Knowing a few tips when picking your seat can improve your experience on carriers like Ryanair, EasyJet, Jet2, and TUI if you book accordingly. It is no secret that not all seats are made the same, with some specifically having perks like extra legroom. But most do not realise that the position of the seats can make a bigger difference than a few extra inches of wiggle room.
Depending on how you plan to spend the flight, selecting a 'cheaper' seat in certain spots could make your flight more enjoyable, and bring perks that money cannot often buy. For example, some seats are prime spots for getting on and off the plane more quickly, while others offer great views and first call on snacks. However, with these seat perks come some seats that customers may wish to avoid if given the option. Some may say that these can make even a short flight feel uncomfortable.
Best seats for pictures
If you are keen to document your trip from start to finish, or simply enjoy an unrivalled view above the clouds, then certain seats will be the best for you. Opting for certain sections in the front or back can give those Instagram-worthy snaps that are not just a shot of the metal plane wing. When booking, pick any of the window seats in rows one to five across all of the named airlines above. These sit well forward of the engines, meaning clear glass and no heat haze will distort the look of your photos.
Best seats for getting on and off the plane
Some of these same rows will benefit from another perk of getting off the plane and starting their holiday not long after the seatbelt sign goes off. Most people caught in the middle of the cabin end up trapped until they can find an opening to leave, whereas these seat holders can usually slip straight out if they have their hand luggage ready and waiting. There are options for the front and rear of the plane, just check before choosing that your plane has exits that it uses from the rear as some airlines may only open one. These are the rough seat areas to pick if you want to be first in line:
- easyJet: Rows 1–3 (front exit) or Rows 29–31 (Airbus A320) / Rows 38–40 (Airbus A321neo) for the back doors.
- Ryanair: Rows 1–3 (front exit) or Rows 31–33 (Boeing 737-800) / Rows 33–35 (Boeing 737 MAX 8-200) for the rear stairs.
- Jet2: Rows 1–2 (front) or Rows 31–33 (Boeing 737-800).
- TUI (Short-haul 737): Rows 1–2 (front) or Rows 31–33 (rear).
Being near the front also puts passengers as some of the first in line for meals, snacks and drinks when cabin crew make their rounds. On very short flights, sitting too close to the middle means passengers may risk missing out on refreshments entirely.
Seats you may want to avoid
Picking some of these front seats appears to offer a few perks, along with the extra legroom that often comes at a premium in the front row. But they are not all perfect, and it may pay more to sit a few rows back. Toilets are often located near the front and back of the plane, so anyone sitting in the first and last rows may face a steady queue and unavoidable smells. Some seats might also end up being windowless.
Due to the configuration of some budget planes, seats are pushed closer together than in the original layout to boost passenger capacity per flight. There are a handful of left-hand seats that are often so misaligned that people end up with a solid wall instead of a view outside. If you have a slightly longer journey, or just want to recline and unwind as your holiday starts, be aware that some seats do not offer this option. Aside from every Ryanair seat being locked in place, certain back-row or emergency-exit seats cannot recline either. For easyJet A320, avoid reclining in Rows 11 and 12 (ahead of exit Rows 12 and 13). For Jet2, TUI, and Ryanair 737s, avoid Rows 15 and 16 (ahead of emergency exit Rows 16 and 17).
