[Amaru]

Just wanted to share my airline travel strategies with you guys, because they really work like a hot damn...

First, my general opinion on flying is that:

a.) being on an airplane (at least in economy class on long-haul flights) blows, so the less time you spend in an airplane seat the better;
b.) having a good seat can make the difference between a horrible flight and a tolerable one; and
c.) the fees that airlines charge for checked bags are a load of bullshit.

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So, my strategy to resolve all three is this:

1. If possible, fit all your stuff into two bags: a small rolling suitcase that meets airline size requirements for carry-on luggage, and a backpack / laptop bag / briefcase to store valuables and items you'll need in-flight. Don't pay to check the suitcase, carry it on the plane.
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2. Wait until the absolute last possible minute to board your plane. Usually, this means waiting at your gate until 1-2 minutes after the final boarding call, when you see the last stragglers heading down the jetramp. It's best to be the very last passenger to board, but it's OK if there are a couple more people after you.
   
   When you give your boarding pass to the gate agent, ask if the plane is full. They will almost always give you an honest answer. If they say no, then you can smile, because you're going to have a great seat on this flight... more on this in a moment.
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3. Before boarding, also ask the gate agent if there's still space left in the overhead bins. Tell the gate agent / airline staff that, if necessary, you don't mind checking your larger carry-on suitcase. If the bins are not full, then they'll say no, and you can just put the bag in an overhead bin.
   
   If the overhead bins ARE full, the airline staff will give you a luggage tag and load your bag into the plane's cargo hold. This is ideal because you'll have peace of mind knowing your bag will make it to the intended destination (you can usually watch them load it onto the plane) and you don't have to pay the absurd $25 checked bag fee. And since you have a separate smaller carry-on bag for your "personal items," not having access to your main suitcase shouldn't be an issue.
   
   If the plane looks pretty full, you may want to pose this same question to the flight attendant when you walk onto the plane, as they usually have a good idea of how much overhead bin space is left.
   
   (Note: On small planes -- regional jets and turboprops -- they'll usually have a luggage rack sitting on the tarmac beside the boarding stairs for larger carry-on items. This "sky check" is awesome because you get your bags back as soon as you step off the plane at your destination airport, and it's free.)
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4. Since you're the last passenger to board the plane (or one of the last few, at the very least)... and since you already know from the gate agent how full the flight is... you can look around and choose the best available seat.
   
   Almost everyone who boards the plane will sit in their assigned seat at first. Since these other fools have no idea how full the flight is or how many passengers are still waiting to board, they always sit in assigned seats until the doors close. This gives you the opportunity to see exactly which seats are unoccupied, and immediately claim the best one.
   
   Forget your assigned seat altogether, and just sit down in the very best seat you can see... act confident, as though this is your assigned seat. Don't worry, if someone else boards after you (unlikely) and happens to be assigned the seat you're sitting in, you can just get up and move to the next-best seat.
   
   The very best part? Many airlines -- especially charter companies and crappy American carriers -- charge extra for the best seats (ie emergency exit rows). Since people are cheap and don't bother to pay this extra fee, these 'premium' seats are often empty and available for the taking if you're the last one to board.
   

Final tip: if you see a row of seats that's completely empty, but you don't want any other people to switch seats and join your empty row, sit in the middle seat (if it's a row of 3) or the aisle seat and place your jacket/sweater/book/etc on the seat(s) beside you. This will discourage others from trying to sit in your empty row.

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Anyway, sorry for the long post.. hope some of you can use this strategy to land better seats and thus enjoy less horrible long-haul flights. It's worked for me at least 20-30 times over the past 5 years or so, and I'm never stuck in a bad seat unless the plane is completely full.

Happy flying