Cebu Pacific Seat Types Guide: How to Pick Right

Traveling with a budget airline like Cebu Pacific often means prioritizing value, but that doesn’t mean you can’t enhance your comfort and convenience during the journey. Understanding the various Cebu Pacific Seat Types available and how to choose the one that best suits your needs can significantly improve your flight experience. This guide explores the different seating options, their benefits, and how to navigate the booking process to ensure you select the right Cebu Pacific Seat Type for your next trip.

Understanding Cebu Pacific Seat Types

Cebu Pacific operates as a low-cost carrier based in the Philippines. As an all-economy airline, it offers inexpensive add-ons for more legroom, luggage, and seat selection. While space on board can be tight, setting the right expectations for the price you pay typically leads to satisfaction.

Overview of Cebu Pacific Seat Types

Cebu Pacific offers three primary categories of seats within its economy cabin: Premium, Standard Plus, and Standard.

• Premium: These seats offer extra legroom and are typically located near the exit and lavatory areas. Depending on the route (except for Macau, China, and Dubai), Premium seats may also include priority boarding.

• Standard Plus: Similar to Premium seats, Standard Plus seats also provide extra legroom. They are located near the exit and the lavatory.

• Standard: These are the basic seats where you can choose your preferred location within the standard seating areas.

It’s important to note that while the term “Premium Seat” is used, Cebu Pacific is described as an all-economy airline. The “Premium Seat” classification appears to refer to specific seats within the economy cabin that offer enhanced features, primarily extra legroom.

CEB Seat Selector Add-on for Cebu Pacific Seat Types

To select your preferred Cebu Pacific Seat Type, including specific locations such as window, aisle, front row (for extra legroom), or seats near exits, you can use the CEB Seat Selector add-on. This feature allows you to select your seat so you can sit together with companions, by the window for a view, or near the exits for convenience.

You have the option to purchase the Cebu Pacific Seat Selector when you initially book your flight. Alternatively, you can add or change your seat later through the Manage Booking feature on the Cebu Pacific app or website. A MyCebuPacific account is required to buy, add, or change a seat via Manage Booking. The Seat Selector is available through Manage Booking up to two hours before your flight’s departure time.

If you do not purchase the Seat Selector add-on, you are still guaranteed a seat on the aircraft. However, you will be assigned a random seat at check-in. If you are traveling with multiple people, there is a chance you will not be seated together. Cebu Pacific recommends buying your seats in advance, especially if you are traveling with children.

Deep Dive into Cebu Pacific Seat Types

Let’s explore the specific benefits and characteristics of each Cebu Pacific Seat Type.

Premium Cebu Pacific Seat Types

Premium seats are designed for travelers seeking enhanced comfort and convenience.

• Benefits: Extra legroom is a key feature. These seats are generally located near the exit and the lavatory. Priority boarding may also be included, except for flights to Macau, China, and Dubai.
• Location: While not explicitly stated for all aircraft, Premium seats are often found in the first few rows of the airplane. Row 1A and Row 15 have been mentioned in traveler experiences as Premium or having super legroom.

Standard Plus Cebu Pacific Seat Types

Standard Plus seats offer similar advantages to Premium seats.

• Benefits: Like Premium seats, they provide extra legroom. These seats are also conveniently located near the exit and the restroom.

Standard Cebu Pacific Seat Types

Standard seats are the most common type of seat on Cebu Pacific.

• Assignment: If you don’t purchase a seat, you will be assigned a random Standard seat at check-in.
• Selection: If you purchase a GO Easy or GO Flexi fare bundle, you may choose your preferred Standard seat. You can also pay to select a Standard seat at any time, regardless of the fare.
• Location: Standard seats make up the majority of the cabin.

Emergency Exit Cebu Pacific Seat Types

Emergency exit row seats are a specific type of seat often categorized as Premium or Standard Plus due to the extra legroom they offer.

• Benefits: The primary benefit is significantly more legroom compared to Standard seats.
• Responsibilities: Sitting in an emergency exit row seat comes with responsibilities. Passengers in these seats must be willing and able to assist the cabin crew during an emergency evacuation, which includes being physically capable of opening the emergency exit doors.
• Eligibility: Due to these safety responsibilities, there are specific eligibility requirements for passengers in emergency exit rows. Passengers must typically be at least 15 years old, physically able, able to understand and follow instructions (including printed and graphical ones), and capable of communicating in English. Passengers who are pregnant, traveling with an infant, or require assistance (such as senior citizens or persons with reduced mobility) are not allowed in these seats. Check-in agents are trained to assess eligibility and should inform passengers and process a refund if they are not qualified for the seat they paid for. If you paid for an emergency exit seat but were not given it, you can request a refund from Cebu Pacific or file a complaint with the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB).
• Potential Drawbacks: Some passengers have noted that emergency exit row seats may have small windows. Additionally, passengers in these rows are often not permitted to store their carry-on bags under the seat in front of them (as there is no seat in front) and may need to store all items in the overhead bin. On specific aircraft, such as the A330, some emergency exit seats, particularly center seats, can serve as gangways for people to pass between aisles and are located close to lavatories, potentially causing inconvenience. Seat 37A on the A330 has also been noted as having an obstruction from the emergency exit door expansion, reducing legroom despite being an exit row seat.
• Best Emergency Exit Seats: On the A330, seats A, B, C, G, H, and J in row 17 are recommended as good emergency exit row seats, as they are not immediately adjacent to lavatories. Seats A, B, and C in row 39 also offer extra legroom and do not have a lavatory directly in front, although one is located across the aisle. On the A320/A321, seats in the overwing exit row or the first row up front are recommended for extra legroom.

How to Pick the Right Cebu Pacific Seat Type

Choosing the best Cebu Pacific Seat Type depends on your personal preferences and travel needs.

Consider Your Travel Needs when Choosing Cebu Pacific Seat Types

Think about what is most important to you during your flight:

• Legroom Preference: If extra space is a priority, especially for longer flights or if you are tall, consider paying for Premium or Standard Plus seats. Emergency exit row seats offer significant legroom, but they come with additional responsibilities.
• Location Preference: Do you prefer a window seat for the view? An aisle seat for easy access to the lavatory or to stretch your legs? Or a front row seat for quicker deplaning? Standard seat selection allows you to pick these locations.
• Traveling Companions: If traveling with family or friends, especially children, buying your seats in advance ensures you can sit together. Booking an extra seat next to you is also an option for added comfort when traveling in pairs.
• Duration of Flight: For shorter domestic flights, standard seats might be sufficient. However, for longer international or long-haul routes, the extra cost for more legroom might be worthwhile. The A330, used for longer trips, is configured with high-density seating, making seat selection for better location (like near doors) potentially more valuable.

Impact of Fare Bundles on Cebu Pacific Seat Types

Your choice of fare bundle affects which Cebu Pacific Seat Types are included with your ticket.

• GO Basic: This is the most basic fare and includes only a 7kg hand-carry allowance. With GO Basic, you receive a randomly assigned seat at check-in.
• GO Easy: This bundle includes a 7kg hand-carry bag plus one piece of 20kg checked baggage. It also allows you to choose your preferred Standard seat. GO Easy comes at a slight discount compared to buying the baggage and seat selection separately.
• GO Flexi: The top-tier bundle includes a 7kg hand-carry bag and one piece of 20kg checked baggage. Similar to GO Easy, it allows you to choose your preferred Standard seat. GO Flexi also offers ticket flexibility, allowing you to convert to a Travel Fund if you cancel or rebook.

You can purchase add-ons, such as Cebu Pacific Seat Selector for Premium or Standard Plus seats, even if they are not included in your chosen fare bundle.

Tips for Securing Preferred Cebu Pacific Seat Types

Here are some tips from the sources for getting the Cebu Pacific Seat Types you want:

• Book in Advance: Paying to book your seat is generally recommended, as it’s not very expensive for a low-cost carrier and ensures you don’t get stuck in a random middle or back seat. This is especially important when traveling with children.
• Use Manage Booking: If you didn’t select a seat during the initial booking, you can do so later through the Manage Booking feature on the Cebu Pacific app or website up to two hours before your flight. You need a MyCebuPacific account and your booking reference number to access this.
• Check-in Online: Checking in online, available from 48 hours before your flight, can give you the best choice of available seats if you haven’t pre-selected one.
• Check-in at the Airport (Potential Hack): One travel hack mentioned is to avoid checking in online and instead check in at the airport desk, especially for nearly complete, short-haul flights for a small number of travelers. Politely ask if there are seats together in the middle of the plane, or state your preference for extra legroom or emergency exit seats if they appear available online 48 hours prior. This is not guaranteed, but it has worked for some travelers. Remember, emergency exit seats require eligibility.
• Ask Kindly at the Gate/Onboard: Sometimes, seats next to each other or preferred seats may become available closer to departure or even after boarding. Don’t hesitate to politely ask a kind passenger if they would be willing to switch, as they may be accommodating.

Specific Aircraft Cebu Pacific Seat Types

Cebu Pacific operates a modern fleet primarily consisting of Airbus aircraft, including A320, A321, and A330 models, as well as ATR turboprops for smaller destinations. Seating configurations can vary slightly between aircraft types.

Cebu Pacific Seat Types on Airbus A320/A321

The Airbus A320-200, a commonly used aircraft for medium-range flights, features a single-class, high-density layout with 180 economy seats. The A321 is also used.

• Pitch and Width: Seats on the A320 and A321 offer 28 to 29 inches of pitch and 17 inches of width.
• Padding: The seats on these aircraft have minimal padding.
• Recline: The recline feature is limited to approximately 3 inches.
• Recommendation: This level of legroom is described as “not a lot”. While comfortable enough for a short flight, you might want to consider upgrading to a seat with extra legroom for longer journeys, especially if you are even slightly tall. Extra legroom seats are advised in the overwing exit rows or the first row up front on the A320.

Cebu Pacific Seat Types on Airbus A330

Cebu Pacific’s Airbus A330 planes, including the A330-300 and A330-900neo, are used for longer trips and have an all-economy configuration with a high-density layout. The A330-300 specifically has 436 standard economy seats in a 3-3-3 configuration. This is an extra seat per row compared to A330s on most other airlines.

• Pitch and Width (A330-300): Standard economy seats have a pitch of 30 inches and a width of 16.5 inches.
• Recommendations: With up to 459 passengers on board the A330, choosing your seat is recommended. Seats near the second pair of doors (around rows 14-17) are recommended for quick boarding and deplaning. Some exit row seats on the A330 have specific advantages and disadvantages regarding legroom, proximity to lavatories, and potential gangways. Row 8 has also been mentioned as a preferred area.
• Amenities (A330-900neo): Some travelers have reported that USB-A and USB-C chargers are available at each seat on the Airbus A339 (A330-900neo). Note that a general overview of Cebu Pacific states there is no in-flight entertainment or Wi-Fi. Another source mentions no in-flight entertainment, but the A330-300 overview indicates that Wi-Fi is available for purchase. This suggests amenities might vary by aircraft or fare.

Managing Your Cebu Pacific Seat Types Booking

Once you have a booking, you can manage various aspects of your flight, including your Cebu Pacific Seat Type selection.

Using Manage Booking for Cebu Pacific Seat Types

The Manage Booking feature on the Cebu Pacific app or website is a convenient tool for travelers.

• What you can do: Through Manage Booking, you can view your itinerary, rebook your flight, perform online check-in, update guest details, and purchase add-ons, including selecting or changing your seat.
• Availability: You can access Manage Booking and make changes up to two hours before your flight’s departure.
• Account Requirement: A MyCebuPacific account is required to make any changes to your flight via Manage Booking. You will need your booking reference number and the last name or email address used in the booking to access it.

Real Traveler Reviews of Cebu Pacific Seat Types

Traveler experiences shared through the sources offer insights into the practical realities of different Cebu Pacific Seat Types.

Traveler Experiences with Different Cebu Pacific Seat Types

• Comfort and Legroom: User comments on the A330-300 mention Seat 25A being more comfortable than older A320s with acceptable legroom, while Seat 37J (an emergency exit) had lots of legroom but an obstruction for the left leg. Seat 37A was described as bad due to the exit door obstructing legroom. Some have experienced getting Premium seats and enjoying the extra legroom. One traveler felt more comfortable in a Premium seat (Row 19) after previously feeling cramped in a Standard seat. Emergency exit seats are consistently noted for their extra legroom.
• Seat Location: Travelers often express a preference for window seats for the views and aisle seats for convenience. Row 1A is mentioned as a desirable seat in the front.
• Seat Assignment Issues: A Reddit post highlights instances where travelers paid for wide-legroom or emergency exit seats but were given standard seats instead. This underscores the importance of knowing your rights and seeking a refund if the paid seat is not provided, provided you meet the eligibility criteria for the special seat.
• Seat Padding: The seats on the A320/A321 are generally described as barebones in terms of padding.
• Amenities: The A339 (A330-900neo) has been noted for having USB charging ports at each seat.

Conclusion

Selecting the right Cebu Pacific Seat Type is a key step in making your budget travel experience as comfortable and convenient as possible. By understanding the differences between Premium, Standard Plus, and Standard seats, considering your personal preferences for legroom and location, and being aware of how fare bundles and add-ons work, you can make an informed decision.

Whether you prioritize maximum legroom in an emergency exit row (and meet the eligibility requirements), prefer the convenience of selecting a standard seat, or opt for the basic random assignment, knowing your options allows you to tailor your flight. Utilize the CEB Seat Selector when booking or later via Manage Booking to secure your preferred Cebu Pacific Seat Type and ensure a more enjoyable journey.

Frequently Asked Questions About the Different Cebu Pacific Seat Types