Tips for getting the best seats on airplanes

For extra comfort. Seats with more legroom are highly sought after, but preferences are subjective. Some prefer the aisle, others the window (we doubt anyone willingly chooses the dreaded middle seat). Here are some hacks to help you get your preferred seat for free or at a lower cost.

It depends on height, weight, and personal preferences: if you don’t want the passenger in front of you reclining back, you might value the extra knee space behind the emergency exit row, where seats can't recline.

Follow us for more travel and entertainment news!

On most planes, these seats are in the emergency exit row. On smaller planes, like the Boeing 737 or Airbus A320, they are usually located at the exits over the wings, in the middle of the plane.

Airlines generally assign these seats to passengers with mobility issues, those needing a seatbelt extension, or those traveling with babies or children. If you fit one of these categories or have kids, use it to your advantage. If you hate traveling next to kids, you can also keep it in mind.

If you need items close by during takeoff and landing, you can’t place any hand luggage under the seat in front of you on an emergency row.

Located just behind the partition between business and economy class, the advantage is no one will recline in front of you. However, if you're tall, foot space is limited by the partition. Additionally, like in the previous case, bulkhead seats are often reserved for wall-mounted bassinets.

Keep this in mind, as the first row is right behind large reclining seats. You'll have more legroom, but narrower seats with tray tables in the armrests.

This seat has an extra row of space in front. Look for it in the row with one fewer seat in front, due to emergency exit regulations. Many Airbus A321 models and some Boeing 737 and 777 models have this type of seat.

They often have less legroom, sometimes their seats don’t recline, and they’re usually next to the bathrooms, which means a lot of movement and potentially unpleasant odors.

Follow us for more travel and entertainment news!

There are two ways: wait until the last minute to check in online. Those who check in early without paying extra usually get the worst seats, like the dreaded middle seats. Since sitting farther forward is convenient, airlines often start seating from the back.

This risky move is only for travelers with nerves of steel, as the flight might be full.

Choose to fly consistently with one airline to accumulate more points and achieve elite status. This can get you upgrades to premium class or better seats in economy. Register for all free frequent flyer programs.

Some offer flights purchased with points. A strategy to get a better seat in economy is to buy a regular ticket and pay the difference for a first-class ticket with accumulated points. Others offer 2-for-1 flights, the first flight free, free upgrades, priority boarding, or access to VIP airport lounges.

Some airlines hold seat auctions a few days before the flight. Through email or the airline's app, you can bid for a better seat. While it goes to the highest bidder, it’s an opportunity to get a better seat for less than the full fare.

While most people prefer to check in online and travel with carry-on luggage to avoid long lines at baggage check, you might not mind standing in line for a chance at a better seat. Go to your flight’s counter, request your boarding pass, and ask, with all the charm you can muster, about a possible seat upgrade.

It’s always easier to get a seat upgrade on less crowded flights, during weekdays and the offseason. If the flight is overbooked, you can negotiate an upgrade as part of the deal as well.

Follow us for more travel and entertainment news!