Newsletter

The Seat Beat – Part 3 of 3

We conclude our three-part series on airline seats with a look at some inside tips at finding the right seat for you. Look online and you’ll find scores of blogs and articles about finding the “best” seat.  They may be great at drawing clicks but miss an important consideration – different people have different needs.

Take a look back at part 1 in the series for an understanding of seat terminology and part 2 for an overview of premium economy.

Then check out our UNIGLOBE expert tips on helping you get the seat that’s right for you.

What’s Happening with the 737 MAX?

Since mid-March of this year, the 737 MAX 8 and 9 aircraft have been grounded.  While there has been much written about the process and issues around the investigations, there is also confusion for many travelers as to its status.

Even though it is not currently certified to fly, many travelers who are booking trips for September or later may see the 737 MAX on their itineraries. While it may be listed, that does not necessarily mean you will fly on that aircraft. Each airline has their own policy as to how far in advance they will remove the 737 MAX from their schedule.  Currently, most North American airlines that use this aircraft have removed it from schedules through August or September.

If you have a flight scheduled on a 737 MAX you can be confident in knowing it will only be used once it is safe and certified.  Airlines will continue to remove the aircraft from their schedules generally one to three months in advance.

Finding the Inflight Charging Ports

Keeping your devices charged during a trip is often a challenge, but these days a flight is a great place to restore that battery level. While it is nowhere near universal, many airlines offer power or USB ports on their aircraft. In many cases, ports are only offered in certain seats such as first class and the extra legroom seats at the front of economy, while others may include USB ports at ever seat.

On Delta aircraft with seatback TVs, you can find a USB port built into the TV panel for every passenger.  Some other airlines with seatback TVs will also have this, but for domestic US travel, most other airlines are removing them.

The next most common places to look for power ports are in between the seats, where there would be 2 ports shared amongst a group of 3 seats.  They are either just beneath the level of the seat cushion or at the back of the seat in front of you just beneath the arm that holds the tray table.

The most hidden USB ports we’ve seen are on the end of the armrest.  Depending on the bevelled design of the armrest, these might be well hidden from view.