How to pick a great air line seat
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How to pick a great airline seat
Don't get stuck in a middle seat near bathroom on your next flight
With a little time and effort
You could be sitting pretty
you will need
Priorities
a website with airplane seating diagrams
and an early booking
Optional
a seat upgrade membership
Step 1
There is no single best seat on an airplane
All have their pros and cons
so decide what's important to you
leg room?
peace and quiet?
a quick exit?
a smooth ride?
Step 2
don't assume anything about a seat without checking it out
some bulkhead seats don't offer extra leg room
some window seats are between windows
and therefore offer a little view
and many exist seats while providing more leg room are narrower than other seats
find out what kind of plane you'll be on
and then visit seatexpert.com
or seatguru.com
click on any seat
to see its pros and cons
Step 3
pay a small fee to ensure you'll get a seat with the most leg room
Many airlines now identify their best seat on their websites
and charge for them accordingly
Step 4
take reclining into account
if you like to seat back
avoid the last row in any section
if you hate people leaning into your lap
try to snag an exit seat
the seats in front of these rows usually don't recline
exit row seats are often not assigned until check-in
to snag one, get to the airport early
Step 5
Consider the pitch of the seat
which is the distance between your seat and the one in front of you
you'll find this information on airline seat websites
Step 6
Take turbulence into account
if you are a white knuckle flyer
sit over the front of the wing
that's where you'll least likely to fell turbulence
avoid the back where you'll feel every bump
Step 7
if you need peace and quiet
avoid siting in the back where the engines are the loudest
and steer clear the bulkhead where the family with babies are usually seated
Step 8
when you buy your ticket
be sure to book your specific seat
either online or by calling the airline directly
Increase your odds of siting beside an empty middle seat
by requesting a back row where either the aisle or window seat is already booked
the middle seats in back rows fill up last
Step 9
check back 24 hours before your flight
this is when prime seating often is released
plus, airline occasionally switch planes
possibly turning your chosen seat into an undesirable one
Step 10
if you are a frequent flyer
consider joining an airline program
that guarantees a good seat for an annual fee
Did you know?
The average airline seat in coach is just 17.2 inches wide.