How to get more comfortable airline seats on your next flight

❚ Avoid “low-cost” carriers. Airlines like Allegiant, Frontier and Spirit have a well-deserved reputation for small seats and a scarcity of personal space. Let’s just put it this way – people don’t fly those carriers for their comfort.

❚ Look for the good seats in economy.

The exit row and bulkhead seats typically have more room than a standard seat, if you can afford them. The worst seats are the ones in the rear of the aircraft, which don’t recline. Stay out of those if you can. Southwest now offers the most standard leg room, with 32 inches of seat “pitch” – a rough measure of legroom on a plane – according to Seatguru.com.

❚ Travel with pillows and blankets. Even if you’re in a “premium” seat, it’s also true that the cushions aren’t what they used to be. Bring your bedware to keep things civil on your next flight.