How To Pick a Great Airline Seat

Handle any emergency with Howcast's First Aid app - http://howc.st/jkDRTe

Expand the description and view the text of the steps for this how-to video.

Check out Howcast for other do-it-yourself videos from bencheek and more videos in the Air Travel category.

You can contribute too! Create your own DIY guide at http://www.howcast.com/videos/new or produce your own Howcast spots with the Howcast Filmmakers Program at http://www.howcast.com/filmmakers/apply.

Don't get stuck in a middle seat near a bathroom on your next flight. With a little time and effort, you can be sitting pretty.

To complete this How-To you will need:

Priorities
A website with airplane seating diagrams
An early booking
A seat upgrade membership

Step 1: Figure out your priorities

There is no single "best seat" on an airplane — all have their pros and cons — so decide what's important to you. Legroom? Peace and quiet? A quick exit? A smooth ride?

Step 2: Check out seats

Don't assume anything about a seat without checking it out. Some bulkhead seats don't offer extra legroom, some "window" seats are between windows and therefore offer little view, and many exit seats, while providing more legroom, are narrower than other seats.

Tip: Find out what kind of plane you'll be on and then visit seatexpert.com or seatguru.com. Click on any seat to see its pros and cons.

Step 3: Buy a better seat

Pay a small fee to ensure you get a seat with the most legroom. Many airlines now identify their best seats on their websites and charge for them accordingly.

Step 4: Don't forget about reclining

Take reclining into account. If you like to sit back, avoid the last rows in any section. If you hate people leaning into your lap, try to snare an exit seat; the seats in front of those rows usually don't recline.

Tip: Exit row seats are often not assigned until check-in. To snag one, get to the airport early.

Step 5: Consider the pitch

Consider the pitch of the seat, which is the distance between your seat and the one in front of you. You'll find this information on airline seat websites.

Step 6: Take turbulence into account

Take turbulence into account. If you're a white-knuckle flyer, sit over the front of the wing; that's where you're least likely to feel turbulence. Avoid the back, where you'll feel every bump.

Step 7: Consider the noise

If you need peace and quiet, avoid sitting in the back, where the engines are the loudest. And steer clear of the bulkhead, where families with babies are usually seated.

Step 8: Book early

When you buy your ticket, be sure to book your specific seat, either online or by calling the airline directly.

Tip: Increase your odds of sitting beside an empty middle seat by requesting a back row where either the aisle or window seat is already booked. The middle seats in back rows fill up last.

Step 9: Check back the day before

Check back 24 hours before your flight; this is when prime seating often is released. Plus, airlines occasionally switch planes, possibly turning your chosen seat into an undesirable one!

Step 10: Join a good-seat program

If you're a frequent flyer, consider joining an airline program that guarantees a good seat for an annual fee.

Thanks for watching How To Pick a Great Airline Seat! If you enjoyed this video subscribe to the Howcast YouTube channel! http://www.youtube.com/subscription_center?add_user=howcast

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• air
• best
• choosing
• flying
• how
• howcast
• perfect
• picking
• plane
• row
• spot
• to
• traveling

[GlitchGang]

step 1: when at 20,000ft, incapacitate the co-pilot and take his seat... great view :D

[Mullimulli123]

How did I end up here ?

[hubertandclyde]

@TheSodapep Everybody knows what that means...

[2899j]

STEP 1 date the captain

STEP 2 enjoy your free flight, great view,and hot date

[timetogotosleepzzz]

Step 1: go get a seat in first class

[finster796]

Step 1: Take the pilots seat

Step 2: *Trollface*

Step 3: PROFIT!

[TheCrasella]

@TheSodapep yes arent they like not nice? they are so small i cant even fit in it

[TheCrasella]

thumps up if your watching this in the airport!

[2mitchmitch]

@TheSodaPep You aren't alone. I leave for Christchurch airport in about 5 hours (it's 12:07 right now) I also hate the sound of the engines.

[TheShineySmiley]

yea this is the complete oppisite of what happened to me!!!!!

I sat over the wing and felt every single bump and turn.

I was in the row behind first class and yet i didn't have legroom

Oh yea and I was net to the exit and i still had a full seat

[nasps3]

go and get 1st class god

[TheSodapep]

I hate airplane bathrooms because I'm Claustrophobic,it means I'm afraid of enclosed places 