Where to sit? Front or back of plane??

[OnTheDanforth]

Hi --

Where on the plane would you sit? Front, towards the front of the wing? Or back, three rows in front of the Lavatory?

I usually sit towards the front, and reserved those seats. They are about 5 rows back from the video screens (((if they opt to play in the inflight movie))). My BF thinks that sitting toward the back (only 2 rows back from the video screens) would be better.

We're travelling w/ a 6 year old who has never flown before.

Will the back of the plane be too noisy for her? Would the front be better?

Thanks for any suggestions!!
Jay

 

[CarnotaurDad]

I always choose the front, just because I'm impatient and can't wait to get out of the plane.

One thing to think about if you choose the back is that when the lavatories become full, and a line starts, the line will usually start backing up down the aisle and could reach your row. Thus, it could feel more crowded than it is because someone is standing near you in the aisle.

Just my thoughts.

 

[jenelope]

I always pick the back because they often board back to front. I figure I'm going to end up waiting in line to get off the plane, anyway, so what's a little more time? I always hate boarding an already crowded plane.

Just a tip, you might want to check out the sticky thread titled "Awesome WebSite on Airline Seats." Whether it's back or front, the website in question will give you better details about the plane and the seat location than the airline sites.

 

[puffkin]

I always pick 3/4 of the way back. Here is why:

1. Far enough away from the bathrooms not to be bothered by them or the line. However close enough not to have to treck a long way to reach them.

2. They usually load planes back to front. On a full flight, you will get on sooner, have less people to contend with, adn plenty of room for your carryons in the overhead bins.

3. Even though it takes a few extra minutes to get off plane, does it really matter? You still will have to wait with everyone else at baggage claim until your luggage comes up, so it doesn't really make that big of a time issue (unless of course you have no checked baggage).

4. This is my own lame reason, but I tend to think people are safer in the back of the plane. It always seems the front of the planes fare much worse in air disasters. Completely irrational, but another reason I like the back.

 

[CleveRocks]

I always like to sit as far forward as I can. The ONLY reason is that I like to get off the aircraft as soon as possible. I know I'm not going to make any better time than anyone else (we'll all have to wait at baggage claim, UNLESS YOU'RE GOING TO WDW AND USING DME!!!). I'm ever so slightly claustrophobic -- this doesn't really bother me in-flight, but I hate the idea of feeling "trapped" in a long line while I'm waiting to get off and while the ventilation system is no longer running and its getting hotter inside the aircraft.

There was one time, however, when I had bad luck and the only overhead bin available in which to stow my carry-on was near the back of the cabin (I hate putting it under my seat because I don't like to sacrifice the leg room). In that case, I had to wait until EVERYONE got off the aircraft so I could go back to row 30-whatever to retrieve my bag. THAT was a pain.

And a note to puffkin: LOVE the pic of your Russian Blue. I have one, too!

-- Eric

 

[Skroops]

It used to be that the more expensive the ticket, the closer to the front you were seated. Often times the legacy carriers still do that, they keep the first few rows or seats for disabled or frequent flyers.

Haven't seen movies in awhile on any domestic flights. ATA has free music, and Jet Blue has video programming. Legacy carriers around here do not have anything. We love the airport DVD player rental way, that way we don't lug around our DVD player or laptop.

 

[ducklite]

For me, the front, because 95% of the time when I fly I only have a carryon, and I'm off and out of the airport before the last rows even get off the plane.

I'm also claustrophobic, and the faster I can get out of there the happier I am.

Anne

 

[DiscussDisney]

If you are flying Jetblue, there is more leg room in rows 11-26 (34" seat pitch) vs 1-10 (32" seat pitch).

 

[chesirechik]

I sit in the last row - no one is there to kick your seat and you have less of a chance of having a screaming baby near you since families seem to sit closer to the front. I usually check luggage so by the time the plan unloads and I can get off the baggage is just coming out - it works out well.

 

[manning]

The smoothest ride is at the center. It is the pivot point both up/down and side to side.

 

[tclowe]

Actually, I generally like the back rows of a plane when travelling with my family (with small children). Close to the restrooms and I can carry or allow my toddler to stretch their legs in the back area without disturbing other passengers. Nothing more annoying that seeing a small toddler running down the aisle of the plane and then banging their head or other body parts on some passenger's armrest or leg. What a wail that set off!

Plus, it gives us time to gather our stuff and the stroller will be waiting at the front of the plane door for us. Oh, less chance of people's carry-on bopping my children on the head as they are dragging their stuff down from the overhead bin (generally in a rush to get off the plane). Personally saw a man drop a hardcase briefcase on top of a woman's head from the overhead bin. He was trying to cram it in (boarding late) and the hardcase slipped from his fingers. The woman was holding her head in pain through most of the flight and got an ice pack from the attendant.

 

[inkkognito]

Normally I prefer the front because I only travel with carry-on bags. The quicker I'm off, the quicker I'm on my way. However, I often "trade off" and sit in an exit row more towards the back for the extra leg room. ATA's old 753 plans had a fantastic exit row almost all the way in the back...I think it was row 36. Taking forever to get off the plane was well worth the HUGE space. I was sitting there once when we had a delay/diversion to another airport to refuel/return to Midway/aborted landing mess that had us stuck on the plane for six hours. I was SOOOOO glad to be in the back, with lots of room!
Barb

 

[Dopey Sharon]

I prefer the front.

I can't remember which airline I was on, Spirit maybe. I went to the back to use the bathroom and the engine noise was horrible.

Go to www.seatguru.com and you can check most airlines and their planes to see which seats are better than others.

 

[beccasmom]

I prefer the front. I've flown in the last row on two flights - one to Pittsburgh (30-minute flight) with no window and it felt claustrophobic even for that short period. Another flight from PHL to Las Vegas....seats were much tighter than usual. Someone told me it's because of the narrowing of the fuselage towards the back. I don't know if that's true, but both flights seemed endless.

Seating configuration might matter, though. I've flown to LA several times in the back of a DC-10 and it didn't really bother me.

 

[AllyBri]

Front of the plane for me too.