Is it smart to sit at the back of the plane?

There's a general consensus among travel experts that the back of the plane is one of the worst places to sit.



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To avoid engine noise from the outside of the plane, keep clear of the back of the plane. Engine noise is deflected backwards, so sitting in front of the wing is your best chance of avoiding external noises, especially if you are seated on the window.

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The back of the plane is definitely the worst place to sit for travelers who hate turbulence since it's far from the plane's center of lift and gravity. This section can also be very loud since some planes have engines and auxiliary power units toward the back of the body that make a lot of noise.

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The seats are taken by other passengers. Seats in the rear are popular because they are close to the lavatory. Depending on the airline, it may also be the first rows to be served in-flight meals.

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As stated in other answers, in steady flight there is no pressure difference along the length of the cabin, and only a miniscule one during lognitudinal acceleration.

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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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Seats at the back of the plane tend to be bumpier, and sitting towards the back also means you're one of the last passengers to get off the plane after landing. Similarly, the bulkheads at the front of the cabin are where families with babies and young children sit.

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Window seats are usually a bit noisier than aisle seats. And there's a cone of engine noise that adds to wind noise in the rear of the airplane. “You should avoid sitting in the last row,” Mr. Wandel says.

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In general, the noise is loud at the front of the plane, quietest about 30% of the distance to the rear, and then rises to its maximum value at the rear.

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Which Seat Is Best to Avoid Turbulence? The seat you choose can actually reduce the amount of turbulence you feel! Grab a seat near the center of the plane, over the wings, or toward the front of the aircraft. These areas are more stable, and you'll notice less turbulence than at the back of the plane.

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Because the wings provide the plane's stability, the seats closest to them will offer a smoother ride. If those seats are not available, the next best place is towards the front of the plane. It is best to avoid the back if turbulence will cause you distress, as it is the most susceptible to bumpiness.

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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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For most commercial airplanes, the seats closest to the front of the plane are the quietest. And although it's not always possible to get a front row seat, anything in front of the wing is preferable to seating behind the wing. The loudest row is just behind the wing where the engines are located.

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The worst seats on an airplane for turbulence are the jump seats in the back of the plane, where the flight attendants sit, followed by the passenger seats towards the back of the aircraft.

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Routes with the most turbulence
  • New York to London. One of the most popular routes which experience turbulence is flying from New York to London (and also London to New York). ...
  • Seoul to Dallas. ...
  • Flying into certain airports near the equator. ...
  • Flying into Reno, Nevada. ...
  • London to South Africa.


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It's almost unheard of for turbulence to cause a crash, but it can lead to costly repairs for carriers. Usually, the damage is to cabin components like seats and overhead bins when luggage falls out or people hit them.

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Can Turbulence Crash An Airplane? The short answer is – no. Although in its worst form, turbulence may scare passengers to the point where they start praying to the Almighty, asking for mercy for their sins, it's very, very rare for turbulence to be powerful enough to actually bring a plane down.

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When an aircraft experiences turbulence, the plane can drop or change altitude suddenly. This is why pilots always caution passengers to buckle up and stay seated when they are experiencing flight turbulence. The sudden movements put passengers at risk.

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Is the back of the plane smooth? The seats at the back of the plane are not as smooth. You'll feel the turbulence more, and it is typically louder due to the plane's engines and auxiliary power near the back.

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For most commercial airplanes, the seats closest to the front of the plane are the quietest. And although it's not always possible to get a front row seat, anything in front of the wing is preferable to seating behind the wing. The loudest row is just behind the wing where the engines are located.

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