Originally Posted by RustyC

If buying the extra seat, ya probably should avoid the bulkhead row or the exit rows, as those have the immovable armrests. Much better to try to get row 2 or 3.

I've tried to quarterback the seating as well (with status you can get a free seat assignment except stretch and the free "upgrade" at the check-in window). The batting average lately hasn't been so great because they've had some rock-bottom sales lately (it's a slow period) and that has attracted a lot of late bookers, with the singletons among them not wanting to pay for a seat assignment.

So the seat map even early on the day of the flight has often had a fair number of empties showing, whereas the actual flight takes off close to 100% full. Frontier seems more willing than others to leave the sale fares up (like $40 for ATL-LAS OW on a Tuesday) and bookable on just 2 or even 1 day's notice rather than raising prices close to flight time at the risk of the seat flying empty. The latter strategy, which most airlines and I think even Spirit does, is to keep last-minute business travelers from getting a bargain. Even though ULCCs don't have very many business travelers.