If you are anything like me, your finances require that you fly in economy class whenever you take to the skies. That said -- what do you look for in a seat assignment? Of course we would all want the emergency exit row or the bulkhead, but when that isn't possible what else factors in? For example -- I will not sit within five rows of a bathroom.

Would you rather sit up front to exit the plane first? Or do you worry about overhead storage since you would have likely boarded last?

First, Welcome to FlyerTalk soontobemrsb!

I think the answers to this question will vary based upon several factors. When flying for business or leisure I'm typically in coach too unless I secure an upgrade with certificates, etc. I very rarely purchase a first class seat (which is usually a full fare coach ticket that gets upgraded to first).

Since I have status on United I prefer to sit in one of the first few rows of coach. With the status - I'm always able to board in the first seating group and don't need to worry about overhead space. Of course the reason I like to be in the front of the cabin is to exit quickly.

-Chris

I don't like bulkhead because you can't put anything on the floor in front of you (including your feet!).

Since I have elite status, I get to board in the first few boarding groups so overhead bin storage isn't an issue for me.

I have learned not to sit near the lavs on international flights because that's where everyone gets up and walks to to stretch their legs. Also, that's where the parents with the crying kids go when they want to walk around, too.

On domestic flights, I want to sit near the entry door (or in ANY first of biz class seat ) which might be a REAR door on some aircraft (ATR72 comes to mind) or in the exit row. If I had a choice, I would prefer to sit nearer to the door over the exit row, especially on larger planes where the exit rows are 20 rows back.

Hello and welcome to FT, soontobemrsb!

My preference for a coach seat depends on the airline, but in general I prefer sitting as far to the front as possible for less noise and early (de)planing. When flying coach I really don't care what I get to eat (if anything), so I do not adopt any first-serve strategy.

Enjoy your stay here!

Maurits

I know there's a thread around here that attempts to list all of the world's "premium economy" types of services, but the only one I'm familiar with is United's Economy Plus.

In general, I like the closest left-side window to the front. I prefer left side over right side because I find it easier to work on a laptop in that seat.

On a widebody flights of short-ish duration (e.g., DEN-SEA), I'm sometimes tempted to take a left-middle aisle in hopes of an empty middle seat next to me, but lately everything has been so full that I just grab the window if I can get it.

And yes, I'll override this rule to get farther away from the lavs if necessary - particularly on an overnight flight.

>what else factors in?

ALWAYS a window seat. Every time I get to look out the window and see the world go by at 30K feet it's a treat. Why people with windows don't look during landing and takeoff, is a mystery to me.

Cheers,
Geoff Glave
Vancouver, Canada

lol arent you picky!
It totally depends on the config. the airline has used to set their metal up!
mind you i fly economy all the time aswell.
but all airlines has a few better than other seats even in economy!
telling which they are, and on which airline! and what configuration is used is a never ending task.
But some of them are in the vicinity of the loo.
I generally look for where the fuselage start to narrow, a few rows down from there the airline will skip a seat.... There youll find the true economy+ seat`s esspecially when traveling with the mrs.(well middle row on widebody is in my mind economy-)

I don't. I usually avoid both of these like the plague.

Bulkhead seats may have lots of face room and more knee room, but they usually have much less footroom. You can't slide your feet forward nearly as far as you can when sitting in a seat that's got a seat in front; in a normal seat, you can get your feet all the way to the restraining bar under the front edge of the seat cushion in the row ahead of you. That gets you as close as possible to being flat, and aids sleep.

My aversion to exit rows is because I'm on 747s more than any other type of aircraft. Exit rows attract people standing around and gossiping, and also service trolleys of various sorts. So it can get pretty busy and noisy, which isn't good for sleep.

So I want a window seat at the front of the cabin, but not the bulkhead. And on 747s, on the starboard side, because it's usually faster to disembark.

Hmm, you must be new here.

Seriously, welcome to FT. Part of what I've learned in the past several years here, is that the first part of your question is rarely true. Focus on earning miles and/or upgrade certificates, be flexible in your travels, and most of the time even the most frugal traveler can find time to get into the premium cabins.

Could be dark outside? Or maybe they're too intoxicated to look out? Could be a number of things.

(sorry, i'm just a bit intoxicated myself at the moment)

Welcome to Flyer Talk soontobemrsb

I think you mean this one - premium economy information thread

>Could be dark outside?

I'm not suggesting one stare out the window constantly, especially if you're at cruising altitude over clouds - But dark outside over land is great for spotting cities from high up, and landing and takeoffs are night are great for looking at the window at the lights going by....

Cheers,
Geoff Glave
Vancouver, Canada

I would look for flights on a 747 in which the upper deck has coach seats. When Swiss was Swiss Air, the upper deck was coach and the flights were always very pleasant. I tend to fly business class now and don't typically fly Swiss, but they might still have the same configuration.

welcome soontobemrsb

I personally don't like exit rows or bulkhead, the majority of my flying is done on 747's or long-haul flights and, as others have mentioned they tend to become the local meeting point, which I am guilt of doing as well, but still don't much enjoy having hordes of people standing around me. Sitting up the front of the cabin you get the often foul smell of what ever it is they are about to serve up, which seems to smell much worse than it tastes (others may disagree on that one ) and you get bumped by the carts as they wheel them into and out of the galley.

In short, front of the cabin but not exit row or bulkhead.

Back of the plane can be handy if you want to sleep as it tends to move more with turbulence...its liked being rocked to sleep.

I prefer to sit at the window, that way I can fall asleep against it.

If I don't have status on an airline, I sit nearer to the back, so my carry-on luggage makes it onto the plane with me.

If I have status, I sit nearer to the front. I don't like the first row, as I like to throw my laptop bag under the seat in front of me. I have short legs, and I like to rest them on my laptop bag. (don't tell my IT dept!)