A great flight can set the tone for what’s to come on your vacation—so why not do everything in your power to ensure your travels at 30,000 feet are as good as they can be? It all begins by picking the perfect seat. First, you need to decide what matters most to you: space, the ability to recline, or privacy.
Here’s how to pick the best seat options, according to professional travelers.
For a quiet experience, opt for a seat in the middle of the plane.
Martin Seeley, the CEO and sleep expert at MattressNextDay, shared via email with Travel + Leisure in 2023 that he believes the best place to sleep on a plane is right in the middle of the aircraft. “Firstly, you should avoid the toilets as that’s where people tend to chat,” he said. “Instead, you should pick a seat in the same row as the wing.” However, Seeley also said that if you’re flying long haul, the front of the plane may be best, “as you’ll be served your food first,” so you can get to sleep faster.
If you’re in a hurry, choose a seat toward the front.
Seeley also said that if you’re looking to make a tight connection, or just want to ensure that you get to your intended destination as fast as possible, you can always pick a seat toward the front, as you “are more likely to disembark first, which is why attendants recommend those seats.” Want to really ensure you’re on and off the plane first? Then this is the time to upgrade to business class.
If you want to stretch, sit in the back.
Jonathan DeLise, a travel writer and speaker who says he’s already taken about 70 flights this year, says he goes for the very last row. Yes, really. “My reasons are, I don’t recline, so that’s a moot point, and with no one seated behind me, that means no feet encroaching,” DeLise said. And as a bonus, DeLise says that with everyone jockeying for seats toward the front, the further back one gets, “the chances are slightly greater that there won’t be a neighbor.”
For when you want to snuggle up, choose a window.
While many prefer the aisle to be able to spread out more, Jennifer Yellin, senior editor at Points Path (a free Chrome browser extension that shows award rates next to cash prices), says she “personally loves the window seat. I take every opportunity to sleep on a plane, and having the window to lean on helps me have a better nap.” She also backs up DeLise on the merits of the back of the plane, noting it’s great for stretching out with family members, as “there’s a better chance for more unoccupied seats, and the chance of an empty middle seat is higher—especially when we pick a window and aisle set up.”
For when you know you’ll drink a lot of water, choose an aisle.
Air New Zealand flight attendant Ann Marie Trenberth has personally experienced just about every seat on an aircraft, making her advice as sage as it gets. And while she notes the best seat really depends on what you value most when flying, the aisle seat has plenty of perks, especially on long-haul flights. “It’s ideal if you like to stretch your legs, make regular trips to the bathroom, or just like a bit more freedom to move about the cabin,” Trenberth said.
Joe Cronin, the president of International Citizens Insurance, agrees, adding that picking an aisle seat is a good call if “your priorities are convenient access and extra legroom. Unlike other seats, aisle seats provide you with the unique opportunity to stretch your legs and move around, something that is important to do on any flight over six hours. It is also the ideal seat for people who constantly need to access the restroom.”
For tall travelers, consider an exit row.
Jaroslaw Grabczak, the head of commercial product at eSky Group, a Polish travel technology company, is here to represent the tall travelers among us. “For taller passengers, exit row seats are often the top choice thanks to the extra legroom, while those who like to move around freely often prefer aisle seats, especially on long-haul flights,” Grabczak said. However, he noted that “of course, business class offers maximum comfort and privacy for long intercontinental journeys” for anyone with extra-long legs.
And for nervous flyers, go for something over the wings.
Grabczak also explained that for any nervous flyers, “it’s worth noting that turbulence tends to be felt least in the middle of the aircraft, near the wings.” So, if you tend to white-knuckle your way through a flight or are prone to motion sickness, choose the middle seats right over the wing whenever possible.
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