Best seats on a plane

Picking a seat on your flight seems trivial, but it can actually make or break your journey. We all know which seats everyone hates the most - sorry middle seat. But what are the best seats on a plane in economy class? Whether you prioritise legroom, convenience or peace of mind, we’ve got you covered!

What is the best seat on a plane?

What one considers the best place to sit on a plane depends of course on personal preference. But there’s a few ways one can look at seating on a plane, and consider some seats objectively better than others. Is it legroom and space that you value? Or do you want to be undisturbed the entire duration of the flight? Or maybe you only care about being the first one to get your food? No matter your preference, we’ve got something for you!

Best seats on a plane for legroom and space

If what you want during your flight is to be able to stretch your legs and not have to sit in the same exact position for a few hours, extra legroom seats are for you. So, which are the seats with the most legroom on a plane? There are two types of extra legroom seats – bulkhead seats and emergency exit row seats.

Bulkhead seats are the ones located directly after the walls that separate the different plane areas. Not only do they have more legroom on their own, but they also have another advantage – no passenger sits in front of you, so the chances of them reclining and decreasing the already limited space you have are none!
Emergency exit row seats are the ones located next to the emergency exits. Depending on the size of the plane, the number of such rows can differ – but there always has to be at least one. Those seats allow you a bit more extra space between your seat and the seat in front of you – or sometimes there is no seat directly in front of you at all.
REMEMBER that in order to be able to sit in the emergency exit row, you must be over 16 years old (sometimes 15, depending on the airline) and be able to help the crew in case of an emergency evacuation. This means, you must understand one of the languages spoken on that flight and have no physical or mental limitations.

However, extra legroom seats come with baggage - or actually without it. If you sit in an emergency exit or bulkhead row, you must store your hand-luggage and accessory in the overhead compartment for take-off and landing. Moreover, they require an additional fee.

Below are the fees of some popular airlines:

Ryanair extra legroom seats – £11 - £33
Easyjet extra legroom seats – from £7.99
TUI extra legroom seats – from £10
Jet2 extra legroom seats – from £16

If you’re lucky though, when right before boarding the emergency seats on your flight are still empty, the airport crew at the gate might call for someone to sit in these rows for free – for safety reasons, emergency rows cannot be empty.

Best place to sit on a plane for convenience

If what you value more than extra leg space is the ability to freely get up from your seat without having to squeeze through the tiny space next to a sleeping fellow passenger – we’ve all been there – you should go for the aisle seats! It may come at the cost of some people brushing against you when walking through the aisle, but this way you can get up and access your things in the overhead compartment without any trouble or annoyance.

And If you’re one of the people who stand up the second the seatbelt sign is off, you probably really value a quick exit from the plane. Front row or back row seats are the ones for you then! Sitting at the very ends of a plane allows you to leave ahead of the rest of the passengers. Keep in mind though that some planes only allow you to exit through the front exit door, which you can’t always know in advance, therefore front rows are usually a safer bet!

Similar rule applies to those with a sensitive bladder. The lavatories are usually located at either ends of seating sectors, so if you want to have quick access, pick the rows at the beginning or the end of a section! However, don’t forget that others will also want to use the lavatory and if you sit close by, the people waiting in line might stand above you. But sitting at either end of a section (specifically the front) has yet another advantage. The food & drink service starts from those rows, so if you want to get your food faster, which often also means more selection, consider that choice!

Best seating on a plane for peace and great views

Both priorities – peace and quiet, and amazing views – have the same answer, window seats! If you’re easily bothered or annoyed, and people passing you in the corridor or asking you to get up is your biggest nightmare, you should go for a window seat! That way you can just cosy up in your little corner and fly undisturbed. Additionally, if you’re looking for the best seat to sleep during a flight, window seats give you what no others do – something to lean against. In a plane that’s the golden prize!

But if you’re not there to sleep and all you’re looking for is to keep your eyes glued to the beautiful views and intend to take a million different pictures of the sky (we’re not judging), a window seat is the answer for you as well! But when making your choice, make sure to pick a row that is far enough from the wing to not have an obstructed view! Every aircraft has a different layout, so double check that the seat you pick is not on the wing.

Flight compensation for delayed and cancelled flights

Did you know that according to EU and UK regulations, if your flight was delayed by at least 3 hours or cancelled within the last 14 days prior to the planned departure, you can claim up to £520 per passenger? If this happened to you and the disruption was caused by the airline itself and not extraordinary circumstances, like bad weather conditions, you might be entitled to compensation.

Check if you are eligible and - if yes - claim it online using our Claim Calculator!

Best seats on a plane

What is the best seat on a plane?