Air travel is time-consuming and exhausting, so it is nice to be able to choose a seat comfortable for spending a few hours in the air, and still no space for worry. But what if one seat could not only be inconvenient but also he biggest discomfort of your journey as well? A group of travel veterans and regular passengers, for instance, strongly believe that travelers should never go for Seat 11A (or window seats at the front of a small number of aircraft, typically) Seat 11A.
The Issue of Seat 11A
1. Limited Recline (or No Recline at All)
On several flights, particularly those on smaller regional jets or with older planes, Seat 11A may have little to no recline. The most usual reason for this is that it is situated right in front of an exit row or a partition wall, which are the places that prevent people from moving. This situation would also be if you were hoping to take a nap on the flight.
2. Proximity to Lavatories
If the particular aircraft has the same seating arrangement, then Seat 11A is the most suitable place for this. It implies the following:
- Crowded corridors near your seat
- Lulled to sleep/awakened to snoring by passengers waiting in line
- Being close to heavy tobacco smoke
3. Cold Air from Emergency Exits
By a window seat in a row with an emergency exit, you could be exposed to a constant flow of cold air from the door seals. After observing this situation, some of the customers have reported that they were feeling cold all the time, and they had to be in a situation of having extra layers in order to avoid the cold conditions of the long flights.
4. Non-functional or Bad Doings Window
Seat 11A in a few planes, for instance, can also be a disappointingly cruel place. In addition to the window being aligned properly, it may have no window at all, or it could be the structure of the aircraft’s body that is the cause of the blocked view. Thus, you will be thoroughly let down if you were hoping to see the fascinating world below from the sky.
5. Higher Legroom Near Exits Than Expected
It is customary for exit rows to have an increased amount of space, but the seats right in front of them will not necessarily (as in the case of 11A) also have the same amount of legroom because of safety or structural factors.
Prevent Getting A Poor Seat
On the eve of your next air travel, simply familiarize yourself with:
- SeatGuru (for checking your plane’s specific layout)
- Airlines’ seat maps (they are provided to most passengers during online check-in)
- Flight review forums (where people chat about their flight experiences)
In case you are given Seat 11A (or a seat with a similar problem), the following is an option:
- Requesting a seat change at the time of check-in
- Choosing another seat in advance (usually, though not for free)
- Putting a travel pillow and several clothes on (to lessen discomfort)
Final Words
While not all 11A seats are bad, their quality will indeed depend on what aircraft and airline you’re with. Nonetheless, being knowledgeable about possible problems allows you to decide wisely. If you want to be assured of comfort, a little inquiry before making the booking can mean a whole lot of difference!
