Is it better to sit in an exit row on a plane?

Exit row seats have extra legroom, which is great, although most airlines now charge for them. However, I steer clear of the seats one row in front of the exit row, since these seats have their recline mechanisms disabled so they don't block the emergency exits if people need to leave the plane in a hurry.



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Again, in general, exit-row seats are usually considered some of the best in economy class, if not the best. But this doesn't mean they're the best for every traveler in every situation. What is the reason that half my flights arrive late?

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Best seat for minimizing the effects of turbulence: A seat over the wing. Best seat for peace and quiet: A seat near the front. Best seat for legroom: A bulkhead or exit-row seat. Best seat for sleeping: A window seat in a bulkhead row.

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Try to sit ahead of the wing if legroom is important to you
Often, this means that while seats behind the middle emergency exits can be crammed in with less space, those ahead of the exits have a bit more room.

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OK, so the back row is the single worst place to sit on a plane and you should steer clear of it at all costs. But which other seats should you avoid? All middle seats are unpopular for obvious reasons, and the seats in front of an exit row aren't ideal either.

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Exit row seats have extra legroom, which is great, although most airlines now charge for them. However, I steer clear of the seats one row in front of the exit row, since these seats have their recline mechanisms disabled so they don't block the emergency exits if people need to leave the plane in a hurry.

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However, statistically speaking, a seat close to an exit in the front or rear, or a middle seat in the back third of the plane offers the lowest fatality rate. That said, flying is still the safest form of transport.

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On aircraft with over-wing exits, the exit row tends to have a seat pitch of around 36 inches (91cm), which is far more generous than the 31 or 30 inches in the rest of the economy cabin. This is done to ensure that passengers can rapidly access the emergency exits in case the situation ever arises.

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Better legroom
But be careful which one you pick—the front row doesn't recline, but the back exit row does, says Richard Laermer, CEO of RLM PR, who travels every week for business. “They can recline because the person behind them isn't an exit person, so they aren't responsible for the whole airplane,” he says.

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So many travelers struggle with this fear, so the best way to cope is to find a seat with plenty of space. The least crowded section of the plane is first or business class. But if upgraded flying isn't in your budget there are still options. Try sitting in an aisle seat in an exit row towards the front of the plane.

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Extra legroom
Typically, one of the main reasons people like to sit in the emergency exit row is because they will have more legroom. This is because you will generally find more “pitch” (the distance between seats) in the emergency exit rows.

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Additional Leg Room – Probably the most popular reason to choose an exit row seat is the additional leg room. This is especially coveted by taller individuals. The pitch (the distance between seats back to front) varies in every style of airplane.

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I would agree as there are so many random factors to consider during an accident. However, statistically speaking, a seat close to an exit in the front or rear, or a middle seat in the back third of the plane offers the lowest fatality rate.

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After all, even the most capable passenger can be incapacitated by one drink too many, which could put lives at risk. They also note that it's unwise to sleep in the emergency exit row. Because, well, it's the emergency exit row. Another unwritten no-no: XL fliers.

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The wings are the point of lift vs gravity so sitting above them ensures a smoother lift off, flight, and landing. Avoid the rear of the plane. Turbulence is much more pronounced at the back of the plane – the further back the worse it can be.

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Sometimes found at the front of the cabins in large-bodied aircraft, exit row seats are in very high demand for long-distance economy class flights, especially for tall passengers. On a Boeing 737, for instance, the front cabin or over-wing exit seats have an extra 6-8 inches of pitch with unlimited legroom.

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The Worst Seats on an Airplane for Turbulence Therefore, it may be best to avoid seats in the back of the plane, where there seems to be more movement. Although middle seats probably won't mean you'll feel any more or less turbulence, nervous flyers may want to avoid them.

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In the middle, in the back
Nevertheless, a survey by the American magazine Time which examined 35 years of data on plane crashes found that the middle rear seats of an airplane had the lowest fatality rate: 28 per cent, compared to 44 per cent for the seats from the central aisle. It is also logical.

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The Worst Seats on an Airplane for Turbulence
The flight attendant explained to Upgraded Points that they often notice turbulence more when sitting in the back of the plane than the front jump seats. Therefore, it may be best to avoid seats in the back of the plane, where there seems to be more movement.

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The best way to get an exit row for free is to hold elite status with the airline you're flying. Elite members will often have the option to book premium seats like the exit row for free. Check the airline's membership program details to know what perks come with elite status.

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