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When booking flights or checking in, many passengers are most concerned about their seat location. After more than a decade traveling the world as a flight attendant, one female flight attendant shared on Insider what the best and worst seats are.
5 best seats on an airplane
Emergency exit seats
This is the easiest place to exit in case of an emergency. Besides, the legroom is spacious, making it comfortable for taller people. Many people agree and even consider it the best seat on the plane, as you'll be sitting next to or closest to the beautiful flight attendants.
Sitting in an emergency exit seat means assisting the flight attendant in opening the door in an emergency. Therefore, this seat is also prioritized for healthy individuals. The elderly, young children, and pregnant women are usually not assigned to this seat. However, most people don't consider this a disadvantage.
Those rows only have two seats.
Many smaller aircraft typically have only two seats per row. According to flight attendants, these are ideal seating arrangements because one seat is positioned by the window, while the other faces the aisle. This provides more personal space, and no one has to sit in the middle seat – the least desirable position.
The best seats are usually in spacious, convenient locations.
The seats in the front
This area is generally smoother and less bumpy than the back of the plane. Passengers can board and disembark more easily because the seats are closer to the doors. When flight attendants serve food and drinks, those in the front rows will be served first. The middle seats are considered the smoothest during turbulence, as they are in the center of the plane. However, the disadvantage is that passengers experience more noise due to their proximity to the engines.
The place by the window
This is also the most popular seat because it offers beautiful views of the clouds, sky, and scenery at the takeoff and landing areas. It's also the best position to rest your head against the wall and sleep peacefully, without being disturbed by people sitting next to you who want to get up to use the restroom.
4 worst seats on an airplane
Seats directly in front of or behind the bulkhead on an airplane.
Seats in front of bulkheads often cannot recline for comfortable seating. Middle seats are usually preferred by families with young children because there's enough space in front to place a bassinet. If you don't want to hear crying throughout the flight, you might consider this position.
Sandwiched seat
No matter which row you sit in, the middle seat is torture for many people. It's where you have the least space because you're squeezed between two people. Sometimes, the person in the middle has to sit with their arms crossed because the armrests are occupied by the people next to them. According to Australian travel expert Angus Kidman, if it's a wide-body plane with nine seats in three rows, choose the middle seat in the middle row. That way, at least you won't be disturbed if someone wants to get up to get something or use the restroom.
Bad seats are often near toilets, storage areas, or seats squeezed together.
Seats near the restroom
Besides the smell, passengers are often disturbed because this is where crowds stand in line waiting for their turn to use the restroom. Therefore, it's noisier than other areas. Additionally, those sitting in the aisle of this area are often accidentally touched by passersby, affecting their sleep. The only advantage of sitting here is that you don't need to queue if you need to use the restroom.
The seats at the back of the plane and near the overhead compartments.
This is the least preferred spot because it's bumpy, noisy, and far from the center. It's also often the seat closest to the restroom, right in front of the partition. This area is near where flight attendants keep their food, drinks, and other in-flight supplies.
