Purchasing cheap airplane tickets, cheap vacation packages, and discount hotel rooms are important, but knowing how to secure the best available seats on planes definitely enhances trips.
Below are tips on how to find seats offering the most space:
1) Most exit row seats only become available 24 hours prior to departure. Since these seats are so highly coveted, you should try to reserve them as soon as they are available to be reserved.
2) Select a seat in the second row of planes with two rows for emergency door access, since the front seats usually do not fully recline.
3) Bulkhead seats are generally seen as desirable in part because no one can recline in front of you. However bulkhead seats facing a wall often do not offer room to stretch your legs. Some planes, usually those with a first class section, have a cut out in the wall that affords extra legroom.
4) Paying attention to seat pitch is important if you want seats with the maximum amount of leg room. SeatGuru.com lists legroom (which usually is about 31 inches on domestic flights) for many different aircraft types at every major carrier. At this site you can also see how close seats are to restrooms.
Be aware that some seats on a plane have different seat pitch.
5) The best way to secure upgrades on long flights is to join frequent flier programs and earn as many points as possible.
6) When you arrive at the gate ask an agent if any first class seats have opened up.
It can be much cheaper to pay for an upgrade at the gate (which usually costs between $50 to several hundred dollars) than when you initially purchase your ticket.
7) Airline agents have the power to choose whom to upgrade. A little charm sometimes goes a long way.
A seat selection fee is a likely new fee that many airlines will ad in the future. Allegiant and Spirit already charge this fee. Continental, United and JetBlue charge for seats that offer extra room.
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