THE WORST SEATS IN THE AIR

 Frequent fliers try to avoid them like the plague: middle seats, seats that don't recline, seats next to bathrooms and galleys. With the tight, economy-class configuration on virtually all planes these days, getting stuck with one of these seats from hell can turn an otherwise enjoyable flight into a miserable, straitjacket experience. The situation becomes increasingly claustrophobic the longer the journey.  The inconvenience is more than shoulders bumped, egos bruised and necks stiffened trying to catch a glimpse of the in-flight movie. It can be a matter of room to breathe, or Lebensraum as the Germans would call it.

Apart from the thickness and width of the seat cushion, airline seat comfort is determined by pitch, the distance between rows as measured from one seat back to one in front of or behind it. The hard reality is the pitch allotment of someone stuck in a nonreclining seat is effectively slashed by 20 percent every time the passenger in the row in front decides to lean back.  In October, Consumer Reports examined the economy class seating plans on 800 wide-body, long-distance jets of 11 different air carriers and classified 41 percent of them as undesirable. Smaller planes, which are increasingly used on short distance routes, also have seats from hell; in fact, on some commuter flights every seat on the plane might make the grade.  The airlines know which seats they are, but virtually never volunteer this information to passengers. Of the 11 airlines studied by Consumer Reports, Virgin Atlantic was the only carrier whose computers provide current information about numbering and nonreclining seats, although several others said they were looking into it.  That unfortunately means that avoiding these seats can be difficult, even if you happen to have a cabin plan of the plane in front of you. There's relatively little numbering consistency among airlines or aircraft, and regular reconfigurations can change the system at any time.  To decrease the odds of finding yourself in one of these tight squeezes, always try to get a seating assignment in advance, ideally when the reservation is made. Although advance seating reservations are increasingly one of the benefits granted only to passengers who buy full-fare tickets, it never hurts to ask. Also ask where the seat is located and if it reclines fully. Stay away from seats in the first or last rows of a section, the row before an emergency exit, or seats within three rows of lavatories and galley areas.  The type of aircraft can also be a factor. Boeing 747s tend to have more nonreclining seats than 777s and L-1011s. Airbus 300s and767s have fewer middle-seats. On 747s, DC-10s and MD-11s nearly 40 percent of the seats allow passengers to get up close and personal with a seatmate on either elbow.  Once you have a seat assignment, reconfirm it when you check in at the airport. Make sure to show up at the gate well before the flight, at least half an hour before a domestic flight and 90 minutes for international departure. Otherwise, you risk losing your carefully researched seat to another passenger.  If you arrive at the airport with no seat assignment, don't despair. There's always a significant allotment of seats held unassigned until just before departure, so other passengers are likely to be in the same situation. Gate agents have considerable discretion when assigning seats, so it won't hurt to ask politely about the seat's location and whether it reclines. If you qualify physically, ask for a seat in an emergency row, which will both recline and have extra leg room.  If you get on the plane and dis cover you have been assigned to a seat from hell, demand a different one or at least some extra compensation for your agony, especially if you have purchased a full-fare ticket. You might, for example, be lucky enough to be upgraded if there are any open seats in business or first class. Or maybe you'll get a bonus of frequent flier mileage points, a future upgrade or at least a free drink.  Finally, if no compensation is forthcoming, sit back and make yourself as comfortable as possible. Don't spend the flight stewing over your bad luck. Remember, you'll be arriving at exactly the same time as every other passenger on the plane. The only difference is your flight will seem longer.


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