Many airlines give passengers the ability to choose their seats as part of the online ticket purchase, which is a convenient way to grab the best seat months before takeoff. Book your trip as early as possible to grab those primo aisle, window or family member-adjacent seats, especially if you're traveling with a large group or are prone to frequent bathroom trips. Switch your seats at online check-in, which usually is offered 24 hours in advance, if your airline saves the popular seats until then.
Each airline's coach seat size varies, especially when it comes to seat pitch and width. Seat pitch is the amount of space, in inches, between any one point of an airline seat and the exact same point in the seat directly in front or back of it. When the price difference between airline A and airline B is insignificant, such as $5 or $10 per seat, research each airline's coach seat dimensions, which can be found on its website. Of the major airline carriers, United Airlines's Airbus A319, A320 and A321 offer the most seat pitch, while Virgin Airline's Airbus A320 and 321 provide the most seat width. SeatGuru.com provides an online coach seat comparison chart.
Consider nabbing a bulkhead seat, one of the roomiest seats in the plane, if legroom is a priority. A bulkhead is the area of the plane that divides each section, such as the curtain or small wall that separates first or business class from coach. The bulkhead seats, just behind it, offer more legroom because there are no passengers in front of you to recline into your space. Bulkheads are utilized on some airlines to section off the bathrooms, making them a great locale for parents with small children or babies. Unlike emergency exit rows, which also offer extra legroom, you're not required to perform during a crisis, something that rules out those seats for travelers with children.
While you may be comfortable in your perfect coach seat, keep in mind that some airlines are now charging for the right to pre-select your top-choice chair. As of May 2010, both Spirit and AirTran Airlines charge passengers for the right to pre-select seats, which has resulted in some travelers opting for random selection.
