Choosing The Best Airplane Seat For You

There are two extremes of airline-seat-choice people out there: 

The ‘just get me on the plane and to the destination’ people

and

The ‘I will only travel on the right side of the aircraft with my left arm in the aisle and only in rows 24-36’ kinda people.

I land in between.

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Here’s how to decide which category you fall into and which is your personal best choice of seat:

1. Decide what you and your elbows will be doing on the flight.

Are you going to be working on your computer or just watching a movie?

Consider your elbows and your seatmates. I’ve known a few (right-handed) business travelers who will only sit on the left (driver) side of the plane in an aisle seat so that their right elbow has enough space to move about in the aisle as they use the trackpad on their laptop. 

On the other hand, if you’re doing work that requires heavy concentration or just watching a movie on your laptop, you may want to select a window seat to avoid being disturbed when your seatmates need to get up.

The elbow thought applies here too- if you’re in a window seat, it may be best to have your right elbow against the window to avoid poking your seatmate as you use the trackpad (or vice versa if you’re left-handed!)

2. Consider the flight’s length- Will sleep or easy access to bathrooms be more important?   

For me, I’m not strictly an aisle or window seat person.

If it’s a long-haul international flight during which I’ve determined I need to sleep, I’ll go for the window seat (on the left/driver side of the plane!) so I can lean against the fuselage and avoid being disturbed or being responsible for my seatmates’ bladders. 

If it’s a quick domestic flight, I’ll always choose an aisle seat so I can stay super hydrated and get up to pee as necessary. Aisle seats are also helpful for getting off the plane more quickly after landing. 

*Quick note about exit row and bulkhead seats: If you’re really counting on your in-seat entertainment and access to your handheld carryon to begin as soon as you board the flight and end only when you reach the gate, you should reconsider taking a bulkhead or exit row seat.

Sure, there’s lots of extra legroom, and if you’re using a small device like your phone to watch a movie or fire off emails, you’re in the clear. But- keep in mind that during take-off and landing and taxiing on and off the runway, you won’t have access to your hand luggage or your in-seat entertainment monitor (all have to be stowed for safety).

This can be an issue when an unexpected event like weather or a delay with the airline’s procedures causes your flight to wait on the tarmac or circle the airport for longer than anticipated.

Look- if you’re 6’4 and need that legroom- definitely go for it. But if not, keep those beautiful tall people who NEED the extra room in mind as well as your limited entertainment access when choosing a bulkhead or exit row seat.

3. Note your body’s quirks.

I’ve discussed the quirky nerve in my right lower back before.

If I lean over on my right side for too long that pesky nerve will pinch up and I’ll be in considerable pain until I can work out the kink. Leaning to the left keeps that area stretched out and avoids the kink.  So, for example, if I’m hoping to sleep leaning against the fuselage, I’ll sit on the left (driver’s) side of the plane so I’m leaning left and keeping that nerve stretched out.

For the same reason, if I’m booking an aisle seat, I’ll choose one on the right (passenger) side of the plane so I’m leaning left onto the armrest and into the aisle- away from the person next to me (obviously not going to lean right onto my seatmate). 

For you, this could be a bad shoulder, a tender elbow, a bad hip, a stiff knee, a new tattoo, a new piercing, anything.

Just think about the parts of your body that may not like being leaned on and consider what seat attributes might help those quirky bits in flight.

4. Remember- and I don’t care what anyone else says– being closer to the front of the plane is better. Hands down.

Though some have tried, I will not be argued with on this point. 

The front of the plane is better. I’d sit with the pilot if I could– and since I’m usually not afforded the luxury of a first-class seat, I do everything I can to get my booty in an economy seat as close to the front as possible.

So many reasons- but mainly…

a. In most instances, you’re further from the aft bathrooms. This reduces ambient odors wafting your way and considerably reduces the number of people walking and hanging out by your seat waiting for the lav. It also gives you a few extra steps of movement if you get up to pee.

b. If there’s a meal service, you’re more likely to have all of the choices available, you get to eat first AND the attendants will remove your post-meal trash first.  There’s nothing worse than the meal cart finally making it to you, only to learn that only the weird cold-cut sandwich option is left or that they’re out of your favorite drink.

It’s equally frustrating to REALLY need to pee but not be able to get up due to the meal trays left sitting on your aisle’s tray tables. 

c. You get on and off the plane faster.  This might not sound like much of an issue- but when you’re about to lose your mind because you’ve been on the same airplane for 16 hours or have a really tight connection, every second matters during deplaning. Sitting closer to the front means you have to wait for fewer people to gather their things and make their way off the plane.

Being one of the first off is also helpful for being at the front of the customs line when your massive international flight lands!

Sitting closer to the front of the plane also (typically) means you’ll board first- making it more likely that you’ll get enough overhead space for your bags- avoiding the dreaded gate-check. It’ll also mean that you’ll board and sit right down in your seat without waiting in the aisle, giving you plenty of time to settle in so you’re not fumbling with your accessories mid-flight.

d. Typically, frequent fliers with status with the airline sit toward the front. I can’t call this fact, but I find that the flight attendants are nicer to the people sitting in the first few rows for this reason- gotta keep those frequent fliers happy!

5. Check the available seat types on seatguru.com.

This site can be SUPER useful for fully understanding what kind of flight experience you’re walking into and where the best seats are beyond the airline-provided seat map.  (Remember: airplanes are not all the same. There are many different brands and models- similar to car makes and models- meaning that each plane is slightly different)

On seatguru.com, you select your type of flight, airline, and aircraft type (usually labeled on your ticket or in your reservation somewhere) and it provides a semi-interactive layout map of the aircraft you’ll be on.

It’ll also give you tips the airline websites don’t mention on everything from where the better exit rows are to which seats are dangerously close to the bathroom to which seats have slightly more legroom or don’t have a window, or often get bumped into by walking passengers. It also provides information on the airline’s baggage / pet policies and what type of entertainment and power port features will be available in your seat.  Check it out.

(PS- I’m not sponsored or paid in any way by seatguru.com. I just like the site.)