Why Seat Selection Matters on STT Flights
On a 3–4 hour Caribbean flight, the difference between a good seat and a bad one is meaningful. Whether it's extra legroom, a quieter cabin position, or a window view of the islands at takeoff, taking 5 minutes to think through your seat selection pays off.
JetBlue (A320) — JFK and Boston Routes
JetBlue's A320 has 150 seats, with "Even More Space" rows at the front of the cabin (rows 1–5) and exit row 10. Even More Space seats have 38" pitch versus the standard 32–33". Row 10 (exit row) is free for standard passengers. Avoid rows 29–30 — they're adjacent to lavatories and don't recline fully.
American Airlines (737-800) — Miami and Charlotte Routes
On American's 737-800, Main Cabin Extra rows 8–14 offer extra legroom and are worth the modest upgrade fee on a 3+ hour flight. Exit rows 16 and 17 (window and aisle) are solid. The 737-800's last row (row 32) doesn't recline — avoid it. Window seats on the left side of the aircraft offer views of the islands on approach into STT.
Delta (737-900ER or A220) — Atlanta Route
Delta's Comfort+ cabin on Caribbean routes is a reasonable upgrade — extra recline, dedicated overhead bin space, and earlier boarding. On the A220 (increasingly used on Caribbean routes), every seat is wider than the industry standard — even economy is comfortable. Exit rows offer extra legroom at no charge for basic economy passengers if available at check-in.
United (737-900ER) — Newark Route
Economy Plus on United's 737-900ER gives you 5" more legroom than standard economy. Rows 20–21 (exit rows) are free for standard economy passengers if unclaimed at check-in. The 737-900ER is a longer aircraft — rear lavatories see heavy use on Caribbean flights, so mid-cabin is generally quieter.
Universal Tips
Window seats on the right side of most STT-bound aircraft offer the best approach views of St. Thomas and the surrounding islands. Set a SeatGuru alert for your specific flight to confirm aircraft configuration before you select.