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Find Your "BEST" Seat on the Plane

by Mary Jo Manzanares on May 10th, 2008

Everyone wants the “BEST” seat on an airplane, but how “BEST” is defined varies from traveler to traveler.

For some, best means First Class or Business Class.  Okay, I’m with you on that one!

But what if you’re in coach?  Is it possible to get a “BEST” seat there?

That’s where the debate begins.

Many travelers believe that an exit row or bulkhead is their “BEST” seat.  Other travelers define “BEST” by a window or an aisle.  Still others define “”BEST” by the front or back of the plane, how close or how far away it is from the lavatory, and how close or far away it is from a galley.

This video tries to give you some hints about those “BEST” seats that are kept secret. . . .

Are these really the best seats, though?  Keep reading for my opinion.

As someone who is on a plane on a regular basis, and who logs more miles than most business travelers out there, I know that some people will find these seats attractive, others will not.

There are trade offs.  It all depends on what you’re willing to trade for that “BEST” seat.

You may be close to a galley (often noisy, lit up, and hives of activity), near a lavatory (having to deal with a line up of people, noisy, often odiferous), or you may not have a place to store your carry on items on the floor (not easily accessible during flight, valuables may be in overhead where you can’t keep an eye on them).

Another issue is that in the event of an aircraft swap, your original seat assignment may not correspond to what you originally had.  Aircraft swaps occur frequently, as a result of mechanicals, late arrivals, weather delays, crew configurations, etc.  In short, you purchase transportation between Point A and Point B, and while every effort is made to accommodate your preferences, you do not purchase a specific seat on the airplane.

So decide what the deal breaker is for YOU.  Only after that can you figure out where YOUR “BEST” seat is.

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POSTED IN: Air Travel, Travel Tips