You don't have to settle for the seat the airline assigns you to - check out these simple tips for choosing a better seat on the airplane.
1. Improve Your Status
Status will improve your ability to choose your seat. Exit rows and other preferred seats are often reserved for frequent travelers, so make sure you are signed up for all frequent flyer programs.
Sign Up for Frequent Flyer ProgramsWith more than 425 airplane seat maps from more than 60 airlines, SeatGuru has a database of seat information including seat dimensions, legroom and amenities. Reasearch is gathered from user comments on thousands of flights to help you choose (or avoid) certain seats on specific aircraft.
There are a lot of us with status competing for choice seats, and it is often first come, first serve when it comes to grabbing them. As soon as you can, check in online where you will have a chance to see available seats and, hopefully, get your first pick.
In these days of limited customer service, the one place you can still count on being taken care of is in an airport lounge. Here you can find help to change your seat or get an upgrade.
5. Update Your Preferences
It is easy to overlook this step, but the airline won't know where you prefer to sit unless you tell them. Take the time to thoroughly complete your profile with frequent flyer programs.
