Bob we always ensure we have seats at the rear or over the wings. But then we always fly budget, be it ryanair, monarch, jet2, easyjet. So it is easy to book those seats, making sure that not only are we adjacent to an exit but we get extra leg room as well
Best one we have ever had was JetXtra, they are just a seat seller and subcontract to B.A, lovely planes and only 74 seater aircraft, ALicante-Spain to Humberside - UK pay a lot extra but well worth it to be virtually on the doorstep at both ends, unfortunately they only fly across the two week xmas holiday and May to September periods - saturday only flights.