Worst airline seats in the world – top tips on how to avoid them

We avoid sitting in the worst seats on a plane

IF YOU’RE about to embark on your summer holiday's, here’s 5 top tips for a better flight.

 

It’s the start of your exciting adventure but a long-haul flight from hell can get things off to a shocking start.

Luckily, there’s many ways to make sure you avoid a turbulent time onboard your holiday jet.

So here’s our top five tips for a better flight.

 

Picking your seat could help you have a better flight

 

CHOOSE YOUR SEAT

Many airlines will let you pick your seat weeks before departure and it’s worth logging into your booking to check what’s on offer.

Picking a decent position on the plane should make a flight more bearable.

Choosing a seat nearer the front of the aircraft is always better as it reduces noise and the effects of turbulence.

Seats at the side of the aircraft are generally better than in the middle row.

And, if it’s a night flight, being next to the window will give you somewhere to rest your weary head.

 



Paying a bit extra can secure a better seat



PAY A BIT EXTRA

All British airlines now charge for the best seats, but it can be worth the cash.

Easyjet will let you board early and pick premium seats for as little as £10 each way, whilst Virgin and BA now offer extra legroom in economy for around £35 each way.

Extra legroom seats are often available for free once check in opens, so make sure you’re ready to log in exactly 24-hours before your departure.

 



Check guru sites to find the worst seats onboard



CHECK GURU WEBSITES

There are plenty of websites which will help you avoid a shocking seat.

Your booking should show the type of aircraft you will be flying on and 'seatguru' and 'seatexpert' will bring up an onboard map showing you the best and worst places to sit.

There are also plenty of airline forums, including SkyTrax, which bring user reviews of airlines and their best and worst seats.

Using the web is a great tool and should help you avoid being near 200 people trying to use the loo.

 



Always be nice at check-in



BE NICE AT CHECK-IN

Whether you've checked in online or not, arrive at the airport with a beaming smile on your face.

Don’t forget the people at the check-in desk can decide where to put you on the plane and an angry encounter could see you popped in the seat from hell.

It's also worth remembering that ground staff and cabin crew talk to each other and if you've been mean don't expect many favours onboard.

 



Never ask for an upgrade



NEVER ASK FOR AN UPGRADE

This is the cardinal sin for airline staff and if you ask you probably won’t get.

According to Skyscanner, the best ways to get bumped up to a better class include having an airline loyalty card and dressing smartly.

Some say arrive early

Your flight could only have one or two seat upgrade places available, so maximise your chances by getting to the airport first.

Some say arrive late

You stand a better chance by turning up later for your flight with no seat pre-booked, although this can backfire if the flight's overbooked and there's no room left for you onboard.

Happy holidays!