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Airline travel in economy class can be a dreadful experience these days, but it doesn't have to be. The next time you plan a flight, consider these helpful tips before you book:

A) Check the Seat Map

Most airlines' websites have pages that give detailed information about seat locations for every aircraft type in its fleet. Study these pages carefully and follow the rules outlined below:

Rule 1: When traveling economy class, avoid the bulkhead (first row) seats. Although some aircraft do have more leg room in the first row, many do not. There is no floor storage for carry-on luggage during takeoff and landing. The tray table is in the armrest, resulting in narrow seat width. Storage space located directly overhead may be limited since it will probably be stuffed with emergency equipment or flight attendants' luggage. Some people feel claustrophobic because of their close proximity to the partition.

Rule 2: Avoid the row directly in front of emergency exits. The seatbacks have limited or no recline capability. People tend to congregate in the area behind you and can be noisy, they might lean against the seatback and the extra lighting is a distraction.

Rule 3: Avoid emergency exit rows if you don't need the extra leg room or don't want to assist the flight crew if an emergency were to occur. People tend to congregate in this open area and might obstruct the view of in-flight entertainment. There is no floor storage of carry-on luggage during takeoff and landing.

Rule 4: Select seats that are a minimum of 3 rows away from the lavatories and galley. These are high traffic, noisy and generally unpleasant areas.

B) Check the Seat Dimensions and Pitch

Pitch is the distance between one seat point and the corresponding seat point in the start of one row to the next. Depending on aircraft, seat pitch ranges from 19 inches to 33 inches. An inch one way or the other can make a huge difference in your comfort, especially on flights lasting more than two hours.

Rule 5: If you are above 6 feet tall, avoid seats with a pitch of less than 31 inches. With less than 31 inches, your knees may touch the seat in front of you even before it has been reclined!

Seat width is measured from inside armrest to inside armrest and typically ranges from 16 inches to 21 inches. Bulkhead seats tend to be on the narrow side because the tray table is stored in the armrest. Seats with a personal TV are very narrow.

Rule 6: See Rule 1.

C) Book Your Flight Directly With the Airlines

Most airlines have a lowest fare guarantee plus you can select seat assignments when you make the reservation. If the seat assigned to you does not fit your needs then call the reservations desk and be ready with your newly acquired knowledge. When you start talking about pitch and location they will be put on notice that you know what you are talking about and are probably a well-seasoned frequent flyer. They will do their best to move you to a more desirable seat.

Learn more about this author, Rob Whitley.
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