Have you ever checked in for a flight, picked a window seat, and ended up with no window? Have you ever ended up in a seat that doesn’t recline AND is annoyingly close to the bathroom? Do you ever want to pick an emergency exit row seat or a seat with more legroom but don’t want to pay the increasingly common extra fee? If you’ve answered yes to any of these questions, I’ve got three underrated ways for you to score the best seats on a plane when you’ve got an Economy ticket.
1. Sign up for Frequent Flyer Programs to get upgraded airplane seats
Many airlines have frequent flyer programs to encourage customers to accumulate points or miles while flying with them, or using their airline-branded credit cards. Those points can then be redeemed for free flights. As you fly more and more with a specific airline, you can obtain a status. The higher the status, the higher perks. But just signing up for the program can be beneficial even if you don’t stay loyal to one particular airline.
For example when flying Delta, I’ve often gotten complimentary upgrades to Delta Comfort+ (extra legroom seating) or Delta Premium Select (wider, comfier seats with extra legroom) at boarding after booking a Basic Economy ticket (the cheapest of the lot). As for other airlines, when online check-in is not available, I’ve sometimes been offered seats on the emergency exit row at no extra charge.
You don’t have to sign up for all the frequent flyer programs. Start with just the main airlines at your local airport and/or the ones that have a points transfer program with your credit card.
2. Use SeatGuru to scout the best seats ahead of time
Seatguru.com is a website that lists airline seat maps along with notes on each seat and user comments. It is THE website to know whether or not your window seat has an actual window; if your seat reclines or not; or if your seat is too close to the bathroom. Some airlines are missing from their database but if you know the plane model, you can search for it and get an idea of what to expect. I always check SeatGuru before selecting my seat at check-in.
3. Look up flight paths on FlightAware to get airplane seats with views
Did you know that it’s possible to see the Northern Lights while flying to Iceland? Or the Statue of Liberty and lower Manhattan while flying to New York? Or the Eiffel Tower (albeit from far away) when flying into Paris? You can leave it all to luck and hope for a good seat or you can plan ahead and increase your chance of getting a great window seat with views.
Enter FlightAware. FlightAware is a website that tracks flights in real-time. With just a flight number or a flight itinerary, you can see the flight schedule, aircraft details, and flight path. The flight path is our main point of interest. Looking up Montreal – LGA (LaGuardia Airport in New York) for example shows that planes sometimes do a loop around lower Manhattan during final approach, so sitting on the left side of the plane would give you fantastic views over the Big Apple.
I always search for past flights with the same flight number and airline as the one I’m supposed to take. Then, I pick my seat according to SeatGuru’s maps.
As for those Northern Lights, try to get a seat on the left side the furthest forward on the plane if coming from America; the right side if coming from Europe. You want to avoid the light pollution coming from wing lights as much as possible.
BONUS: Bid for a seat in First Class
The previous three tips cost absolutely nothing to get the best airplane seats. However, if you have room in your budget this tip can come in handy.
When the First Class cabin isn’t full, several airlines allow passengers to bid for a First Class seat. Sometimes it’s not worth it as the starting bid can cost as much as you originally paid for your ticket, making you essentially buy two tickets. But if you were to buy your Economy ticket with points and bid $200 for First Class, you can get the best flying experience at a fraction of the price.
Note that the airline will only charge you if you win the bid. It’s always worth checking what the minimum is, and go for it if it seems reasonable. You can always bid higher to increase your chances of winning but don’t bust your budget. We’re all going to the same destination after all.
And there you have it. Four ways to easily get the best seats on a plane and start your trip on the right foot. If you liked this article, please share it on social media. If you have additional tips and tricks, drop a comment below. I’d love to hear them!
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