I flew 300 hours in economy class last year. Here’s how I get the best seat

In 2023, I flew more than 200,000 kilometres and 300 hours in economy – there are some strategies when it comes to snagging good seats in economy.

Standing at Gate 34 in Abu Dhabi, just before the sky bridge, the flight attendant beckons me to his side of the counter.

“Look at the seat map with me,” he whispers urgently, “Rows 16, 20 and 21 are all free. But run, they won’t last long, people will move, maybe even now.”

Seat assignment? A question of balance.Credit: iStock

I’m already Usain Bolt, sprinting down the gang way calling, “thank youuuuuu” over my shoulder. From deliberately being the last on the plane, I’m now in such a rush that rugby tackling the man in front of me seems reasonable. I sidestep loitering ground crew like a Matilda.

I’m a frequent flyer. Unlike many frequent flyers, I’m a long haul economy frequent flyer, usually buying the saver specials that aren’t even upgradeable (like the six family-motivated flights last year between Sydney and Germany on a boggling array of airlines). These are brutal, 24-hour flights and a spare seat for this non-sleeper is make or break.

Credit: Greg Straight

The strategies

There is nothing like the economy seat war, and war it is. When faced with long-haul horror, gaining a spare seat or an entire row of seats on “full” flights demands strategy and tactics.

If an empty row materialises, you and everyone within a five-metre radius armed with an inflatable pillow share one thought: those seats will not remain empty.

However, the decisions actually begin at online check in. Do you go for the very last row of the plane with maximum bump and audible toilet flush, in the hope no one else will? Because if this backfires, you will simply end up with neighbours and the worst seat on the plane.

Or do you take a controversial high stakes gamble on a middle seat, thus deflecting others looking for rows where they’re not assured a neighbour?

Or perhaps you just check in anywhere. Because the best way to score extra room is requesting it at physical check in. A kind agent may move you. And follow this up at the sky bridge before boarding, when check-in is complete and the spare seats (if any) are glaringly obvious on screen to the agent; maybe you’ll be reassigned a better seat (a caution: never bother staff while they’re busy and with boarding underway).

Defending territory

Let’s say you’ve simply boarded, seated yourself and then slithered into an empty row undetected. There will be fellow invaders and you must be prepared to defend territory. I immediately create a Byrnes-land by colonising seats with computer, scarf and unwrapped blankets. If under specific threat, recline until take off. This will not make you popular so keep a low profile, avoid eye contact and hope you never see these people again.

Why can’t I move myself?

Airlines request you don’t change seats before take-off for a few reasons. Perhaps there’s a special meal request attached to your assigned seat. Perhaps the manifest aids body identification in the event of a crash (although a former commercial pilot described this as “optimistic”).

But the key reason is load control. Seat allocations, check-in baggage in the hold and fuel are all organised so the plane is balanced correctly for take-off and landing. With weight the slightest bit out, the software refuses sign-off by the pilot and load controller. Thus, seats may be blocked for balance (the plane’s “trim”) at least until the plane has reached its flight altitude.

One time in Abu Dhabi, the agent couldn’t override the system, but they could still advise where the spare rows were, meaning I knew which row to request when boarding. It was my lucky day; I was re-assigned a seat onboard by the purser (aka the top dog).

Be polite

Ask nicely; we’re all human. Have no expectations. You have no more right than other passengers to an extra seat. In case you’ve already forgotten COVID-19, we’re lucky to fly anywhere at all.