We Asked 6 Travel Experts What the Best Seat On an Airplane Is-Here What They Said

"Martin Seeley, the CEO and sleep expert at MattressNextDay, shared via email with Travel + Leisure in 2023 that he believes the best place to sleep on a plane is right in the middle of the aircraft. "Firstly, you should avoid the toilets as that's where people tend to chat," he said. "Instead, you should pick a seat in the same row as the wing." However, Seeley also said that if you're flying long haul, the front of the plane may be best, "as you'll be served your food first," so you can get to sleep faster."

"Seeley also said that if you're looking to make a tight connection, or just want to ensure that you get to your intended destination as fast as possible, you can always pick a seat toward the front, as you "are more likely to disembark first, which is why attendants recommend those seats." Want to really ensure you're on and off the plane first? Then this is the time to upgrade to business class."

"Jonathan DeLise, a travel writer and speaker who says he's already taken about 70 flights this year, says he goes for the very last row. Yes, really. "My reasons are, I don't recline, so that's a moot point, and with no one seated behind me, that means no feet encroaching," DeLise said. And as a bonus, DeLise says that with everyone jockeying for seats toward the front, the further back one gets, "the chances are slightly greater that there won't be a neighbor.""

Seat selection depends on priorities: space, recline, or privacy. A middle-seat near the wing provides a quieter environment for sleeping and keeps distance from lavatory traffic. For long-haul flights, a front-seat can speed service and allow earlier sleep. Passengers needing quick connections or fast exit should choose forward seats or upgrade to business class to disembark first. Sitting in the very last row can offer extra personal space because there is no one behind to encroach with feet, and seating further back may increase the chance of having no immediate neighbor.

Read at Travel + Leisure