Where do you prefer to sit on the plane?

[meryll83]

Hi All,

So today is the day we can reserve our seats with Virgin (for the way out at least).
I've looked on Seat Guru but there's not much of a clue as to where is a good choice of seat, i.e. it only seems to show good seats as ones with extra legroom, and they're not available for selection (no doubt there's a fee attached to these too!)

So, for now, I've just gone with being as far forward as possible (like to get out nice and early to hit the immigration queues!) but does anyone have any rationale around where they normally choose to sit and why?

I know some destinations it can be a better view from one side of the plane to another, but I can only really recall seeing swampland when arriving into MCO, so I don't suppose it makes much difference in this case...

There are a couple of seats left on the upper deck (not a window seat though unfortunately), upstairs is normally upper class and premium, but on this particular flight configuration it's a few economy seats there rather then premium. Wondered if it'd be worth selecting those for the experience, even though we'd lose the window?

Also, I don't know whether there's a certain place where you tend to be last served for food (experienced this on some other non-MCO flights before) and as quite fussy eaters at times, we do like to have the options still available and not be served what's left. Although one time this did work out for us as we got some left over premium meals.

Perhaps I'm overthinking this one...

 

[flortlebap]

I prefer the front to get off the plane fast unfortunately I was vetoed, as this year OH wanted window seats which were about half way back.

 

[scottishgirl87]

I like to sit near the wings or near the front

 

[queendisney]

well I would prefer 1st class but that has never happened yet If we go PE then we use to like the bubble until they put some economy seats up there and I think its too claustrophobic now. So we prefer the dedicated PE cabin downstairs but I MUST have a window or I feel sick. More often then not we go economy and I prefer the back of the 747 in the two seats configuration. Nice and quiet, nobody moving you out the way and lots of room besides the seat. Always pre order our food so no probs about not getting any, although its pretty horrid and we rarely eat much of it, we tend to take some nibbles or a sandwich with us from airside. Yes you will get off the plane last but I'd rather put up with that to have the 2 seats for 9 1/2 hours. Only been 747 for years and years now so can't say about the other planes.

 

[jen_uk]

well I would prefer 1st class but that has never happened yet

 

[MichelinMan]

Normally on planes I prefer to sit at the back. I find it easier to stick stuff in overhead lockers without people pushing past to get to their seats at boarding. From my experience, even being last off the plane I usually have to wait for luggage to appear.

For Orlando, I realise things will be different and will mean we will probably be last off the plane and to immigration. But we are also travelling as a family of 3, and we want a row of 3 seats together, which also happens to be at the rear of the plane. That way we don't have to sit next to anybody else, and have access to 2 aisles to get in and out easily.

 

[scoobydooby]

I hate them all, lets face it, flying for 9 hours is a drag! Have pre booked the bubble both legs this time, a row of three and an isle seat on the corresponding row. Just thought we would try it in the hope we get let off sooner. I'm expecting immigration to be horrible wherever we sit but Id rather just be off the plane ASAP.

 

[irisheyes123]

I prefer the front of the plane as we travel with my brother who is in a wheelchair and it makes it easy on us to get him on and off. We are always last off as we have to wait on the wheelchair. We mostly fly with aerlingus so preclear in Dublin so just have to collect our baggage .

 

[chmurf]

I have motion sickness, so sitting in the wing section is the only thing that keeps me from being sick during those 9 hours ...
The back of the plane *moves* too much for me.

I had the opportunity to seat in the bublle (geez, that was so long ago, last time I flew onboard a 747 was with pan am ... lol) and wasn't impressed, but people seem to see a hype to it ... never figured out why

 

[Beep]

We prefer as far forward as we can.

We go for front row premium economy on the way out, and a couple of rows down on the way back.

I find it easier to relax and sleep on the night flight if Im a few rows back and going out we are off first and through immigration quicker.

I also don't feel as hemmed in by being at the front of the plane as Im not looking at loads of people crammed in to a,metal tube

I've got tunnel vision in my right eye so prefer to have DH on my right or the window.

 

[MrRomance]

I think it depends on your circumstances, as PPs have said, if you suffer with motion sickness etc. then some areas of the plane are better than others. If you are a nervous flyer and have issues with turbulence the most "stable" part of the plane is in the middle row.

We always fly P.E. so we don't get too much choice because the cabins are smaller. If we have the ability to choose, we would go for the middle seats in the first row of P.E. because they have more legroom and I have ridiculously long legs for my height and carry a hip injury from a car accident.

I honestly don't think being at the back of the plane makes a huge difference even with the problems at MCO immigration. Let's face it, if there is a 2 hour queue, what does an extra 100 families in front of you matter!! Fortunately for us, we use the US citizen line so it's never an issue, but the way I see things, it's better to be happy and comfortable for those 9 boring hours than to be the first off the plane and into the immigration line.

 

[marcgiu]

If you flying economy there are great seats to the left when you get on the plane (just behind PE) - I think there are only 3 rows and its a nice self contained area.
Also there are brilliant economy seats in the bubble behind PE - Front row of those have bundles of leg room.

 

[Elise79]

If you flying economy there are great seats to the left when you get on the plane (just behind PE) - I think there are only 3 rows and its a nice self contained area.
Also there are brilliant economy seats in the bubble behind PE - Front row of those have bundles of leg room.

After the refits there are no E seats to the left of the boarding door - it is all PE & Upper now.

 

[marcgiu]

After the refits there are no E seats to the left of the boarding door - it is all PE & Upper now.

Really - that's annoying , they used to be our favourite seats!

 

[queendisney]

If you flying economy there are great seats to the left when you get on the plane (just behind PE) - I think there are only 3 rows and its a nice self contained area.
Also there are brilliant economy seats in the bubble behind PE - Front row of those have bundles of leg room.

now that the 474's have all been refurbished those 3 rows behind PE have gone and been taken by more PE seats because of the extra econ seats in the bubble.

I now prefer the dedicated PE cabin downstairs from the bubble, where as I used to prefer the bubble before the extra econ seats. It's just too claustrophobic for my liking now with so many extra people in such a small space.

 

[Chilly]

We like the 2's at the back of the plane. Don't need to move for anyone else and some of them have a little bit more room. As others have said you might be last off but i'd rather be comfy for 9 hours.

 

[ChipnDaleRule]

well I would prefer 1st class but that has never happened yet . More often then not we go economy and I prefer the back of the 747 in the two seats configuration. Nice and quiet, nobody moving you out the way and lots of room besides the seat.

I agree with both points.Yes we WOULD prefer Upper but still trying too and i like the back rows with two seats, you can really stretch out, only problem is for DS is the motion sickness, so this is why i was interested in the quote below.It might of been my imagination but im sure our two config seats had slightly more pitch

I have motion sickness, so sitting in the wing section is the only thing that keeps me from being sick during those 9 hours ...
The back of the plane *moves* too much for me.

I had the opportunity to seat in the bublle (geez, that was so long ago, last time I flew onboard a 747 was with pan am ... lol) and wasn't impressed, but people seem to see a hype to it ... never figured out why

I minght have to give up my legroom and see if DS can cope better in the middle.

 

[smallblackstars]

We just sit wherever really, lol! As long as we are all together then that's just fine. I have always flown with BA but I am guessing the planes are pretty much all the same? The only thing I am worried about this time is my DH, it is the first time he will be coming to Florida and, at 6'5, I am concerned about the legroom he will have. That will make me look into seats with better legroom but other than that I guess he will just need to man up and deal with it! Haha!!

 

[Laszkowicz]

As a first timer I find this conversation interesting.


As long as we're altogether I don't really mind, also me n wife being 5'3 I'm sure the economy leg room will be just great.

Hey we're used to easy jet etc so a big plane transatlantic will be fun.

 

[DisFanJen]

Unless we're flying Upper Class (Which is pretty rare for us) we like to fly right at the back.

Well, if there is a problem, the plane is unlikely to reverse into a hill...