For those particularly long flights, if one checks in early enough and has the choice, what would you say is the best area, seat etc. Does it work for a couple to take two seats with an empty one between them for more room or more often than not, do you end up with a stranger between you?

If you have long legs like me, try to get the seats next to the emergency exit. Usually there is a large gap in front of you so you can stretch right out. It made my flight from London to Toronto sheer pleasure

I always book the aisle and the window seats when I travel as a couple. Quite frequently, the middle seat isn't booked so we have that empty seat between us. If it turns out that the middle seat becomes occupied, one of us will ask the person in the middle seat if they would like to switch with one of us. The person has always opted to switch with one of us (who wouldn't rather have either a window or aisle seat?) so we could sit together.

Bulkhead seats are premiere - which is why you can't hardly get 'em no more. If you're travelling with children, ask for these seats (families seem to get preference); next best, almost as good, are the exit row seats. <BR> <BR>The three-seater trick works best if you ask for seats in the back of the plane (these get filled last, 'cause most people want to sit close to the front); unless the flight is full, middle seats in the back stay empty (NOT the last row; seatbacks don't recline). <BR>

Hi <BR>Since my usual travel companions and I prefer aisle seats, and also because none of us would ever voluntarily want to sit in the middle, we usually ask for two aisle seats across from each other. Close enough to touch or communicate without disturbing others, but we each get the seat we want. On overseas flights my goal is to sleep as much as I can (or try to) so chatting even to a loved one is not my priority anyway.

The best seat is the Pilots seat !!!! (Best views !)

Do not rely upon "checking in early enough" if you want to choose a seat. You can have your seat assigned when you purchase your ticket (although there may be cases where if you're trying to do this more than 3 months in advance you have to wait until then...varies by airline.) One of the reasons I use biztravel.com to book flights is that I've never had a problem getting seat assignment -- and have even been able to improve upon my original choice when the airline made more seats "available." Aisle seats are certainly preferable on an overseas flight...there's not much to see out the window. (While on a cross-country flight in the US, a window seat on a clear day is like the best geography lesson you could ever imagine. I'd suspect a route that goes over the Alps would be enthralling, as well.) Time of year probably has a lot to do with middle seats being left empty...don't expect it between North America and Europe from June - September...although the tip about trying for those at the back gives you the best shot. Actually we had seats at the back in the middle section of an Air France flight, in what I think was called a "family" row. There was space in the ceiling to suspend a baby bed. But it (the row) wasn't needed for anyone with an infant, so we enjoyed some extra legroom. <BR>