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Airplane Seat Planning

By Kathleen Crislip, About.com

4 of 8

Key to Plane Lavatories, Exits, Galleys, Laptop Plugin Ports

SeatGuru.com Airplane Seat Information Key

Seat Guru Airplane Information Key

SeatGuru.com Screenshot
The Seat Guru information page on the Boeing 747 I'll be traveling on with British Airways also shows me a color coded key. With this, I can scan the plane's interior and find lavatories, exits, galleys (kitchen areas), laptop plugin ports and desirable seats.

  • Lavatories

    I know I don't want to sit near a bathroom. If I'm not feeling well, proximity to a bathroom might be important. If someone else isn't felling well, sitting near a lavatory might be a drag. I'll want to know where the head is in relation to my seat!

  • Exits

    An exit door in my aisle is not a bad thing; it means more legroom because of the space required for the door. It also means I may not get a window view at my elbow or that overhead storage may be limited.

  • Galleys

    When I first started flying, I thought that sitting near the galley (the airplane's kitchen area) meant that I'd be among the first to get inflight drinks and food. Not always true. Instead, the flight attendants cart their wares several rows back and I wind up last in the grub line but am close to the kitchen clatter and smells.

  • Laptop ports

    Is this important? I may want to recheck my travel notes while I'm in the air. On the other hand, I can find travel details in my travel journal or guidebooks which are under my seat in my carry on bag.

  • Seat Key

    Seats themselves are colored green (good), yellow (something's up with this seat), or red (yuck).

    Go to the next step: Find Your Airplane Seat With Your Eticket

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