I will be doing two transatlantic trips (May and August). I always end up selecting a window seat around row 30ish. Does it make much difference where you sit, as long as you are not caught in the middle of a 5 seat row? Is it worth trying somewhere else, if available? Now that some seats are being saved for frequent fliers the choice may be less. Thanks

I think your best bet would be to post this on FlyerTalk, but for now, take a look at Seat Guru http://www.seatguru.com/ for the airline you are flying.

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Vic's travels: http://my.flightmemory.com/vogilvie

Window seat = you have to climb over someone to go to the bathroom.

Aisle seat = some have to climb over you to go to the bathroom.

"climb over" = "the aisle passenger getting up to let the window go through"

If there are 3 seats between aisle and window, then you need to climb over 2 persons to get out.

So, if you think you won't have to get up often, then take the window. If you are like me, who need to get up once every hour or so, then take an aisle.

Don't choose a seat near a toilet - seat guru plans show where these are for different airlines.
I like looking out the window - wonderful clouds, occasionally spectacular take-offs and landings.

Also avoid seats in the last 6 or so rows of the plane where the fuselage tapers toward the tail. They are often even tighter than the rest of coach.

>Also avoid seats in the last 6 or so rows of the plane

Except in some planes, there are only 2 seats adjacent instead of 3 and those are sometimes excellent for couples. Some of those, however, may tend to get bumped so refer to seatguru.com

The front is quieter than the back. And in turbulence, the rear of the plane often gets more sideway motion than the front.

[On the other hand, when a plane crashes and a few survivors are found, usually they are the ones sitting near the back.]

I don't care where I sit as long as it is an *aisle* seat. But the further forward you can get in the plane I think is preferable.

If you pick a middle seat you double the chance of sitting next to someone interesting to talk to.

no matter how much you plan this, things happen that may change it all... I picked my 'ideal' seat about a month ago. They changed equipment and I was now in the last row next to the bathrooms. bleck. I was happy that I had worn a hooded sweatshirt so I could put my hood up and check out!

What airline and where are you going-how many hours is the trip?

It depends on the specific plane and your preferences. Not all 757's, even those flown by the same airline, have the same configuration.

Some people like bulkhead seats, claiming there is more legroom, but I didn't find that to be true; in a regular seat, I can stretch my feet out under the seat in front of me; bulkheads used to not have that space, but more and more airlines are putting a cutout in the bulkhead to solve that problem. Bulkhead seats are almost often narrower, as the tray is in the arm, not on the back of the seat in front of you. Bulkhead seats are often subject to bumping, as the gate agents like to use them for people with infants and, I suppose, casts, and don't know about such people until they show up at the gate. I am rethinking my negative position on bulkheads as I now carry a computer, and the advantage of not having a reclining seat in front of you looks good to me.
We do like to keep our carryons under the seat in front of you, where you can keep an eye on them, and easily get out anything you need, but airlines are now putting a lot of boxes for the inflight entertainment under the seats, and there is less and less room there for a carryon.

Some people prefer the forward seats, as you can often get off the plane quicker from there.

Since I travel with my wife, we always pick a two-seat row, flip up the armrest in the middle, and have a decent amount of room.

Some people avoid seats that are right in front of a bulkhead, out of belief that these don't recline as much, but sites like seatguru will warn you about that.

Some airlines have electrical power in only some of the tourist seats, which is nice if you have a ten hour flight and a five hour battery in your entertainment device, but you have to be sure that you have a compatible connector to plug in.

There are no constants, only variables...

I'd rather have an aisle seat anywhere on the plane, except near a lavatory.

I don't care for bulkhead seats (and once assigned, you are often bumped, even after settling in nicely, for someone with a screamig baby).

I've always had great luck getting exit row seats by arriving at the airport extra early, as all those "saved" seats are released just before. But, everything turns on the airline.