Los Angeles - December 22, 2003

Mile-High Secrets

Seatguru.com for the Best Airplane Seats

Why is it that the lady next to you on the plane always seems comfier? Could it be that her chair reclines farther, that her tray table works, and that she has six more inches of legroom?

No, you’re not paranoid. It’s an unfair world up there. Airlines throw riders a bone here and there (Movies on Demand, a free glass of vino, three pillows), but how can anyone enjoy the occasional perk whilst wedged into the acreage of a cocktail napkin?

Next time check in at Seatguru.com before you leave. Detailed maps of the most commonly flown airplanes provide the lowdown on the best and worst seats on board. Down to the tray table in seat 1E on jetBlue’s A320 Airbus or the legroom on seat 19F on Delta’s Boeing 757 200. Those not obsessive enough to click their way through 594 seats can select according to color-coded rankings: Very Good Seat, Be Aware, and the dreaded Bad Seat.

Now if only they had the scoop on the person you’ll be sitting next to.

Available online at seatguru.com.