5 Foolproof Tips To Pick the BEST Airplane Seat Every Time

Whether you’re traveling to Disney World or anywhere, really, knowing all the latest air travel tips is always highly recommended.

Getting flight upgrades can be tricky sometimes, especially if you’re not a seasoned flier. The same can be said about upgrading your flight seat or getting the best seat on the plane. Fortunately, we have some tips that will help you do just that!

If you’re looking to get a better seat, make sure you try these tips!

Book Early

The simplest way to get the best seat is to book early! Booking your airfare early gets you the pick of the litter, and by beating out your competition you probably won’t have to worry about which seats are available.

Now, doing this probably WON’T result in the cheapest airfare, so while you’ll get the best seats, you won’t be paying the best prices. As a reminder, this tip only works for airlines that have ASSIGNED SEATING, so Southwest passengers shouldn’t read too much into this tip…at least until the opening seating policy goes away in 2026.

Check-In Early

Speaking of Southwest, while it still has open seating, the best way to get preferable general seating is by checking in EXACTLY 24 hours before your flight.

Checking in 24 hours before still might get you at the end of the A or anywhere in the B boarding groups, but you can always purchase EarlyBird Check-In, which will assign you a boarding spot 36 hours before the flight. 

Families with children 6 years of age or younger can also board before the B boarding group.

Consider Seat Maps

If you are green to flying, consider checking the airplane seat maps while selecting your seats or boarding an open seating aircraft.

Some folks like to be near or in exit rows or want to know where other members of their party might be. This may seem like a no-brainer, but we have to reiterate that being familiar with your plane in advance never hurts.

Use Loyalty Programs

If you pony up a little extra cash, you can enroll in loyalty programs!

A good amount of airline loyalty programs let you choose seats early, you’ll often get priority boarding, and/or you can be eligible for seat upgrades when they’re available. Work your way up the tier list and take advantage of these perks!

Request a Seat Change

Of course, the easiest thing you can do is go up to your airline’s desk at the airport and request a seat change, as well.

While getting an upgrade is never guaranteed, there’s literally no harm in asking!

How do you get your preferred seat on a plane? Let us know and continue to follow us here at AllEars for more travel tips!

6 Things Flight Attendants Wish You’d Stop Doing When Flying to Disney World

If you’re looking for a travel agent to help with your vacation, we recommend our friends at Mouse Fan Travel. They’re experts in the field with over 20 years of vacation planning experience, and they can help take a bunch of the stress out of the entire booking process for you!

What is YOUR favorite seat on a plane? Let us know in the comments!