Image Credit: Stephanie Ervin

Are you looking for a more comfortable seat on your next flight?

It’s not just where you look for a better seat, but how.

It’s not getting any easier. Many airlines aren’t just adding seats to the back of the plane, but they’re reducing the distance between them and making them more narrow.

So what do you look for—the bulkhead row? Not necessarily.

While there’s no seat in front of you, there’s usually not enough space to stretch your legs.

Bulkhead seats should only be assigned to small children, so they’re only kicking a wall and not the back of your seat.

Seat configuration is key. In coach sections, 2-3-2 is usually a lot more comfortable than 3-4-3.

So check the online seating chart so you can find a plane that has the better seating configuration.

What about the exit row seats? They’re overrated, and many of them don’t recline.

Here’s a little secret: pick a seat behind the exit row.

The seats in front of you won’t recline, and you’ll get a little more breathing room.

Last but not least: don’t depend on the airline’s online seating chart. It doesn’t reflect all the available seats.

Pick up the phone and call the airline. You might be surprised to learn that there are more seat options than you thought.

For more information about air travel, check out:

• Which Airlines Make it Easier to Redeem Frequent Flyer Miles
• How Rules Could Change After Recent Airline Incidents
• What Long TSA Lines Mean for You This Summer

Keep reading for more travel tips.