Travel expert shares airplane trick to make sure the whole family gets the best seats
Dawn Morwood, co-director of Cheap Deals Away, a company dedicated to helping people find the best holiday deal, advises that you separate the plane into various zones and book seats for family members accordingly.
She said: 'Most families just grab whatever seats are available, then end up stressed when their toddler won't settle or grandad struggles to get to the loo. But with a bit of planning and my simple zoning method, you can turn a potentially stressful journey into a much more pleasant experience for everyone."
READ MORE: The European city 'just like Amsterdam' but cheaper with fewer tourists
READ MORE: The European city 'just like Berlin' with the biggest red light district in Europe
Dawn's zoning method is simple but effective. Instead of booking seats randomly, she suggests dividing the plane into strategic zones based on each family member's needs.
Describing the method, she said: "It considers everyone's needs - from grandparents who need easy access to the loo, to kids who need entertainment, to teens who want their own space.
'The beauty of this approach is that it's flexible and can work with any budget. Even if you can't get your exact preferred seats, understanding these zones helps you make the best choices from what's available."
For older relatives, she advised booking aisle seats at the front of the plane. Dawn said: 'This makes boarding and getting off much easier, plus they'll have quick access to the loos. The front of the plane also tends to be quieter and experiences less turbulence.'
For parents with young children, Dawn recommends the middle section near the wings. She commented: 'This area experiences the least turbulence, which is great for little ones who might get nervous,
'Choose window seats for the kids - it keeps them entertained with the view and means they won't be disturbed by other passengers needing to get past.'
For teenagers or more independent family members, Dawn suggested sitting them slightly separately to give family members some breathing space.
Dawn explained: 'Teens often appreciate having their own space. Book them aisle or window seats within sight but not right next to you. It gives them independence while keeping them close enough if needed.' The expert also shared her advice on keeping costs down. She said: 'Most airlines now charge extra for seat selection, but there are ways around this. Book early - this gives you more choice and often better prices. Some airlines also offer free seat selection for families with young children if you call their customer service.' Websites like SeatGuru allow you to check the best spots on your specific plane. Dawn added: 'Also, download your airline's app - sometimes they offer free seat selection through their apps, and you'll get notifications if better seats become available.'
Looking for more from MyLondon? Subscribe to our daily newsletters here for the latest and greatest updates from across London.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Hill
28 minutes ago
- The Hill
Trump cancels Bedminster vacation to work on Ukraine-Russia talks
President Trump canceled his August vacation to his Bedminster resort to work on talks to end the Ukraine-Russia war, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Tuesday. Leavitt said Trump considered continuing peace talks while at his New Jersey golf resort but decided to stay at the White House instead. 'This is normally the time when the president goes on vacation, but not this president,' she said. 'There [were] discussions about him working from Bedminster for a couple of weeks, but he decided against it.' 'He's a man on a mission. He wants to move. Get things done quickly,' Leavitt added. 'He wants to strike when the iron is hot.' Presidents typically take a vacation in August while Congress is out for its recess. Trump took a 17-day trip to Bedminster in 2017 during his first term. Trump has been focused on ending the Ukraine-Russia war and met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska on Friday. Days later, on Monday, Trump hosted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and several European leaders at the White House for talks. The president announced after those talks that he is working to arrange a bilateral meeting between Putin and Zelensky, followed by a trilateral meeting that would involve him. When asked about the timing of the trilateral meeting, Leavitt replied, 'It's hard to judge. I think he wants to see how the bilat goes.' The White House has been optimistic about the meetings taking place, without giving a timeline. Leavitt told reporters that Putin promised he would have a direct meeting with Zelensky.
Miami Herald
2 hours ago
- Miami Herald
Never-ending summer is changing Mediterranean holidays
For a growing number of holidaymakers, the rational response to the intense heat, high prices and overcrowding that blight the Mediterranean in July and August is to visit in the spring or fall. After all, the weather is cooler, hotels are better value and the vibe is more relaxed. This so-called "shoulder season" travel is booming. The trend could help ameliorate overtourism while boosting the use of aircraft and accommodation during the normally fallow winter months. But this rebalancing won't happen without a coordinated industry effort to keep resorts open and highlight the attractions of off-peak travel. Oh, and more flexible school holidays would also help. Europe is once again anticipating an influx of wealthy American visitors this year, but if they're sensible, those unrestricted by the school calendar will delay their visit until the autumn. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, Delta Air Lines Inc. has seen a "multi-year" "systematic shift" of U.S. demand for European trips from July and August into the shoulder periods "as consumers look to avoid peak crowds and summer heat," its president, Glen Hauenstein, told investors earlier this month. "The peak is getting less peaky and the shoulders are getting stronger," he said. While anti-tourist protests and sweltering weather in southern Europe haven't impacted UK budget carrier EasyJet Plc's peak summer bookings, it's benefiting from more demand in the shoulder season. The final quarter of the calendar year has historically been loss-making, but there's hope for generating profits in the future thanks in part to the elongation of summer into October, Chief Executive Officer Kenton Jarvis told analysts in May. Greek carrier Aegean Airlines SA has also seen its financial performance improve in the October to December period amid more travel to and from Athens and Thessaloniki, which it attributes in part to climate change and milder winter temperatures creating a "gradual smoothing" of demand, Chairman Eftichios Vassilakis said in March. Inbound travelers to Greece increased 24% year on year in November, according to the Bank of Greece, while monthly travel receipts jumped 45% to €618 million ($727 million). American visitors to Greece boosted their spending that month by 78% and accounted for almost one-fifth of the total. Europe's short-term rental market is also seeing more demand in the autumn, according to AirDNA, which tracks listings on Airbnb and Vrbo; nights booked jumped 18% year on year in October 2024 and were 31% higher than the total in October 2019. Holidaymakers are taking advantage of lower off-season rates to book more upscale properties, and peak summer now represents a smaller share of total annual demand in popular vacation destinations. Amid evacuations due to summer wildfires and the Acropolis having to close during periods of extreme heat, I'm not surprised several travel firms now report more bookings in September than during peak summer. Selling active holidays in July and August can be challenging, according to Ben Colbridge, product and commercial director for Exodus Adventure Travels, whose offerings include hiking, cycling and cultural trips. "Most people don't want to be doing that sort of thing if the temperatures are above 40C," he told me, and those who must travel in July and August are increasingly picking cooler, northern destinations such as Scandinavia. Exodus's main European travel period used to run from May until the middle of October, but it's seeing a "creep at the edges" extending the season from April through the end of October. "Going forward we will start to push into the beginning of November in southern Europe," he said, while acknowledging that airline capacity in the shoulder season remains a limiting factor. Indeed, this nascent shift will only succeed if the travel industry coordinates to make off-peak visits more available and appealing, while being sensitive to local residents' concerns that this will cause an increase in overall demand (rather than just redistributing guests from the summer peak). Convincing restaurants, transport services and attractions to remain open longer isn't easy either. Seasonal workers often depart, and what if visitors don't come? "Prioritizing staff retention through flexible scheduling, short-term contract extensions, or end-of-season incentives is key to maintaining service quality," notes the nonprofit European Travel Commission. Resorts also need to offer more than just a sun lounger in case the weather turns inclement - culture, nature, sporting and wellness offers are essential. For example, German travel giant Tui AG is trying to appeal to runners by sponsoring marathons on Rhodes, Majorca and Cyprus in the off-season (and offering shorter races for accompanying family members). It would help, too, if families could be more flexible in their travel dates. Schools in England traditionally have a six-week summer holiday, but some institutions are opting for a shorter hiatus. As well as easing child care pressures and the potential educational benefits (kids forget much of what they've learned after a long break), this would mean the October half-term could be extended to a fortnight instead of one week - as is already the norm in Germany. The German school holiday system - which is also staggered by region to lessen the bunching of vacation bookings - is no panacea, though. Flights during the autumn half-term are often extortionate, as this Berlin-based columnist can confirm. Yet after experiencing the delights of Sicily in late October - when the beach was comparatively empty and the sea still invitingly warm - I've decided "shoulder season" vacations are the way forward. Please don't tell everybody. ___________ Copyright (C) 2025, Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Portions copyrighted by the respective providers.
Cosmopolitan
2 hours ago
- Cosmopolitan
When 'The Map That Leads To You' Movie Will Be Available to Stream and How to Watch
If you aren't one of the lucky people living it up and having a big European summer escapade, then you can certainly live vicariously through Amazon Prime Video's new movie. Featuring absolutely gorgeous shots in absolutely gorgeous locations, starring the absolutely gorgeous KJ Apa and Madelyn Cline—The Map That Leads To You is one of the dreamiest travel-romance films of 2025. Based on Joseph Monninger's novel of the same title, it follows a young woman named Heather (Cline) on a Eurotrip with friends after college before settling into the life she planned out for herself. But meeting Jack (Apa) was certainly not on her itinerary, and throws off her well-thought-out roadmap for life. One of the best things about the movie is that shows you some of the most stunning places in Spain, Portugal, Italy, and more. There's no need to pack, draw up itineraries, or dip into your savings to book flights and hotels. You can practically do it all (well... sorta) from the comfort of your own couch. Here's everything you need to know about watching The Map That Leads To You. The movie is an Prime Video original, and will be premiering exclusively online on Wednesday, August 20, 2025. As much as we all wish we could see Heather and Jack's big European romance play out on the big screen, there are unfortunately no screenings scheduled in theaters for this one. You might have to bust out someone's home projector and surround-sound speakers if you want the larger-than-life cinematic experience. You might not need a plane ticket, but you do need an Amazon Prime Video subscription to watch this movie. Though there aren't any additional fees to rent or buy—phew. Still, it can be a bit of a pain if you aren't already a subscriber. The movie is an Prime Video original film, so it's not likely to stream on any other platforms. But if you have a friend who does have a Prime account, it could be fun to grab some wine and popcorn, make an event of it, and watch together!
