Flyers: Where on the Plane Do You Like to Sit?

[famsen]

Okay, I am flying again in two and a half weeks. I have my prescribed meds to get me through my fright of flying. I have a question; where is the best place for a frightened flier to sit? I've tried various places; window seat, middle seat, front of plane, in front of the wings, etc. When I used the restroom, it seemed like the rear of the plane was much more bumpy (or we could have just been having more turbulence while I was there). Is there one really good place to sit where it seems less bumpy or feel less motion of the plane?

 

[melk]

My mom's friend took a fear of flying course and she said that they told her to sit in the middle of the plane (less bumpy) and on the left side (it gives you more of a feeling of control, like how you sit on the left driving your car...unless of course you are from the U.K. and your steering wheel is on the right!

I don't like to fly and always book the left side, middle. Not sure how much it helps me, but I do fly (and with my Ativan of course ).

 

[woodsluvdis]

I work for an airline...and that is what we try to do...seats in the middle of the plane...just seems to calm nerves ... also drink water - keep a bottle of water with you....

 

[twinklebug]

Chalk up one more middle of the plane family here!

I always try to sit just behind the emergency exit row over the wings or close behind it. Any further back and it seems noisier and more crowded, closer to the front and I don't have enough forward space to look out into. I also like to look out at the wings and see what they're up to when we hear the flaps moving and the plane feels like it's banking.

 

[shafke]

I always like to sit "in" the plane and not "on" the plane (sorry couldn't help myself). The closer you are to the center of gravity of the plane the less you will feel the tilting/rolling motion. If there is turbulence it probably won't matter too much where you are sitting.

 

[ShellyMouse]

i too am a fearful flyer! i flew when i was 10.....and refused to do it again until about 3 years ago. what got me on that plane you ask?? DISNEY WORLD of course! i had a chance to go with my mom and sister for free dining.....so i decided it was worth the chance of dying!! thats my problem, i'm sure i will die if i get on that plane.....but since then i have flown 6 or so times, and planning to fly to Dland in november. dont get me wrong, i still pop 1/2 a xanax as we are boarding....but i do it!

i make sure im in the middle or front....not sure why this makes me feel safer, but it does. and i keep an eye on the flight attendants....if they are going about their business, then i know all is well!

before my 1st flight 3 years ago, i bought the book "fear of flying". it was great for me. the author is a retired pilot. he talks about everything....very reassuring!! the best thing i always remind myself from the book is: no plane has ever crashed b/c of turbulance....turbulance for a plane is like a car driving down a gravel road....bumpy. if my flights get a little bumpy, i say that over and over in my head.

hope this helped a little bit!
good luck, you will be fine!!

 

[mickey2minnie1]

I likr the very front of the plane. I like to be the first off.

 

[shellybaxter]

I'm not afraid of flying but I don't like feeling crushed in by crowds so I try to sit as close to the front as possible so I don't see how many people are on the plane and I don't have to watch a lot of people in front of me waiting to get off. That makes be really anxious. Now that we can afford them - we buy first class tickets.

 

[kaytieeldr]

i too am a fearful flyer! i flew when i was 10.....and refused to do it again until about 3 years ago. what got me on that plane you ask?? DISNEY WORLD of course! i had a chance to go with my mom and sister for free dining.....so i decided it was worth the chance of dying!!

In a recent thread, someone posted that their doctor said if the only way they could possibly die were in a plane crash, they'd live to be 37 million years old.

 

[n2mm]

I like to sit on the right side so the sun doesn't get in my eyes when flying to my happy place and home. I'm always in row 7 (E/F) on my JB flights. Don't know why, it just always seems to be available.

 

[budcollector]

Next to a window, either before or after the wing, with the headset on with the music playing so i can look down on all the little people and houses as we fly over them.

 

[gigi1313]

My mom's friend took a fear of flying course and she said that they told her to sit in the middle of the plane (less bumpy) and on the left side (it gives you more of a feeling of control, like how you sit on the left driving your car...unless of course you are from the U.K. and your steering wheel is on the right!

I don't like to fly and always book the left side, middle. Not sure how much it helps me, but I do fly (and with my Ativan of course ).

i always choose my own seat, am not fearful of flying at all, but always choose the left... had no idea why... now i know, it's a part of my psychological-control-freak-self! thanks! i'm going to try the right side next time just for fun!

 

[bballmom56]

I like to sit on the right side so the sun doesn't get in my eyes when flying to my happy place and home. I'm always in row 7 (E/F) on my JB flights. Don't know why, it just always seems to be available.

LOL! We have your seats for our next flight!!

 

[wdw&sonny]

In a recent thread, someone posted that their doctor said if the only way they could possibly die were in a plane crash, they'd live to be 37 million years old.

Funny but true.
I like the front for last one on and first one off...not afraid to fly but somewhat claustrophobic. I hate the sitting and waiting. I immerse myself in a book.

 

[DebbieB]

I prefer the front to middle. Hate the back. Not only does it take long to get off but you also have the smell of the bathroom. For some reason, I prefer the right side. I like the aisle, feel less closed in.

 

[eddiemcgarrigle]

I always purchase the upgrade to allow me to fly acrossd the Atlantic at what is essentially Business Class and sit at the front of the plane within the first ten rows. It cost me £150 per person for this and it is worth it for the bigger seat, extra legroom, better food choice and unlimited drinks.

 

[maxiesmom]

I like to sit near the wings, in an aisle seat. The aisle seat keeps me from feeling clausterphobic, and I read somewhere that seats near the wing are less bumpy and noisey. Don't know if that is really too, but it is what I go by.

 

[n2mm]

LOL! We have your seats for our next flight!!

That's funny. We are booked on JB for May 7, Sept. 29, Oct. 5, and Oct. 31 and all in those same seats. Take good care of them! We always laugh that we are often in the same seats so often.

 

[bballmom56]

LOL, we will make sure we keep them clean and clear off any crumbs when we are done! The same seats are available for our return trip, and I am toying of changing them. Right now they are in the back in row 22.

 

[uva185]

I always purchase the upgrade to allow me to fly acrossd the Atlantic at what is essentially Business Class and sit at the front of the plane within the first ten rows. It cost me £150 per person for this and it is worth it for the bigger seat, extra legroom, better food choice and unlimited drinks.

Permier Economy?

Whether it be with miles or an upgrade certificate I almost always make sure I sit in Business or First class as makes such a difference in how I feel for the rest of the trip!!

I've done just two coach trips to Europe and they were AWFUL!!! Never again!!