Avoiding seat 11A: What you need to know before booking

Positioned near the center of Ryanair’s Boeing 737-800, seat 11A appears ordinary on the seating chart—a typical window spot that promises views of clouds and sunsets. At first glance, nothing suggests it will be different from any other window seat.

The letdown comes as soon as you sit down. Rather than a clear window overlooking the sky, passengers face mostly solid wall, sometimes with only a small, poorly placed opening that lets in minimal light.

This odd feature is not the result of poor planning or budget cuts. Instead, the aircraft’s air-conditioning ductwork runs directly along that section of the cabin, occupying the space where a proper window would normally be.

The frustration grows when you realize nearby seats offer the experience you expected. Across the aisle at 11F—or one row behind at 12A and 12F—travelers enjoy full windows and unobstructed views.

Seat-mapping tools such as AeroLOPA and similar guides make it possible to identify these misleading spots before booking a ticket.

Spending a few moments reviewing detailed cabin layouts can help travelers choose brighter rows or slightly more comfortable seats on the right side.

That small effort can turn a flight from staring at blank interior panels into watching the landscape unfold far below.