| "body"> | | | | minute) flight to a hub city like Phoenix, and you're |
| So you want to fly for a dollar on Southwest, but | | | | not changing planes, but rather going on to an even |
| you're tired of sitting in the middle seat, at the back | | | | longer flight, sit in the row behind the exit row, even |
| of the plane, smelling the restroom sanitizer spray? | | | | if it's the center seat. Chances are the exit row |
| Yes, THE SECRET isn't some law of attraction, it's | | | | people will exit at the hub and you can move up. |
| getting a good seat on an "open-seating" flight. After | | | | BONUS TIP. . . Don't wait for the flight attendant to |
| flying on gazillions of Southwest planes, touring as a | | | | let you move. Do it while everyone is getting off the |
| corporate comedienne, I've figured it out! Here are | | | | plane (just make sure you're seated for their |
| ways to raise the odds that you'll get a decent seat | | | | headcount!). And NEVER sit in the row in front of the |
| too. | | | | exit row . . . those seats don't recline. |
| IF THE PLANE ISN'T COMPLETELY FULL AND | | | | IF THE PLANE IS DEFINITELY GOING TO BE FULL. . . |
| YOU'RE IN THE "A" OR "B" LINE. . . you of course | | | | you can still have a decent ride. |
| want to get in a row where the middle seat stays | | | | Hand pick your partner. You're gonna be stuck with |
| empty! | | | | potluck if you aren't proactive and make eye-contact |
| Sit in rows 5 through 8. According to my unscientific | | | | with desirable people. Lure them in with a quick smile |
| research of watching people-patterns (no lab rats | | | | and show them that you've got a book, which is the |
| involved), I've noticed a people-pattern. Passengers | | | | universal travel sign for "I won't bother you with my |
| tend to fill up the front couple rows first, THEN, | | | | chatter." Of course YOU define "desirable". . I'm tall, |
| starting with about row 5, if they see a person | | | | so I'm looking for small people who look like they |
| sitting in that row they head to the back, searching | | | | bathed. BONUS TIP. . .As you're waiting in line, |
| for a better seat! I HYPOTHESIZE (like a scientist) | | | | memorize the first person in the "C" line. When the |
| that they can't see the back until about row 9, and | | | | "C" leader starts through, you'll know it's time to get |
| then it's too late to do that salmon swimming | | | | serious with your "come hither" looks. |
| upstream move, so they're stuck. Park it in rows 5-8, | | | | BONUS, BONUS TIPS. . . |
| where one person is already sitting, and there's a | | | | A bag on the seat does not mean someone is sitting |
| really, really good chance that the middle seat will | | | | there. Ask, ask, ask because that person is being |
| stay vacant. BONUS TIP. . .I've even noticed (ahem, | | | | rude, rude, rude. They could be trying to hog a whole |
| studied) that people fill up the LEFT side (as you're | | | | row by pretending the seats are full. |
| walking down the aisle) first; so you should sit on the | | | | Bolt for the exit row. If you're one of the first |
| right side. | | | | people in the "A" line, check out the exit row |
| Sit in a row that already has one person in it. If you | | | | immediately upon boarding. Many, many people only |
| sit in an empty row, there's the chance that TWO | | | | think to sit up front, and forget about the great |
| people traveling together will sit next to you. | | | | leg-room in those seats. I've gotten the exit row |
| Sit in a row with one person in it. . .where the | | | | being 20th or later in line! |
| overhead bin is FULL. Most people have a carryon the | | | | Check in 24 hours in advance. Even if you're in a |
| size of Kansas, with all sorts of valuable toothpaste | | | | hotel and can't print the boarding pass, you can |
| that they have to sit near. So if the bin is full, they'll | | | | check in, and then print the actual pass at the airport. |
| keep going! You of course checked your luggage, so | | | | (FYI if you print your boarding pass on your printer, |
| you're a free agent to sit underneath the bin-filled | | | | look at the number at the left hand bottom. That |
| seats. If you have a carry-on, make sure you sit in a | | | | number is the number you checked in at - I'm #1 lots |
| seat where your bag fills the bin up. This is a good | | | | of times!) |
| time to have a bag the size of Kansas. | | | | Take the first flight out in the morning. Because the |
| IF ALL THAT'S LEFT ARE CENTER SEATS BECAUSE | | | | plane is there, it's not coming from somewhere else, |
| YOU'RE A "C" PERSON. . . you still might avoid the "C | | | | so you have a better chance of an on-time flight. |
| is for Center seat" fate. | | | | AND no one is sitting in the prime seats, like the exit |
| Look for people who match, with an empty middle | | | | row, from an earlier flight. |
| seat in-between them. Twin Budweiser T-shirts or | | | | Of course a friend of mine who was split up from |
| the same Harley tattoo means they're probably | | | | her son, got to switch seats by handing him a barf |
| traveling together. Eureka! Start to sit in THAT middle | | | | bag and telling him (loudly) to "use this when you get |
| seat, because, guess what? One of 'em will move | | | | sick." The person next to him switched seats with |
| over to be near their honey, and you'll get an aisle or | | | | her. Hey, use what you got! Here's to more |
| window even though you're a "C" person. Brilliant! | | | | comfortable travel. . .for a buck! |
| Sit behind the exit row. If you've got a short (like 30 | | | | |