Travellers could be sitting more comfortably on flights without spending an extra penny, as uncovered by consumer champions at Which?
The travel experts revealed a trick that helps avoid cramped legs while soaring through the skies.
Upon investigation, Which? researchers noticed a peculiar detail: certain airlines have ditched front storage bins to pack in another row of revenue-generating passenger seats.
This has resulted in an inconsistency in seat sizes, particularly notable towards the front of the aircraft.
According to the report, “Seats towards the front of the plane aren’t actually the same size, with those on the right (seats D, E and F) often offering between an extra half-inch to inch of legroom versus those on the left.”
The findings are especially useful for frequent flyers with Ryanair.
The predominance of Boeing 737s in their fleet means that if you snag seats D, E and F from rows 3-15, you’re guaranteed the roomiest standard seats available—without shelling out more cash.
For those jetting off with easyJet, the drill is similar.
Seek out seats on the airplane’s Airbus A321neo, particularly D, E and F in the esteemed front rows 3-13, and you can revel in a generous 29-inch seat pitch—that’s short for desirable extra space.
What’s more, easyJet confirmed to Which? that their spacious offerings exceed other areas of the cabin.
By choosing the optimal rows and seats mentioned, passengers obtain a full inch more wiggle room than seating options on the left (in rows 6-17 ABC) or the rear (rows 30-40), which are restricted to a 28-inch pitch.
For those flying with British Airways, savvy travellers have shared some insider tips to nab the best seats.
On BA’s most frequented long-haul aircraft, the Boeing 777, the rear rows are configured in pairs, making them ideal for duos travelling together.
However, on the Airbus A320, BA’s staple for short-haul journeys, the narrowing tail means you’ll find an inch less legroom at the back, so it’s wise to steer clear of row 30 with its cramped 28-inch seat pitch.
The report also noted: “One way to guarantee extra legroom on BA is to upgrade to Premium Economy. But our research has found it’s not worth it.
“The service, which includes priority boarding and ‘better’ food, as well as seven inches extra legroom, only received a 57% customer score in our latest survey.”
Meanwhile, WizzAir passengers can’t rely on the same strategy for seat selection, but there’s still a trick to try for more space.
Dare to play ‘check-in chicken’ by delaying your flight check-in to the last moment, hoping to snag a superior seat as airlines often fill up the less desirable ones first.
It’s a gamble though – wait too long and you might miss out or even be bumped off an overbooked flight.