Which side of plane to sit on?

If you're travelling east, choose the right side of the plane. If you're travelling west, go for the left side of the plane. That rule should help you out if you're travelling in the Northern Hemisphere, especially during the winter months.



The "best" side of the plane depends entirely on your flight path and the time of day. For the best views, the general rule is to sit on the side facing the "scenic" landmarks; for example, if flying into Los Angeles (LAX) from the east, the Right Side (Seat F/K) often provides a view of the Hollywood Sign. If you are flying North to South in the Northern Hemisphere during the day and want to avoid the glare of the sun, sit on the East-facing side (Left side) to stay in the shade. For "Northern Lights" (Aurora Borealis) viewing on transatlantic flights, you should sit on the North-facing side (Left side when flying West from Europe to the US, or Right side when flying East). If you are sensitive to heat or sun, sitting on the "shady side" makes the cabin feel much cooler. Always check a "Flight Path" tool or site like SeatGuru to see the typical approach pattern for your specific airport, as many cities have "standard arrivals" that favor one side for a view of the city center.

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In North America, think southern exposure - IE, sun will be coming from the South. So if you're flying from the East Coast to the West, the Sun will be on the left side of the plane (facing forward). If you want to avoid the discomfort of bright light and excessive heat, sit on the shady side of the plane.

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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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We found that survival was random in several accidents — those who perished were scattered irregularly between survivors. It's for this reason that the FAA and other airline safety experts say there is no safest seat on the plane.

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Travellers choose to sit on the right hand side of an aeroplane rather than the left, a new study has found. Edinburgh researchers found people's preference over which side they sit on was dictated by the mind's rightward bias in representing the real world.

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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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Specifically, pick a window seat on the left side of the aircraft. These seats are usually off-center, making leaning up against the side of the plane more comfortable. A bulkhead seat is also a great option because you don't have to worry about anyone reclining into your space.

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If you're going to sit in economy, you want to be sure you select a Main Cabin Extra seat. These are the best seats you'll find in the rear section of the plane. What makes these seats special is that they have extra pitch — that is, the distance between the seat back of one seat to the seatback of the seat in front.

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There are a lot of superstitions out there for passengers on planes. One of the most believed ones is that touching the plane offers a bit of good luck, like passengers are thanking the plane for its services and asking it to get them to their destination safely.

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There are a lot of superstitions out there for passengers on planes. One of the most believed ones is that touching the plane offers a bit of good luck, like passengers are thanking the plane for its services and asking it to get them to their destination safely.

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Usually, it's best to pick a seat toward the front of the plane for several reasons: It's usually quieter, and you can get on and off faster. There's a balance between choosing front/back and window/aisle.

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The window seats offer the best views and minimal disruptions from your row mates. Ultimately, you'll be the disruptive one when it's your turn to visit the lavatory, but still, the window seat gives you that undisturbed solitude to make it through your flight without interacting.

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“The smoothest place to sit is over the wings,” commercial pilot Patrick Smith, host of AskThePilot.com said. These seats are close to the plane's center of lift and gravity. “The roughest spot is usually the far aft. In the rearmost rows, closest to the tail, the knocking and swaying is more pronounced,” Smith added.

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