J Ellyson, Coventry

For a clear steer towards the choice rows, check out www.seatguru.com or www.airlinequality.com.

They have plenty of tips, such as which rows are closest to the air conditioning — and therefore colder — and which have no window.

You have to wait until check-in to request seats by the emergency exits. These are never available on the web because the airline must ensure you are able-bodied. However, they might not be the ones to reserve. On some planes, the emergency-exit row is impeded by the shape of the door. Similarly, if the plane is fitted with an emergency chute, the smart position to try for is the window seat of the row behind the exit; it will have no seat in front of it so that the cabinet holding the chute can be accommodated. You should also check out the rows near the back: as the cabin tapers towards its tail, some seats have extra pitch.

It is easier to suggest rows to avoid. If you think children and air travel do not mix, steer clear of the area around the bulkhead: this is where airlines usually place those with babies and toddlers. And give the rows directly in front of the bulkhead and at the very back a miss, as these seats generally do not recline fully. If noise disturbs you, again avoid the back, where the roar of the engines is louder. And if you suffer from airsickness, aim to sit close to the leading edge of the wing, where you are least likely to end up searching for the sick bag.