Flight attendant reveals best seat for sleeping on long-haul – and it’s not the exit row
When choosing your seat for a long-haul flight, there are countless factors to consider, particularly if sleep is high on your list.
Is a seat with extra legroom, or one at the back of the plane, better for catching some shut-eye? Well, according to a flight attendant, that’s not the case at all.
Trying to sleep on a plane can feel like an impossible task. iStock
A Virgin Atlantic flight attendant said the best place to get some sleep in economy class is in the middle of the cabin.
The veteran cabin crew member told Travel + Leisure you should try to choose a seat either five rows from the front of the economy cabin or five rows from the back.
She explained these rows are the quietest, as they’re far enough away from the bathrooms, galleys, bulkheads and emergency exits.
If you’ve ever sat in the very front or back of a cabin, you know how disruptive it can be when passengers gather in these areas to stretch their legs or chat to cabin crew.
She added that she prefers sitting closer to the front of the cabin – not only are you likely to get your first meal choice, but you’ll also get off the plane faster once you reach your destination.
It’s tempting to pay extra for the legroom you get in an emergency exit or the bulkhead row, but often these aren’t as good as they seem.
“On some older aircraft, it can get quite chilly near the emergency exit rows,” the flight attendant said. “I’d usually avoid these seats if you’re sensitive to the cold.”
That extra legroom seat isn’t always as good as you’d hope. iStock
From personal experience
As covered on Nine Travel before, bulkhead seats often attract heavy foot traffic, with passengers lingering while waiting to use the toilets.
I once paid extra for a bulkhead seat when travelling with a child, thinking it would give us more space and peace.
But for the whole flight, people stood right next to our seats waiting for their turn in the loo.
Cabin crew frequently came in and out of the galley, where the lights remained on even when the rest of the cabin was in darkness.
At one point, a crew member opened the ‘crew only’ storage compartment above us and spilled half a bottle of water all over my partner.
The middle of the plane feels less turbulence. Getty
Prone to motion sickness?
If you’re susceptible to getting airsick, the flight attendant suggested booking a seat directly over the wing.
“Being closest to the aircraft’s centre of gravity, you tend to feel less movement and vibration compared with seats further back,” she said adding, “Sitting over the wing is often one of the smoother spots on the plane.”
