where are the best seats on an airbus a380?

The Best Seats On the Airbus A380

Are you planning a trip on the Airbus A380 and wondering what the best seats are? This guide will help you choose the best seats based on your preferences and needs, ensuring a comfortable and enjoyable flight.

Tobias Holm

27 Jun 2023

Flying on any plane can be a fun and rewarding experience. But if you don’t own a private jet or aren’t a head of state with a private flying suite, you still need a way to make the journey as pleasant as possible.

The best seat on an Airbus A380 naturally depends on your own preference, but generally, it's believed to be in the upper deck due to fewer seats and less noise, with a preference for window or aisle depending on whether you want better views or easier access to moving around.

Let's go into more detail.

Upper vs. Lower Deck

An Airbus A380 has two decks, an upper and lower deck. Generally, the best seats on the plane are on the upper deck because the curved upper part of the plane allows for fewer seats than on the lower deck. So right off the bat, you’ll be sitting with fewer of your new friends, so typically, it will be less noisy, though all bets are off if you happen to be seated next to a member of the youngest generation.

In addition, engine noise is less audible on the upper deck, as you'll be sitting further from them.

A380 seats on the upper deck is preferred — Seats on the upper deck of the Airbus A380 are less noisy, and there are fewer other seats, so you'll be sitting with fewer other passengers.

Window vs. Aisle: Making the Right Choice

Window Seats: A scenic and peaceful option. If you love panoramic aerial views and want a little bit of solitude (as much as possible on a plane carrying hundreds of people), then a window seat should be your go-to option. As a bonus, you'll be able to lean against the window or wall for a nap on your journey without others disturbing your sleep. A window seat also protects you from disturbances by fellow passengers stretching their legs or making their way to the restroom. Keep in mind that a window seat also means you'll have to ask others to move should you need to get up - including potential sleeping neighbors.
Aisle Seats: More Freedom, more interaction. On the other hand, the aisle seat is our top pick if you're looking for easy access to the cabin, restrooms, and freedom to stretch your legs. These seats are also excellent for the more sociable passenger, as they allow you to interact with other passengers moving around the cabin. However, the trade-off is a slight loss of privacy and being disturbed by passengers and crew passing by.
The Middle Seat Conundrum: Despite personal preferences leaning towards window or aisle seats, it's important to consider the middle seat (OK, not really). Offering neither the view of the window seat nor the convenience of the aisle seat, the middle seat is typically the worst choice in any situation. You won't have easy access to the aisle or a place to rest your head by the window. So unless you enjoy making new friends on either side, you want to avoid the middle seat.

Personal preference is key. Ultimately, the choice between a window and aisle seat boils down to taste, but these are the options we recommend on the Airbus A380. Making the right choice can make a long journey a little more bearable.

The best seats on airbus a380 are window or aisle — Window vs. aisles seat is a matter of personal preference. But avoid the center seats.

Pitfalls to Avoid: Seating Chart Red Flags

Highly Trafficked Zones. Seats adjacent to the galleys or food prep areas, staircases, and restrooms are often busy and noisy, making a restful flight much more difficult. These are typically also the brightest sections of the plane as the lighting guides people to restrooms and crews to food prep.
Flight Crew Work Areas. You want to avoid areas frequently used by flight crew members, such as the service galleys. You might think it's a good idea to be nearby for first dibs on meals, but you'll be dealing with a lot of noise and traffic for much of the flight, making these seats not worth it.
Seats Near Restrooms. Seats in the immediate vicinity of the lavatories might seem like a sensible choice for easy access, but, let's face it, they're not. There will be constant traffic to use the restrooms, with the closing and opening of doors making rest difficult. These areas are also brighter than others. Let's not even talk about the odors.
Last Row Seats. Seats at the very back of the aircraft often have limited recline and are close to the engine's exhaust, which can be pretty noisy. Furthermore, they are also likely to be near the restrooms and crew areas, which can increase the disturbance level.

Avoid seats near restrooms and galleys — Avoid seating near restrooms and crew work areas.

Summary

The Airbus A380 can carry an incredible number of passengers. Choosing the best seats on an Airbus A380 can mean the difference between half a day of peace or a seeming lifetime of misery (although flying on the A380 is always special).

General rules of thumb, like selecting the upper deck and avoiding potentially highly used areas, can ensure a peaceful journey. Other factors like window versus aisle seats are more personal, but each comes with its own pros and cons.

That's why we recommend choosing a seat on the upper deck, either a window or aisle seat away from the busy areas like toilets and galleys.

Of course, if you’re feeling extra adventurous, you could always let the airline automatically decide your seat. Either way, pack your noise-canceling headphones, just in case.