Seating Policies and Carry-On Sizes Around the World

Elena Vasquez · March 26, 2026 · 8 min read

Every airline sells seat selection, and every airline also has to comply with rules about who may sit where. Those two facts collide in the exit row, in family seating, and in the growing number of jurisdictions that legislate on children sitting with a parent.

Who cannot sit in an exit row

Exit row seats are safety equipment positions. Regulators including EASA and the FAA require occupants to be able to assist in an evacuation, and airlines apply the criteria consistently.

• Under 15 or 16 years old, depending on the regulator and carrier.
• Anyone travelling with an infant.
• Passengers with reduced mobility, or anyone who would need assistance to evacuate.
• Passengers unable to understand crew instructions in the language used on board.
• Deportees or passengers in custody.
• Sometimes passengers with a service animal, because of the floor space required.

Crew can and do move people at the door if the criteria are not met. The seat fee should be refunded in that case, and it usually is if you ask before leaving the aircraft.

Family seating rules

This is the fastest moving area of the subject. Regulators have pushed back on charging families to sit together, and several jurisdictions have moved from guidance to requirement.

Where a legal requirement exists, ask for it by reference. Where only guidance exists, ask at check in and again at the gate, because seats open up as the flight closes.

Cabin bag sizes by region and aircraft

The published cabin bag dimension is a fleet wide number, but the constraint that actually matters is the aircraft. Regional jets used on short domestic sectors cannot take a standard roller in the bin at all, which is why gate checking is routine on Embraer 175 and CRJ operations across the United States and Europe.

Buying an extra seat

• Passengers of size. Several US carriers, notably Southwest historically, have accommodating policies. Many others sell a second seat at a discounted rate. Policies differ enough that it is worth checking before booking.
• Musical instruments. A cello or guitar can travel in a purchased seat, usually booked under a special passenger name such as CBBG, cabin baggage.
• Fragile or high value equipment. Camera gear and medical devices are the common cases.
• The extra seat is normally sold at the same fare as a passenger seat and does not carry a baggage allowance.

Choosing a seat well

1. 01

   Identify the aircraft, not just the airline

   A 3-3-3 configuration on a 787 is meaningfully different from 3-4-3 on the same type. Check the seat map before assuming.

2. 02

   Avoid the last row and the row in front of an exit

   Both frequently have restricted recline. The last row is also next to the galley and toilets.

3. 03

   For sleep, choose a window forward of the wing

   Less foot traffic, a wall to lean on, and marginally less noise than behind the engines.

4. 04

   For a tight connection, choose an aisle near the front

   You can save five to eight minutes on disembarkation, which is occasionally decisive.

5. 05

   For families, book early rather than paying later

   Free adjacent seats disappear first. Selecting at booking, even on a fare that allows free selection at check in, is the reliable route.

6. 06

   Recheck after any aircraft change

   A swap can reassign everyone. Look at your booking again after a schedule change email.