1. Take your mouse for a spin. There's a Web site for everything these days, and that's even true for people who want to find the best airline seats. You can access seat maps, quality ratings and other reviews on sites like LoveMySeat, SeatExpert, SeatGuru and SkyTrax. Check around, and then cross-reference what you find on Web sites where travelers exchange ideas. FlyerTalk.com, for example, is a good place to find feedback from business travelers, and Tripso.com offers comments from vacationers. Often, you'll find postings with the ideal seat number for the airline you're flying on. But watch out: not every plane is configured in exactly the same way. It's better to double-check those recommendations against a seating map before you make your reservation.Tip: Your airline's own Web site is one of the best resources for finding a good seat. The air carriers keep the most up-to-date seat maps of their planes. If you have questions, you can always call the airline and ask if you've selected a comfortable seat. Odds are, the phone agent you're talking with has some first-hand knowledge of which seats are comfortable.

2. Ignore the classes. There is a reason why it's called a class of "service." It's because that, at times, there really isn't any real difference between the front and the back of the plane. Don't let the curtain fool you: The best seats on the plane are sometimes not in first class. Talk to the most frequent business travelers, and they'll probably agree. The ideal seat is usually in the exit row of economy class. Frequent business travelers dream of having that row, which often boasts more legroom than a first-class or business-class seat, all to themselves. It's also child-free, so they can get their work done in peace and quiet. And what if they don't get it? The bulkhead seat in economy class (that's the one just before the line separating economy from first) is a choice assignment. Beyond that, experienced air travelers normally opt for the front section of economy class (there's less engine noise) or they use their frequent flier miles to score an upgrade into the next class of service.Tip: As you can imagine, these coveted seats go quickly. They are blocked off for frequent fliers and often, they aren't released until a few hours before the flight is scheduled to depart. It's best to reserve a seat in economy class, arrive at the airport early, and then ask a ticket agent if there's any availability in an exit row.

3. Avoid the masses. The most uncomfortable seats, for a variety of reasons, are in the very back of the plane. Why? That's normally where the galley is. The restrooms are there, too. There's a lot of engine noise. In old days, that's where the smokers were. I'll never forget the flight from New York to Vienna on an eastern European airline many years ago when the bathrooms overflowed, the air conditioning stopped working, and just about everyone in the "smoking" section was lighting up. No exaggeration: It was the flight from hell. Today, conditions are slightly better. Smoking isn't allowed, but the back of the plane can still be brutal. Occasionally, minimum-security convicts are transported in the back of the plane (they're cuffed, of course). Some reservationists also like to put families with kids toward the rear of the plane. You get the idea. Avoid the back.Tip: If, for some reason, you are stuck in the back, don't panic. The moment the cabin door closes, you can move within your class of service. I would recommend heading to the front of the plane as quickly as possible. But remember to heed the instructions of your flight attendants. If the "fasten seatbelts" sign is illuminated, stay put until you're cleared to move about the cabin.

4. Lock your seat. I know I'm going to get into trouble for suggesting this, but I think you're entitled to a certain amount of leg room. Oddly, the government dictates how much room a caged animal must have in the cargo hold of an aircraft, but there are no rules about the amount of seat "pitch" — the space between seats, it must give passengers. So you may end up in a situation where the passenger in front of you wants to recline all the way, so that you can count his follicles. Don't bother asking a flight attendant for help: They'll probably side with the leaner. Instead, take matters into your own hand. Lower the traytable, fold the inflight magazine and wedge it between the traytable and seat. (See, those inflight magazines are useful after all!) There's also a product called the Knee Defender that works the same way and keeps the person in front of you from reclining.Tip: It's always better to negotiate with a leaner. Most passengers who lean all the way back don't even realize that they're invading your personal space. Of course, it would help if the pilots didn't urge travelers to "sit back and relax" when they reach cruising altitude. But that's another story.

5. If you're stuck, ask for an upgrade. If you're trapped in the last row of the plane, sandwiched between a felon and a screaming lap-child with the passenger in front of you leaning all the way back, there is one more option. You could appeal to your flight attendant for an upgrade into the next class of service. Impossible? Not exactly. Some planes are now flying four-class configurations: economy, "economy plus," business class and first class. So it isn't really that big of a deal. And flight attendants are people, too. They really don't like to see anyone suffering.Tip: Don't ask for an upgrade. That will almost always be met with a curt "no." Instead, find out if there is another seat that you can be moved to. Even if you know (and the crew knows) that your section is completely full. Make your flight attendant believe her act is a humanitarian gesture — which it is.