TripMama's Guide to Getting the Best Airline Seats on Your Flight

We all desire more legroom on our flights, whether it's for reclining into a comfortable doze on long-haul trips, or simply the appreciation of personal space. Rather than leave things to chance, there are several ways to get the best airline offers. Here are TripMama’s travel tips on getting the best airline seats possible. The seats available to most of us are surprisingly not created equal; seats can differ by several inches in space. While that may not sound much to some, a few inches are the difference between being able to open your laptop only halfway, or enjoying a comfortable viewing angle; between being unable to even cross your legs, or moving them around easily. The seating arrangement, if left alone, is largely decided at random by the airline. Rather than leave things up to chance, there are several ways to get the best offers without breaking the bank. Here are our travel tips on getting the best seats possible.

Before booking:
Information is your greatest ally in grabbing the most comfortable space; knowing which airlines, types of aircraft, and even sections of the plane have the best seats is going to give you that extra shot at being able to stretch out. Look out for which aircraft the flights and airlines you're interested in will be using, and use that information to your advantage. Some carriers use aircrafts that are superior in all ways. JetBlue, for example, utilizes the Airbus 320 to add legroom to the front rows of seats. Great sites like http://www.SeatGuru.com have detailed layouts of the premium spots aboard most aircrafts, so check for each model you will be traveling on.

Many airlines now let you specify which seat you would like, so the best advice is to research, then book early to nab the choice spots. Usually, being unable to specify a seat means the flight is overbooked. If this is the case, do your best to arrive early as there will be a first-come, first-served seat selection.

At the airport:
Researching all of the prime seat locations is only going to pay off if you're able to make it to the seats before anyone else. Naturally, arriving early has its pros and cons, but if you're eager for any comfort you can get on a long journey, it pays to arrive early. Any class upgrades still available will be up for grabs here so try and be ahead of the line. If you weren't able to get a great seat while booking, you can always ask to be waitlisted for a better seat at this point. Some highly-coveted seats like the exit row bulkhead are held until the last few hours before a flight, so always chat with the staff to see what might available. Asking in a friendly, not pestering manner does wonders for ingratiating yourself with the staff, who are more likely to bump up passengers they know will make for a pleasant trip. It is also highly beneficial to be a "preferred customer," which usually means signing up for the airline's frequent flier programs or annual flight passes. Often there are reserved sections of the plane for these guests, netting you a few more inches of legroom, and other perks.

If all else fails and you end up in the worst possible seat imaginable, the best thing to do is to ask the attendants if there other seats available. Bluntly asking for a better seat will not usually get results, but asking as a genuine favor for anything else should appeal to the attendant's sympathies. Never feel like your seat is final until you have tried all your options.