![](\"https:\/\/www.thesun.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/www-tiktok-com-tui-benelux-849952139.jpg\")
<\/p>\nTHERE's nothing worse than booking a window seat on a plane, only to sit down and realise there's just a wall there.<\/p>\n
It's a problem that lots of passengers have encountered, with some even paying extra for the view, only to be disappointed.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
That's exactly what happened to Anirudh Mittal in February, when he specifically picked a seat that would give him a great view over London.<\/p>\n
However, when he came to sit down, he realised that his "window seat" was not as advertised. <\/p>\n
He shared a picture of his seat on X, formerly known as Twitter, and wrote: "I paid extra for a right side window seat because it's supposed to be beautiful when you land into Heathrow.<\/p>\n
"British Airways, where's my window?"<\/p>\n
Another X user, Kalie Marsch, had a similar problem, which she also shared online, simply writing: "I've made a terrible, terrible, terrible mistake."<\/p>\n Some passengers assume that the windowless seats are nothing more than a spiteful move from the airline, but it turns out their existence is for much more practical reasons.<\/p>\n Popular travel company and airline TUI revealed exactly why some people end up sitting next to walls when they're expecting windows in a video on one of their Tiktok accounts (@tui.benelux).<\/p>\n They showed footage of one of the seats and asked: "Do you know why some of our aircraft have a windowless window seat? <\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n "That's the spot where the air conditioners are located."<\/p>\n It turns out that a window simply can't be put in those places because important pipework is stored behind the wall instead.<\/p>\n That fact was backed up by Nicky Kelvin, Head of\u00a0The Points Guy UK.<\/p>\n He told Mail Online: \u2018They\u2019re often due to the manufacturer using that space to feed through certain avionics (aviation electronics) or essential components such as air-conditioning ducts."<\/p>\n However, knowing why they're there doesn't stop passengers from sitting in those seats.<\/p>\n There are ways people can make an educated guess whether or not they'll be sat in one of the windowless spaces.<\/p>\n When picking seats on board the aircraft, passengers are often shown a seat map. <\/p>\n This, as well as other online research, is the best way to make sure you get the view you're hoping for on your flight.<\/p>\n Travel experts Lonely Planet explained: "Check the airline seat map when booking. Then\u00a0check it again when you\u2019ve booked\u00a0\u2014 sometimes the diagrams are different in the airline\u2019s 'manage booking'\u00a0system than in its reservation systems.<\/p>\n "Run a quick web search for your airline and the kind of aircraft listed on your booking and keep\u00a0gardening your reservation\u00a0until it\u2019s time to check in. Do a final check\u2026 and cross your fingers!"<\/p>\n Meanwhile, the Points Guy recommended another resource that offers in-depth maps of the inside of plane cabins, as well as providing insight into good and bad seats.<\/p>\n They wrote: "Most passengers have to rely on a tool that's very popular among frequent travelers:\u00a0SeatGuru. <\/p>\n "This website allows you to search for the seat map of each individual airplane type on each airline. <\/p>\n "In addition to showing you standard information like the number of seats, their width and pitch, travellers can also highlight problems with individual seats."<\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/www.thesun.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/ep0ert-plane-passenger-storing-hand-312140080.jpg\")
<\/picture>SIT BACK <\/span><\/p>\nHated plane seats where you'll get a quieter flight and more luggage space<\/h3>\n
![](\"https:\/\/www.thesun.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/pf69r3-interior-large-commercial-airplane-824302006-1.jpg\")
<\/picture>NO CLASS <\/span><\/p>\nAirlines are making plane seats more uncomfortable & will sneakily cost you more<\/h3>\n
Most read in News Travel<\/h2>\n
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<\/picture>MONUMENTAL <\/span><\/p>\nUK landmark that’s like visiting Athens – home to a terrifying mythical beast<\/h3>\n
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<\/picture>SIT IT OUT <\/span><\/p>\nPassenger shamed by cabin crew for using TikTok trick to secure empty row<\/h3>\n
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<\/picture>EUR ON <\/span><\/p>\nIrish attraction named best in Europe – beating Buckingham Palace & Eiffel Tower<\/h3>\n
![](\"https:\/\/www.thesun.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/newspress-collage-24241181-1696337395397.jpg\")
<\/picture>GO SEA <\/span><\/p>\nUnspoilt British isle with secret lagoons where people use horse-drawn carriages<\/h3>\n
Read More on The Sun<\/h2>\n
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<\/picture>![](\"https:\/\/www.thesun.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/www-tiktok-com-tui-benelux-849952141.jpg\")