US Airways Dividend Miles (Pre-FlightFund Merger) - tips on the best seats on the plane

Hello,

My name is Samantha Berman, and I’m a reporter for Travel Holiday magazine. I’m working on a story about how to get the best seats on an airplane, and I’m looking for suggestion from frequent travlers regarding what they feel are best seats on the plane. I understand that each airline’s seat configurations prevents me from generalizing about a specific aircraft model (i.e. a Boeing 737 or a MD-80), but any specific tips about a certain airline would be most appreiated. I’m looking for ideas about:
** the best places for travelers who want to work on a laptop
** good places to sit if you are traveling with small children
** specifics about seats on an emergency exit, at the back of the plane
** which airlines offer the most legroom in coach
** if there are certain seats on specific carriers where the armrests won’t go up, or the tray tables are inconveniently placed
** whether it’s a good or bad idea to sit near a restroom on any specific airline
** anything else anyone can think of (no matter how specific) that travelers should keep in mind when choosing a seat

Any advice or opinions would be very much appreciated.

Thank you.

First Class http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif

[This message has been edited by geo1004 (edited 01-27-2001).]

per usual, geo1004 hit the nail on the head!

Any seat next to a Flyertalker.

Okay, I'll put the sarcasm aside and help our reporter out...

** the best places for travelers who want to work on a laptop
MOST airbus aircraft flown by United and USAirways(soon to be just plain "United") have ports in every seat. This makes every seat a good place to work, provided you buy the $100 power adaptor from any computer store. This is a worthwhile investment if you travel 3+ hour flights regularly. The best seats on United are in the Economy Plus section(first 7? rows in coach), but those seats are held for the premier members and full fare paying coach passengers. Or, of course First Class affords the extra pitch and width to get work done.


** good places to sit if you are traveling with small children
On the wing. *HAHAHA* With kids, it's a hard one. Probably a bulkhead seating.

** specifics about seats on an emergency exit, at the back of the plane
Typically there is more leg room in those rows that surround an emergency exit. The back exit is usually in the galley, so there's no seats there. Those rows are usually held for 'elite' members of an airline, or given up at the counter on day of check-in if there are any left.

** which airlines offer the most legroom in coach
American in ALL rows of coach. United in the first 7 or so rows of coach. All the rest typically have 31-32" of pitch.

** if there are certain seats on specific carriers where the armrests won’t go up, or the tray tables are inconveniently placed
Armrests go up on most planes. It's been a while since I've been in coach, though....so I'm not sure. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif
Bulkhead rows usually have the tray table in the armrest. All the rest come from the seat in front of you. It can be annoying when you're crammed in coach and the person in front of you reclines, only to shove your meal into your chest. This is why I would think a bulkhead row is preferable (or an exit row...or First class)

** whether it’s a good or bad idea to sit near a restroom on any specific airline
Never. can be smelly, and the galley is usually next to it, so it can be noisy if you're trying to rest.

** anything else anyone can think of (no matter how specific) that travelers should keep in mind when choosing a seat
If the traveller is a leisure traveler with no type of elite status, then I would say they should try to get an aisle seat. They can ask for an exit row, but often won't get it since they are held for the elite members.

Any other flyertalkers feel free to chime in.....

remember that bulkhead and some exit row seats have the tray coming out from the armrest which eliminates the possibilty of moving it up.

Personally I always request EMERGENCY EXIT SEATS. I have found that they provide the most leg room, although some of them don't recline at all....but that is something that I can live with. On the 757, I like row 25, which is the bulkhead in the second section right after the lavs. Plenty of room and overhead space.