Getting The Best Coach Seat

We read through "Johnny Jet's" Six Ways to Get the Best Coach Seat on an Airplane.

The best suggestion - and the one we'll remind you of every time?

Keep Checking

If you book a ticket at the last-minute (like I usually do), chances are that the golden seats will be gone. But don't fret, because the good seats will open up—I can almost guarantee it. The trick is to keep checking your reservation and the flight's seat chart every hour or so. The best seats are usually being reserved by frequent flyers, and they will either be upgraded to business class or at least one of them will cancel at the last minute.

I usually begin checking a few days before departure until I get the seat I want. For example, I was just able to get an exit-row window seat a few days before a flight. But I prefer an aisle seat. I know beggars can't be choosers, but instead of printing my boarding pass 24 hours in advance, I waited until just a few hours ahead of departure. Once you check in, you can't change your seat until you get to the airport—and I had a feeling the aisle might open up. You know what? It did, and that's where I'm writing this post to you from right now.

The cringe-worthy suggestion?

Be Friendly

One of the best ways to get a great coach seat for free is to be super friendly to the gate agents—I usually bring them a box of chocolates—and kindly request a plush coach seat if they upgrade any frequent flyers to first class. The vacated seats in coach are usually in the exit row or bulkhead.