Everyone who has ever flown in an economy class knows it can be terrible, especially on a long transcontinental flight. The worst part of such a trip is usually the narrow, uncomfortable seat, but most of us accept it as a necessary part of budget travel. However, it turns out that getting a better seat in the airplane isn’t always a financial matter. There are seven steps you could take to get the best seat on a plane – without paying extra.
If you’ve never set foot on a plane before, but you are planning a long flight in the near future, you should prepare for extremely narrow space (unless you choose to fly with Qatar Airways or Emirates Airline), lack of in-flight entertainment and food, and oh yes, the other passengers. And if you doubt that it’s so bad, here’s a quick fact for you – the latest Customer Satisfaction Index in the U.S. revealed that consumers ranked airlines 40th out of 43 different industries. It means, the carriers are among the most unsatisfactory service providers, along with Internet service providers, social media companies, and subscription TV providers. And what was the worst about airlines, according to the customers? Seats!
First and business class are considerably more comfortable and offer great extras, but are quite expensive and many people simply can’t not afford them. However, you don’t always have to pay more for a better flying experience.
Pick the right airline and plane
Not all airlines are the same; sometimes there are major differences in what companies offer in economy class. In general, you can find detailed information online about the legroom and seat pitch (the distance between each seat row), as well as about the distance between seats in the row. Then, look at the specific jet you will be flying on. Consider that the size of the plane isn’t essential here – it’s up to the airline to decide how many seats to put in there. The exact configurations are also available online on various consumer-focused websites.
Upgrade your seat at a discount or for free
Business and first class seats are clearly much better, but they can cost up to ten times more than in economy. However, you can get a discounted last-minute upgrade when you check in (online at home, at the airport kiosk, or at the gate) – you just have to ask how to get the best seat on a plane and the staff will offer at least a few useful tips. Basically, the easiest way to get a free or ultra-cheap upgrade to business class is to join a frequent flier program – as a loyal client, you will be offered upgrades when they are available.
