Shenzhen Airlines A350-900

Yes. The staggered layout runs four seats across two aisles, so each seat steps out on its own and nobody climbs over a neighbour. It is the airline's flagship cabin and the reason to prefer this jet over the A330 when both fly your route.

The window-aligned seats. The stagger alternates window seats between positions tucked against the fuselage and positions set nearer the aisle, and the fuselage-side ones are the quiet, private picks for solo travellers.

Here, yes. Premium economy runs eight seats across where the economy behind it fits nine, so the chair itself is genuinely wider. That is a stronger proposition than on the airline's A330, where the premium seat matches economy width.

A scattering of economy window seats sit out of line with their windows, leaving the view behind your shoulder. The seat map flags the affected positions, so a quick check saves the disappointment if the view matters to you.

Forward, away from the rear galleys where the working noise and light collect overnight. A window seat adds a wall to lean against, and avoiding the last band of rows spares you the lavatory queue as well.