Airline Seating - First Class, Business Class or Economy - The Choice is Yours

All seats are not created equal

There is a reason shrewd travelers always seem to land the best seats in the house: They know what they're looking for and how to get it. Being quick, informed and willing to pay a few extra bucks will help you avoid being the meat in a seat sandwich or being stuck beside the lavatory, a major inconvenience on those long intercontinental flights. If you've ever been in that situation, it's easy to see why people pay more for Business

You need to know where the best - and worst - seats are before prebooking your flight. Having a seating plan for the aircraft being used on your flight - they are available on the Web - is crucial to getting the primo location.

Exit Rows

Exit-row seats are the crème de la crème and are usually snapped up quickly. There's a reason they go first: more legroom. Seat pitch, the distance between the backs of two seats, is generally in the range of 28 to 35 inches in economy class. A seat in an exit row will add at least 2 inches of legroom, a significant upgrade if you're confined to your seat for hours. Prebooking these seats might cost you a little more - some airlines have gotten wise and upped the charges for the prime real estate - but it could be money well spent. Some airlines don't allow exit-row seats to be prebooked, but that rule can be circumvented by checking in online several hours before your flight.

Bulkheads

These seats, located in the row behind partitions that separate economy class from business class and divide the galley and lavatory areas, can be some of the best. With no seats in front of you, the chance someone will recline into your meal becomes nil. It's also easier to move about the cabin, and more often than not, there is extra legroom. The drawbacks - namely that trays are stowed in an immovable armrest, which can translate into decreased seat width, and there is no under-seat storage for carry-on bags - are minor on most planes. Usually, these seats are among the first to be taken.

Other Considerations

If you plan to use a laptop during the flight, you might want a seat with a power port. Not all seats allow you to plug in your computer. If money is no object, consider business class, definitely an upgrade when it comes to increased legroom (twice as much or more) and comfort.

Seats to Avoid

The list of seats you don't want is much longer than the list of ones you want. A rule of thumb is to avoid the seats in front of the exit rows (you won't be able to recline as far, so it can get uncomfortable), those nearest the washrooms (people will be hovering over you while they wait in line) and rows near the rear of the plane (they can sometimes feel cramped). Passengers in the back rows might be susceptible to the motion of the plane. Some people don't like window seats; others stay away from those in the aisle. It's a matter of personal taste. The best advice: identify the features you don't want before you prebook.