U.S.-based airlines such as American, Delta, Southwest and Jetblue to name a few, do in fact have a Row 13 despite a resounding belief in western culture that the number implies bad luck. But travel superstition isn't simply earmarked for planes - hotels and buildings also bypass a 13th floor.

Many major international airlines do not have a Row 13 in 2026, opting to skip from Row 12 directly to Row 14 to accommodate passengers with "triskaidekaphobia" (fear of the number 13). Carriers that famously omit Row 13 include United Airlines, Lufthansa, Ryanair, Qatar Airways, Iberia, and Air France. This practice is purely a psychological comfort measure and has no impact on the physical safety or structural integrity of the aircraft. Interestingly, some airlines go further; routes flying to or from Italy or Brazil might also skip Row 17 (considered unlucky in those cultures), and Chinese-market aircraft may omit Row 14 because the number sounds like "certain death" in Mandarin. If you are a traveler who prefers to avoid "unlucky" seats, you will find that these omissions are remarkably consistent across the 2026 aviation industry, specifically among Western and Middle Eastern legacy carriers aiming for global cultural sensitivity.