These days travellers are faced with a barrage of choices when checking in online. But while you may find yourself deliberating over whether to have the chicken or the salmon, your attention is perhaps better focused on the choice that will most significantly affect your flying experience: the seat.
Some of them don’t recline, some are positioned hazardously close to the toilet, and some have even less legroom than the standard seat. Here is our guide to the seats you should avoid.
The aisle
Think of your elbows before you choose this one. The seat on the aisle is simply too close to the traffic. There are far too many trolleys and people with poor in-air balance that can hinder your experience, pulling you out of much needed slumber with an unintentional nudge or a clatter against your tray table.
The wing seat
You’ve got the coveted window seat. You’re away from the aisle traffic, nestled into the wall of the plane. But as you look out the window you notice that your glorious view is utterly obstructed by the wing. Now you’ve got to climb over Mr and Mrs Symonds, a couple celebrating their golden wedding anniversary, to get to the bathroom or stretch your legs.
The seat in front of the emergency rows
The extra legroom for the emergency rows has to come from somewhere. Unfortunately, it comes at the expense of its neighbouring rows. To ensure space is available in the event of an emergency, these seats have little or no recline function. Safety comes at a price.
The back
Not only do the seats at the back of the plane not recline, but many of them have even less legroom than standard seats. This is the case on the Boeing 777, which is used for long-haul flights by Emirates, Singapore Airlines, British Airways and Qatar Airways. The back is also the noisiest part of the plane. Do not sit here if you have any intention of sleeping.
The middle seat
It’s claustrophobic, you have to clamber over some one to get to the toilet, and you haven’t even got the benefit of the view. Avoid at all costs.
The middle (of the plane)
Sitting in the middle is likely to ensure that you are the last person to be served food and drink. This is not so much of a problem if you have pre-ordered your meal, but if you haven’t, prepare to be left disappointed.
Main exit seat
As there is no seat in front of you, you will have no under-seat storage, and you will have to put everything in overhead bins. The seat width is reduced because your tray table must be stored in your arm rest.
The bathroom seat
While most airplanes have their ventilation system working at a level that prevents the spread of undesired fragrances, the seats nearest to the bathrooms are a no-go zone if you want to maintain a bit of peace and quiet. Lines develop outside the toilet, and the constant stream of people flowing in and out is likely to disrupt any planned slumber.
Ben Allen
