Where are the worst seats on an airplane?

Every seat on an airplane certainly has its pros and cons. Today we will talk about the seats that many travelers try to avoid, especially if the flight is going to be long. David Duff, an expert of the SeatGuru smart airplane seat selection service, tells us where the seats with a controversial reputation are located.

Window seats without a window

Yes, there is such a thing. I'm talking about the row of seats that are between the two portholes in front and behind. This is an unfortunate row, which is found in many airplanes — usually wide-body and with a large capacity. The most frustrating thing about getting such a seat is for passengers who chose their seat in advance. In fact, this is what it is, the chosen seat "by the window", except that there is no window there.

Such seats are most often available in economy class.. There may be two of them or one, it all depends on the configuration of the airplane. Airlines rarely specify where these seats are located, and usually passengers are in for a surprise on the plane.

How do I know where there won't be a porthole? Look at the airplane seat layout on the SeatMaps website. There you can find a detailed seat layout for most types of airplanes used by over 130 airlines. In particular, there is accurate data for carriers such as Turkish Airlines, Ryanair, SAS, British Airways, Emirates, EasyJet, Finnair, KLM, Lufthansa and others.

If you enter the airline and flight number, you'll see a map of the entire airplane. It will show you which seats have no window, which seats do not recline, and which seats are more spacious than others. Also on the site you can read reviews and see photos.

And if you don't want to look at the walls during the whole flight, it's better to pay extra for a seat change.

Ryanair, by the way, is one of the few airlines that does not hide windowless seats on its website and presents the absence of a porthole as a plus. The instructions for choosing such a seat state that it is ideal for passengers who plan to sleep the whole way.

In all Boeing 737-800 airplanes that serve Ryanair flights, the "windowless" seats are under the markers 11A 11F and 12F. EasyJet offers passengers such seats under seat numbers 25 and 26F on the A319, and 31A on Airbus' A320 aircraft. On American Airlines, they are seats 12A and 12F.

Last row

The galley on board is also avoided by many. This is because of the seats with a limited recline and the proximity to the toilet and galley. During the flight you have to deal with noise, odors and people waiting in line for the toilet. If you sit on the edge, don't expect much sleep. The flight attendants will regularly hit you with their carts.

"In many cases, the seats in the last row have no portholes, and it's also in the back of the plane where turbulence is felt the most," adds David Duff of SeatGuru.

There are pros to these seats, too. The fact that the back row is not particularly popular with passengers increases the likelihood of flying without neighbors.

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Places by the emergency exit

Now you might be surprised, but not all travelers hunt for these seats. Yes, there's extra legroom and you can get royally cozy. But! The seats in this row do not recline (or barely recline), depending on the layout. Sitting with a straight back during a long flight is a challenge.

There are a couple of other little things that may be important to some people. It is forbidden to keep hand luggage on the floor in the emergency row, and it is colder near the door than in other areas of the cabin.

Middle seats

Most passengers like to sit by the window, some in the aisle and absolutely no one in the middle. The reasons are obvious: there is little pleasure in cramped seats and eternal struggle for armrests. But middle seats, unloved by all, can sometimes help to get the whole row.

If you're flying with a companion, try to book an aisle seat and a window seat. Solo travelers rarely choose middle seats. Therefore, chances of getting this unclaimed real estate are high.

Nowadays, the best seats on an airplane are not difficult to determine: they charge the highest price, sometimes even more than the cost of the flight. What should you do if you don't want to overpay and the seat you get doesn't suit you? Immediately after boarding you will have a few minutes to take a more comfortable free space (if there are unoccupied seats, of course). And experienced travelers say that it is better not to be shy and sit down yourself, rather than wait for the stewardess' services.