Tricks to get the best airline seats?

I have found the earlier I book a flight the more seats there are to choose from especially when flying to popular destinations. When traveling mid-week to mid-week, the flights aren't as crowded compared to flying on a weekend (and they're usually cheaper too).

I would say the caveat is Orlando. It seems like no matter when I fly to Orlando, it's busy, even mid week.

Admin, what qualifies as a "good seat" in your opinion? Do you always fly the same carrier?

Well... at least with Southwest. We have to confirm the flight 24 hours before departure, and thats when we get our place in line. So we would confirm it right on the dot. But there is also this thing where you pay a little extra, and it just does it automatically. Last year when I went to confirm the seats, we were in the B's with 2 A's (How it goes is A's 1-30 or so get called first, then family with kids, then B's). So you want as close to the A's 1-15. So this year... rather than dealing with it... we just payed the extra money to auto confirm which should put us very close to that.

On Southwest I'll usually pay the extra for Business Class. Although I've paid extra to get on before and then had someone ask me to switch seats...awkward!

So...with Southwest, it's unassigned seats, right? Does that ever cause a melee? It makes me nervous, not having a seat assignment. I like order. Even if order puts me at the back of the plane

Ah, business class...how I love thee...

Not really... you would think it does, but it doesnt. Basically your assigned a number like A-13, and there are these posts that have A1-A5, A6-10, and so on. And you go stand by those that your ticket is assigned to, and then once the line is formed and the attendants are ready, you go one at a time and head in. I dont mind it. There has been some line jumpers ive seen but once you show what number you have they just move back. lol

I have NEVER cared for the seating arrangements on Southwest, and yes I have flown with them before. In fact I flew with them on our honeymoon and having never done so before was not familiar with their cattle herding lines, I could not sit with my wife on the trip down to WDW. I understand it is SOMEWHAT different now but you have people that would arrive 3 hours early for a flight and park their asses right on the floor in the cattle line and not move so that they could get a GOOD seat. I really don't know what a GOOD seat is because I still got to to MCO Orlando at the same time they did. Even though SW flies from an airport 10 miles from my home, I still would rather take a one and a quarter hr. ride in a town car to Boston to fly JetBlue. At least with JetBlue you pick and choose your seats at time of booking so the earlier you book the better chance you have of getting your seats if you have a preference. And they have the TV's and XM radio to make your flight "fly" by (pun intended).

VL are you by Manchester

They dont allow people to park it anymore. Plus... like I said. Everyone is assigned a number so it kinda takes that out anyways, but I understand what you mean about it, but it is a lot better. We use to do Delta, but back in 2003 I think it was we decided to do SW, and it was nuts then. But its a lot better now, and free bags! lol

Hmm..I'm with Lizzy that Southwest business sounds a bit confusing. I like order.

Yes I am, as I said very close, and they are building a new bridge across the river and a new access road to the airport which will make it even closer.

We are in the process of deciding to fly out of Portland or Manchester right now

Manchester is a very nice alternative to Logan (Boston) for us. I have never been to Portland and it is a few hours North of Manchester driving time. As I said previously The ONLY reason I do not use Mancester is because JetBlue does not have a terminal there. I certainly wish they did and if it ever comes to fruition , I am sure JetBlue would knock the wings right off SouthWest (my personal opinion). However that being said, Both get you from point A to point B very efficiently.

Portland is just a little closer to us but that was the thought

I don't fly SW often but when I did, it would drive me crazy when people would leave their bags in the front of the line to hold their place and walk away. Meanwhile, airport announcements are going off every 5 minutes about not leaving unattended luggage. I complained about it the gate agents and all they did was make another announcement and the bags just sat there. I haven't flown them since they changed the seating line up. It does sound a lot more efficient. I like having a seat assignment. A lot of people find cheaper flights on SW. I rarely do.

Vettelover - do you get chocolate chip cookies on the JetBlue flights to Orlando?

JoAnn I do not remember any chocolate chip cookies on my jet Blue flights. I only remember the DunkinDonuts coffee they served, and I usually buy a couple of DD donuts at the terminal for the trip to have with the coffee.

Omistars. This made me laugh out loud. That's my point. I'd prefer front of the plane, business class even, but at the end of the day, I'm getting there at the same time, so I don't really care. Plus, in the back of the plane, I have the pleasure of HORRIFYING everyone I pass with my 16 month old son MUWHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! (JK. He's shockingly well behaved and a good sleeper.)

But this - plus how some people love and rave about Southwest - would make me try them at least once. I might find out pretty soon actually, since we usually flew AirTran. Need to find out what's going on with the Southwest/AirTran merger. I haven't paid attention lately.

Admin - back to your question. Clark Howard. That's my only advice

The chocolate chip cookies must only be on certain flights or they don't serve them anymore. I know people who have flown Jet Blue from Boston to Kansas City and they were served fresh baked chocolate chip cookies. I haven't tried Jet Blue yet. They have some flights out of Hartford.

I love Southwest although they definitely are not as cheap as they used to be...I miss my cheap flights!

As for getting good seats I tend to ask at the gate if I can get upgraded or moved to an aisle or a window when I get stuck in the middle. It usually works if the flight isn't full. Also my parents tend to book the exit row if at all possible when they fly so they get better seats that way.

I will plug Virgin America for those of you flying from LAX or San Francisco to Orlando...best airline ever!

You've found flights with empty seats? Geeze! If they put any more people on the flights out of Austin, they'll look like the trains in India.

Yeah I know I feel like most of the flights out of Orlando are normally packed but every once in awhile I get lucky

I have seen people flying Virgin in a lot of movies (I know how ridiculous that sounds but it's true!) and it looks amazing...

I fly Virgin to Orlando from the UK. Because its the cheapest. Its okay, i wouldn't say brilliant but anything that gets me to Orlando in one piece is fine by me.

I know I had been wanting to try it forever and we booked a trip last year to California in December for cheap on Virgin. One of my favorite things was that they had power outlets at every seat for laptops, etc....it was so nice I don't understand why others aren't doing this. Also they had satellite tv and a touch screen ordering system for drinks and snacks. And purple lighting...so fun! I know it was just a plane but it made the flight so much more bearable