Choosing Seats

 
Seat Plan
Always refer to Seatguru.com when you select your seats. It has seat plans and info for all airlines & models. When you hover your cursor over a seat, it would tell you whether it is a good seat base on the condition/location.



Budget Airline
Beware of independent airline seat maps which promote 'good seats' as they may not be honest with their suggestions especially the budget airlines. E.g. The seat may have the leg room but may not be reclinable due to its location at emergency exit row. Seatguru.com would give a better unbiased suggestion.
  


Noise & Smell  
The tolerance for these differs from person to person


Lavatory
Look out for the location of lavatories (toilets) & galleys (pantries). You may prefer to sit further away from the lavatories in case of the odour or sit close by for the ease of accessing it. 

Galley
While it can be a bit noisy at the galleys but sitting near one would help you approach the crew for hot water, returning meal tray or for any immediate assistance esp. when none of the crew attended to you after you press the bell at your seat for a long while.

Aft
At the back of the aircraft, the humming engine sound is louder than the rest of the aircraft but it might help your baby sleep better. And if/when you baby cries, the engine would have muffled it a tad bit.



Seat Width
Seats at the bassinet/bulkhead are narrower due to entertainment tablet stowed in arm rests. These rests are fixed and cannot be lifted up.



 
Bassinet Row
The bassinet can be a huge help to settle baby but there could be another couple with another baby seated beside you. Due to proximity of the bassinets, one baby could disturb the other if he/she cries inconsolably.



Changing Seats Upon Boarding
Although you might have booked the bassinet seats, consider moving to a whole row of empty seats (3-4seats depending on location of seats). Sometimes handling your baby at the seats could be easier than handling him/her at the bassinet esp if in long stretch of time.

More Easy to Reach Storage
At the empty row of seats, you would have more freedom to keep bags below the 3-4 seats in front of you and/or keep items in the 3-4 seat pockets - that is a lot of storage. And if need be, you get more table surfaces too.

Armrest
All of the armrests here could be lifted up

Seat Width
Regular but bigger than seats at the bassinet row.

Easy Exit
You could easily pop in and out of your seat without needing to disturb your neighbour. And you won't be stuck in your seat by obstruction of the bassinet nor the entertainment screen.