Vueling A319, A320 & A321 seating plans: how to get the best seats with this flight map & the ones to avoid
LOW-COST airline Vueling flies to many destinations throughout Europe and northern Africa.
Read on to find out the best seats to pick if they’re the ones whisking you off on holiday – and which ones you might want to avoid.
Spanish low-cost airline Vueling allows passengers to pick which seats they want before they jet off, and they offer a couple of options at different costs.
The best seats for getting off the plane first
Some passengers simply can’t wait to get off the plane and head to their destination.
The best bet to be off first is to get seated as close to the front as possible.
While there is an exit at the back of the plane, it can often depend on the destination as to whether or not it will be used for disembarking.
Some flights will park up slightly away from the gate, meaning steps can be pulled up to both the front and the back.
However if the plane pulls right up to the gate, there might just be the one loading bridge to the front doors – and those at the back will be last off.
The best seats for legroom
Vueling offer a number of rows which have extra legroom, but watch out – these can set you back a few extra pounds.
For some people it’s well worth it though, especially with some flight times exceeding four hours.
The very front of the plane, row 1, has the best of the legroom – but it’s also the priciest.
The A320 plane also has extra legroom on rows 2 and 3, again for an extra cost but not quite as much as being at the very front.
There’s also more space on rows at the exit around the middle of the plane – however it’s worth bearing in mind that there are restrictions on who can sit here.
As they’re next to an emergency exit, those sitting in them may need to help in the event of an evacuation.
On the A319, these are rows 10 and 11, whereas on the A320 these are rows 12 and 14.
The A321 has two sets of emergency exits over the plane’s wing – they can be found at rows 12 and 28.
The best seats for getting food
Vueling offers a range of tasty snacks and drinks which can be bought on-board.
Cabin crew will come from both the front and the back with the trolley of treats, so the first few rows and the ones at the back will be seen to first.
Service is fairly speedy though, so all passengers are usually served quickly after take-off.
The best seats for photos
Have you even been on holiday if you haven’t posted a pic out of the plane window on Instagram?
There are some tips for getting the best mid-flight photos, including where is best to sit and even what time of day to fly.
In general a seat around the middle of the plane will give the iconic shot of the wing with the ground below visible.
This can give a stunning shot of sunsets, sunrises, and breath-taking cityscapes, framed by the wing.
Flying towards the end of the day will mean seeing stunning scenes of the location lit up at night.
Otherwise for an unobstructed view from the window, rows 1 to 10 will give the best shots.
The best seats for taking naps
Many passengers see flying as the ideal time to get forty winks – especially on the way home.
Most of Vueling’s seats allow travellers to recline their seat, although a couple of rows don’t.
The back row on each type of plane has a wall behind, and so the seats can’t be moved any further back.
Bear this in mind if space is needed, as the row in front can put their seats back, so this can limit the amount of space for those at the back.
The seats in front of the emergency exits also can’t be reclined.
This is to prevent any obstructions if there’s an emergency and people need to get off this way.
On the A319 this is row 10, and on the A320 it’s row 11.
On the bigger A321 plane, it’s both rows 10 and 27.
It’s also wise to book a window seat if sleep is needed, as this allows passengers to lean against the wall of the plane and can be more comfortable.
The Vueling seats you should avoid
According to SeatGuru, the worst seats for Vueling flights are on the back row.
That’s because not only can the seats not recline, but they are also close to the toilets and the crew area.
This means there can often be a lot of people going backwards and forwards past these seats, or queuing for the toilet – especially just after the seatbelt signs have been switched off.
They also recommend avoiding the ones directly in front of the emergency exit above the wing too, as they won’t recline.
How much do Vueling seats cost?
Vueling are a low-cost and no-frills airline, which means it doesn’t cost much to jet off with them.
Flights to Barcelona from Manchester are as low as £30.
But these prices can soon increase if you want to book specific seats though.
Sitting on the front row can add an extra £20 to the price – so for a family of four that could add an extra £160 to the total price of the holiday.
Whilst Vueling say they will try to keep all the people in a booking together, they don’t guarantee this.
Seats are allocated at random if they’ve not been booked before check-in.
Flight compensation rules
A look at your rights if a flight is delayed or cancelled, when your entitled to compensation and if your travel insurance can cover the costs.
What are my rights if my flight is cancelled or delayed?
Under UK law, airlines have to provide compensation if your flight arrives at its destination more than three hours late.
If you’re flying to or from the UK, your airline must let you choose a refund or an alternative flight.
You will be able to get your money back for the part of your ticket that you haven’t used yet.
So if you booked a return flight and the outbound leg is cancelled, you can get the full cost of the return ticket refunded.
But if travelling is essential, then your airline has to find you an alternative flight. This could even be with another airline.
When am I not entitled to compensation?
The airline doesn’t have to give you a refund if the flight was cancelled due to reasons beyond their control, such as extreme weather.
Disruptions caused by things like extreme weather, airport or air traffic control employee strikes or other ‘extraordinary circumstances’ are not eligible for compensation.
Some airlines may stretch the definition of “extraordinary circumstances” but you can challenge them through the aviation regulator the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).
Will my insurance cover me if my flight is cancelled?
If you can’t claim compensation directly through the airline, your travel insurance may refund you.
Policies vary so you should check the small print, but a delay of eight to 12 hours will normally mean you qualify for some money from your insurer.
Remember to get written confirmation of your delay from the airport as your insurer will need proof.
If your flight is cancelled entirely, you’re unlikely to be covered by your insurance.