How we verify seat maps
Every validated FlightQ layout is rendered from structured cabin and coordinate data, not copied artwork. Legacy catalog pages are labelled separately when they use an older external diagram. As of today we publish 1497 validated layouts across 149 airlines. We use the word verified only when the page includes an inspectable public source checked within the previous 180 days; 49 layouts currently meet that public-source standard.
1. Built as structured data, not copied artwork
Each layout is stored as rows, seat letters, cabin geometry and monuments. Coordinate-validated maps include per-seat or section geometry; config-validated maps may approximate exact positions in partial rows, and are labelled accordingly. Only evidenced same-geometry variants remain as secondary references; distinct configurations stay discoverable.
2. An arithmetic gate that fails closed
Before any validated map is shown, an automated check recomputes the seats drawn in every cabin and compares them with the stored published totals. A mismatch blocks the map. P0-P3 audit gates also catch broken geometry, implausible layouts, unsafe coordinates, duplicate URL keys and unresolved overlapping configurations before deployment.
3. Validation and source status are separate
Tier A (904 of 1497) is coordinate-validated. Tier B is config-validated and may approximate exact partial-row positions. A map is labelled source-verified only when its page links to a relevant public source checked within 180 days; otherwise the badge explicitly says that a current public source link is unavailable.
4. Per-seat detail
Where the data supports it, individual seats carry their own notes — extra legroom, limited recline, no window, proximity to a lavatory or galley, bassinet positions — so you can pick a seat on facts, not folklore.
5. Freshness and corrections
Each layout carries its last-checked date. A layout older than 548 days, retired, upcoming, invalidly dated or provenance-incomplete is removed from the sitemap, primary discovery and search indexing even if the page remains available. Every map includes a report form so configuration changes can enter the review queue.