If you want to score a window seat with legroom, you may have to pay for it, as more airlines charge for this seat selectionbut there are hacks to avoid the attack without ending up in the middle of the back row of the toilets.
Frequent flyer Megan Singleton has a rule when to fly: “The middle person has priority on both armrests.”
Recalling a trip where the passenger next to her used her “as a travel pillow,” falling asleep on her shoulder, sitting in the middle of a row of four in the middle of a plane on a long-haul flight is often considered one of the worst seats, she says.
Other bad seats are the ones at the back of the plane, she says.
‘The reason for this is that they sit close to the galley where the crew chat so happily all night long, forgetting that we can all hear them. And you are always standing next to the toilets.
“Although it is also possible further down the plane that you sit next to the toilet.”
As a travel blogger and frequent flyer, she has noticed that airlines charging for seats is becoming the norm.
“I’ve noticed prices for assigned seats increasing. I think it’s just another way for the airline to cut the ticket while offering general sales on flights…Airlines are struggling financially, engine problems aren’t helping, causing some companies will start leasing other aircraft,” says Singleton.
The seats that are more expensive are generally considered the best, including bulkhead seats or exit rows that offer extra legroom and allow you to place your travel bag at your feet after takeoff, she says.
Choosing seats in bulkhead or exit rows is good for people with long legs. And if you want to put your feet up, you can put your carry-on there – once the seat belt sign is off.
How to get a good seat without paying
The first option is to arrive early to check in and simply ask for the seat you want.
If you’re traveling with a partner, one hack is for one person to ask for a window and the other for an aisle seat in the same row.
“It’s unlikely that the middle seat will be occupied unless the plane is full. However, you can’t secure those seats on the same booking, for that you’ll need separate bookings – or ask at check-in – in your sweetest voice,” says Singleton.
If you are traveling alone, at check-in choose or try to ask for a seat in a row with another solo flyer, and I hope the rest don’t fill up so you have some extra room.
It can help to be an airline loyalty member. On Air NZ, for example, Gold and Elite passengers can choose those premium seats without paying anything.
For everyone else, there’s the ‘poor man’s first class’ seating option: book a row and then cancel all but one seat at the last minute to still get a refund.
Another hack is to wait until after takeoff, and if you don’t like your assigned unpaid seat, grab a spare seat as soon as you can.
‘They fill the sections from the front first, so if there are any free seats they are probably at the back of the plane. Once the seat belt sign goes off, you can move out of line and spread out. out,” said travel blogger Singleton.
But carefully, just like last month nine passengers were removed from a flight after an argument about changing seats escalated into a mid-air brawl.
And spare a thought for The Corrs star Sharon Corr, who said she was ‘humiliated’ at one Ryanair flight when her violin couldn’t find room.
What about the children?
Last month, a New Zealand flyer debated in an online chat group whether to pay $19 each for his family of six or risk not being on a flight to the US together.
“It seems like a hassle to charge $19 for a $1,800 ticket when I don’t care about where I’m sitting and I just want to sit next to my kids. This whole thing feels pretty off-putting.”
While airlines may vary, an Air New Zealand spokesperson said: “Our airport teams will always aim to place families and travel companions together on the same booking, even if they have not selected their seats in advance.”
“Parents traveling with children under 12 must let our team know who is on their booking at check-in so we can ensure they can sit together on board.
“We always do our best to seat groups together, but from time to time groups with larger bookings may be split between nearby rows.”
Hot property seats
Heidi Walker, general manager of Flight Center New Zealand, always chooses the window seat when traveling.
“It is located at the front of a cabin area and usually results in more legroom and can allow for a quicker exit when disembarking.”
Any seats with extra legroom are always ‘hot real estate on a long-haul flight’ and as such people are willing to pay a premium.
The cost of premium seats varies depending on position and airline, with some of the best seats on some airlines costing more than $100.
“For a long-haul flight, there is often a price tag on getting a more attractive seat, and the further forward, the more expensive it usually is.”
Travelers may be able to get a good seat at check-in and choose it without paying, creating a trend of people arriving at the airport early.
“We’re seeing more of our customers doing this as early as possible to avoid missing anything. It also means your check-in process will be a lot faster.”
But more people are willing to pay, she says.
“More and more of our customers are choosing their seats well in advance before check-in because they realize this can make a big difference, especially when flying long-haul.
“If you don’t exercise seat selection, you run the risk of being assigned one of the less desirable seats, for example near the toilets, or in the dreaded middle seat.
Seat choice ‘incredibly popular’
Air NZ general manager customer experience Kylie McGillivray-Brown said the seat selection is “incredibly popular”, with prices calculated based on the type of ticket purchased.
“Customers can purchase Seat Select at the time of booking or up to three hours before departure for international flights and up to 30 minutes before departure for domestic flights. If they do not, they will be assigned a seat based on the weight and balance of their the flight.” the plane.”
Those who require certain seats due to limited mobility or additional assistance needs should indicate this when booking, she said.
Passengers traveling with infants can select seats in the crib row when booking, subject to availability.
For the rest of us, longing to stretch out in a window seat, not only is selection the way to go, but so is booking early.
“If a customer has their heart set on a special seat, we always recommend booking early to increase the likelihood that that seat will be available.”
This article was originally published by Stuff and is reproduced here with permission.