Airline miles for tall flyer

[TammyS]

So I've been looking at airlines and possibilities for accumulating miles for my son's travel cross country.  He's 6'9" and will be flying from MD to CA, so having reasonable legroom for him is important to me.  I've found that Jet Blue has 34" seat pitches minimum, with the possibility of upgrading to 38".  I'm thinking of getting their airline card to accumulate miles for his flights for the next 4 years.  Not being a frequent flyer (by which I mean, I haven't flown anywhere since before I got married), though, I was wondering if anyone had any other ideas or if there are things I don't know that might work better.

 

We aren't generally extravagant people, but I do feel for such a long flight for someone with a 40" inseam, having some more legroom would be kind of a big deal. 

[hornblower]

I personally wouldn't lock into a specific airline because a) it seems to me that they tend to merge/sell off/go out of business with regularity & b) I think that it depends on which specific aircraft they're using for a specific route - & that too changes with the economy & flight patterns & the airline changing its business plans & leases/purchases. 

have you seen the charts here http://www.seatguru.com/charts/longhaul_economy.php

I think I would simply save a set amount of money each month & use it to shop around & make sure you're flying in a plane with a configuration you like, top up regular flight purchases &/or pay for the ability to reserve seats in the rows with extra legroom (these are frequently the rows near the emergency exits).
 

[goldberry]

Just an observation, we just went on a trip where we went one way on Virgin America and one way on Frontier.  Wow, talk about night and day!  I definitely had more leg room on Virgin.  (5'10 here but wiith a 35" inseam - my knees almost always hit the seat in front of me.)

 

Also, service and other aspects were much nicer as well.

[DebbS]

Airlines prefer to seat strong young men next to the emergency exits so that if needed, they are able to open the exit door. Just getting one of these seats pre-assigned might be enough.

[DebbS]

duplicate post

Edited May 21, 2016 by DebbS

[TammyS]

Airlines prefer to seat strong young men next to the emergency exits so that if needed, they are able to open the exit door. Just getting one of these seats pre-assigned might be enough.

 

But from what I've been reading, those seats are almost impossible to get for regular flyers (non-frequent flyers) because they are reserved by people in the "frequent flyer programs".  Is this wrong?

[bettyandbob]

I always thought emergency exit seats could not be assigned until they saw you just before boarding. They need to see you can physically do the job.

[JoanHomeEd]

Recently, United gave me a complimentary Economy Plus subscription until Jan 2017. With the subscription, I can reserve an Economy Plus seat with extra legroom and room for bag free-of-charge. But I don't really know why they gave me the free subscription. I do accumulate miles in their frequent flyer program and have a credit card with them. 

Many airlines do offer very generous miles when you apply a credit card with them and do a certain amount of spending. 

http://thepointsguy.com/2016/05/top-10-travel-rewards-credit-card-offers-may-2016/

 

[JoanHomeEd]

I always thought emergency exit seats could not be assigned until they saw you just before boarding. They need to see you can physically do the job.

Not for United in my experience. I chose my seats online including emergency exit seats.

[shawthorne44]

I always thought emergency exit seats could not be assigned until they saw you just before boarding. They need to see you can physically do the job.

 

Not true for American either.   You can reserve them online and the cost is a little extra like the seats that are supposedly "Extra leg room".   When you can reserve the exit row is based on your level, so Double Platinum can reserve those seats before Platinum.  

 

A coworker who probably weighs over 400 pounds was in the exit row and someone tried to get her kicked off.  The stewardess just asked if she would be able to open the door with the handle and she said Yes.  She stayed in the seat. 

[angela in ohio]

My daughter flies Jet Blue all the time. When the extra legroom option gives her better seats (she hates being in the middle and sometimes that's the only thing left when we book) we use it. It's from $20-60 extra depending on the flight. She doesn't usually check a bag, so we save money there.

 

We also fly other airlines at times, and we have never accumulated points and used them so well as with Jet Blue. She has had at least one free flight per year. Every once in a while another flight is a bit cheaper, but we usually do Jet Blue anyway because they points actually pay off.

 

And she has reserved the emergency exit seats before. They are often available when we book fairly early. I think they go quickly because all seats near the front and middle go more quickly. 

[TechWife]

But from what I've been reading, those seats are almost impossible to get for regular flyers (non-frequent flyers) because they are reserved by people in the "frequent flyer programs". Is this wrong?

If you are claiming miles it is hard to get the good seats. Being a frequent flyer will get you an upgrade to business or first class if you fly often enough.

[TechWife]

I always thought emergency exit seats could not be assigned until they saw you just before boarding. They need to see you can physically do the job.

No, you can reserve them.