Posted on: Sunday, April 13, 2008
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SAVVY TRAVELER
Securing a good coach seat requires planning
By
Irene Croft Jr.
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For those who can't buy or upgrade or cajole their way into the front cabin, securing a reasonably comfortable coach seat becomes all-important. Cramped seats rank among the top complaints of all airline passengers, and according to the Boeing Co.'s research, discomfort is the primary source of passenger irritability and disappointment with a flight experience.
To avoid a miserable flight, start planning to secure a good seat at the same time you begin your trip planning. Here are some considerations that may help to maximize your inflight comfort:
Seat pitch and width. All coach seats are not created equal. Seat pitch, the distance from one row of seats to the next, and the width of a seat will vary not merely by airline but also from plane to plane within each airline's fleet. The "standard" coach seat among our domestic airlines measures a narrow 17.2 inches wide with pitch (which determines your legroom) at a knee-bumping 31 to 32 inches. What a difference an inch makes. If you're planning a long-haul flight, look for the airline and plane flying your route that will provide you the most personal space, with a goal of at least 18.5 by 34 inches. Check out www.airlinequali ty.com, which details pitch, seat width and comfort of economy, business and first-class seats on most airlines, plus offers candid passenger reviews. Great for comparing apples to apples.
An empty middle seat. Fact: no sane person prefers to sit between two other passengers. Boeing's ongoing research into flight comfort has concluded that airlines can provide more legroom, wider seats, more headroom, and better sightlines, but that little else matters as long as the middle seat in a row of three or more seats remains empty next to a passenger. This increases the perception of personal space that is paramount to a flier's sense of comfort.
The best way to ensure that a middle seat stays empty is to travel off-peak, and avoid all rush hours. Midday flights, Saturday afternoon flights, and off-season flights on popular routes are good targets. If flying alone, choose in advance the aisle or window seat in a three-abreast row where another passenger has already selected an aisle or window seat. Couples should reserve the aisle and window seats in a row, rather than two next to one another. In both cases, the middle seat is likely to remain unoccupied unless your flight is very full.
Exit rows. Exit rows usually offer greater legroom in order to facilitate speedy evacuations in emergencies. As a bonus, seats in front of exit rows often don't recline, keeping the exit path clear and giving exit row passengers even more space. However, these seats may be slightly narrower and have solid sides, which do not allow for a large derriere to extend under the armrests. Exit rows are permitted only for passengers capable of assisting in an emergency. These seats are usually unassigned until airport check-in. Arrive at the airport early if you wish to claim a choice seat in an exit row.
Elite seating. Some airlines reserve the forward coach section of the aircraft for their best customers — their frequent-flier elites and full-fare passengers. Middle seats are purposefully filled last in these special sections that bear names with promise like Economy Plus and Economy Extra. They are generally fitted with seats offering an additional and merciful 3 to 5 inches of legroom depending on the aircraft. It's well worth aiming for if up front is beyond range.
Live seat maps. Live seat maps indicate which seats are still available on your flight before you consummate a ticket transaction. These maps appear on most airline and travel booking sites and are offered through your travel agent as well. They usually show the location of galleys, lavatories and exits in relation to seat locations so that you can avoid the seats from hell.
Bulkhead seats. Urban legend once proclaimed that bulkhead seats were the ones to choose. Like the exit row, the bulkhead has its pros and cons. Because these seats are generally behind a wall or curtain, you don't have to worry about seat recline in front of you, but sometimes the wall is much too close for leg comfort, with no indentation for your toes. Further, you will be compelled to store all carryon luggage in an overhead bin during takeoff and landing.
Change of aircraft. Switching an Airbus for a 747 can totally mess up your carefully reserved seats. When such a change is in the works, airline computers will automatically reassign preselected seating without notice, and the new seats will never, never be what you had wanted or expected. Personally monitor your reservation from time to time right up to the day of departure, so that you can address immediately any changes that might affect your comfort and stress level.
Wait listing. If you cannot claim the seat you want while booking a flight, call the airline to request to be waitlisted for a desired seat. Again, monitor your status regularly, and continue to request when checking in at the airport.
Online seat guides. Go to an online site that details the particular configuration of an aircraft used by a specific airline and indicates with comments and color keys the most and least desirable seats. Try www.seatguru.com or www.seatexpert.com.
Irene Croft Jr. of Kailua, Kona, is a travel writer and 40-year veteran globetrotter. Her column is published in this section every other week.
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