Your bags are packed, you’re ready to go. You’ve got your travel documents and your specially purchased multi-purpose items you’ll never use again (we’re looking at you, zip-off trousers and handkerchief-sized microfibre ‘towels’). There’s just one thing standing between you and your dream holiday. But how bad can a ten-hour flight be, right?
Bad.
Not all plane seats are created equally, and those in the know stay ahead of the pack by choosing their seats in advance. There’s no one more in the know than Dan Air, cabin crew member and author of “Confessions of a Trolley Dolly”, who gave us these insider tips for finding the best seat in the plane. Take note to get your trip off to a great start.
Here’s how to get the best seat on the plane
Airbus A320
The Airbus A320, a single-aisle aircraft, is commonly used by low-cost airlines including Jetstar and Tigerair Australia for short haul journeys. Generally there’s no priority seating on this plane. For a quieter flight, nab a seat at the front of the plane between rows 1-10, while extra legroom can be found in rows 12 or 13. If you’re one to drool at the smell of aeroplane food, avoid the seats in the centre of the plane (between rows 15-20), as these are usually the last to be served.
For the ultimate trip in an A320, make a beeline for A1, secretly known as the best seat. Here you’ll get extra legroom, a high chance of being served first and an unobstructed view. Just remember to wrap up warm as it’s typically one of the colder seats in the plane.
Boeing 777
On the other hand, in the Boeing 777, a long-range airliner used by carriers such as Virgin Australia, Air New Zealand, Emirates and Singapore Airlines, avoid the back rows, 44 and 45. These rows are the most complained about and for good reason, with less legroom, limited reclining space and close proximity to both the toilets and crew galley. There is however one thing going for the back of the plane: the view. From rows 35-44 you can gaze freely over your home turf as you come in to land.
*Expert insight provided by cabin crew member and author of “Confessions of a Trolley Dolly”, Dan Air
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