How to Fly Coach in Comfort

Check in online as early as possible

Pick your seat when you book: It’s usually possible to select seats online within 90 days of departure, but you have another shot to snag a decent spot when you check in for your flight.

The 24-hour rule: Checking in online at least 24 hours before boarding will ensure you get prime pick of seats. (Note that Spirit and AirTran now charge to pre-book seats.)

Open seating: Early check-in even works when you can’t pick a specific seat. With “open seating” (no assigned seats), passengers board in large groups; coveted group A, the first group to board, gets first pick.

Another reason to check in early: Airlines routinely oversell flights, and the first passengers to be involuntarily bumped from an overflowing flight are those who check in last.