Advice for Flying Coach on Business Trips

With the current cost cutting of most major businesses, it can be bad enough being allocated a coach ticket rather than business class, but there are several ways you can ensure a more comfortable, less stressful flight if you are prepared beforehand.

Before your departure, make sure that you check-in online as soon as you your airline allows, usually 24 hours before your scheduled flight time. The sooner you check-in, the greater choice you’ll have for changing your allocated seat.

Take a look at the seating plan and look for an exit row seat, ideally towards the front of the plan and on the aisle.

I’ve always found these seats to be the best for several reasons. One, by being towards the front of the plane, you get served food and drink first, and you have a quicker exit from the plane at your destination.

Second, by sitting towards the front of the plane, you escape the wing exit seats, where your view is obstructed, meaning less light in the cabin, plus you have the increased noise level from the engines.

By sitting in an aisle seat, you gain the most space to stretch your legs and you can look down the plane, giving you the illusion of more space. Avoid the middle seats at all costs, unless you want to play “elbow wrestling” with your fellow passengers!

The window seat can be good for sleeping on long haul flights, but I don’t find the aisle seat any worse. If you want to stretch your legs out, you may want to avoid the bulkhead seats.

Finally, when choosing your seat, avoid sitting near the restrooms. You’ll not only be disturbed by the constant ‘to-ing and fro-ing’ of other passengers, but you’ll also be open to a line of people waiting to use the facilities, stood in front of you where your extra leg room should be! As if that weren’t bad enough, you’ll also be subjected to the sucking sound of the flush every time!

So, to recap, choose a seat towards the front of the plane, ideally on an exit row. Opt for an aisle seat, unless you plan to sleep throughout the flight – then choose a window seat. Avoid sitting near the bulkhead or the restrooms.

That way you should have a far more pleasant and restful flight.

By: Simon Dainton