DWB's tip for getting a great seat on an airplane
 

This works on both international and domestic flights ONLY if it is not a sold out or jam packed flight. I would say this works 80% of the time and really is a blessing for those long international flights. This will NOT work for First or Business class seats if you are flying economy.

STEP ONE:

When you check in, ask them for an emergency exit row, or ask them if it's a full load and if it's not, if you can sit alone because you are somewhat claustrophobic. This will also let you know if the plane is over booked or not and if step two is even an option.

STEP TWO:

This one is simple... Be the last person on the plane.

Let everyone board before you because they will go directly to their seats. The line will ALWAYS bottle neck as they enter the plane so give them all time to get in and get seated. Wait until the final boarding call and make your move...

Board the plane and start looking for empty seats. Sometimes you will even find empty rows. Walk around, look for the one that you want and sit in it.

Once they close the aircraft doors, that means all passengers are on and if nobody is in the seats you want, you own it. The attendants do not care where you sit and will not bother you about it.

When I do not fly business, this is ALWAYS my plan of attack and probably 80% or more of the time I will get an entire row to myself where I can lay down and sleep.

Happy flying, and think of me when you are sleeping like a baby, spread out across an entire row on your way to Hong Kong. :thumbsup

or you wait until the attendant are busy and you sneak up into biz class and inform one of the passengers your a sky marshal and not to make a fuss but to move to economy so you can watch a suspected terrorist

LOL :thumbsup

i just ask 4 an aisle seat

I like DWB's and Smokey's plans!!!

hahaha thats funny

HAHAHAHAHAH!!!!

Good one!

I waited to go last onto my last flight and the fucker was full up and I couldn't find overhead space for my shit. Fuckers.

But why go for a seat when you can get an entire row, or empty seats next to you?

It's not really worth it for short flights, but anything over 6 hours for me and I need serious comfort.

Really? I find window seats much better - easier to lay to the side, and nobody trying to climb over you, and no drink carts running into your leg

That is where STEP ONE comes in... ya can't forget this step.

Gotta work it in 2 parts. They will let you know if it's a full load or not. Get that info, and plan accordingly.

I'm with you. If I do get stuck, give me a window.

I'm 6'1 and on an aisle seat, but knee ALWAYS get nailed by a cart. :Oh crap

Good advice except step two never works for me as every trans pacific economy flight I've been on has been packed out. :Oh crap

On step one I would add that to be sure of getting an exit row/bulkhead you need to be first in line at check in which is usually at least four hours prior to departure or sweet talk another rep before the check in even opens and make sure it's not part way thru' a flight or those seats will be already gone. :)

I would be chicken to try the claustrophobic idea too as it sounds like "I might go apeshit on this flight, just to let you know" but if it works for you great :thumbsup

Emergancy exit row is a huge one for me... I never seem to be able to book it online :( You mean you can just ask at preboarding or what?

I'm one of those stupid 'nice' people that gives up their beautiful aisle seat with vacant centre to the split up honeymooning couple, only to get stuck next to some overweight stinky alcoholic who drools in his sleep for 14 hours..... never again lol

I always prebook whatever seats I can when booking, then ask again at check-in... usually works

Yea, I usually try to get the emergency aisle, but they always find out how drunk I am and kick me out into a normal aisle.

i'm a tall guy ... long legs
always ask for an aisle seat also ... just sucks that you need to get up when the other person(s) need to take a leak or just want to walk around a bit ... and then get up again when they're back.

Maybe it's just luck, but often when I give the chick (or gay guy) that prints your boarding card a nice smile and a wink, i end up sitting at a good row LOL

Would rather go biz-class, but for intercontinental-flights, the rates are pretty insane.

I find all flights these days are really jam packed except for redeyes.
WG

yeah every once in awhile i get lucky. Morning flights on weekends sometimes aren't that bad except that you have to get up for them.

Where are you guys flying to that is always packed?

Most of my travel is to Asia or Latin America. Lots of empty seats on those most of the time.

when iboard the plane my penis is hanging out from my zipper

I flew to Atlanta back in November...and I'm a big guy...and of course they put me into an exit row with two seats, and the other passenger is a guy much bigger than me...some skinny dude comes in and I ask him if we could switch seats..we do...and I'm sitting right in front of the movie screen when Talladega nights comes on...I would have felt guilty..but I was so damn high I only remember bits and pieces of the movie.

Every flight i end up on always seems to be full, or just about.

I usually end up with the seat closest to the family with the crying child... :disgust

If you do a lot of international travel, look into "around the world" tickets. RTW tix you can fly biz and hit several places for a really good rate.

For example, my last one I paid $3000 to go:

Bangkok - Tokyo - Honolulu - Los Angeles - Cincinnati - Washington - Frankfurt - Dubai - Bangkok

Other stops were an option (no additional fare) but I did not take them. Flew biz for all internet legs, first for most domestic. You can spend any amount of time at any stop, even months at a time. I think you have ONE FULL YEAR to make it back to where you started.

IMHO, the deal out there.

DWB, what is your favorite airline for crossing the Pacific and why?

I've been pretty loyal to QANTAS mostly but keep hearing such good things about other airlines like Cathay Pacific I will probably try them next time even though it makes the trip downunder a bit longer to stop in Asia when coming from the US.

I did option 2 many times. :)

good plan dwb

Yeah, I have been a fan of aisle Exit row for a while, its getting more difficult to get one. Thomas Cook airlines is SELLING those seats at a premium, bastards:1orglaugh

Why, haha?

They won't kick you off but rather try to keep you calm and find you a better seat.

Being that my USA home is in Kentucky, I have to fly out of Cincinnati and then through Chicago to get to most places. Though they are not my favorite, United does fly everywere I go (or at least a company in the Star Alliance does), so I get miles with them and have an elite status. These days I don't ride in coach so much do to upgrades, RTW tickets or whatever, but anytime I fly with them I get treated very well.

As far as my favorites... JAL, EVA, Singapore Airlines & United Emirates are pretty nice.

Never flown Qantas.

Or you can get up to 350+ lbs and they'll automatically upgrade you when they see you won't fit in the economy seats. No joke, I know a guy at 380 who never flies worse that business class. The only draw back is your hotel room will mostly likely stay lonely.

Fire Aisle seats are the way to go ...plus the bathroom is right there so you dont have to bust out on Mission Impossible to take a piss.

Fire Aisle seats are the way to go ...plus the bathroom is right there so you dont have to bust out on Mission Impossible to take a piss.

Fire Aisle seats are the way to go ...plus the bathroom is right there so you dont have to bust out on Mission Impossible to take a piss.

I always try to get the emergency exit row seats, the only prob is that sometimes those seats don't recline due to security reasons and that really sucks.

Also you don't have to wait until the last moment to get a empty row for yourself. I usually do online check-in (usually fly by continental) and I can choose my seat. I usually re-check my seat before leaving for the airport to see if anyone has got a seat besides me. If yes, I choose another row. After that usually I don't see any changes in the seating arrangements.

My wife done something similar. She is the last person on, and when she walks on, she grabs any first class spot available. 95% of the time, she stays. We always dress nice when we fly, so they dont question.

want the best seat? "YUP" :) :)

srsly not the best seat.. but Matt pretty much breaking his leg at Webmaster Access last november was the best ever. We got VIP treatment on the flight home, including no waiting in the *MASSIVE* immigration lines, the agents got our bags for us, vip through quarantine and even got a cab for us.

:D