September 3, 2024, 6:42 am | Read time: 4 minutes

Flying on vacation is a wonderful thing – as long as the flight doesn’t become a test of nerves due to a poorly chosen seat. TRAVELBOOK reveals the worst seats on an airplane and how you can avoid sitting on them.

TRAVELBOOK reveals the worst seats on an airplane so that you can take off relaxed in the future. So next time, it’s best to look out for these seats when booking, so you can ideally avoid them.

The middle seat

It’s a classic scenario straight out of a psychological thriller. You are in the middle seat, and you’re squashed between two other passengers in the usually cramped plane. They also don’t want the involuntary physical proximity any more than you do. Getting up from this seat is almost inevitable, as you’ll need to make way for the window seat passenger. You will also have to politely request the aisle-seated person to stand briefly. In between, it’s often a strategic battle for the much-desired armrests, and the stress of having to stand up involuntarily resumes when it’s time to disembark.

The seats next to the airplane toilets

At first glance, it’s not such a bad choice because you’ll be close to the restroom. Which almost always seem to be frequented on flights. But alas, others need to use the restroom too (quite often, in fact). This leads to long lines in front of your row. In the worst cases, people may lean on your seat, sway back and forth, or invade your personal space as they squeeze by. And to add insult to injury, a peculiar odor wafts in each time the toilet door swings open. This happens all too often and may be the final straw.

The seat next to a baby

It’s a common experience to be irked by a crying baby, especially when you feel utterly helpless to soothe it. The child may have pressure on its ears or a full diaper and is screaming its head off. Admittedly, in this case there is usually nothing you can do except simply put on your headphones or plug your ears well. On some airlines, it is the coveted seats at the very front of the airplane, where a baby crib can be installed in the wall in front. You should therefore think carefully about choosing your seat. If you check in at the counter, you can also ask in a friendly manner whether a baby has already been registered nearby.

A seat in the last row

Indeed, you avoid the hassle of elbowing your way to your seat – but that’s only if the aircraft is equipped with both a front and rear exit. Otherwise, you will have to push your way through many seemingly endless rows of passengers, who will awkwardly stow their luggage in the designated compartments before sitting down themselves. Furthermore, the seats in the last row of the airplane don’t recline, which can be a real nuisance, particularly on lengthy flights. Oh, and by the way, this row of seats is usually also close to the toilets. In addition, if the kitchen is at the front of the airplane, your seat will be served your food and/or drinks last.

More on the topic

Tips for relaxed traveling If you are flying with a child, you should (not) book these seats

Hygiene check Can you guess the location of the most germs on an airplane?

More space on the plane 8 tricks you can use to almost always fly next to an empty seat

The seat next to the main entrance door

This seat might seem ideal initially, as it spares you from squeezing into the front row. And with no seats directly ahead, it offers the illusion of extra legroom. However, the seats themselves are narrower because the fold-out table you need for eating is located in the thicker armrest. In addition, there is sometimes no entertainment program in these rows of seats. So you are literally staring at the wall. It also gets cold, as a little bit of the cold outside air always gets into the aircraft. Last but not least, the flight attendants sit directly opposite you during takeoff, landing and any turbulence, which can sometimes lead to awkward situations when no one knows where to look.