We all know that doing overtime is often crucial to keeping your job, but guess what? It could also be stopping you from climbing the corporate ladder.

In a cruel twist of fate a number of bosses, managers and career advisors have said working late can actually count against you when going for a promotion, as it is a sign of poor time management.

Also, this problem is getting worse in Australia. Although we are known as the “lucky” country, an ABC investigation has found we have, “One of the worst levels of work-life balance in the developed world.”

“While the official line is that businesses can make salaried employees work only 38 hours (per week) plus ‘reasonable’ additional time, the statistics tell a story all too familiar for many workers,” (ABC).

According to the investigation, “In Australia… we put in an average of 5.1 hours of unpaid work each week in the form of skipped lunches, late finishes, early starts and the like.”

And even when we do get offered a reprieve, it doesn’t always work, as one graduate told the ABC. “Recently, a friend of mine was told by a manager to take a ‘weekend off’ because her performance was slipping—but that didn’t take into account the work she was expected to do before Monday for other managers.”

Worse, as events manager Emily pointed out, flexibility doesn’t always go both ways. “I have hobbies outside of work and I requested to leave early on four particular days,” Emily told the ABC.

“While they allowed it, it was met with annoyance. This follows many weeks of overtime I did during a busy period.”

If this sounds like you, you may want to reconsider your hard-working ways, because, “In some workplaces, staying at work late actually means your time management skills aren’t up to scratch” (ABC).

“I don’t think it’s anything to be proud about being the last one in the office,” (career expert Sally-Anne Blanshard).

Alwyn Lau, learning and development practitioner, expressed a similar sentiment, saying that although over-40 hour work-weeks are the ‘new normal’, “This doesn’t necessarily translate to greater productivity.”

Another source, Anna, who works in the legal sector, told the ABC that not only can you, “Definitely get promoted while working exactly 9 or 9:30 to 5,” but also employers are, “More likely to suspect that junior workers who stay late need to work on their time management skills.”

If this sounds like you, check out our tips on stress management, gleaned from Australia’s top entrepreneurs.

RELATED: Australian Entrepreneurs Share Strategies For Managing Stress & Mental Health 

The post Working Overtime Could Ruin Your Chances Of Getting A Promotion appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

“You could drive up to a vertical wall and the 4SPEED will crawl it,” says Chris Piscitelli, Jeep’s exterior design manager and resident mad scientist responsible for pumping out these Frankenstein off-roaders.

The Jeep 4SPEED is one of them and it’s no static show pony. Saying it’s like no other Jeep vehicle in the automaker’s current catalogue is an understatement. That’s because the 4SPEED was conceived as an off-roading design experiment for purist off-roaders with zero compromise on performance.

Based off the brand new 2019 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon JL, this vehicle is a drivable prototype in every sense with a production count of just one – and we scored the rare chance to get behind the wheel of this lightweight unicorn for a brief enough moment to fall in love.

What happens when you’re given free reigns over design, an unlimited production budget and the task of creating the most capable off-roader ever? The Jeep 4SPEED.

Quick Facts About The Jeep 4SPEED Concept

Official D’Marge Head Turn Rating: 10 out of 10
Model: Jeep 4SPEED
Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo
Power: 203kW
Torque: 400Nm
0-100km/h: n/a
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Price: Estimated US$100,000+

Prototype Extras Fitted:

If F1’s Mercedes-AMG Petronas team ever built an off-roader, it would look like this.

2. 200kW and 400Nm from a stock motor might not sound like much, but this Jeep is hiding a lightweight ace up its sleeve. Piscitelli and his team shaved 408kg from the JL Wrangler donor car to transform the 4SPEED into a serious performer (the name itself indicates that it’s built ‘for speed’ as opposed to running a 4-speed transmission).

Surprisingly, the 2.0-litre engine package of the 4SPEED was left untouched from the latest generation Wrangler. Piscitelli explained that the headers are already aluminium from the factory so a lot of the gains in performance were made from extensive mass reduction elsewhere. With the aforementioned weight lifted, the vehicle was able to naturally lift itself up for even better clearance and agility on serious trails.

3. The rear seats have been replaced by a lightweight cheese grater. Okay, it’s an aluminium plate surrounded by sexy carbon fibre. The point? To strip out anything that wasn’t necessary to drive it.

Piscitelli’s team cut everything rearward of the front seats and did the whole tub as a one-piece carbon layout.

“It was a study in absolute function,” he tells us. “We got rid of the radio, all the HVAC (air conditioning) just in the name of weight saving.”

“There’s was no need for it because it wasn’t linked to the vehicle and driving.”

The goal was simple: “How much weight can we remove from it while maintaining a fun and functional vehicle built for outdoor adventure seekers.”

4. It’s designed to conquer the Nurburgring of the four-wheel-driving world. Exotic hypercars tend to fight for laptime supremacy at the Nurburgring. In the land of 4WDs, the Rubicon Trail is where you earn your stripes and bragging rights. The 4SPEED can demolish the Rubicon Trail with ease.

“It’s more than capable of running at Rubicon” says Piscitelli.

“All the standard Wrangler Rubicons tested at the trail run on stock 33-inch tyres, so you can imagine how easy it is with 35-inch tyres and an increased lift – it just makes it easy.”

5. It’s guaranteed you’ll scratch the wheels if you go off-road.

As sexy as they are, these are not the ideal wheels to go off-roading in. Unforgiving terrain will tear chunks out of these lightweight rollers designed more for sports cars than longevity on the Rubicon Trail.

“You might kerb a few on rocks,” admits Piscitelli. “But capability wise, you feel a little guilty in a sense of how easy the car passes obstacles.”

6. You shalt not see any experimental technology or wild innovations on the 4SPEED. Why? Because the JL model it’s based off is brand new and Jeep didn’t want to dilute that fresh formula with futuristic gimmicks.

“We just want to really embrace the newness of this one and embrace the 2.0-litre turbo. It’s a little rocket ship and the 4SPEED wakes it up,” says Piscitelli.

7. You can’t have one. Millionaires can’t even buy one. And this is the only thing we hate about the 4SPEED.

Sometimes concept cars can manifest a part of itself into production form. Not the 4SPEED. The project was purely an exercise to showcase what was possible in Jeep’s latest JL platform, not what is feasible in the real world. We’re very sad about this. But happy we got to have a spin in a true driver’s car that requires no roads.

The post We Got Our Hands On Jeep's Insane $100,000 4SPEED Concept…Here's What We Loved appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Sure, donuts are full of sugar and cholesterol, but your favourite low carb diet could be taking years off your life. If you are a Keto advocate, Paleo warrior or Atkins addict, you’ve probably shed a few kilos—and for that we salute you. However, a new study conducted on the long term effects of a low carb diet suggests you might need to put your #goodvibes on hold.

Before you jump to conclusions—this was no two-minute survey conducted by biology interns. This study, funded by the National Institute Of Health, looked at data going back into the 1980s, and serves as a word of warning for those that eat steak for breakfast, eggs for lunch and bacon for dinner.

The study, published in the Lancet Journal of Public Health, found that whether you commit the sacrilegious act of replacing spaghetti with ‘zucchini pasta’ or whether you subsist off of the timeless student diet of bread and crackers, you’re screwed either way.

As reported by Maxim, “Researchers found that both high and low percentages of carbohydrate diets were associated with increased mortality, with minimal risk observed at 50–55% carbohydrate intake.” So basically: moderation is key.

Unfortunately for people who replace the majority of their carbs with animal-derived protein and fat (from sources like lamb, beef, pork, and chicken), this kind of diet was correlated with a shorter lifespan. This was in contrast to those who got most of their protein and fat from “vegetables, nuts, peanut butter, and whole-grain breads,” who were found to live longer.

“A low-carb diet could shorten life expectancy by up to four years,” (BBC).

Researchers concluded that “the source of food notably modifies the association between carbohydrate intake and mortality,” (Maxim). So basically, if you take up a low carb diet, don’t just replace everything with meat. And if you are looking to improve your health, going “full keto” isn’t the only option—you could just switch up your thin sliced white toast for some wholegrain goodness…

Our takeaway? Everything in moderation. Including rib-eye and triple-chocolate cake.

RELATED: Lebron James’ Ketogenic Diet Could Be Your Ticket To Becoming A Shredded Beast… But At What Cost 

The post Low Carb Diets Are Great For Losing Weight…But There's A Catch appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Call it blasphemous. Call it the inroads of fashion pioneering. There’s no doubting though that Kanye West has just created his own rule for wearing a suit with sandals – ditch the dress shirt entirely.

A post shared by UpscaleHype (@upscalehype) on Aug 18, 2018 at 7:23pm PDT

Whilst some of you may be having a hard time contemplating how the hell sandals made it into the men’s suiting vernacular in the first place, it’s fair to note that Jason Statham did it first in 2018 when he rocked up to his own red carpet premiere in China with a sandal and suit combo. Statham’s look evoked an effortless and casual cool but Kanye’s most recent look at 2Chainz’s Miami wedding took it up a notch in the luxe-streetwear game.Mr. Kardashian wore Virgil Abloh’s first suit from Louis Vuitton’s season one collection. The sea green ensemble features LV’s signature motif embossed throughout the suit to make for a subtle look from afar but a more luxurious one up close. Kanye’s most daring move was the omission of a dress shirt from this look. Instead, the rapper opted for a gold chain and two slimmer gold necklaces.His footwear? Yeezy season six sandals with socks of course. Save your ‘WTFs’ for later in the year as we’re predicting there’ll be more copy cat dressers to come.Side note: When going for a look this outrageous, make sure your +1 is wearing a dress that matches your fluoro G-Wagen. Because Kardashian-West.

A post shared by UpscaleHype (@upscalehype) on Aug 19, 2018 at 10:59am PDT

RELATED: How to Get Kanye West’s Style

The post Kanye West Did The Unthinkable With A Louis Vuitton Suit appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Giving up any addiction is hard, but giving up porn is one stiff challenge. Literally.

Although it starts as an ‘innocent’ indulgence, many guys are now being screwed by their kleenex-enabled habits. Especially those that grew up with high-speed internet. Although most people kick the habit once they grow out of their teens, some don’t (or can’t). And statistics show pornography addiction is on the rise.

Porn addiction can have lasting effects on men’s sexual performance, and in severe cases, inhibit their ability to emotionally bond with future partners. No shit—this isn’t good. One need only look around at the stories floating around on Reddit, or have a chat with a porn-addicted mate who can’t get it up with a real partner, to see that the adult entertainment industry is f*cking with Australian men.

In light of this we had a chat with Samantha Jayne, Channel 10’s relationship advisor to The Bachelor, to discuss why so many Australian men are addicted to porn, what its effects are, and how to break the habit.

Why Are Australian Men Addicted To Porn?

Although Samantha acknowledged the “stressful pace” of modern life plays a role, she told us, “Porn is highly responsible for the addiction of masturbation.” The problem with this, especially during your formative years, is that excessive use can change your brain chemistry, “Causing major issues in relationships, reducing confidence levels, increasing anxiety and impairing sexual performance.”

“Some people use porn to manage their stress levels—and masturbation and porn go hand in hand.”

Whilst teenage boys have been “pleasuring themselves” for centuries, and then, “Relearning what it’s like to have sex with a partner,” Samantha says that porn has made this process of “relearning” harder. According to her, “The problem is that high speed internet has caused significantly more damage to mens’ sexual health than previous generations who engaged in, say, magazines.”

“This overstimulation results in a heightened expectation of self-gratification rather than an intense experience of togetherness—and that equals bad sex.”

What Are The Effects Of Porn Addiction

This one’s fairly straightforward. Apart from any addiction being a weakness to get over, “Several studies have found that internet porn in particular is killing men’s sexual performance, to the point where sexual enhancement drugs no longer work,” (Samantha Jayne).

Even worse, “Long term use of porn,” she says, “Can inhibit a person’s ability to emotionally connect with another person, leading to a very superficial relationship with a lack of true intimacy and feelings of isolation and emptiness.”

This has resulted in us as a species, “Getting worse at staying present (as we are) so caught up in this virtual world.” And when we stop connecting we stop intimacy, “And as a result it impacts the quality of sex.”

Sex Tips For Porn Addicts

“If you find yourself thinking of other sexual fantasies to ‘get off’ during sex, try to come back to planet earth,” Samantha says. According to her, “There is no greater gift in life than being absolutely in the moment with someone. During sex, look at your partner, look at each other in they eyes, sure it might be uncomfortable at first but keep it going, persist, match each others breathing pattern to build rapport, this intensifies the connection and chemistry.”

“Pay attention to your partners beauty, focus on relaxing, notice how every sensation feels during sex… experience the full moment.”

Samantha also recommends you, “Focus on pleasuring your partner, tell her how good things feel, tell her what you want—and ask her what she wants… slow things down and enjoy the simple pleasures by quieting the mind.”

“If you want to stay in the moment during sex it’s up to you to make it happen—by making your reality more exciting than your fantasy.”

How Does One Kick The Habit?

With his botched rollout of the NBN Turnbull is doing his best to reduce your access to porn, but in the meantime, here’s Samantha’s advice.

Step one: acknowledgement, “At first porn can appear to be self-soothing and bring about instant gratification. It can be used to mask uncomfortable feelings of anxiety, stress, depression, boredom and used to block out other unwanted emotional feelings and escape from reality, which may seem harmless at first. It’s not.”

Step two; “Replace the old negative bad habit (porn) with something more positive. Exercise, meditation, yoga all come to mind. Or simply get out more and spend time with real people.”

“Another tip is to block specific websites on your computer and limit your time on the internet or—better still—don’t use the internet in private until you’ve kicked the habit, join a support group or get a counsellor.”

How Long Does It Take To Get Back To ‘Normal’?

According to Samantha, “The no porn for 90 days movement has found that for recovering addicts in their early 20’s, erectile health returns to normal within 4 – 5 months, whereas for older men in their 50’s, it takes about 2 months.”

Why is it the older man returns to normal function faster than a younger man? Because he has had less exposure to high speed internet when his brain was developing. Samantha told us, “Men’s dopamine and brain neuroplasticity levels peak from when they are a teen up until 22.”

“So exposure to extreme porn during this time has more negative consequences.” Luckily, however, it can still be reversed—even if it does take longer.

The post Addiction, Lies & Shame: How Porn Is F*cking With Australian Men  appeared first on DMARGE.

Elusive and mysterious, a woman’s G-Spot is either hard-to-find (or mythical), depending on who you ask. However the exact nature of this infamous zone of erogenous power is irrelevant, because across all accounts there is one back-arching constant: orgasmic properties.

Luckily for globetrotting guys and gals everywhere, we have rock-hard proof the G-Spot of Europe really does exist. Yes, it’s off the ‘beaten’ path, but what toe curling experience isn’t? After all, the experiences worthy of a stand-alone Insta-post are the ones not everyone has had, right?

Once you visit Europe’s G-Spot, the Algarve and Amalfi coast will be relegated to ironic insta-stories while your Mykonos vacay will go mouldy in the camera roll. That’s the premise behind Vilnius’ latest tourism campaign, anyway. And we’re not going to lie: it’s smart.

“Nobody knows where it is, but when you find it, it’s amazing.”

The question is: does it live up to its claim? Sure, it’s obscure. But its name-sake isn’t just hard-to-find; it brings its pilgrims to earth-moving climax. Could one small Northern European city do the same for you? Check out its attractions and decide.

“The humorous campaign concept was created by Lithuanian advertising students who sought to draw international attention to Vilnius and its potential as an alternative European city-break destination.”

Vilnius is the capital city of Lithuania, which is located between Latvia and Poland. If you’d like to (virtually) explore it on your own, an interfaptive guide can be found here. Created by Lithuanian marketing students, this website invites you to “take the test” (to work out which tourist activities will best suit you) or “skip the foreplay” (allow you to browse through the ‘pleasures’ of Vilnius at your own leisure).

“It is not in eastern Europe, not even in central Europe, but the capital of a Baltic state in northern Europe,” (The Guardian).

If you’re after a quick run down of the best things to do in Lithuania, stay right here.

Vilnius Old Town

Known for its winding cobblestone streets, picturesque churches, and historical buildings, the UNESCO world heritage-listed Vilnius old-town is one of the most beautiful places to see (and interesting places to visit) in Lithuania. Highlights include Pilies Street (for cafes, restaurants, shops and souvenirs like amber jewellery and linen), Gedaminas’ Castle, Vilnius’ University, Cathedral Square, Vokieciu Street (for bars), Bernadine’s Church Complex, The Hill Of Three Crosses, The Gates Of Dawn and The Presidential Palace.

The Botanical Gardens

Vilnius University is home to a eye-popping botanical garden, founded in 1781 by French professor Jean-Emmanuel Gilibert. As reported by The Guardian, “Since 1974 it has been at Kairėnai, on the outskirts of Vilnius, in the woods of a former country manor… May sees an amazing variety of lilacs in bloom, the rhododendron collection is impressive in June, and there are also Japanese gardens.” There’s also cheap horse riding (€10-€15 for an hour’s ride) and carriage rides (from €30) and a barbecue area with picnic tables.

Craft Brewery Tours

Beer in Lithuania isn’t just a drink, “It’s tradition, connection between father and son, long talks, sharing thoughts and time, spent by looking for the best taste” (Like A Local). If you want to experience that special something ‘hop’ along to one of these degustations to taste the beer made by the small local breweries—each with their own secret recipes transmitted from generation to generation.

Street Food Markets

Although food prices are rising in Lithuanian supermarkets, any local knows you can still find a bargain in the street markets. You just have to know where to look. Open Kitchen is one good option, organised every Friday during the summer in a picturesque outdoor market near the Užupis republic. According to Like A Local, “It’s like a small food festival happening every Friday in the middle of the city. If you are a food lover – you should come because you can try different dishes from different restaurants and cafes in one place.” And and there’s often foosball, live music, and exhibitions here too.

Open Air Concerts

To make the most of Vilnius’ long summer nights, open air concerts should be number one on your agenda. The Midsummer Vilnius festival is just one of many. “For one week in mid-July, this festival will bring 10 performances to the very heart of town—the courtyard of the Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania” (Vilnius). Expect performers like Lithuanian rock legend Andrius Mamontovas, productions of Shakespeare’s Hamlet and Swedish electro music from bands like Little Dragon.

If (somehow) that doesn’t hit your G-Spot, check out Loftus, an industrial loft turned venue for massive parties and live performances—and melting pot of the freshest musicians from Lithuania and around the world. According to our sources, “When it’s not packed with partying locals, the place also hosts fashion shows, as well as theatre, dance and art performances.”

RELATED: How Not To Get Shot Or Arrested In The South Of Spain

The post Why Every Traveller Should Visit The 'G-Spot' Of Europe appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Sure: Snapchat dog ears stopped being cool a while back, but the digital revolution is just getting started. And before you scoff at tech geeks ability to create a robot hotter than Gigi Hadid—they don’t need to; “digital supermodels” can now be created from scratch.

At the moment fashion companies have to rely on real people (y’know, those things that argue, need to eat, get tired, throw tantrums, need training, and get followed around by paparazzi) to represent their brand.

London based photographer, Cameron-James Wilson, has shown they no longer need to. As reported by The Washington Post, the 29-year-old has created a “digital model” called Shudu, a striking (yet 100% fictitious) Instagram model from Africa with more than 130,000 followers.

“Despite her entrancing beauty, Shudu is a purely digital being, a fact that Wilson revealed after Shudu’s image went viral, ending months of frenzied speculation about her origin this year.”

If the amazement in the comment section is anything to go by (“Can you believe this is a digital model,” “No way,” and “I bet dudes slid into her dms thinking she’s real”) over her lifelike features, one would imagine she won’t be the last solo-screen model to grace our… screens.

As The Post points out, “She arrives at a time in which Instagram, Snapchat filters and photo-editing apps… have (already) blurred the lines between reality and fantasy, turning ordinary people into paintings or delicately featured digital avatars who preen for likes.”

And she’s not the only one: Time magazine recently included an enigmatic digital avatar turned style icon named Lil Miquela on its list of the 25 most influential people on the Internet. Miquela is managed by an LA software firm—and has 1.3 million fans who hang on to her every word (and fashion choices).

This has left people wondering if digital models will increase the pressure on younger generations to get “lip, hip and tit” jobs. The simple answer is yes, but as Wilson told The Washington Post, it really comes down to the creators.

“Wilson… created models that have dark skin, feminine curves, fine wrinkles and realistic stretch marks, details he added to promote diversity and embrace natural beauty.”

Renee Engeln, a Northwestern University professor and psychologist disagreed, telling CNN, “There is no world in which this is good for women’s health.”

“To know that women are going to be comparing themselves to women who . . . are literally inhuman strikes me as some kind of joke that isn’t very funny.”

Only time will tell. But surely if young audiences know models are not real they will feel less pressure to emulate them. Whether or not it’s 100% healthy is another matter—but it can’t be worse than the current climate where real people are photoshopped.

RELATED: Ways Unattractive Men Can Look More Attractive 

The post Soon, The Highest Paid Models In The World May No Longer Be Human appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Back in April I was on the dance-floor at an event in San Francisco when someone introduced me to this very cool and well-dressed dude. Honestly I had no bloody idea who he was other than he was polite and seemed to enjoy the sounds of Jamie XX as much as myself and my colleagues.

Fast forward three months… and ‘that dude’ turns out to be Henry Golding from the upcoming movie Crazy Rich Asians. 

The 31 year-old British–Malaysian actor was a presenter on the BBC’s The Travel Show but made the jump to acting playing the uber rich character of Nick Young in the upcoming book turned film. On the current press tour fo the film, Henry’s been seen time and time again we’re some of the freshest menswear around.

Think of Henry’s style as part preppy and part weekend at the Hamptons with a luxury twist. Classic knitwear, tailored trousers, polo shirts, bright and bold suits, bolds dinner jackets, tailored spray jackets and loafers reminiscent of a day out on the yacht. Henry is dressing the part of a Crazy Rich Asian. We doubt it’s just for the movie, rather he’s got the looks and shape to wear clothes easily.

We highly recommend keeping an eye on this rising style star.

The post Crazy Rich Asian's Henry Golding Is A Man You Need To Take Style Inspiration From appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Have you ever checked-in to your flight early, carefully studied the seat-map and chosen the best seat in the house? Have you also sat down smugly in your pew of choice; only to realise you misread the map, booked the wrong side of the exit row, and are now stuck next to the toilets in a seat that won’t recline?No? That’s cool—I was just asking for a friend.Anyway, if you are keen to avoid that 100% hypothetical situation, check out this guide to the best and worst places to sit in economy on a domestic Australian flight.

Qantas Airbus 330-200

Sure, the Qantas Airbus 330-200 economy seats come with 31 inches of recline and a width of 17.5 inches (and the food is complementary), but let’s be real: economy is economy. A few inches here and there won’t make or break a trip. Getting sat next to the constantly-in-demand toilet will. That and a good glass of Chardonnay. Also: legroom. Need we say more? Picking a good seat is arguably more important than picking a good airline. And unlike some other airlines, on Qantas domestic flights, it’s free!Considering the Airbus 330-200 is one of Qantas’ domestic staples (i.e. if you book a few flights in Australia you’ll end up on it at some point), it’s handy to know the best places to sit. Normally this takes a few bouts of trial and error. Luckily for you, we’ve tuned in to SeatGuru to share the secrets only frequent flyers know. Here’s a breakdown of the seats of interest.

The Seats To Get

• Row 44: Extra legroom; it is the highly coveted exit row.
• Row 57: Yes, it’s near the toilets, but if you are a serial food muncher this row gives you easy access to the snack-laden galley.

The Seats To Avoid

• Row 23: Avoid booking in row 23 if possible; it may have restricted legroom due to the bulkhead. The only upside here is you have nobody in front of you.
• Row 39: This row of seats is near the toilets so unless you’re a fan of air freshener and other smells give this one a miss.
• 53D & 53G: Unless you enjoy being elbowed awake every time someone misjudges the gap between you and row 54, don’t book seats 53D or 53G.
• 54D, 54E and 54F: Due to the misalignment with the seats in front, if you end up in these seats, you will have slightly restricted leg and storage space.

Qantas Boeing 737-800

The Qantas 737-800 is a smaller aircraft than the Airbus 330-200. But the potential to score a great seat (or languish miserably in a poorly chosen one) is even greater. The 3×3 seat layout is not for everyone however there are a few gems on this little city flier. It’s often traversing the skies between Sydney and Melbourne, so if you live in either of the nation’s unofficial capitals, knowing this plane’s seat-map by heart is just as important as knowing Sydney’s coolest bars or Melbourne’s best barbers.

The Seats To Get

• Row 4 is the pick of the bunch; it’s the only seat on the plane that provides extra legroom with no drawbacks. You do however need to be Qantas Platinum or Chairman’s Lounge to pre book these. The best you can hope for is asking the desk nicely before departure (alternatively you can pay $20 to secure an ‘additional legroom’ seat).
• Row 13 – Limited recline; but extra legroom, which somewhat makes up for it.
• Row 14 – Extra legroom, but less cushioning, and can get cold as they are near the plane’s exit.

The Seats To Avoid

• 9A and 9F are seats to avoid if you are a fan of the view (they are windowless).
• 10A and 10F – A tight squeeze for the bodybuilders among us, featuring a misaligned window and reduced shoulder room.
• Row 12 – This one will keep the chiropractors busy; it doesn’t recline.
• Back Row: limited recline and near the toilets. Boooo!

Qantas Boeing 717-200

The Qantas 717-200 is another smaller jet, which is part of the QantasLink service and is often used between Sydney, Canberra and Melbourne. Bonus: being part of the QantasLink gives you access to Qantas points and ‘status’ credits, seamless connections, 24/7 online booking and the option to check in via mobile phone.

The Seats To Get

• Row 4: This is a coveted ‘extra legroom’ zone, but if you want to reserve it you’ll have to pay $20 upfront, and it normally sells out quick. Get in early and your legs will thank you.
• Row 13: Limited recline; but extra legroom, which somewhat makes up for it.
• Row 14: Extra legroom, but as per row 4 you may have to pay extra for it.

The Seats To Avoid

• Row 12: Limited recline.
• 22A &22C: Last row of the plane, limited recline, near toilet.
• 23D, 23E & 23F: Last row of the plane on the other side of the aisle, limited recline, near toilets.

Jetstar Airbus A320

The Airbus A320 boasts the widest cabin of any single-aisle aircraft in the sky, and can hold up to 180 passengers. But how many of them will travel with leg cramps? Read on to find out. In all seriousness, if you book a Jetstar flight, chances are you will be on this Airbus, so brush up on your aisle-atomy… Yes: choosing your own seat costs about $8 (assuming you’ve booked a ‘starter fare’) but it’s definitely worth it. And to secure an exit row seat you’re looking at an extra $25.

The Seats To Get

• Seats 1B and 1C: The pick of the lot, these seats have extra legroom and no drawbacks (1A almost makes the cut, but the exit door protrudes into some of its space).
• Row 13: Book here if you can—exit row with extra legroom and no drawbacks. Like the front, it comes at an extra fee.

The Seats To Avoid

• 1D, 1E and 1F: Fools gold: From a regular seat map they appear to be an exit row with extra legroom. They are not. They actually have limited legroom due to the position of the bulkhead.
• Row 11: These seats may have limited recline (row 12 has extra legroom but similarly limited recline).

Virgin Boeing 737-800

The Virgin Boeing 737-800 fits 176 passengers: but only those with the inside info will be on the best seats. To make sure you are one of them, so that you can arrive in Perth you can windsurf with the great whites (or swill wine with the in-laws—whichever you find less intimidating), 100% refreshed. Or if your travels bring you to Brisbane you can stroll the South Bank without lower back pain and a stiff set of knees.

The Seats To Get

• Row 13: This is one of the most sought after exit rows with extra legroom and super comfy seats. However you will have to pay extra to sit here as it is classified as ‘Economy X’.
• Row 14: Same as above – part of ‘Economy X’ – but well worth the splurge.

The Seats To Avoid

• Seat 9A: Unless you’re a troglodyte you won’t like this seat (no window).

Virgin Boeing 737-700

Unless you’re willing to pay for an upgrade to Economy X, you’re going to struggle to find any sneaky extra legroom in the Virgin Boeing 737-700. That said, it’s still worth knowing where to avoid. After all: you don’t want to rock up to the Australian Open (or Darwin’s national parks) after a stressful flight. If you’re not going to treat yourself to Economy X, at least don’t book a seat next to the toilets.

The Seats To Get

• Economy X: they have turned the exit rows into their version of premium economy.

The Seats To Avoid

• Back Row: Near the toilets and galley.

TigerAir Airbus A320

Although this is a single aisle plane there are a fair few seat options! Unlike some of the other plane’s on this list, the TigerAir Airbus A320 is more than a pocket-rocket. Despite its size it still zips around everywhere like one though! Whether you are on a business trip to Melbourne or a Barossa Valley wine tour in South Australia you could end up on one of these—so make it worth your while.

The Seats To Get

• Row 1: Extra legroom due to the position of the bulkhead.
• Row 13: Extra legroom due to it being an exit row.

The Seats To Avoid

• Row 11: Located in front of an exit row so it may not recline.
• Row 30: Limited recline, close to the toilets.

TigerAir Boeing 737-800

TigerAir Australia’s Boeing 737-800 has a 180 seat capacity with 42 ‘Extra Leg Room’ seats, 30 ‘Up Front’ seats and 108 regular Economy seats. Smaller than the Airbus but with newer upholstery, the TigerAir 737-800 is a nifty jet. To get the optimal experience make the most of selecting your own seat online. Choose wisely.

The Seats To Get

• Seats 15A – 15F: They come with more legroom, but you’ll probably have to pay extra to book these seats.

The Seats To Avoid

• 13A – 13F: Limited recline due to the exit row behind it. 30A – 30F: Limited recline and next to the toilets.

RELATED: How To Travel Calmly & Comfortably In Economy

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