If we were to survey our clients or any group of frequent-flyers, I am sure that the number one most important issue related to flying is THE SEAT. Generally, the more a traveler flies, the more savvy they are about airline seats, and the more demanding. So, what are the best economy seats on a plane? Which airline has them? And, how do we get them? In the first of two parts, this article will explore which airline seats are considered to be best—by our clients and other experts. When you talk about economy seats there are many issues. For example, everyone wants either an aisle seat, window seat, or exit-row seat. There are customers who will specifically ask to be kept away from “screaming babies,” which typically inhabit the front or bulkhead rows. Without a doubt, however, the most important issue for frequent flyers is leg room, or as the airlines call it—“seat pitch.” Pitch is defined as the distance between the rows of seats from the back of one seat to the back of the seat behind when measured from the same point on each seat. Got all that? In other words, it’s “leg room.” Pitch differs from airline to airline and from one aircraft type to another, sometimes quite dramatically. While there are other issues governing seat comfort—the width and shape of the seat, for instance—pitch is the thing that preoccupies most frequent travellers, especially with all of the publicity about DVT.
This is such a big deal to “road warriors that there are many web sites devoted to the subject of seat pitch. The best is SeatGuru.com. It offers excellent, easy-to-read seat charts on all of the aircraft operated by the major airlines. In the case of Air Canada, for instance, you can view the seat plans for 15 aircraft types, including three different versions of Boeing 767s and seven versions of AirBus. One word of caution, however: it is sometimes difficult to find out from an airline which version of aircraft is being used. I recently called Air Canada reservations about a flight, but their reservations agent was unable to tell me which model of Boeing 767 was operating.
The seat charts on SeatGuru.com are excellent. Not only do they give you the exact pitch for various types of aircraft, each chart identifies, using colour-coding, which seats to beware of, to definitely avoid, and to try to get. They also tell you about seat width, which is also an important, often overlooked issue.
Exit row seats are universally considered the best seats on the plane because of the extra leg room they offer. Exit rows must be wide enough to accommodate quick evacuation of the airplane in an emergency. There are some things to be aware of about these much sought-after seats, however. For instance, when there are two rows of exit seats, watch out for the first one. Usually, the seats in this row do not recline! (For safety reasons, they must not block the exit row behind.) Still, if you have no other choice, this row is also a good choice because of the better leg room.
In many aircraft, there are two truly deluxe seats to look for. These are the window seats located immediately behind an exit row. In some cases the window seat from the exit row in front has been removed to make room to operate the emergency door. This feature offers the passenger sitting behind a nice window seat with incredible leg room. Always look for this option.
One more point about exit row seats: they are almost never assigned in advance. The airline is required to ask if you are “willing and able to help in the event of an emergency.” Passengers must be at least 15 years old, have the strength to open the emergency door, and have full mobility. Some airlines, such as United, Continental, Northwest, and US Airways do allow their top tier fliers to pre-select exit seats. (If you are Prestige or better on Aeroplan, United recognizes your status and will offer you preferential seat selection, including the exit row seats. Air Canada, on the other hand, does not pre-assign these seats to anyone.) Always ask for exit row seats (assuming you qualify and are willing to help out) at check-in; they will often be available because of these restrictions.
Another set of seats that are often good are the bulkhead seats, which are located immediately behind the dividing walls between cabins. A big word of caution here, though. Sometimes, leg room is worse in bulkhead. It depends on the aircraft configuration. Other negatives: there are no foot rests, there is no storage under the seat in front of you (because there isn’t a seat in front of you), your seat will be narrower than the rest because the meal tray must be stored under the arm rest rather than in the seat ahead of you, you may find yourself near to the restrooms or the galley (ie. kitchen). And finally, you are likely to have babies—doing all those charming baby things—for company. If you can get beyond these issues, have one of our agents check on the leg room issue. Again, as with the exit rows, bulkhead seats are usually not open for pre-assignment unless you have high tier status or are travelling with an infant. And, finally, even if you do find the perfect bulkhead seat, be prepared to be “bumped” by the airline if it needs to accommodate a parent with baby at the last minute. This is one case where babies overrule even the most elite of frequent-flyers.
Okay; so now we know a little bit about what are the good seats on airplanes; and we definitely know we want to be flying on planes and airlines that offer good seat pitch. Which airlines are these? To answer this, go a website by Skytrax. Skytrax is an organization that rates airlines on various issues, leg room being one of them. Their site provides a handy chart for comparing all of the major airlines—domestic and international—on the basis of seat pitch. You will find that regular economy ranges from a measly 28 or 29” for certain charter airlines to a generous 34” on airlines such as American, South African, Thai, and a few others. Most airlines fall in the 30-32” range. Again, note that seat pitch will vary dramatically from one type of aircraft to another; and even within the same plane there will be differences. (Often the first 10 or so rows in economy, which are reserved for elite passengers, have better leg room. You may request any seat that remains available at check-in.) Careful research is necessary if you want to pick the best seat. For more precise information, go back to SeatGuru.com or have one of our agents investigate for you.
Where does Air Canada and WestJet fit in? For Air Canada, it ranges from a scary 31” on many of its narrow, regional jets to a decent 34” on some rows of its AirBus330-300s and Boeing767-300s. WestJet used to offer only about 30 to 32” of leg room, but their new 737-800 series jets offer 34”. So, Canada’s two major airlines compare very favourably to their U.S. competitors.
Our agents are acutely aware of how important leg room and a good seat are to our customers; and they are trained to do everything possible to make your flight as comfortable as possible. In our next newsletter, we will look at what are some of the tricks for getting the good seats. Our agents know them all; now we will share some of our secrets with you.
