row seats A, F; thirteenth, fourteenth, fifteenth rows seats A, B, C, D, E, F; thirtieth row of seats C, D. Bad seats are considered: thirty-first row of seats A, B, C, D, E, F.

- On aircraft such as Boeing 747-400- a huge aircraft designed to carry five hundred and twenty-six people. The best places in it are considered to be: the first row, seats A, C, H, K; third row seat D; ninth row seats A, C, D, E, G, H, K; twenty-fourth row seats A, C, D, E, G, H, K; twenty-seventh row seats C, D, G, H; thirty-second row seats B, C, H, J; thirty-third row seats A, K; thirty-fourth row seats D, E, F, Q; forty-second row seats A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, J, K; forty-third row seats A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, J, K. Bad seats are considered: fifty-sixth row seats A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, J, TO.

- On aircraft such as Boeing 777-300ER- also a large aircraft with three classes of service, designed for four hundred and two passengers. We are not considering business class, since all the seats there are good. The best seats in economy class are: eleventh row, seats A, C, F, Q, H, K; fifteenth and sixteenth rows seats A, K; seventeenth row seats A, C, D, E, F, G, H, K; eighteenth row seats C, H; twenty-fourth row seats A, C, D, E, F, G, H, K; thirty-sixth row seats A, C, D, E, F, G, H, K; thirty-eighth row seats A, B, C, H, J, K; forty-sixth row seats C, N; forty-seventh row seats C, N. Bad seats are considered: twentieth row seats A, K; fiftieth row seats A, C, N, K; fifty-first row seats D, E, F, G.