Bulkhead Airplane Seat - Mysterious. Image: HBO/Naughty Dogs Where To Buy The Last of Us For Cheap If You Dig That TV Show
On the Elliot Advocacy user forum, one commenter wrote about their experience sitting in Air Canada's premium Preferred Seat section with the promise of a "big room" with another seat plus garden for US$100. But the truth can often be different.
Bulkhead Airplane Seat
"When we boarded the flight in Porto, I noticed that seats 27H and 27K actually had a wall in front of them, which meant much less legroom than there should have been," they wrote.
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As it turned out, the speaker had unknowingly reserved seats called "barriers", usually lined up behind the wall that separated one cabin from another. But while these are called "preferred" accommodations, they don't always come with extra legroom—or really any other key amenities—despite the added cost.
Editor's note: On domestic Australian flights, these seats are usually found in the emergency exit row. You must agree to help if there is an emergency exit to stay there.
Instead, airlines may offer it to customers as a way to board and plan ahead, since you're usually assigned some sort of priority seat, or a more comfortable seat. If you are considering purchasing a bulkhead chair, here are a few things you should consider first.
First, if you want to splurge on premium seating and extra legroom, be sure to read the fine print when browsing. Airlines such as American, for example, offer Extra Main Cabin seating in the main row with a
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Air Canada's policies, however, are expertly written; according to its website, the plane offers "extended knee room" in many seats—which makes sense since someone can't sit in front of you, but be careful.
Say legroom. (Air Canada could not immediately be reached for comment on its policy on its feet, specifically.)
When in doubt, always find your seat using SeatGuru's airline seats and look for the row behind or around the exit row. (This seat map of a United Airlines Boeing 757-200, for example, shows that most headrests offer more legroom, with a few exceptions.) Some do.
Since overhead seats are usually located in the vicinity of the restroom, you may also consider booking one if you don't want to deal with the presence of passengers in line standing over you. (Also, check your seat map to be sure.)
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Finally, since you'll be behind a wall, you may not have storage space under the seat in front of you. If that's an issue, and you want your luggage to be easily accessible, maybe consider a different seat. As Smarter Travel notes, your seat may also be a bit narrower than your average seat, especially having to make room for a tray table against your armrest, though that might mean an inch or two at most.
And if anyone ever asks to sell a chair, here's a story to tell them "in your dreams, friend." Zach Griff is a senior reporter at TPG. She writes travel and product reviews, dives into loyalty programs, news about the airline industry and more.
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Everyone has a favorite seat on an airplane. Some crossed paths; others, like me, prefer windows.
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Yet another consideration that will make a big difference to the in-flight experience is where you sit in the cabin.
When I first asked the question on my Instagram page (follow me there), the biggest drawback I saw about the partition was the lack of seat protection.
Federal regulations require anyone seated in Row 1 or in another row with a wall erected in front of them to stow all of their belongings in the overhead compartment during taxiing, takeoff, and landing.
You are allowed to store your bags on your seat while traveling, but there is no dedicated storage space, so your stuff will go to your (already limited) room.
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I often work during flights, so I like to have my bag with me. Plus, finding a spot for the top bin can be tricky, especially for me as I'm always trying to climb all the way to the end.
Many proponents of living in partitions cite the possibility that no one will live where you are.
But the flip side of that argument is that there's less room to stretch your legs. Although some cabins, including the upgraded American "Kodiak" first class on the Airbus A321, have built-in leg cutouts in the main wall, most airlines do not offer such a friendly feature.
Thus, your legroom is limited by walls that cannot be moved. Of course, you can put your feet up against the wall, but I found that uncomfortable (and others found it socially unacceptable).
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Two other drawbacks with partitions include the placement of the tray table and seatback screens.
In most economy and first class seats, the tray table can be folded down from the seat in front of you. On the bulkhead, it folds away from the armrest.
Thus, the table has less support and is often lower than normal. It is also placed more sensitively - near the stomach and lower to the feet.
Also, if your jet is equipped with seatback screens, you may find that they protrude from the center console or are mounted on the wall in front of you. Both have poor viewing angles compared to normal chairs.
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During the pandemic, I did my best to keep my personal interactions to a minimum. Of course, that's not possible on board, although the partitions are definitely one of the most crowded places in the cabin.
You'll usually find the toilets and/or kitchen right in front of the main line, meaning queues can form for the toilets and the crew can congregate during service - right next to your seat.
When faced with a choice, I chose to sit in the last row of the first class cabin, away from the bathroom and kitchen. Coach, I give myself at least three rows of support from the front of the plane.
Of course, some people swear by Row 1 for giving a brief explanation, but I'd rather wait a few minutes while we're on the ground in exchange for more in-flight information.
Is Bulkhead Seating Right For You?
While many of the considerations above apply to nearly every domestic flight I take, the reverse is true for long haul excursions in premium cabins.
When flying internationally in business class or first class, bulkhead is often one of the best seats to enhance the sleeping experience.
For tall and/or legged passengers, the leg pieces in the bulkhead are usually larger than in other pods.
Of course, you have to consider the noise and light pollution coming from the runway during a red-eye flight.
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In JetBlue's revamped Mint cabin, the airline will offer two "Studios" with more front-row seating. When flying a new product, I'd do my best to pick up one of the two above-average suites, even if they're over a larger area.
With under-seat storage and very little leg room, I'll do everything I can to avoid sitting there. Your tray table and seatback monitor are also conveniently placed in the front row.
Some prefer bulkhead because there's nothing to lean on them, but for me, the cons far outweigh the (slightly) pros.
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed here are those of the author himself, not those of any bank, credit card, airline or hotel company, and have not been reviewed, endorsed or endorsed by any organization.
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