Is the seat over the wing good or bad?

The best seat to minimize the effects of turbulence “The smoothest place to sit is over the wings,” says commercial pilot Patrick Smith, host of AskThePilot.com. These seats are close to the plane's center of lift and gravity.



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There's less noise when you're sitting forward on the wings. In most planes, the engines are located under the wings.

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For instance, some contend that sitting in line with the wing is the safest as there are overwing exits and that area is the strongest part of a plane's structure. However, you're also sitting near the plane's fuel tanks, which isn't ideal if there's a fire.

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Even more specifically, the middle seats in the back of the aircraft are statistically the safest, with just a 28 percent fatality rate. By comparison, aisle seats in the middle of the cabin had a fatality rate of 44 percent.

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A middle seat at the back of a plane was found to be the safest, with a 28 per cent mortality rate - compared to the worst, an aisle seat in the middle of the cabin, which has a mortality rate of 44 per cent.

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In most planes, the engines are located under the wings. Sitting in the front of the wing is like being behind a speaker.

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Middle section. This section is stationed directly over the wings, the most stable area of the plane and center of lift, so sitting here makes for the smoothest ride should the plane hit turbulence.

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In my own unscientific research, dozens of decibel readings I took on recent flights show where you sit makes a difference in how much noise you hear. Sitting next to or behind the engines makes for a noisier ride. Being near an exit door can up the decibels, too.

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What Are the Worst Seats on a Plane?
  • The dreaded middle seat is our pick for the worst seat on a plane. ...
  • Seats towards the back of the plane tend to experience more turbulence than those towards the front. ...
  • An aisle seat located near a bathroom is one of the worst seats on the plane.


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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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Choose a window seat If you usually pick an aisle seat so you can get off the flight ASAP once the cabin doors have opened, it's time to play musical chairs for your next long-haul flight. Fieldsend says the window seat is the better choice for sleep because you have the edge of the plane to lean against.

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Sitting at the point where both the plane's lift and center of gravity meet—and forces are pushing both up and down equally on the plane —usually ensures the smoothest ride. Another rule to fly by: Anything over or a bit forward from the wing will be more stable than anything after the wing.

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The best seats in Economy Class On shorter flights in Economy, I'll typically choose a window seat (for the views) and pay extra to sit in the front of the cabin or at the bulkhead for more legroom. On long-haul flights, I'll consider an aisle seat located about 4-5 rows from the back.

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Try filtered earplugs. These earplugs slowly equalize the pressure against your eardrum during ascents and descents. You can purchase these at drugstores, airport gift shops or a hearing clinic. However, you'll still need to yawn and swallow to relieve pressure.

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If you're someone who dreads “airplane ear” when you fly, there are plenty of tips both adults and children can try to ease the discomfort. The pain is caused by the change in cabin pressure during take-off and descent, which creates a difference in pressure between the air inside and outside of your middle ear.

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It's recommended to wear the earplugs the entire flight, up until the airplane has landed and the cabin has been depressurized. It's best to practice the various equalizing methods long before your departure date so as to learn which methods work best for you.

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There is less turbulence towards the front and especially between the wings of the plane, since this area is more stable. For the same reason, if you suffer from motion sickness, it would also be better to be seated close to the wings.

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Generally, sitting on the upper deck is preferable because of the usually smaller cabin and lower density configuration (2-4-2 vs. 3-4-3). It's also quieter sitting upstairs. For a day flight being here may be an advantage, since you can receive service more easily, or in premium cabins, perhaps serve yourself.

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10 ways to make Economy feel like First Class
  1. Start with the airline. ...
  2. Take a good travel pillow. ...
  3. Elevate your legs. ...
  4. Move seats. ...
  5. Go DIY gourmet with duty-free treats. ...
  6. Invest in good headphones or earplugs. ...
  7. Choose your seats wisely before you board. ...
  8. Bring a good sleeping mask.


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“If you're landing when people are awake in the middle of the day, that's what you want to do, too. Sleep as much as you can on the plane,” she says. “If you're going to be landing at night, do your best to stay awake on the plane and sleep at your destination.”

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