Airplane Seats for Film and TV: A Rental Guide

Seats do more to sell an airplane cabin than almost anything else on the set. The right seat tells the audience which class they are in, which era the story is set in and what kind of airline the characters are flying. The wrong one pulls them out of the scene. This guide is for production designers, set decorators and prop masters choosing airplane seats for film, TV, commercials and music videos. It covers the seat types you can rent, how to match them to your story, how to plan quantities and how to dress them for camera. Every seat mentioned is available from our airline seat rentals in Los Angeles.

Start with the scene, not the seat

Before you pick a model, answer three questions with your director and director of photography:

• Which cabin? First class, business, economy or a crew area each need a different seat.
• Which era? A present-day flight, a flashback or a period piece changes the upholstery, the headrests and whether there are seatback screens.
• How much will the camera see? A single insert shot of two passengers needs one bank. A wide shot down the aisle needs full rows on both sides.

Those answers narrow the choice quickly, and they tell you how many units to put on hold.

Airplane seat types you can rent

Single seats: first class pods

Our first class pod style seats are the luxury option. They suit premium cabin scenes, private suite moments and luxury travel commercials, where a single character needs space and privacy around them. Find them in our single seats category.

2-bank seats: first, business and economy

A 2-bank is two seats joined side by side. In leather, they read as first or business class. We rent 2-bank first/business class seats in blue/gray leather, navy blue leather, beige/tan leather and brown leather, plus a fabric economy 2-bank.

The fabric 2-bank is also useful in economy. It fits window-side rows, regional jet layouts and tight camera setups where a 3-bank would be too wide for the set. Browse them all under 2-bank airplane seats.

3-bank seats: economy rows

A 3-bank is the classic economy row: window, middle and aisle. It is the workhorse of crowded cabin, boarding, turbulence and in-flight service scenes. Our 3-bank economy seats come in four looks:

• Fabric for a standard coach cabin.
• Blue leather for a cleaner, more upmarket economy look.
• Fabric with leather headrests and seatback monitors for a modern cabin and in-flight entertainment moments.
• Vintage light blue fabric for period scenes, flashbacks and retro commercials.

Specialty seating: the crew jump seat

Flight attendants sit in a fold-down jump seat for takeoff and landing. Our crew jump seat is in navy fabric with pinstriping and works well near galley and door sets. It is a small detail that makes crew scenes feel accurate.

Match the seat to the story

Class of service

Leather 2-banks and pods say premium. Fabric 3-banks say coach. If your story moves between cabins, using different seat types makes the change obvious to the audience without a single line of dialogue.

Era

Seatback monitors place a scene firmly in the present day. For an older look, choose the vintage light blue 3-bank and leave the screens out. Pair period seats with period props such as our vintage galley cart and vintage in-flight phone, and check our aviation prop rental FAQ for other period pieces.

Color and contrast

Seat color sets the palette for the whole cabin. Navy and blue leather read as classic and corporate; beige/tan and brown feel warmer and more private-charter. Check the seats against your wardrobe early, because a navy crew uniform can disappear against navy seats. Our airline crew wardrobe guide covers this in more detail.

Plan your quantities

Count seats from the camera’s point of view, not the aircraft’s.

• Insert or two-shot: one bank, plus a row in front for foreground.
• Over-the-shoulder coverage: the hero row plus the rows directly in front and behind.
• Wide aisle shot: several rows on both sides, with background extras filling the seats.

Product pages list how many matching units are available. If you need more than the listed quantity, contact us when you request a quote and we will help you plan around what is in stock. For shots that need a complete fuselage, our sister company Air Hollywood offers aviation film sets including airplane cabins, cockpits, lavatories and an airport terminal set, and many productions add seats and props from our inventory to extend them.

Dress the seats for camera

Empty seats look like a showroom. A few small props make every row feel lived in:

• Seatback magazines, safety cards and air sickness bags in every seat pocket.
• Blankets and pillows for red-eye flights, and headphones for background passengers. Find them in our airline passenger props.
• Amenity kits, hot towels and menu cards on premium seats for boarding and service scenes.
• Service carts and trays in the aisle from our airplane galley props.

If the scene turns into an emergency, our airplane emergency scene props checklist covers oxygen masks, life vests and the rest.

Don’t forget the terminal

Many stories start at the gate. Airline cabin seats belong on the plane; for the waiting area you need terminal seating such as our Herman Miller 5-bank units and exterior benches. Browse airport terminal seating to dress the gate scene that comes before boarding.

Frequently asked questions

What airplane seats can I rent for a film or commercial?

We rent first class pod seats, 2-bank first/business class seats in several leather colors, fabric 2-bank economy seats, 3-bank economy seats in fabric, blue leather, vintage fabric and with seatback monitors, and a crew jump seat.

What is the difference between a 2-bank and a 3-bank seat?

A 2-bank is two seats joined side by side and is typical of first and business class or narrow economy layouts. A 3-bank is three seats side by side, the standard economy row.

Do you have vintage airplane seats?

Yes. Our vintage light blue 3-bank economy seats suit period airplane scenes and flashbacks.

How do I book airplane seats?

Add the seats and any dressing props to your props bin and submit a quote request. No account is required, and we aim to reply within 24 hours.

Request a quote

Building a cabin on stage or dressing an aircraft on location? Browse our airline seat rentals, add the seats and passenger props you need to your props bin, and send us a quote request.