Travel Blog

I know how important a good seat on your flight is.  I really know because whenever we travel that is the first thing I have to look at as my husband is quite fussy and definitely has to have an aisle seat.  So of course I usually get a middle seat – whatever.  I am short and it doesn’t bother me.  But how about when you get on the plane that is quite empty and you have the row of three to just the two of you.  Joy and Bliss!  Except there is nothing to stop someone coming along and saying that they will take that seat and you can’t really say no, can you?

One couple in Britain had a good idea (so they thought).  They pretended they had a baby with them so it would frighten off any takers.  The husband sat holding a bundle of blankets disguised as a baby in the window seat and his wife sat in the aisle seat.  Now who wants to sit between them?  Not sure what would happen if you were assigned to that seat but you would probably try and get another vacant seat rather than that.  I am pretty sure the flight attendant would have seen through this.  These people have seen just about anything.

Like the young 28 year old who ordered a wheelchair for his flight.  Here’s his story –

Wolf Jenkins cheerfully filmed himself dodging more than two-hours of queues at Milas-Bodrum Airport in Turkey by pretending he had sprained his ankle.

The 28-year-old student posted a video of his exploits on TikTok having made it back home to Bristol two weeks ago.

“When we arrived at the airport the queue was out of the door and we knew we would have missed our flight,” he wrote.

“I’d say around a two hour wait to get through security and check in at least. The queue outside of the airport was insane, I didn’t expect it at all.

“I saw people in wheelchairs being pushed through so my friend waited in the queue and I went outside and took off my shoe and sock.”

When he limped into the airport a member of staff quickly asked if he needed help, prompting Wolf to claim that he had twisted his ankle.

“I was then ushered through security and to check in immediately and they asked me if I had a fit to fly form but I said I have only just done it and that I could walk if necessary,” he continued.

What a jackass.  I have sometimes had clients who really needed a wheelchair in an airport and could not get it so this does make me a bit mad.

Of course we all know the sensible things you should do to get a good seat.  Book in advance.  Pay the extra for seat selection.  Go for exit row for more leg room but be aware that sometimes those seats might not recline.  Pay a bit extra for comfort class.  If you are a sleeper and don’t need to use the toilet much then a window seat is perfect but if you are a weak bladder type better get that aisle seat – especially on long flights.

And sometimes if you splash out and book yourself in business class (oh what a joy – but so expensive) and you note that there are quite a few business class seats left unoccupied just keep an eye out because for sure there will be at least one person who will saunter up from economy after take off and sit down in one of the seats.  I just about cheered when the flight attendant sent him back.  That was mean I guess but he was being so cheeky.

What’s your favourite trick for getting the best seat?