So you've managed to secure the cheapest airline ticket or the best value ticket based on your travel itinerary. Or maybe you’ve managed to snare that elusive upgrade or free award ticket in first class. That's terrific, but you're only halfway there to a great experience. So where are you going to sit? On the wing?

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	John Lopinto

Traveling from one city to another can vary greatly based on the airline and the equipment (type of plane). Different airlines will fly different aircraft types, and each will have its own seating configuration and amenities. This can drastically alter your flying experience. Even with the same airline, two or three different aircraft types may be used, each with varying seat quality and seat arrangements.

Tips for Finding the Best Seat

1. Get to know the aircraft.

There are several websites, like SeatGuru.com, that will graphically show the relative position of every seat for every aircraft model flown by more than 30 airlines. The comments listed on SeatGuru are invaluable as they are the results of passenger observations. Find out which aircraft type your flight will be using and study the seating chart. Make particular note of the nuances of each seat. Avoid seats near gallies and restrooms at all costs.

2. Find out what is available.

Airline websites may not always show you what seats are available for your flight. And leaving your seat assignment up to the airline's computer is like playing the lottery and hoping for the best. Go to ExpertFlyer.com, which will show you which seats are occupied or available for specific flights up to 11 months in advance for more than 100 airlines worldwide. Pick an available seat; then call the airline and ask for it specifically.

3. Not all aircraft types are the same.

So you found out your flight will use a specific aircraft type. Do you think they are all configured the same way? Guess again. Japan Airlines has more than a dozen different seating configurations just for their 747s, and American Airlines has two very different 777 first class configurations. The seat maps on ExpertFlyer.com and SeatGuru.com will help you find the right configuration and the best seats.

4. Think twice about asking for the exit row.

The common belief is that an exit row seat is probably the best seat in coach. Maybe, but it can also be the worst. If an aircraft has two exit rows, one behind the other, never pick the first exit row. Why? The seats will not recline since they cannot intrude into the exit row behind them. And while the exit row seats may have a little more leg room, they usually have less width. This is to accommodate the tray table that must be stowed in the armrest instead of behind the seat in front.

5. They save the best for last.

Airlines will generally hold back certain choice seats for assignment to their elite frequent flyers. If these seats are not assigned, they will then be released at the airport just before flight time. These include seats at the front of the coach cabin and exit row seats. If you don't like your seat assignment, ask at the airport when you check in if one of these "blocked" seats is available.

6. They change their fleets.

As airlines bring new aircraft into their fleets and retrofit older aircraft, the in-flight seating and entertainment will vary amongst the same aircraft for a particular airline. This is especially true in first and business classes with more advanced entertainment systems and "lie-flat" seating.

7. Beware the lie-flat seat "lie."

The Holy Grail for long-haul travelers is to be able to lie perfectly flat in their seats as if they were lying in bed. Some airlines have installed bed-like seats in their first and business cabins. But others seem to have taken liberties with the concept of "lie-flat." Be aware that some seats that airlines claim are lie-flat are actually on an angle or "wedge." The seat may be reclined to a position that is virtually straight but pitched on an angle, creating what looks like a wedge with respect to the floor. While these are certainly nice seats, they are definitely not the real thing as passengers have a tendency to slide down them.

About the Author:

John Lopinto is a partner and co-founder of Expert Travel Services, LLC, which owns and operates ExpertFlyer.com, the leading online information service for frequent flyers. A 100,000-plus-mile-per-year frequent flyer, Lopinto travels extensively throughout Asia, Europe, and North America to bring his unique perspective to the travel industry for the frequent flyer. As a top-tier elite member of an international airline and alliance, Lopinto has firsthand knowledge of life as an air traveler at all levels of service and experience.

Lopinto is also the president of a manufacturer of fiber-optic transmission systems and high-performance computer-video interface products. He previously held various technical and managerial positions in the broadcast, satellite, and cable TV industries.

Lopinto holds a Bachelor of Electrical Engineering degree. His professional affiliations include the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers, the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers, and the International Communications Industries Association.

To learn more about how you can travel cheaper and smarter, log on to www.expertflyer.com

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