Should I sit in front or behind the wing?

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 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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An analysis, conducted by Time in 2015, found that the seats in the back-third of the aircraft had 32 per cent fatality rate, compared to 39 per cent in the middle-third and 38 per cent in the front-third. The worst-faring seats were on the aisle in the middle-third of the cabin with 44 per cent fatality rate.

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The best seat on the plane to avoid turbulence is either over the wings or towards the front of the aircraft. The wings of the plane keep it balanced and smooth, whereas the tail of the aircraft can bounce up and down more.

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While people usually aren't clamoring to get those back middle seats, this shows they do have at least one advantage! Logically, the safety of these seats makes sense. Seats at the back of an airplane are close to exit rows while providing more cushion from any collisions that may impact the front of the plane first.

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Other reasons to choose a seat in the back
On many flights, you'll find the final rows have fewer people in them, which means more room for you to stretch out since there is no one sitting behind you, and you may even have a seat open next to you.

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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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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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And best of all, this secret applies to all airlines, not just JetBlue. In a Facebook video, a JetBlue pilot explains that the quietest seats on an airplane are forward of the wings, because the engines are located under the wings. “Sitting in front of the wing is like being behind a speaker.

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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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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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The back part of the plane is often the last section to board, which means precious overhead space may be full by the time you get to your seat. Passengers seated in the back are prone to feeling more turbulence, so it is not an ideal place for someone prone to airsickness.

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“Turbulence is worse at the back of the plane,” she says.

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Jet airliners, on the inside, are loudest in the last few rows at the rear. Outside, right at the engine exhausts, but you're in serious danger from the engine if you're anywhere near that. Most of the noise goes backwards away from the plane.

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The top 10 safest airlines 2023
  • Qantas.
  • Air New Zealand.
  • Etihad Airways.
  • Qatar Airways.
  • Singapore Airlines.
  • TAP Air Portugal.
  • Emirates.
  • Alaska Airlines.


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Sometimes it's unavoidable to fly through light and moderate turbulence, but rest assured your pilots are working to find smooth air. If they encounter severe or extreme turbulence not forecasted, pilots will quickly climb or descend to a safe and smooth altitude.”

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Pilots know that flying safely in threatening turbulence requires slowing to VA, the maneuvering speed. This assures that the airplane will stall before its limit load factor can be exceeded. Such a stall is momentary and protects the structure against damaging loads.

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