Once you have succeeded in finding cheap fares, whether cheap airplane tickets or cheap vacation packages, often the next priority is trying to secure the best seats available in coach. For some travelers that means getting assigned to a bulkhead seat where your legs have a little extra room and you dont have to worry about the person in front of you reclining his chair into your lap.
The days of boarding families and the infirmed first and providing them the most desirable seats in coach have gone by the wayside. Some airlines see bulkhead and exit row seats as something that should be doled out exclusively to their most elite frequent fliers. Other airlines have started offering their most prized seats in coach to anyone willing to pay extra for them.
The following are tips as to how to be assigned a better seat in coach:
Some airlines release premium seats 24 hours before departure. By getting online as soon after that as possible you have the best chance of securing one of these seats.
Many airlines allow passengers to purchase premium seats for a fee that usually runs between $10 to $40 one-way on domestic flights.
Select airlines offer discounts on preferred seat assignment at airport kiosks. Even if you printed your boarding pass with a seat assignment from home, it sometimes pays to see what alternative seats are available at an airport kiosk.
By choosing to fly on the lowest volume passenger traffic days (Tuesday, Wednesday, and Saturday) or on the first flights out or the flights at lunch or dinner time, you can improve your odds of being able to find a better seat or at least have an empty seat next to you.
Dont assume that the only seats with extra legroom are bulkhead and exit row seats or those designated by airlines as premium areas that require additional payment. Seating maps that can be viewed on websites such as Seat Guru sometimes reveal a few seats with additional room and no upcharge towards the back of the plane. www.cheapfares.com