Vacation time, and we booked our ticket to the Philippines. My sister recommended upgrading to seats where we could select spots in the front row of Cebu Pacific, so we could have more leg space and, hopefully, a comfortable flight home. I have never upgraded seats before because I don’t really mind the skimpy space in the back seats, and the stingy side of me didn’t want to spend more. But this time, I obliged, and yeah, why not try it for a few hundred pesos more, especially since we’re traveling with an active toddler?
So here’s my take.
It was indeed faster boarding because, aside from being prioritized for having a toddler with us, our seats were just right after entering the aircraft—the first-row seats. It was a great feeling to be able to locate our seats right away, without having to walk down the aisle checking seat numbers or waiting in line for passengers trying to settle in, putting away their luggage. While the rest of the passengers were boarding, we were already seated and could relax after a long journey from our small city to the capital—taking a train, subway, and bus to the international airport, carrying our luggage up and down elevators and escalators, queuing to check in, queuing for immigration, and waiting for boarding—the introductory part of traveling, which I don’t truly like.
I could sit comfortably with my legs crossed, extended forward, and there was still a bit more space before the wall partition for the attendant’s working area. The toilet was just about three steps in front of us, which was handy when you have a toddler who needs it. It was very accessible. It is an advantage, but also a disadvantage.
I soon felt the downside of sitting in the front row, just in front of the toilet and the attendants’ workspace. Yes, you guessed it. The attendants, of course, were always working, opening and closing lockers, walking back and forth, sometimes chatting, and yes, the passengers in line trying to use the toilet were distracting—or shall I say, disturbing. I could have had a little privacy—a darker, quieter space—if we’d taken the regular seats in the back. The lights in the front row and the attendants’ area were always lit. It was bright, and it was impossible to take a nap considering the brightness and traffic. Even my daughter complained that she couldn’t sleep because it was too bright. Thank goodness I had towelettes with me to cover her head and eyes, minimizing the bright light.
To sum it up, it was nice and comfortable to sit in the front row if you want more leg space and faster accessibility. The toilet is just a few steps away, avoiding the need to march down the aisle. You can get on and off right away, avoiding the queue. But if you don’t mind smaller space, having to wait in line, and you value a space with less traffic, stay in the back seats.
Personally, I want more space, and I don’t really like waiting—either for someone to love me or any form of waiting, especially getting off the aircraft—so the front-row seats were worth it. Our flight was short anyway, so we didn’t really need a quiet space to sleep.
(So I closed my notepad and thought this article was complete and ready to be uploaded on my website when…)
The flight took a weird, very disappointing turn of events. Everything was smooth until we landed at 10:29 p.m. Manila time. I checked the time on my phone as soon as we landed. I was very excited and so ready to get off first, but thirty minutes have passed, and as I’m writing this now, we’re still inside the aircraft due to what the pilot said was “limited” whatever affecting deplaning at the airport. My daughter, who was asleep and woke up when we landed, feeling so excited to get off, has fallen asleep again! I just mentioned I don’t like waiting of any form, but here we are, stuck in the aircraft for goodness’ sake! Well, the spacious seat is definitely an advantage in this situation. I would feel so much more disappointed, frustrated, and cramped if we were seated at the back!
(After a few more minutes…)
But why is there still no movement in this aircraft, nor any announcements from the pilot until now?! Time check: 11:04 p.m. Thirty-three minutes past landing time! Oh, geez! What a test of my very short patience!
…
Time check: 11:29 p.m. One hour has passed since landing, and we are still inside the aircraft! I cannot count how many “Our Fathers” I’ve prayed already. I started saying ten rounds of this holy prayer, clasping my hands together inside the cold aircraft. I was hoping that maybe the Lord would make us deplane after ten “Our Fathers,” but I made another round, another round, until I couldn’t count anymore. Finally, I stopped and went to the toilet. I had to move. I felt suffocated, and my chest started to hurt a little bit. I don’t like this feeling.
Time check: 11:33 p.m., and the pilot just announced that he got advice from the controller that the gate was already available, and we will be deplaning in five minutes! I really hope so!!!!!
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