Don't Stress Over Holiday Air Travel

Upgrade your coach seat: More and more airlines are splitting economy class into two areas, with one section having roomier seating toward the back of the plane. These seats cost a bit more, usually $15 to $100 extra. The seats aren't as nice as business class, but they will give you a bit of extra room for a small amount of money, which can make a huge difference on the quality of the flight for you.

Know which seat you want: If you aren't upgrading your seat or getting a Y-Up ticket, that doesn't mean you still can't get the best value for your economy class ticket. All seats in economy class are not created equal and getting the correct one can be the difference between a comfortable flight and one that's cramped. There is no need to wait until you check in to determine the seat you want. You can research the best seats before you book your ticket at Seat Guru, which will show plane seat layouts for all types of aircraft, including which seats provide the most comfort and which ones should be avoided.

Least expensive days to fly: During normal travel times, Wednesday is the cheapest day of the week to fly, but the winter holiday means that this rule doesn't necessarily apply. If you want to get a cheap seat, be willing to fly on Christmas Eve or Christmas day, where you really will avoid the crowds. The risk, of course, is that if there are any travel delays, you won't be able to get to your destination in time.

Before You Travel

Check-in and confirm from home: The airports will be especially busy during the holiday break, so taking care of as much business as you can at home can go a long way to reducing frustration and time spent in lines. Many airlines will now allow you to confirm your seat and print your boarding pass at home from your personal computer. If you aren't checking in any baggage, this can allow you to avoid ticket counter lines and go directly to security lines.