How to find out which aircraft model you are flying and why it matters

When you are planning a trip, you probably know in advance what type of hotel you need and what attractions you want to visit. You, most likely, also studied the options for air travel - while you hardly paid attention to the model and layout of the aircraft, and this is also important, notes Travel and Leasure.

The layout of the cabin and seats in the same airline may differ even within the same class in different aircraft models. And this means that the impressions of the flight will be different. Different aircraft models are different sizes and configurations of seats, luggage racks and other elements that affect passenger comfort.

These indicators are very important for those who prefer to travel with hand luggage only. You can buy a carry-on bag, but that doesn't mean it will fit in the overhead bin on all planes. That is, there is a possibility that at the gate you will be forced to check it in your luggage.

But the most important thing is that in different models of aircraft there are different distances between the seats. That is, legroom can be different even in economy class. Entertainment options on board will also be different. Therefore, before traveling on some aircraft models, it makes sense to download movies, podcasts or TV shows to your devices in order to avoid many hours of boredom.

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How to check which aircraft model you are flying

The easiest way is to look on the booking page of your chosen airline. Most of them list the aircraft type on the booking page, so you'll know it before you book your ticket.

But if you cannot find information on the airline's website, then you can use third-party sites, for example Expert Flyer or Seatguru.

SeatGuru works like this: you enter the date of the flight and the flight number, and the site gives you a map of the seats on the flight. On the left side of the page, you'll see useful information, including the type of aircraft, the airline's baggage policy, information about traveling with children, and check-in policies.

On the right - available information on the configuration and width of the seats in the aircraft, broken down by class of service. In addition, travelers have access to amenities information such as headphone jacks, power adapters, Wi-Fi, and meal deals. The SeatGuru maps even show the best (in green) and worst (in red) seats on the plane. For example, on a Delta flight between Atlanta and New York on an Airbus A321, SeatGuru advises avoiding the A and F seats in row 12. These seats are in the airline's Comfort+ zone. But since they are located in front next to the emergency exit, they may “have a limited angle of inclination” and not have an actual view from the window.

Expert Flyer offers almost the same information as SeatGuru, but with an important bonus. Travelers can set up email alerts when their favorite flights and places become available.