‘I’m a pilot and passengers should avoid seats at the back of the plane’
A pilot has revealed that when you're booking your holidays, you may want to avoid the seats towards the back of the plane.
No, it's nothing to do with the fact that this is often where the toilets are located (although that in itself is a big enough factor).
Airline pilot Patrick Smith has shared some insider secrets, and revealed his tips and tricks for bagging the best seats.
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In fact, he admitted that airline workers often recommend booking seats towards the front of the aircraft or cabin, because turbulence is generally felt more towards the tail end of the plane.
However, when it comes to the comfiest seats, planning ahead is key.
He told eShores: "The longer the flight, the more important your seat choice becomes. If your sole objective is to save money by going with the cheapest fare option, chances are you’ll find yourself in a middle seat.
"But for any flight more than a few hours long, I recommend paying extra for the ability to pick a seat. Just keep in mind that planes are configured different ways depending on the aircraft model and market. Seat 15B in a domestic configuration might be very different from 15B on a long-haul flight.
"I suggest having a look at the diagrams and reviews on sites like SeatGuru.com."
It's not the first time that an airline insider has revealed their tricks for nabbing the best seats.
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Earlier this year, flight attendant Rosie Awad also warned passengers to stick to the front where they can, especially to avoid the loos.
However, the cabin crew member said there is a sweet spot if you're after some extra legroom in the cabin, but don't want to pay extra for the privilege.
She told escape.com : "I would always choose row 5 [on our B737-800] at the window. There are great views, you can see the airplane wing, you get extra leg room, there are no emergency exit responsibilities, you're able to put a bag under the seat in front, it's close for disembarking, and is one of the first rows to be served for inflight service…"
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However, when it comes to safety, one aviation expert says the back of the plane is exactly where you want to be.
Vance Hilderman, an aviation expert, author, and CEO of AFuzion, explained the best place to sit in the event of a crash.
He told Daily Star: "In horrible crashes with many deaths, the rear of the plane has the most survivors, in the middle seat. However, in a less severe crash, sitting above the wing, which is structurally reinforced and affords ready aisle row escape, is safer.
"But remember that those wings are large ‘fuel containers,’ so they may explode in a very bad crash, especially early in the flight when the tanks are full."
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