aurelia

We found out the hard way that there are first class seats, and then there are second class first claSS SEATS. Have ended up at the very back where seats don't recline at all, which defeats the purpose of paying first class money. Ditto coach. If you end up in the back of the plane, seats are much closer together...result: no sholder room, and this is tough for hubby. Check each airline's seating plans (seatguru) and ask for certain seats.

Faina

Thank you for heads up Aurelia.

GoTravel

Aurelia, those 'good' coach seats are given to Frequent Fliers. They are bulkhead and emergency row.

Jed

It pays to look at the charts and book a good seat. We have frequently gotten bulkhead or exit row seats just by asking for them, and we are not "frequent fliers" on any particluar airline.

Kate_W

I just had a second-rate business class experience on Qantas on the LA-Melbourne flight. Avoid if you can the aisle seats at the front of the two business class cabins on the lower level, because they're right behind the toilets - with major sleep-disturbing traffic (and a bit smelly at the end of a long trip). It's worse in the 2nd business class cabin because there's a row of toilets for all business class, so the traffic is heavier. And the middle seat in the centre row is rather cramped.