How to Pick the Best Plane Seat No Matter What Your Seating Class

Written By Joanna Teljeur

9 minutes read
Last Updated: November 15, 2024

How do you pick the best seat when you’re booking a flight? Do you prefer to have legroom, or is a quiet trip more important to you? Maybe you have connections or you’re flying with a baby? Of course, if you can choose first or business class seats, you might not have to worry about some of these issues, but regardless some seats are still better than others, even in premium cabins.

So, to help you make the ideal choice, we’re going to show you how to pick the best plane seat no matter what your seating class. Let’s dive in!

What Are the Different Seating Classes?

Seating classes have blossomed in recent years. Economy alone can now be separated into four subcategories, and each airline will has their own offerings and names for each class. But generally, there are 6 basic categories. 

Here are the main seating categories:

1. Basic Economy - The most basic level of seating class with very few amenities, a small baggage allowance, and very limited seat selection if any.
2. Standard Economy - This gives you just a little more than basic with standard legroom, in-flight entertainment, and seat selection.
3. Economy Plus - More legroom and earlier boarding, in-flight entertainment, seat selection.
4. Premium Economy - More legroom plus wider seats, more baggage allowance, priority boarding, better meal service.
5. Business Class - Depending on whether you’re on a long or short-haul flight you could get lie-flat seats or ones that recline deeply, gourmet meals.
6. First Class - Generous seat sizes or enclosed suites as well as high-end meals and beverages, access to first-class lounges, extra baggage allowance.

The Best Seat to Avoid Turbulence

While turbulence itself is unavoidable, there are some seats that can minimize the experience, and this can make a huge difference if you’re unsettled by a bumpy ride. One of the best seats for this is over the wing because it’s the center of the plane and also the center for gravity and lift. 

If you’ve ever ridden in the back of a school bus you know how rough the ride can be. Well, it’s the same for the back of the aircraft. So, to minimize the feeling of turbulence, stick to the center of the plane, and avoid the rear seats.

Some travellers have also recommended choosing a seat that lets you see the galley. When you hit rough patches, it can be reassuring to see the crew working as usual and not being adversely affected by the bounce.

 Best Seat: Anything in the center of the plane, ideally over the wing.

 Worst Seat: Seats in the very back of the aircraft.

Best Seat for Quick Connections

You’ve got a connecting flight, and you know you’ll have to hustle to make it to the gate in time. Where should you sit? Obviously, the best seat on the plane would be one toward the front and on the aisle. But, these seats aren’t always easy to come by, so your next best option would be any aisle seat. 

If you do find yourself in the unfortunate situation of sitting in the back of the plane in a window seat, be sure to tell the flight attendants about your connection. If you’re polite, they can work some magic to help you get off the plane quickly. 

 Best Seat: Front of the plane, aisle seats

 Worst Seat: In the very back in a window seat

Best Seat for Sleep

If sleeping during a flight is your thing, then you probably want to avoid extra noise, right? You’ll have some noise no matter where you sit, but the quietest seats tend to be the ones far away from the bathrooms and galleys. So, even if you’re in a premium cabin, you’ll want to steer clear of these areas. 

Another ideal spot for securing a little shut-eye are window seats, particularly bulkhead window seats. Even better, choose the left side of the plane because window placements typically allow more headrest room on the left than on the right. If you grab one of these, you can rest your head against the wall and avoid having someone in front of you recline their seat. Plus, you can stretch out more because of the extra legroom without your seatmate climbing over you, and you even enjoy the view out the window when you’re awake.

 Best Seat: Left-side seats towards the front, window, and bulkhead seats

 Worst Seat: Anything near toilets, on the aisle, or in the back

Best Seat If You’re Flying With Children

If you’re flying with babies and small children, the hands-down favourite is bulkhead seating. Not only can you board and deplane more easily, but you can also enjoy more legroom, easy access to the bathroom, and your kids can stay entertained by looking out the window.

The best perk of this seat is that you can use a wall bassinet for your baby. Also known as a skycot, these bassinets are available when you request them before your flight. They allow your baby to sleep as comfortably as they would in a crib. Plus, it gives you a more hands-free experience which can provide more comfort and convenience. 

 Best Seat: Bulkhead seats

 Worst Seat: Anything in the very back of the plane near the galley and bathroom

Best Seat for Extra Legroom

If you’re limited to economy seating, then your best bet for extra legroom is at the bulkhead, on the aisle, or in an exit row. Bear in mind though, that seating in different airlines and aircraft can vary widely. If you’re considering an exit row, remember that these usually cost more and can be colder than other seats on the plane. Also, they tend to have fixed armrests which can be problematic for some passengers.

If you’re considering an exit row seat, remember that the FAA has a few restrictive rules about who can sit there.

1. You must be fully mobile
2. You must be at least 15 years old
3. You need to be able to understand and communicate directions
4. Be physically capable of operating the emergency equipment

What is Seat Pitch?

Seat pitch can give you a better understanding of how much legroom you’ll have. It’s a measurement between one point on an airline seat to the same point on the seat in front. 

• An average economy class seat pitch is around 31 inches
• Budget carriers like Spirit usually have the lowest pitch at around 28 inches
• The largest seat pitch is typically in first class. Emirates’ Suites on their Airbus A380 and Boeing777 have a pitch that is around 86 inches.

 Best Seat: Aisle, bulkhead, and exit row seats

 Worst Seat: Window seats on budget carriers

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Best Seat for Larger Bodies

First, it’s vital to understand that in addition to seat pitch, seat width can also vary among airlines as well as aircraft. In most cases, the average seat width, measured from armrest to armrest, is between 17 and 18 inches. By contrast, seats on some of the budget carriers can be as small as 16 inches. Some airlines, like Delta and JetBlue, have some of the widest seat options at around 18-19 inches, but you can also find wide seats on new aircraft designs like the Boeing 787 and Airbus A350.

So, before booking your flight, find out the exact plane you’ll be on and then check the seat dimensions on SeatGuru. But in general, the best seats for larger frames tend to be aisle seats or those at the bulkhead. 

Also, certain carriers offer special accommodation for larger passengers.

• Southwest will let you purchase an extra seat and then will refund you for the additional seat if the flight wasn’t full.
• Delta will make an extra effort to situate larger passengers next to empty seats if they’re available
• Air Canada lets you request an additional seat for no extra charge as long as you’re flying within Canada under the “One Person, One Fare” policy. 

Figuring Out What Plane You’ll Be On

If you want to find specifics about the aircraft assigned to your flight, you can check your booking confirmation. This usually includes info on the type of aircraft you’ll be on. Another option is to go to the airline’s website. Once you’re there, find the ‘manage booking’ section which should give you details about the aircraft.

 Best Seat: Aisle and bulkhead

 Worst Seat: Middle and window seats

Best Seat for Working

Depending on how much quiet you need to work, one of the best options, outside premium cabins, is to choose a seat in the very back of the plane. This is because the back is usually the one section that has empty seats, allowing you to spread out a little. 

If you’re booked on a widebody aircraft, try to get seats in the center section towards the back. Or, if you’re flying with a friend or colleague, you can always try to book a window and an aisle seat and hope that no one gets the middle seat. This way, you’ll both have a little extra room.

 Best Seat: Back of the plane and in the middle section towards the back

 Worst Seat: Middle seats

Tricks for Getting a Better Plane Seat

Once you consider the actual size and placement, you can also try a few other strategies to get the best seat on the plane to suit your needs.

• Try checking in earlier because sometimes you can choose from seats that are only available closer to your boarding time.
• Definitely upgrade to standard economy because you usually don’t have the ability to choose seats in basic economy.
• Try booking your flight early because more seats will be available.
• Hunt for upgrades. You can do this with points, online auctions, or even by asking for better seat options when you check-in.

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Top 3 Airlines with the Best Economy Seating

To wrap up this guide, we thought we’d add a little bit about the airlines renowned for having the best economy class seats overall. If you fly with one of these airlines, you might just find that most of your needs are met even in economy class!

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