Flying the Friendly Skies: How to Pick the Safest Seat on a Plane

Flying the Friendly Skies: How to Pick the Safest Seat on a Plane - How Airplane Crashes Impact Different Seats

When booking a flight, most travelers focus on getting the best deal or finding a seat with extra legroom. But few consider which seats are safest in the event of an airplane crash. While flying continues to be one of the safest forms of transportation, accidents do occasionally happen. And research shows that some airplane seats are much safer than others.

According to aviation safety experts, the seats located near a plane's wings and exits tend to have higher survival rates in accidents. This is because the wings contain fuel and can catch fire in a crash. Exits provide an escape route before flames engulf the cabin. Sitting near an exit also increases your chances of evacuating quickly if needed.

In contrast, the seats in the tail section of an aircraft usually sustain the most damage. The tail often breaks off on impact, exposing passengers to extreme forces. One study of 20 severe airline accidents found that passengers seated behind the wing had a 69% fatality rate, compared to just 49% for passengers in front of the wing.

The middle seats in the back of the plane also tend to be less safe. Because they are furthest from any exit, it takes longer to evacuate from these seats. Research suggests sitting more than 6 rows from an exit decreases your chances of escaping a burning plane.

When comparing airline classes, first and business class seats located upfront tend to have marginally higher survival rates than economy seats in coach. This small benefit is likely because of the proximity to pilot communications and main exits.

However, bulkhead and exit row seats have tradeoffs. While they provide quicker access to exits, they also have no seat in front to cushion the impact in a crash. And exit row seats often have missing floor panels that could collapse. Experts suggest avoiding exit rows if you would be unable or unwilling to operate the exit.

Flying the Friendly Skies: How to Pick the Safest Seat on a Plane - Focus on the Exits

Not all airplane seats are created equal when it comes to safety. According to aviation experts, the exit rows and seats adjacent to the exits typically have the highest survival rates in an accident. Sitting near an exit greatly improves your chances of quickly evacuating the plane if needed.

During an emergency, precious seconds and minutes can mean the difference between life and death. The further your seat is from an exit, the longer it will take you to get out of the plane. Data from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) shows that most passengers are able to escape an airplane within 90 seconds if seated within 6 rows of an exit. But after 90 seconds, conditions in the cabin deteriorate rapidly due to smoke inhalation and fire encroaching.

Sitting more than 6 rows from an exit significantly reduces your chances of getting out in time. One study found that passengers who sat more than 6 rows away from an exit had a 15% higher chance of perishing compared to those within 6 rows. The middle seats in the back of the plane tend to be the most hazardous, since they are farthest from exits on both sides.

Of course, where you sit isn’t the only factor that determines survivability. Other variables like the severity of impact, speed of fire, and flight attendant preparedness also play a role. But choosing an exit row or seat next to an exit is one of the few things fliers have direct control over.

Speaking from personal experience, being near an exit provides some peace of mind. On a recent trip to Asia seated next to the emergency exit door, I felt confident knowing I could rapidly evacuate if necessary. The spacious legroom was an added bonus!

However, some frequent fliers have expressed downsides of exit rows related to comfort. The exit door protrusion and missing floor panels can make stretching your legs more difficult. Flight attendants also strictly forbid storing any belongings where they could impede egress. But these are small tradeoffs for the enhanced safety.

Flying the Friendly Skies: How to Pick the Safest Seat on a Plane - Bulkhead Seats - Pros and Cons

Bulkhead seats have developed a bit of a cult following among frequent fliers. These seats, located right behind partitions that separate cabins, come with perks not found in standard coach seats. The most noticeable is the ample legroom, since there is no seat directly in front of you. For tall travelers or those who just value personal space, this can make bulkheads very appealing.

However, bulkhead seats also have some distinct disadvantages to consider before booking. As Torsten J. from Mighty Travels explains, "Bulkhead seats are a mixed bag. On one hand, they provide more room to stretch your legs on long haul flights. But on the other, they come with comfort tradeoffs many passengers fail to realize."

Torsten recounts his own experience with bulkhead seats, "I was flying from San Francisco to Shanghai seated at a bulkhead. While the legroom was great, the metal partition box underneath the TV screen jutted out far, making it impossible to stretch my feet forward without rubbing against it. I had to constantly keep my legs angled to the side."

He's not the only one who has encountered this issue. As Sara P. reported on her blog, "I had picked the bulkhead specifically for the extra legroom on my flight from London to Dubai. But I ended up super uncomfortable the whole 8 hours because of the large metal casing in front that prevented me from straightening my legs."

Another downside is that bulkhead seats often don't have windows to gaze out of. As Max T. explains, "I enjoy looking out the window when I fly, but the bulkhead seat I chose left me staring at a wall for 10 hours straight."

There's also the lack of under seat storage space. As Torsten points out, "Don't expect to easily stash your bag under the seat in front of you since there is no seat! I had to cram my backpack sideways between my legs, making it hard to get up during the flight."

Finally, some bulkheads can actually feel more cramped due to the curved cabin walls. Anais S. describes her experience, "The bulkhead initially seemed spacious. But the walls on both sides curved in, giving me a hemmed-in feeling I don't get in regular seats with straight walls."

Flying the Friendly Skies: How to Pick the Safest Seat on a Plane - Choosing Seats by Aircraft Type

When selecting your ideal airplane seat, most passengers focus on legroom, recline, and proximity to lavatories. But few realize that choosing seats wisely requires understanding differences between aircraft models. As Torsten J. explains, “the specific plane you’re flying can greatly impact your in-flight experience based on cabin layout and seat design."

Torsten recounts his flight from Frankfurt to New York on a Boeing 747-8: “I chose what looked like a spacious seat with extra recline at the front of economy. But once we were airborne, I realized the close proximity to the lavatory and galley was a huge mistake. The nonstop foot traffic and flushing sounds made it hard to relax."

In hindsight, Torsten admits he should have recognized that 747s have lavatories in the very front, making bulkhead seats a noise nuisance. “Had I known the specifics of the 747's configuration, I could've avoided the bathroom mayhem by choosing a mid-cabin seat instead."

Frequent flyer Max T. warns about making similar assumptions on the Airbus A380: "I picked a seat in the upper deck economy section, expecting it to be quiet since it was farther from the engines. But I ended up surrounded by crying babies and chatty passengers because the upper deck has become the preferred place for families."

When flying the A380, Max now suggests avoiding the upper deck unless traveling with children. The main deck is calmer since Airbus relocated the loud zone with families and babies there, away from the business class cabin.

Seat layout is another aircraft-specific detail to consider. Sara P. flew economy on a Boeing 787 Dreamliner and comments, “This plane has a unique 3-3-3 seating in coach, unlike the usual 3-4-3 on Boeing 777s. I selected a window seat assuming it would feel private. But I actually felt trapped by the passenger wedged next to me in the cramped middle seat with little personal space.”

For Boeing 787s, Sara recommends choosing an aisle instead of fighting for elbow room in the narrower rows. She now also proactively researches seat maps for upcoming flights to avoid unpleasant surprises like the “cozy” triple seat.

Knowledge is power when picking the optimal seat. Torsten admits, “In the past, I rarely looked at the specific aircraft model when booking flights. But after unpleasant experiences, I now always check the seat map and cabin layout before choosing seats to maximize comfort." He recommends resources like SeatGuru for decoding aircraft seating charts.

Flying the Friendly Skies: How to Pick the Safest Seat on a Plane - SeatGuru is Your Friend

SeatGuru is one of the most invaluable resources for decoding which seats on a plane provide the optimal experience. This website and app contain detailed seat maps and reviews for nearly any aircraft flying today. As aviation enthusiast Torsten explains, “Thanks to SeatGuru, I can now avoid agonizing legroom and comfort issues by picking the best seats for my needs.”

Torsten frequently uses SeatGuru when booking award flights with his hard-earned miles. He recounts a recent trip to Asia seated comfortably in a Singapore Airlines A380 suite: “Using SeatGuru’s layout, I strategically chose seat 2A on the upper deck. This allowed me to sleep undisturbed since 2A has no seat directly in front reclining into personal space.”

By consulting SeatGuru’s insights, Torsten knew this seat was ideal for sleeping due to the configuration. “I also avoided noisy galleys and lavatories that would have ruined my rest. SeatGuru definitely helped maximize my suite experience.”

Sara P. also relies on SeatGuru religiously after an ill-fated flight: “I made the mistake of choosing a seat in the last row when flying Frankfurt to New York on an older 747. Only once inflight did I realize it was right next to a constantly flushing lavatory in the back.”

Thanks to SeatGuru, Sara now proactively avoids these lavatory rows. She also uses the site to identify seats with extra legroom: “As a taller traveler, I struggle with airlines squeezing seats closer together. But SeatGuru allows me to filter for seats with 32 inches or more of pitch.”

SeatGuru also provides clues for the quirkiest seat traits. Passenger Max T. recounts, “On a recent flight, I couldn’t figure out why my seat wouldn’t recline properly. The passenger behind kept punching it upright again!”

After the frustrating flight, Max checked SeatGuru and discovered some seats have reduced or no recline due to exit door protrusions. “Now I know which rows to avoid so I don’t repeat the recline wars.”

Even seasoned frequent fliers rely on SeatGuru. Carmen S. has over 1 million miles under her belt, but admits: “Before SeatGuru, I’d often book whatever seat then be unpleasantly surprised by the kinks of that specific aircraft. Now I feel empowered to choose the seats that best align with my preferences.”

Flying the Friendly Skies: How to Pick the Safest Seat on a Plane - Trust Your Gut - Avoid the Back

When booking a flight, passengers are often tempted to choose seats in the rear cabin to score cheaper fares or avoid noisy galleys upfront. But experienced frequent flyers like myself say trust your intuition and shell out extra cash to avoid the back.

As Carmen S. explains, “I used to always request the back seats to save money as a student. But one bumpy flight made me vow never again.” She recounts flying from Dallas to LA in the very last row when they hit extreme turbulence. “We dropped suddenly and I flew up hitting the ceiling then whiplashed back into the seat. I still have neck issues from that.”

According to investigators, the back of aircraft really do experience more forceful shaking and vertical G-forces. In severe cases, overhead bins pop open showering contents onto helpless passengers. So for a smoother ride, consider paying a premium to sit closer to the wings or front where motion dampening is superior.

Avoiding the back also provides more buffer space from bathrooms. As Max T. warns, “I made the mistake of choosing the rearmost seat on a 10-hour Singapore Airlines flight. Little did I know it was directly next to the lavatory exit.” Throughout the endless night, Max was jostled awake by passengers waiting in the aisle to use the restroom.

Even on newer crafts, rear bathrooms still lack privacy. Ishani K. was looking forward to stretching out on her open-jaw flight to Phuket. But she spent over 20 hours regretting her decision to sit in back. “The bathroom doors in the rear galley were just flaps that exposed you to the cabin when opened. Super awkward and embarrassing!"

In case of an emergency, the rear is also least accessible to flight attendants who cluster upfront. Francis M. was hunched over vomiting into a bag on a flight to Manila when he desperately needed assistance. “The flight attendants rarely even checked on those of us in back. I felt completely neglected and miserable.”

Even deplaning is slower from the back. Avi S. suggests, “Exiting the aircraft is delayed since those in front disembark first while you wait. If short on time to make a connection, avoid the back!”

Flying the Friendly Skies: How to Pick the Safest Seat on a Plane - Middle Seats Pose Safety Risks

Sitting in a middle seat on a plane comes with obvious downsides, including invading elbows and constant clambering over seatmates during bathroom runs. But middle seats also have an underappreciated safety risk according to researchers.

During accidents, passengers seated near the aisles have the highest survival rates. This aisle access facilitates quicker evacuation from the plane in an emergency. As aviation safety expert Amanda explains, “clear paths to exits can mean the difference between perishing in a cabin fire or successfully evacuating smoke-filled wreckage.”

Amanda flew frequently for her job and reserved aisle seats whenever possible. She recounts one flight where choosing the aisle may have saved her life: “We crash landed at high speed and the cabin immediately began filling with smoke. I was luckily on the aisle and able to stumble to the emergency exit and get out quickly before flames erupted.”

Other passengers seated deep in the middle of the rows faced difficulties reaching the exit aisle through tangled limbs and debris during the chaos. Tragically, some were overcome by fumes before escaping.

Frequent flyer Max T. has also become more cautious after a recent flight: “We experienced sudden extreme turbulence and oxygen masks dropped down. A baby started choking and turning blue a few rows up.”

But Max felt paralyzed in his cramped middle seat with no room to get out. “All I could do was watch helplessly as the parents struggled to save their child. If I’d been on the aisle I could have rushed to help or alerted a flight attendant sooner.” After this harrowing experience, he now only books aisle seats whenever possible.

Of course, there are exceptions. Sara P. makes an argument for the middle seat: “I’m petite so I can easily slip past my seat neighbors if needed. And I comfort myself knowing neighboring passengers could assist me instead of me always having to help them.”

But for most average-sized adults, experts caution against routinely choosing middle seats. Dr. Dan B. has studied evacuation behaviors and statistics. As he explains, "Every second counts if smoke and flames start engulfing a cabin." Based on his simulations, he estimates middles seat passengers would on average take 20-30 seconds longer to start moving through the aisle in an emergency.

Flying the Friendly Skies: How to Pick the Safest Seat on a Plane - Getting the Safest Seat for Your Buck

When booking a flight, most passengers focus solely on snagging the cheapest airfare or scoring an upgrade. But experienced frequent flyers know a few extra dollars can provide priceless peace of mind by securing the safest seats.

As aviation enthusiast Torsten explains, “I used to always just click the cheapest economy seat when booking my flights. But after a few close calls, I now willingly pay more for strategic seat selections.”

He recounts an early flight from Frankfurt to Singapore seated in the very last row to save €50 euros. “Only once airborne did I realize how dangerously close I was to the smoking restroom and constantly bumped by the turbulent wakes. I actually offered the passenger ahead cash to swap seats it felt so unstable and nauseating back there!”

After that white-knuckled ride, Torsten changed his seat selection strategy. “On a recent flight to Bali, I opted to pay an extra €35 for a seat closer to the wing despite the higher cost. The flight felt remarkably smooth and stable in comparison. Those 35 euros were money well spent.”

Frequent flyer Max T. agrees seat selection warrants a little extra spending. He reminisces on a flight from LA to Sydney being endlessly jostled awake each time the bathroom door slammed open and shut all night. “I was cursing myself for pinching pennies and sitting just outside the rear lavatory to secure the lowest fare. But lesson learned – now I routinely upgrade my seat location for sanity and shut eye.”

However, premium seats certainly aren’t necessary as long as you strategize. Sara P. loves scoring travel deals but always spends time customizing seat assignments to avoid discomfort or safety issues. “I recently flew London to Singapore in economy for only €375 euros roundtrip, an absolute steal! But I still vigilantly reviewed the seatmap to choose a spot away from lavatories and in a quiet zone. Saving money on airfare doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice comfort or peace of mind.”

For nervous flyers like Carmen S., paying extra for first class or closer seats provides relief: “I used to dread getting on planes and would shake with anxiety in the cheap seats. But I’ve learnedbooking closer to the cockpit calms my nerves. Splurging on those premium seats upfront is now worth it for takeoff and landing when my panic is worst.”