How to get the most comfortable seat on the plane. Selecting seats using the mobile app. Unsuccessful booking of a seat in the cabin

We reveal a few secrets that will help you win a little more space on high.
Trying to fit a meter-long leg into the 75-centimeter space between the seats on an airplane is like trying to cram a month's supply of clothes into a fully packed suitcase. In both cases, the result will be deplorable: discomfort, confusion, and something will definitely stick out. However, we still do not want to spend extra money on seats superior comfort, which means that we will have to learn a few tricks that will help us travel comfortably without spending extra money.

1. Seize the moment

Select right time for registration. Many airlines begin check-in a day, or even two, before departure. And the sooner you go through this procedure, the more likely grab the most comfortable spot.

Check-in with airlines
Aeroflot - 30 hours before departure;
S7 - 30 hours before departure;
Ural Airlines - 23 hours and ends 4 hours before the flight departure (for flights from Yekaterinburg and Moscow, online check-in ends 1 hour before the flight departure);
Vim Avia - 24 before departure, whether you are traveling domestic regular flights from Moscow, Krasnodar, Sochi, Makhachkala, Pevek, Magadan and 12 hours before departure if traveling international flights from Moscow to Rimini, Ovda, Catania;
Air France - 30 hours before departure, with the exception of flights from Atlanta, Detroit and Minneapolis - 24 hours before departure;
Lufthansa - 23 hours before departure;
Etihad Airways- 23 hours before departure;
Alitalia - 48 hours before departure.
You can always check the web check-in information on the website of the airline you plan to fly.

2. Install surveillance

Usually online check-in closes 4 hours before departure. If you registered late, use the ExpertFlyer app to notify you when available best places. Install the application on your smartphone, enter flight information, set up an alert and wait for the signal. As soon as the program informs you that a more convenient seat is available, go to the check-in desk and ask for it.

3. Take advantage of the status

Do you stay loyal to one airline? Most likely, you will be offered the best seats. When you arrive at check-in, present your card regular customer airlines and in most cases, you will meet halfway.

4. Climb to the "Kamchatka"

Sit at the end of the plane. People try to take places in front, because the noise from the engines is stronger in the tail, the toilet and disembarkation take longer. Therefore, often the last row is left empty.

5. Hunt for a dream

Every plane is equipped with an "open" seat - the dream seat - an empty seat in the front row. When boarding the plane, mark its location, and after takeoff, run to the place of your dreams at the speed of Hussein Bolt.

6. Do your research

Do your research. Having chosen a flight, do not be too lazy to look for information about it on the airline's website, and only then book a seat.

The Best and Worst Airplane Seats
(using A320 as an example)
Etihad Airways and Aeroflot on the A320 have the best seats in rows 6 and 10, you should not choose row 8, as there is an emergency exit behind it, and you will not be able to recline the seat back. Worst places - 25 row.
Aeroflot airline has the A320 model in two configurations, in the second case (V2) the best seats are located in rows 6 and 14, the worst are row 30.
At Alitalia, the same model has only one row with good places- 12, the backs of the seats do not recline on rows 10 and 11.
On the Airberlin A320, you should choose seats BC and DE in row 13, uncomfortable in row 11.

7. Who does not take risks does not fly comfortably

Trying to get the best seat on an airplane can be risky, especially for long-haul flights lasting 10 to 17 hours or more. Buy two tickets. Some airlines require in-body customers to purchase two seats. If the plane is not overcrowded, the cost of one ticket is returned to the buyer (this does not apply to "non-refundable" fares). You can do the same. In this way, you will reserve the next seat, providing yourself with enough space. You can only hope that the plane does not fill up.

8. Double trick

If you are traveling as a couple, book a window and aisle seat. This is easy to do during web check-in. It is rare for an airline to fill in gaps between two passengers, and even if it does, it is always possible to negotiate and switch seats.
If you are flying alone, choose a row where someone has already booked a window or aisle seat. Choose another outer seat in this row, leaving the middle free. The same rule applies here as in the case of a "pair" flight, of course, if the plane is not completely full.

9. Kinder, even kinder...

Be courteous to employees. The fate of your flight is in the hands of the airline staff, so they are the ones who can give you the best seat. The advice is simple: be kind to people and they will be kind to you.

10. Sleight of hand and no cheating

Water bottle trick. This is the last resort, and we do not recommend resorting to it unless you are driven to despair and are ready to endure the annoyance of the passenger ahead. Slip a water bottle between your fold-out table and the seat in front. Then such a chair cannot be reclined. Maybe this is a violation of the etiquette of flights, or maybe the violation is just reclining the seats. Look at the situation, but this trick, which allows you to gain a few centimeters, is worth keeping in mind.

Before you buy to book the best seat on the plane, you need to buy a ticket. When buying a plane ticket, you always want the price to be low, and the flight convenient and preferably without transfers. A real assistant in planning a trip has been and remains the “calendar of low prices”.

The suitcases are packed, because there are only a few days left before the trip. Now you need to book a seat on the plane to enjoy the journey. Some people like to look at everything that happens through the porthole and choose seats near the window, while others, on the contrary, prefer to sleep in comfortable chairs during the flight. There are many ways to book a seat, which we will consider.

Booking at check-in

This is the traditional method of choosing a good location. It involves an early arrival at the airport during the check-in period. To do this, you need to be the first to approach the workers and ask for the desired place. Often registrars ask themselves about the preferences of passengers. Basically, such wishes are satisfied, and you will get a seat with a window in any part of the aircraft. This best way booking when traveling alone or as a couple.

If a family with children is flying, then booking seats nearby is harder. To do this, you need to go to the counter with the whole train with passports, so that at the other counter no one has time to book a seat next to the first passenger. More often than not, airline registrars contribute to a favorable outcome. It is not worth offering a bribe, because employees will not risk losing their job for the sake of a few hundred rubles. A few years ago, this method of registration allowed you to book the desired seat. But the appearance electronic system registration and virtual ticket purchase provided an opportunity to guarantee the desired seat.

When buying a ticket

Official sites sell tickets and offer customers a scheme with free seats. If you buy a ticket in advance, then the choice of seats is even greater, if there are only a couple of weeks before the flight, then the desired seats will no longer be available (often they appear before the registration itself). When registering for a flight, you must say about reserved places. But some airlines don't allow reservations near emergency exits, which have a lot of legroom. This is due to the fact that such seats are given to passengers who are overweight and too tall. At the same time, there are companies that charge an additional cost for choosing a place.

If you buy tickets from intermediary companies, then the cost does not increase, but you can no longer choose a seat. Of course, when filling out an application, you can specify your requirements, but there is no guarantee that they will be met.

Online registration

Today, most people check in for flights virtually. For this, there are special counters at airports or official sites. This can be done for a certain period of time, which is set by the airline.

• Some allow bookings up to 24 hours before takeoff. Thanks to this, you will not need to arrive on the flight in advance to select seats.
• You need to arrive an hour in advance to go through the standard procedures.
• Passengers must present tickets with the indicated seats to the registrar. But passengers with animals and children, as well as luggage, cannot be registered in this way.
• Some companies, on the contrary, offer bonuses when online registration, for example, to increase the size of luggage.

Selecting seats using the mobile app

Life without smartphones modern people It is not possible, because with its help you can control almost everything, including check-in for a flight and choose suitable seats. Popular airlines developed special mobile applications, they can be downloaded on the official websites. Such applications are as convenient as possible, but they have one drawback - this is a higher ticket price.

Tricks and nuances of booking

• Low-cost airlines offer seat reservations for additional fee what to remember. The cost depends on numerous nuances, for example, aircraft class, seats.
• Aggregator sites offer more favorable prices on tickets, because their work is carried out at the expense of airline payments.
• There are companies that book the best seats on the most popular flights. To do this, you need to arrive on the flight a few hours in advance and politely ask to select the desired seat.
• If after landing you find empty seats, you can ask the flight attendant for a transfer.
• Each aircraft model has its own seating arrangement. You can find this information on the ticket.

There are many ways to book seats in the cabin, it remains only to choose the most suitable one.

Even the shortest flight always causes a lot of excitement for the traveler. And this is not surprising, because until now many people have a real fear of flying in the sky and believe that they definitely cannot be comfortable. However, experienced travelers know exactly how to make a few hours in the air as enjoyable as possible. Not the last role in this matter is played by the places in which you will sit during the flight. We think that no one will like to travel sandwiched between two chubby neighbors or watch people crowding around your chair wanting to go to the toilet for the whole flight. Therefore, after the cost of the ticket and the reliability of the airline, you should pay attention to which seats on the plane are better to choose. Of course, there is not always unity in this matter, because a lot depends on the size of the passenger, the company with which he flies, as well as personal preferences and the brand of the airliner. But we will try to give you general recommendations about which seats are best to take on an airplane if you want your air travel to be smooth.

Flight class

What are the best seats on an airplane? This question can be answered in different ways, but most passengers know for sure that the comfort of a flight directly depends on what class you are traveling in. This nuance directly affects many characteristics of the trip: the comfort of the seats, the level of service, the quality and choice of food. This is especially important when your flight takes more than four hours and comfort becomes its most important condition. Therefore, if you are thinking about which places to visit then try to choose a higher flight class when planning your trip.

Modern air carriers offer their customers the following travel options:

• Economy class;
• Business Class;
• first grade.

Each of these options has its pros and cons. Therefore, before we find out, for example, what are the best seats on an economy class plane, we will give brief description each flight class.

What to expect from a budget travel?

Most passengers travel by air in this way. After all, economy class tickets always have a low cost and are available to the general mass of tourists. Those who often fly by plane compare such a trip in terms of comfort with a bus ride. Reclining seats are installed in the cabin of the airliner, the distance between the seats will allow passengers of average height and build to stretch their legs and get comfortable. During the flight, you will be sure to be fed, and many airlines also give gifts to the kids, consisting of coloring books, pencils and various games that help pass the flight.

However, keep in mind that the economy class cannot boast big amount amenities. For many passengers, the distance between seats and rows seems too small, and they cannot sit comfortably. This becomes a serious problem when the flight lasts several hours. In addition, traveling in economy class imposes some restrictions on baggage. IN Lately major airlines provide extra comfort seats in the most budget class of flights. Usually they cost a little more than usual, but the demand for such tickets shows that they are in high demand among tourists.

Flying in business class

Traveling in business class is extremely comfortable, there are comfortable seats that can be fully expanded and rested during a long and tiring flight. In addition, passengers receive gourmet à la carte meals and a wide range of alcoholic beverages. Each chair is equipped with such pleasant trifles as, for example, sockets to recharge laptops and smartphones.

For many tourists, the answer to the question “which seats on the plane are better to choose for a pleasant and memorable trip” is obvious - naturally, in business class.

Most expensive trip

Not every airline can be proud of having first class seats on board. It is one of the most comfortable of all of the above, but also the most expensive at the same time. Travelers who can afford this type of flight benefit from a host of benefits, including a separate check-in counter and priority boarding.

It is worth noting that first-class flights will seem the most convenient for tourists, but, unfortunately, not every passenger can afford such a luxury. Therefore, in the following sections of the article, we will try to find out which seats on the plane are better to choose for a comfortable and enjoyable trip.

Porthole seats

Many passengers think the best places armchairs located near the porthole. Undoubtedly, they have many advantages, but they are not suitable for all travelers.

You can choose such places if you plan to sleep during the flight, because no one will disturb your sleep, making their way to the toilet. It is quite convenient to be at the window for those who plan to occupy themselves with reading or working on a laptop. There is enough light here, so your eyes will not get tired, and you will be able to fly in comfortable conditions.

However, keep in mind that it will be difficult to go to the toilet from here - you will have to constantly apologize and disturb other passengers nearby.

Is it convenient to fly near the aisle

Those who are trying to figure out which seats on the plane are best for restless travelers should consider aisle seats. They allow you to get up at any time, give you the opportunity to stretch out comfortably, and also go to the toilet without worrying about disturbing your sleeping neighbors, for example. It's nice that the passengers sitting at the aisle are practically the first to go down the ladder after landing the airliner. And therefore, they have a chance without too much fuss to complete all the documents at customs and get luggage before other tourists.

But do not forget about the disadvantages that aisle chairs have. It will be quite difficult for you to take a nap or just relax, because other passengers and flight attendants walk between the rows all the time. Also, be prepared to get up every time. comfortable chair when your neighbors decide to go to the toilet or just stretch.

Places in the center

In most articles that give advice on which seats on an airplane to reserve for yourself at check-in, the seats in the center are called the least suitable option of all possible. However, it really depends on who is traveling. For example, for families with babies, these places are the most convenient for planting a child. Judge for yourself, he will feel both parents, and during sleep he will be able to stretch out, sitting on the laps of mom and dad. Therefore, many families try, when registering for a flight, to take three seats side by side at once.

But for people traveling alone, it will not be too comfortable to sit in the center seat surrounded by two strangers.

Emergency exits: pros and cons of seats

Some passengers mistakenly believe that emergency exit seats are the best and are often disappointed with their flight. After all, in fact, the seats at the emergency exits in the airliner have their own classification. You need to know about this when you check in for a flight and choose seats on board.

Most lucky are those travelers who managed to get on a row of seats between two emergency hatches. There is plenty of space here even for taller than average passengers, and you can recline the seat back completely without annoying passengers sitting behind you. It is also quite comfortable to sit in the seats that are located in front of the emergency exit. They have increased row spacing, and many airlines even leave space behind by removing a row of seats. However, keep in mind that such places usually do not accommodate women, children and the elderly, who in a critical situation will not be able to act in cold blood. Do not forget that the rules of air carriers are strictly prohibited from placing near escape hatch hand luggage.

Places after emergency exits are considered in this category the most undesirable for a long trip. The chairs are firmly fixed in one position, so the flight will be extremely unpleasant.

Seats in the nose of the aircraft

Choosing a place like this air travel in many cases justified. Passengers seated at the front of the aircraft receive drinks and meals first during lunch. They may not be afraid that the flight attendant will run out of juice or mineral water. In addition, they are the first to leave after landing, but this is where mothers with babies are often placed. In the front part of the cabin, you can conveniently fix a baby cradle, so when registering this category of passengers, preference is given. If you don't like traveling around crying babies or plan to work during the entire flight, then try to choose other places for yourself.

The tail section of an airliner

Seats in the tail have long been recognized as the most uncomfortable. There are always crowds of people and there is practically no opportunity to choose hot meals, and after landing, passengers will have to leave after all other travelers.

However, it is often the tail compartment that is not completely filled, so it becomes possible to comfortably sit on three chairs at the same time and sleep. According to statistics, during the crash among the survivors, about seventy percent sat in the tail of the plane.

First rows of seats

Some passengers deliberately choose seats in the front rows of seats. They have a lot of advantages: no one will fold the seat back in front of your nose, and the wall or partition in front creates a certain atmosphere of privacy even in full cabin aircraft.

The best places to travel with children

If you are traveling in full force, then the information about which seats on the plane is better to choose - after all, it is quite difficult to fly with a child, you see, is not an empty phrase for you. This section of the article will be useful to you.

Usually the first rows of seats are called the most comfortable. In them, your child will not interfere with other passengers, for babies there is an opportunity to fix the cradle, the choice of dishes is the widest, and turbulence is felt the least.

Most often, the representative of the air carrier who checks in for the flight takes into account the fact that parents and children should sit side by side. However, it would not be superfluous to recall this, because in the process of work, some employees may not pay attention to the age of the child.

Try to get to the seats in the front of the cabin, because in case of incomplete loading of the liner, you can always change to the tail and put the baby to sleep on three free chairs. Otherwise, you will still have good seats in the front rows, where it is quite comfortable with a child.

What are the best seats on an Airbus plane?

General advice on choosing seats in the cabin may not always be effective, because they do not take into account the structural features of the airliner. This nuance must be taken into account when thinking about which seats on the plane are better to choose. Airbus, for example, is a fairly popular aircraft model with Russian airlines. It has several modifications, each has its own characteristics.

The Airbus 319-100 airliner provides for the sale of tickets in two categories: business and economy. For passengers of the second group, the seats in the third row will be the most comfortable. They are the first and are separated from the other cabin by a curtain, which makes it possible to sit very comfortably while traveling. The tenth row is often called "seats of increased comfort", because there is an emergency exit in front of them and travelers are accommodated with great comfort.

The configuration of the cabin of the aircraft "Airbus 320" suggests that the most comfortable places are those that are in the third, tenth and eleventh row. The economy is counted from the third row seats and there is a partition in front of them. This eliminates the reclining of the seat in front due to its absence. The tenth row is distinguished by a wide passage from one row to another. However, do not forget that the position of the chairs is securely fixed, so you can only comfortably stretch your legs. The eleventh row can be considered the most suitable for long flights, the backs recline here, and the distance in front is quite enough for even a very tall passenger to sit comfortably.

What are the good seats on a Boeing plane?

These airliners are also often used by Russian air carriers. Boeing is a popular model. What seats on the plane are better to choose if you fly on board this model? We will reveal this secret to you now.

For passengers, it is a serious confusion that the cabins of these airliners are slightly different from each other. In one embodiment, there is a row with two chairs. Here, the most desirable places will be on the fourth, thirteenth and fourteenth rows. The fourth row starts counting in the economy class cabin. There will be a partition in front of the passengers that does not reach the floor. This allows travelers to settle in any position convenient for them. Flight attendants are starting to deliver food from these places, so you will not have any problems with the choice. The thirteenth row is not suitable for everyone, because behind it there is an emergency exit, which means that the transformation of the seat is impossible. However, there are only two chairs and a lot of legroom. The fourteenth row has the most important advantages over other places: reclining seatbacks and an increased aisle between the rows.

The second version of the interior configuration is identical to the first, but here the numbering is shifted by one and there are no rows with two seats. Therefore, similarly to the previous description, places on the fourth, twelfth and thirteenth row will be convenient here.

We hope that after reading our article you will be able to easily check in for a flight via the Internet and choose the most comfortable places for yourself and your family. Enjoy your flight and soft landing!

A good seat on the plane will not only save your nerves... On long flights bad places can become torture for the body. I am publishing the main recommendations on this subject from Forbes magazine.

“My husband and I always book seats in the tail of the plane in advance: one at the porthole, the other at the aisle. Usually there are no people who want to take the middle place, and we are flying together in three chairs.

Examine the aircraft cabin map

The sites www.SeatGuru.com, www.SeatExpert.com have maps of aircraft cabins of various airlines with a lot of details ...
The best places on the maps are marked in green, the worst - in red.

Book your seats in advance

Advance booking on the website allows you to choose your seats on the plane long before the flight.

I will add from myself: Just a month ago, my sister and parents came to Moscow. They bought tickets a week apart. But when booking online, the sister was able to choose seats to sit next to her parents.

Ask for a front row or emergency exit seat

pros: more legroom, no one sits in front, you will be the first to get food, for those traveling with small children, it is possible to attach a cradle to the wall for babies.
Minuses: because of the tables hidden in the armrests, it is impossible to raise these armrests and turn the chair into a sofa.

Seats at emergency exits. The row spacing here is 15 cm more than in the rest of the cabin, but depending on the layout of the cabin, the backs of the seats often do not fall (on long flights you will regret this) and you can not keep hand luggage on the floor. The rules prescribe to plant only tall adults in these places. When emergency this person must open the door and help the crew evacuate passengers.

A week ago, Aeroflot announced a new Comfort + service - during check-in for long-haul flights (to Bangkok, Washington, Vladivostok, Havana, Hong Kong, Delhi), a traveler can book a seat with an increased distance between the rows (these are the same seats at emergency exits) and pay 700 rubles for it.

Avoid seats in the tail and middle of the cabin

At the tail of the plane, the seats are a little narrower, the shaking is stronger, a small selection of food, newspapers and magazines, next to it is a toilet. Pros - tail places are considered safer, in the middle of the cabin you find yourself “locked” by food carts for a significant part of the flight.

Arrive early for registration

Do not neglect the simplest and proven way to get the desired seat in the cabin: do not be lazy and arrive at the beginning of registration.

Don't fly on Friday

The busiest days are Friday and Sunday. The busiest flights are in the morning and in the evening.

Smile at the airline staff

(Still from the movie Catch Me If You Can)

Alexandra Primakova, head of qualitative research at Validata market research, learned how to buy three tickets for the price of two: “My husband and I always book seats in the tail of the plane in advance: one at the window, the other at the aisle. Usually there are no people who want to take the middle place, and we are flying together on three chairs. But even if someone is put between us, the person always agrees to change places. So my husband and I still always sit together - there is no risk in our scheme.

Aleksey Sadovskikh, director of the architectural bureau Attix, acts much more risky: he always gets in line for registration at the very last moment - and often ends up in business class, having an economy ticket in his hands. True, he stayed at the airport twice: then all those who bought tickets for him appeared on the flight, and Alexei did not have enough space (airlines usually sell a few extra tickets for all flights, since, according to statistics, several passengers do not appear on each flight).

People like Primakova and Sadovsky are rather an exception in Russia. 99% of the travelers we surveyed said they didn't care where they sat on the plane. Meanwhile, only in the first and business class cabins are all seats equally good. And in the economy class, your comfort directly depends on which row you are sitting in - in the tail, in the middle or at the beginning of the cabin. And with very little effort, you can make your legs and back hurt less after the flight, and your mood will be better.

Forbes has compiled a list of the most effective ways to get a good seat on an airplane.

1. Learn more about the model and seating arrangements on the aircraft

You can find out on which model of aircraft a particular flight is made on the airline's website. Aircraft different airlines quite different from each other in the comfort of the salons. The sites www.SeatGuru.com, www.SeatExpert.com have all the details about the layout of the most different aircraft: about the presence of electrical outlets and TVs in the backs of the seats, the location of the toilets, the spacing between the rows (usually it is 80 cm, but some companies, such as JetBlue, increased it by 5 cm) - this seemingly small difference on long flights is very even felt.

The first row behind the business class is considered the most convenient. There is more legroom, no one sits in front of you - which means no one leans back on you, you will be the first to get food, drinks, newspapers, you will get blankets and pillows, for those traveling with small children there is the opportunity to attach a cradle to the wall for babies and put a child seat. But there are also disadvantages here - because of the tables hidden in the armrests, it is impossible to raise these armrests and turn the chair into a sofa or put a sleeping child on your lap. And if, for example, you are going to work or prepare for a business meeting on the way, it is hardly worth striving to sit in the front rows: neighborhood with children (and they are usually the most here) is unlikely to contribute to concentration.

Seats at emergency exits are also held in high esteem by experienced travelers: the row spacing here is 15 cm more than in the rest of the cabin, but depending on the layout of the cabin, the seatbacks often do not fall down (on long flights you will regret this), and you can not keep hand luggage on the floor. The rules prescribe to plant only tall adults in these places. “Honestly, for obvious reasons, at registration, first of all, they look for this person to be physically strong, energetic and, how can I put it, quick-witted,” says Boris Rybak, director of the consulting company Infomost. “In the event of an emergency, he must open the door and help the crew evacuate passengers.” Although there are cases when even a fragile girl could convince an airline employee that she needed to fly in this particular row.

In the middle of the cabin, for a significant part of the flight, you find yourself “locked” in carts with food, drinks, newspapers, and duty-free goods. In addition, rows 8 to 20 are usually the noisiest zone in the aircraft, all the noise of engines and turbines is concentrated here. But there is no such information on the websites and schemes of salons, and help to find more quiet place only airline employees at check-in will be able to you - in different types aircraft have different noise distribution graphs.

At the tail of the plane, the seats are a little narrower (such is the geometry of the plane): it’s closer to sit there, it shakes harder, a small selection of food, newspapers and magazines (on the “what’s left” principle), there is a toilet next to it, which most often has a queue - which means noise. The only plus is that the tail places are considered safer.

2. Book in advance

Advance booking allows you to choose your seats on the plane long before the flight. This is especially convenient for those who fly in large companies: it is difficult to expect that you can all be seated side by side. Company british airways Since October this year, it has introduced an additional booking fee: now economy class passengers will have to pay 10 pounds ($16) for the opportunity to choose a convenient seat on European flights and 20 pounds ($32) for long flights, 20 pounds ($32) and 60 pounds ($98) corresponding to business class passengers. But most air carriers (with the exception of low-cost ones, which charge everything) still provide this service for free when buying tickets both on the Internet and at airline offices. But few people know about it - for some reason, neither the carriers nor the agents especially advertise it.

When booking a seat in advance, you can also order special food for yourself (which few people also know about) - all air carriers have different lunch options . Transaero, for example, offers a choice of about 30 different meals - vegetarian, kosher, Muslim, low-calorie, diabetic and others, plus 2 types of baby food.

3. Use online registration

You can also choose a seat convenient for you during online registration, this procedure is becoming more and more popular. You can check in at the airport at special kiosks and even on the airline's website. Thus, you save a lot of time (you can arrive at the airport at least 50 minutes before departure), however, there are a number of restrictions: you must travel without luggage, without small children, without animals. In general, this option is suitable for a businessman traveling light. In addition, some companies, such as Delta or Air Berlin, do not display seats near emergency exits (and they are considered good by travelers) in the online check-in system, holding them for tall and large passengers. The second point is that in Russia not all companies have online check-in counters, and so far only in Moscow - in Domodedovo and Sheremetyevo-2.

In the near future - the creation of a single group boarding pass, which will allow you to get places next to each other, for example big family or a group of passengers. To do this, they will not have to be all at the airport at the same time, one person will be able to register the entire company: the data of several travelers at once will be stored on the chip of one ticket.

4. Arrive early for check-in

Do not neglect the simplest and proven way to get the desired seat in the cabin: do not be lazy and arrive at the beginning of registration. According to the director of the press service of Transaero airline Sergey Bykhal, "the airline's employees at check-in always try to meet the needs of passengers and take into account their wishes." For those traveling alone, this option is also possible: to arrive, on the contrary, at the very end of registration. If you are lucky, you can be given a seat in business class, and if you are not lucky, you will get a seat that all other passengers have already refused.

5. Choose Low Traffic Days to Fly

Experts recommend, if possible, to schedule flights on the days and hours of the least busy airports - these are Monday, Tuesday, Thursday. The busiest days are Friday and Sunday. The busiest flights are in the morning and in the evening. In the half-empty cabins of “weekday” flights, the flight attendants themselves will offer you to transfer to unoccupied rows - it’s quite possible to sleep on three chairs.

6. Try the "unofficial ways"

A few years ago, the practice of obtaining good places on board or access to business class for a bribe to airline employees (500 rubles invested in your passport can still open your way to a place at emergency exit but we don't recommend it). American Forbes.com tells the story of a passenger who, on a flight from New York to Germany, was helped by a hundred-dollar bill to get into business class. True, on the way back with the German airline staff, the same trick did not work.

“For our family, it is simply important to fly in the front row, where you can stretch your legs,” recalls Anna S. “After all, my height is 186 cm, and my husband is even taller. Once at the airport at check-in, when I asked them to give us these seats, the airline employees said: “500 rubles for the passport.” We had nowhere to go, a long flight, we paid. But the most annoying thing is that before the flight the plane was replaced, and our new seats were almost in the middle of the cabin. With what convenience we ended up flying, I don’t even want to remember. ”

And yet, money doesn’t solve everything: checks have become more frequent recently, airline staff are afraid to take money, it is much more effective to win over airline employees with personal charm. “You need to smile at them, you need to talk to them, you need to treat them like a human being, and then - it has been proven many times - they will do much more for you than you can expect from them,” advises Boris Rybak.

Businessman Petr K., who flies both domestic and international flights several times a week on duty, is convinced of the same almost every day: “The most reliable way is to put a chocolate bar on the check-in desk and ask the girl with a charming smile to “land well” . It always works, and chocolates, as a rule, are not taken. ”