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New York Times Guide to Being a Selfish Jerk

February 5, 2007 at 12:03 PM | 1 Comment

We have a ball riffing on the Sunday Times, but we only kid because we love. Well, usually. We're into anyone who publishes the exploits of frugal traveler and Jaunted crush Matt Gross. But boy did the Grey Lady miss the mark this week.

The Q&A with Richard Collis about how to get the best seats on a long-haul went way off the reservation. Seems like a good subject, until you realize that the Times is endorsing a reader's tip to buy three adjoining seats and then use the real estate to lay down flat. The thinking is that even three coach seats are cheaper than a biz class ticket.

You'll have to call your airline of choice for the best shot at this set-up. The article does mention that airlines could shift around seat assignments, leaving you with three seats scattered around the aircraft. If you buy multiple seats, you also run the risk of losing one or both to overbooking. (Your vacant seat would likely be the first to be given up.) The one thing the piece doesn't address is how to not look like a complete jerk while taking up three seats. We're thinking it can't be done.

[Photo: Orthodoxgypsy]

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