How do you decide where to sit on the plane?

[MillauFr]

I keep thinking I want to be within easy distance from the exit rows "just in case."

If you are worried about flying how can you drive in a car without panic attacks?

 

[karly05]

If you are worried about flying how can you drive in a car without panic attacks?

I know, I know. Trust me, I am much more relaxed about flying now than I was in younger years. But I am one of those "what if?" kind of people. And I think a lot of nervous fliers would agree, flying, while statistically safer, is still scarier because you are up in the air, and you have no control over the vehicle.

 

[seashoreCM]

On different flights I am in a mood for a different seat.

Once I felt I would be safer in the back so I chose a seat in the back.

Once the boarding zones had window seats then middle seats then aisle seats so I chose a window seat to board sooner and be assured of overhead bin space..

Also I may choose a window seat either well forward of or well back of the wings if I want to look out the window.

Once an airline's web site allowed me to choose any unchosen seat and, since I booked almost at IPO I was able to get the exit row.

 

[MillauFr]

I know, I know. Trust me, I am much more relaxed about flying now than I was in younger years. But I am one of those "what if?" kind of people. And I think a lot of nervous fliers would agree, flying, while statistically safer, is still scarier because you are up in the air, and you have no control over the vehicle.

Good for you and not letting it stop you from having a great vacation. I have read about classes you can take that help with the anxiety. Look into it.

 

[nkereina]

I always pick a window seat so I can lean on the wall, and I pick the closest window seat to the front that I can just so it takes less time to get off and so there is still overhead space available. Unless it's like Jetblue where they board from the back to the front so people in the front are the last to board. I also avoid the first rows of the plane because all carry on has to go overhead, and I avoid the rows in front of the exit row because they don't recline - although these seats can be nice because you know there won't be a kid kicking your seat or making noise behind you, because kids aren't permitted to sit in exit rows.

 

[goofy4tink]

Depends on the flight.....shorter flights (under 2.5 hrs) I don't much care where I sit. Longer flights, like to Orlando, I prefer the window so I can nap. Cross county I like a window (if seated with family/friends) closer to a bathroom. Flying to London in the fall...don't care where I sit. I can't see anything to begin with as it's a night flight.

 

[monorailsilver]

I prefer a window seat but since I have kids now they get the window so I do the middle. My dh will take the other row with the other 2 kids since all we have flown has been 3/3 on out last few flights.

I prefer in front of the wing if possible. I don't like being on the wing because I like the view.

Depending on where we fly, I choose which side too. we are flying next April into ft. Myers and the flights hug the gulf coast/sanibel, etc... Before turning inland around ft. Myers, so I chose the abc side so we can see the beach and see my sisters house from the plane.

For Disney, I try to sit on the def side on the way down and the abc side on the way home. On the way down I can see the coast and some,thing other then water. On the way back, I have a chance of seeing NYC.

When we went to Hawaii, I remember reading the travel books 16 years ago and it said to sit on the A side for the view so we did and it was amazing flying in.

One time I was fortunate enough and I was flying to my cousins in west palm from NYC (I fly out of Hartford now since it's closer to me these days), I was at the window in an A seat and I had an older couple next to me in the BC seats who were going to fl for the winter (it was the end of January), the pilot came on and said we are going to be delayed landing and all you heard were groans, lol, then he said the space shuttle was going to take off so we had to change the flight pattern and he slowed down, were about 50 miles away and got to see the shuttle lift off. Totally amazing!

 

[cluvsdisney]

We generally fly JetBlue and get the extra leg room seats because DH is tall and needs the space. We always pick row 3 seats d & e if the whole row is available. If not, we'll go to row 4 or the other side of the plane.

If I am flying alone, I'll sit where ever as long as it's not a middle seat and will keep checking/changing if there's the possibility of having an empty seat next to me.

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

Like the PP, we fly Jetblue and always upgrade to the Even More Space Seats. If we're on an Airbus (which is rare), we take row 2 if possible (or the closest to the front, eliminating the first row). Aisle seats for both of us.

Normally, we're on an Embraer with the 2 x 2 configuration. When that's the case, we pick row 12 as they don't have the EMS seats at the front except for row 1 (which we don't really like....I hate having the wall in front of us). Window seat for me and an aisle for DH.

We're more concerned with being able to disembark as quickly as possible upon arrival versus safety in the event of a crash. I hate to sound negative, but I figure in that case, we're probably doomed anyway, so it won't matter at all where we happen to be sitting .

Definitely keep me away from those washrooms at the rear of the plane. Gross.

 

[DVC-Don]

Isle, preferably in front of the wing, but any isle will do. I have to use the rest room frequently so with an isle, I'll not have to bother too many other passengers. If the flight is an hour or less I'll grab a window if I can.

 

[cranbiz]

Aisle seat on anything shorter than 3 hours, Window seats for those longer flights so I don't get hassled by my rowmates getting up. Window seat also gives me a bulkhead to lean on to sleep.

 

[disnut1149]

I check out www.seatguru.com. The site will tell you the best seats on the plane that you are on. Most leg room, etc.