The best seats on a plane - and how to nab them

Avoid the "double excuse me" seats at all costs. That's the advice from aviation experts, who warn against being stuck in window seats that sit in a block of three. Same goes for the middle seat in a central section of five seats.

"Determining the 'best seat' on the plane ultimately comes down to what's important to you," says Flight Centre travel expert Same Hele. "Is it getting off the plane fastest when you reach your destination? Getting first dibs on the food cart? Making sure you can access the toilet easily or, conversely, avoiding the slamming door of the lavatory behind you every few minutes?"

Hele says the most popular seats are generally the window and close to the front of the plane. However, on long-haul flights, more people opt for the aisle for easier access to bathrooms. "If you're after space and the flight isn't fully booked, the back of the plane tends to fill up last, so that's always your best bet for securing an empty spot next to you," Hele says.

While your class of travel tends to determine the comfort and space of your seat, emergency exit row seats in economy class do offer extra legroom. Don't be shy to ask during check-in if there are spare seats in these rows.

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"In general, I try to avoid sitting near the lavatories, galleys and bassinets," says Chris Chamberlin, aviation expert and news editor at Point Hacks. "These are the greatest sources of noise and foot traffic."

Chamberlin says he never books a flight without choosing his seat during the booking process, or as soon as he has the reservation. "If you can't pre-select a seat or the cost isn't worth it, make a note of when online check-in opens for your flight," he says. "At that point, most airlines will let you pick a seat from what's available, even if your fare doesn't include seat selection."

According to Michael Holtz, SmartFlyer CEO and founder, there is value in booking flights with the help of a trusted travel adviser. "With more aircraft configurations being offered, they often do not show properly on online travel agency sites," he says. "A travel adviser will know the configurations, to ensure the most optimal seats are selected."

1. Book early. Chamberlin says with flights going on sale up to a year in advance, it pays to be a forward planner.

2. Choose your seat during the booking process, or as soon as you have a confirmed reservation. You can always log in later and change it.

3. If you can't pre-select a seat, hop to it as soon as online check-in opens.

4. Be prepared to pay a supplementary fee for extra legroom, window seats or those in preferred zones.

5. Make use of technology. Online apps and tools such as ExpertFlyer (expertflyer.com) enable you to set up seat alerts.

6. Airlines often hold the very best seats for top-tier frequent flyers. So always make sure your frequent flyer number is attached to the booking