Not all economy seats are created equal.
Exit row seats have more legroom, some seats have no seat in front of them, some airlines have separate cabins that are off limits to younger passengers, as aboard Scoot and Air Asia, and airlines have it sussed.
A few years back they began to monetise these modest advantages and now they're all yours, for a fee.
Suppose you don't want to pay, there are still a few ways to tilt the comfort factor in your favour when you're flying back of the bus.
Seats toward the rear of the plane are bumpier, you might be almost the last off and expect more engine noise.
You might be near the galley and toilets, you might be among the last to get a meal service.
For all those reasons these are the last seats to be filled, but for those who can live with the downsides there's a decent chance of an empty seat beside you.
For flyers who like to eyeball vacant rows and move as soon as the doors close, back of the plane is ideal.
Another plus – you'll probably be among the first called for boarding, and more likely to score an empty overhead bin.
Any seat in front of the wings is prime since engine noise is deflected backwards.
Bulkhead seats are more likely to be affected by crying infants, although they usually give you a few extra centimetres of leg room.
Bulkhead seating is a great choice for flyers who detest seat recliners since there's no seat in front to recline.
See also: How to avoid the worst seat on the plane
