Seating in the back of the plane

[Aisling]

Can anyone tell me if flying in the back of the plane is worse than flying closer to the front? One of my flight options is on a Delta Express (hopefully Song!) which has 45 rows, and the only available seats for the 4 of us to sit close together would be in rows 36 and 37. But I'm a nervous flyer and I heard that those back rows are noisy from the engine and that you feel turbulance much worse there, as well as all the other flying sensations. Is this true? I've only ever flown in front rows. Please help!

 

[DebbieB]

It depends on the model of plane. The old DC-9's and MD-80's have the engines mounted on the back of the plane, most others are mounted under the wings. Those are noiser, I remember one time the engine was right outside my window . I haven't noticed much difference on the newer models with the engines under the wings. Just close your eyes and put headphones on .

Delta skips some row numbers on some of their planes, you maybe actually closer to the wing than the back.

http://www.delta.com/travel/maps_guides/aircraft/b-757-200/index.jsp

 

[sgtdisney]

I personally don't think the back is any worse than the front. It does take you longer to deplane after you land since you have to wait for the others in front of you to get off first. As the previous poster mentioned the DC-9s, MD-80s and 727s are a little louder in the very last rows because the engines are mounted on the fuselage back there. On a 757, where the engines are mounted on the wing, it typically is not very much louder (if at all) towards the back of the plane as it is in the front. If the ticket price is right, I wouldn't worry about it at all.

 

[madcoco]

It is true that flying in the back of an airplane can "possibly" make you feel the effects of turbulence more than sitting closer to the middle of the plane. Don't want to get aerodynamically technical here. But if you really need to know why, please feel free to PM and I will explain. The last row of most airliners do not recline or recline minimally. Some of the lavatories are in the rear. This can be a good or bad thing. You board first but are the last to get off. You won't have to worry about finding overhead storage space plus you usually have to wait for luggage anyway. Depending on how each Airlines Flight Attendants do service and airplane type, you may be the last or 1st to get beverage service.

 

[CAP Aircrew]

The type of plane you will be flying on is a 757. The engines (two of them) are mounted on the wings and not on the rear fuselage of the plane. You will be in the back but not at the very back as a 757 has 45 rows. This being the case, you will not have to woory about the seat not reclining. If my memory serves me correctly, you should be a little aft of the wing. If it is on Song and I hope it is. The seat pitch will be 33 inches and that is not too bad. Song is also stating that each seat back will have an inflight video monitor to view movies and such on the way down. Of course this is at a cost but it might help pass the time away. I'm flying the same service out of Boston in June and looking forward to it. It's a big step in the right direction considering they were flying 737-200's that are long overdue for the desert boneyards. The 757 is a great plane.

 

[SuzEm]

I suffer from motion sickness and have to take medication, and still feel some discomfort. I used to fly frequently on business and I've been seated just about in every location possible. When I got stuck in the rear or behind the wing mounted engines, I would request a set of headphones, turn up the music and bury my nose in a good book. I even survived a terrible flight thru very bad turbulence and lightening striking all around us once, seated in the next to last row, by concentrating on my book and the music (in between prayers of course). I think you'll do fine, just focus on the money you're saving!