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From:
How to get the best seat on the plane - Tips - Travel - smh.com.au

"Careful seat selection can make the flying experience more pleasurable, writes Chris Vedelago. WHEN you fly far enough or frequently enough, where you sit can become an obsession.


I know. I've taken more than 60 international flights since 1999, which is an enormous amount of time spent in airports and aeroplanes.


But it has led me to realise that seat selection is one of the few things an economy-class passenger has a measure of control over and it can mean the difference between a pleasant experience and a real nightmare.


Any frequent flyer can tell you that not every economy seat is the same. Some are definitely better than others. The key to finding the best seat for you is to know what's available and how to get it.


Travellers are becoming quite savvy in selecting seats in advance, says Canadian travel agent Randy Raphael, who has 30 years' experience in the industry.


Seats can often be reserved when a ticket is bought and many international carriers now have online or even SMS text message check-in services available up to 48 hours before a flight, which gives passengers, especially frequent-flyer members, the chance to see what is available and make their choice.


Showing up at the airport without a seat reservation can mean you get stuck with what no one else wants - or possibly worse. If the flight is overbooked and you don't have a seat assignment, you are the one likely to be left behind, Mr Raphael says. It is always a good idea to book any seat."



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[Kiwi Flyer]

Not a bad article but there are a few erroneous statements.

Not having a pre-allocated seat does not affect your chances of a bump if flight is oversold. Checking in late will.

Emergency exit row seats can be reserved in advance on most airlines, although these may be restricted to certain pax (eg not requested wheelchair assistance, not infant, having certain status).

"If you don't reserve your seat in advance it is highly probable you will end up with a middle seat". Not in my experience.

On some aircraft at some airports, those seated near door 2L are the fastest off the a/c.

[Lindsay Wilson]

How to get the best seats on the plane - easy, read this thread (NM's favourite seats by aircraft type)....

[Kiwi Flyer]

Originally Posted by Lindsay Wilson

How to get the best seats on the plane - easy, read this thread (NM's favourite seats by aircraft type)....

While very useful info, that only applies to QF & BA flights, and even then not every aircraft type or configuration.

[Lindsay Wilson]

When are you going to do a similar list for *A carriers, Kiwi Flyer?? I'd think you'd have travelled in most classes on most carriers by now...

[NM]

I will add some CX aircraft types when I have a little more experience with them. So fare have on sat in F and Y on their 744s, only in F on the 3-class A330, and as we all know there no such thing as a bad seat in F.

I can add some for AA aircraft too when I get a chance to think about it.

[Kiwi Flyer]

Originally Posted by Lindsay Wilson

When are you going to do a similar list for *A carriers, Kiwi Flyer?? I'd think you'd have travelled in most classes on most carriers by now...

Far from it. Let's see:

NZ - all aircraft types and all classes (nearly every seat also), but not the new revision to 747 config.
SQ - 747 all classes, 777 all 5 variants business class and first class where it exists (not all 777 variants have first class) but only some economy, A345 both classes.
BD - only shorthaul business.
LH - 747 all classes (unfortunately), plus various shorthaul a/c in business. Missing other longhaul a/c plus most economy.
NH - none.
TG - 747 & MD11 old config economy. Missing newer a/c types and new configs, plus all business and first.
UA - various shorthaul a/c in economy (plus and minus) and first, 777 in first and business, 767 in first and business, 747 in economy.
US - none.
LO - shorthaul business on a couple of different a/c, missing lots.
LX - shorthaul business on a couple of different a/c, missing longhaul.
OS - shorthaul business on a couple of different a/c, missing longhaul.
AC - shorthaul business on a few different a/c, Dash 8 economy, missing longhaul.
OZ - none.
SK - shorthaul business on a few different a/c, missing longhaul + shorthaul economy.
SA - none.
JK - none.
TP - none.
JP - CRJ business.
OU - none.
KF - none.


I will fly this year on several of the ones missing above.