There's nothing as frustrating as a cramped airplane economy class seat, especially if one is seated in between noisy/smelly or plain inconsiderate passengers, and it's a long flight.
It's a fate worse than the plague (okay perhaps we exaggerate but you get the point).
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This needn't however be your fate. With the right steps and checks, you can be seated like royalty in good, ol' economy class.
Here are 7 useful steps that can help one land the best seats on a plane.
- Book early: This is key as booking early gives you the chance to score seats and pick the best of the lot before they get booked.
- Try the latter option: Should you fail to book early, try to change seats during the check in process as unreserved seats sometimes open up, so smile and ask the check-in officer really nicely if there are any available seats up for grabs.
- Join the frequent flier programme: Several (foreign) airlines often set aside their best seats for their premium members and regular fliers. So if you fly frequently with an airline, it's advisable to sign up for their frequent flier program. Once you do this and earn premium status, you're eligible to get access to the best seats.
- Picks seats in the first row: These seats usually have more legroom and there's no one sitting in front to recline their chair and further cramp your space.
- Select emergency exit rows: These also have more leg room than regular seats. It is however noteworthy to point out that no one under the age of 15 can ride in this row.
- Take a seat over the wing: According to statistics, these are the safest seats on a plane, also those who sit here face less turbulence.
