Airplane seat selection is not foolproof, and not always available. There are some resources to help you. But, if you don't get your perfect seat, try to relax anyway.

Flying Basics

This article continues the series "Flying Basics", written for first-time fliers and others who are wondering about commercial flights, even if it is not their first time flying. If you have a fear of flying, reading enough to understand what to expect may help. The series includes:

• Flying Basics - An Overview
• Flying Basics - Airport Security
• Flying Basics - Booking
• Flying Basics - Packing
• Flying Basics - Weather Info
• Flying Basics - Weather Matters
• Flying Basics - Packing for Events.

The basic example used for Flying Basics is a domestic flight of about four hours, where there are no stopovers, no border crossings, and the flight is on a regularly scheduled route with one of the major airlines, not a discount or no-frills carrier.

Other articles in this series will look closely at special needs and some of the things which arise when your flight is not exactly like the basic example.

First Time Flyers - and Everyone Else

Congratulations, first time flyers! You have booked your airplane ticket, decided whether you need travel insurance, and now you're ready to select your seat. Sometimes you can select your seat when you book your flight, but often it happens later.

Seat Selection

Attitude is everything!

Many people worry about getting a "bad" seat on the airplane. I offer this advice: try not to let it bother you. Even though you may not like your seat, worrying about it is not going to help you. Yes, do what you can to get a comfortable seat for your needs, but don't worry about it if you get one that will do. The plane ride is a very short part of your trip, let alone your life.

If You Have Special Needs, Ask

Airlines do try to accommodate passengers' special needs, partly because it's the law (particularly in the USA), and partly because it's good business. Yes, there are many horror stories of people not getting the service they wanted. There are also many people who have had unremarkable flights without complaints. We don't hear about the ones who don't complain.

Using Air Canada as an example, the message is: if you need any sort of special assistance, ask. Tell the airline or travel agent at the time of booking if you will need help getting on or off the plane, if you have a wheelchair or walker, if you are sending a child somewhere on their own (these are called unaccompanied minors), and so on.

Different Classes of Seating

The airlines have a confusing array of fares and deals. Once you get into the plane, you can be sitting right beside someone who paid double or half what you did.

Many aircraft have at least two sections, or cabins. Most people still call these "first class" and "economy" or "tourist" class, although the airlines use different branding names. It's very simple. As you enter the plane, the seats at the front are large and spacious. These are first class seats. If you do not have a first class ticket, you may look at these seats longingly as you move ever back toward the rear of the plane.

The other common class is economy, where the seats are closer together. There may be several grades of cabin in one plane, or only one, but essentially your seat is determined by how much you paid for your ticket.

Seating For Those With Non-Standard or Special Needs

Different aircraft have different seat configurations.

Often you can find out on the website of the airline you will be flying with, what model of airplane you will be in, and what the airplane seating plan is. Sometimes you can pick your seat in advance. Other times you don't get to do this until you check in for your flight, either on-line or at the terminal.

Planes with One Central Aisle

Some have one central aisle, with seats on the left and right of it. There are usually three seats on each side of the aisle, as in the American Airlines Boeing 737-800.

Sometimes, there are only two seats on each side of the aisle, as for example, the Air Canada Canadair CRJ aircraft.

Depending upon how many seats are in the row, you can ask for a window seat, an aisle seat, or a middle seat.

The aisle is popular with tall people and with people who feel they must be first off the plane when it lands. The window is good for those who like to sightsee. The middle is usually the least popular.

Planes with Two Aisles

On large wide-bodied aircraft, such as the British Airways Boeing 777-200 there are two aisles. The seats typically are two or three on the left, then an aisle, three to five in the middle, and another aisle, and finally two or three on the right. That means every row of seats has two window seats, four aisle seats, and the rest are middle seats.

Bulkhead Seats

Many people want extra leg room on a plane. Very often, the seats at the front of each section (cabin) are a little more comfortable because there is no one sitting in front of you. Instead, there is a wall, the bulkhead.

Sitting at the bulkhead can feel a little confining because you are staring at a wall. There is no under-seat storage, so whatever you bring on board with you will have to be put in the overhead storage bins.

Emergency Exit Seats

Assuming you are not in first class, you will have limited leg room on any airplane. Most people know this and will do anything to get a bit more. Sitting at the emergency exit is more roomy because there is a bit of a walkway there. But everyone already knows this and there is always competition for the emergency exit seats.

Don't fret if you cannot sit at the emergency exit. Like first class seats, you may dream about them, and if you fly often enough, you may get lucky from time to time, but if you plan on sitting in a normal economy seat, you won't have unrealistic hopes.

If you have limited mobility or are assisting a child or other passenger, you will often not be permitted to sit in the emergency exit row. People sitting in the emergency exit row are supposed to be able to assist the crew if there is an emergency. If you do not hear or cannot understand English (on an English-language flight), or if you are not strong enough to work the exit doors (70 pounds), again you may not be allowed to sit in the emergency exit row.

Who Decides on Seat Selection?

Seat selection is at the discretion of the airline. You may sometimes select a seat when you book your flight, but it is not necessarily guaranteed, especially if you paid a very low fare on a special deal.

Websites with Aircraft Seating Plans

Some airlines' own websites show you the aircraft seating plans. There are also third party websites which list and sometimes rank the seats.

Don't take the rankings too seriously. If you pin your whole enjoyment of the flight on your seat selection, you may cause yourself needless stress. Think of it as sitting in a movie or at a hockey or football game. Just sit there and don't worry.

SeatGuru is one site which ranks seats as good or bad. Their rankings don't always agree with the rankings on lovemyseat.com, but both have diagrams and information for planning.

An internet search for "airplane seating plans" will also help, if you cannot get the seating plan directly from your own airline's website.