BEST Airplane Seats in Economy | Where to sit on a plane in 2024

TRAVEL HACKS and FLIGHT TIPS to pick the best FREE seat on a flight in 2024. What is the best seat on the plane in 2024?

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In todays video, we will cover how to choose an airplane seat so you have the best seat on the plane. You'll learn which seat to select, and which airplane seats are the worst. If you have ever wondered: where should I sit on the plane to sleep, how to get a full row of seats or yourself or and whether you should sit on the right or the left side of the plane on a long haul international flight - this video is for you!

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0:00 The best seats on a plane
0:25 first class, business class and premium economy
0:35 the best seat in economy class
0:45 should you pick the window or aisle seat?
2:00 seat with higher chance of getting sick on plane
2:07 the one benefit of the middle seat
2:35 best seat for tight connections
3:20 seat with least turbulence
3:34 downsides to the back of the plane
4:05 best part of plane to get a full row of seats
4:25 the safest place on the plane
4:50 the right or the left side of the plane
5:00 Productivity hack on flight
5:55 Bulkhead seats and the most legroom
6:35 Exit row seats
6:45 The coldest seat on the plane
6:55 The WORST seats on the plane
7:05 Where to sit based on airline seat maps [flight hack]
7:40 where I sit on the flight
8:00 do you pick the aisle, middle or window seat?

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// ABOUT

Hey there, I'm Megan and I've spent 5+ years living and working from over 50 countries around the world. I'm on a mission to prove that anyone (even you!) can do it too.

Portable Professional is a youtube channel full of actionable tips and guides to travel, live and work from anywhere in the world. Serving seasoned digital nomads and first-time travelers alike, it's the ultimate resource to hack the travel lifestyle.

[itsnotme]

When I first started flying, I always grabbed a window seat. But...after then having to travel for work on almost a weekly basis for 3+ years, I decided the aisle seat was better for me as I had full control of things if I needed a bathroom break, just a walk around or something from my carry on.

[diamonddave]

If I don't get to sit at the front of the plane, we're not going anywhere. I'm the Captain...

[MartinHarvey]

Good job thanks. A couple of extra points and mainly pertaining to longer than short flights. 1) If you pick a window seat, I don't, and it's daytime outside the attendant will ask you to "darken" it so pax can watch the screens. 2) Especially on larger aircraft, space under the seat ahead of you is used for the entertainment centre electronics box and I have no accurate idea how this can be avoided. BTW rear sets don't experience less turbulence however, the plane rotates around the wing and centre of gravity thereby accentuating the angular movement at the rear.

[turdferguson]

I sit as far back as possible to have easier access to a bathroom. Also, we frequently fly Southwest, which has open seating, and being far back increases the chance that the third seat in our row will go unoccupied. As for getting off the plane earlier, who cares, we all wind up at the baggage carousel together anyway.

[susanmeredith]

Always an aisle person. Also love the 1st row of seats behind 1st on Alaska. They don’t have bulkhead wall so plenty of room for legs but they do have trays in arm rest, making arm rests solid. No strangers thigh against you!

[wxonwxoff]

I'm a frequent bathroom user, so the aisle seat is definitely my choice. If you have a motion sickness problem, DON'T sit all the way at the back. Also, some airlines run out of food choices by the time they get to you, for example, chicken or beef...?😁 Thanks for the tip on Seat Guru! Never knew it exists

[neresq]

On many, if not most, planes these days, the aisle seats have less space under the seat for your feet or personal item. As to bulkhead seats, you also have to be aware of whether that particular bulkhead has the crib attachment. On many airlines, those are located on the center bulkhead and starboard side bulkhead in each economy cabin. Two other big considerations about which side of the plane to choose: 1) if one side would have a particularly great view upon takeoff or landing - or even while flying (like over the Grand Canyon), and/or 2) if you want to remain comfortable temperature-wise during the flight and/or to be able to sleep regardless of what other people near you do with their window shades, you want to avoid the side which would be sunward during the flight.

[maggiegeorge]

Thank you so much for these tips. I haven't flown as much as you have, but many of your tips I have had to learn by trial and error. How nice for newbies to learn from you before making our mistakes! Window vs aisle, for example.

[davecraker]

Two other considerations that you missed that I think are worth mentioning. 1) Some planes have no windows in a row (for example row 24) because this is where the AC ducts come up to feed the overhead vents. This is another reason to check the seat rating web site for your specific plane. 2) I like window seats for the view and head rest. Think about where the sun will be during your flight so you don't have the heat of or have to look at the sun (don't forget it is always a sunny day above the clouds). So for example on a SB flight in the morning, WB flight mid day or a NB flight in the evening, I like the right side of the plane. As a bonus when flying on SW where I pick any open seat when I board I will check the wind direction at the airports. For example at my home airport of IND, if the wind is coming from the SW, I'll sit on the left side of the plane to get a view of downtown Indy on the glidepath in. (Yes I have been accused by friends of over thinking things)

[letterbox]

I just want to say I love your content and enthusiasm so much, Megan! You really think of the details and alternatives in your suggestions. Thanks for all your travel advice!

[philipmullins]

I always prefer the aisle seat because if it is a very long flight sitting next to the window can have disadvantages if the passenger in the row go to sleep and you have to wake them up to go to the toilet and if you have any digestive issues on board, using the toilet multi times during the flight can be a real problem getting past other passengers if sitting in the inner location next to the widow , also the aisle is closest to the crew and looking at menus, getting served or asking questions is made easier and access to your bags is much easier .
The front of the plane is far better because usually you are off the plane much quicker when it lands if the rear stairs are not being used and this means getting to the border control area quicker and out of the airport quicker without standing in queues for longer times .
The worst seats on the plane are those next to the toilets where people are coming and going all the time and those seats right at the back of the plane against the wall which don't go back fully .
It is not wise to be the last passenger aboard the airline because sometimes the overhead lockers are fully loaded and they can take your luggage to put under the plane where the risk of it being lost is possible .

[thedavidguy]

For me being able to get up and move around is critical for long flights so I always choose the aisle. I’ve even changed the days I fly in order to get an aisle seat but I have a flexible schedule. I also try to be near the front because I often have a connecting flight and want the extra time. Even if I don’t it’s annoying having to wait to get off the plane.

[amorellehenry]

I do have one friend that prefers a middle seat because she isn't a fan of flying. She didn't want to be near the window because she didn't want to look out and see how high up she was and she feared sitting on the aisle would make her feel exposed and anxious. I sat on the aisle, she sat in the middle and it acted for her in the way a weighted blanket can for those with anxiety or other sleep related problems can. She felt a bit more protected and enclosed so she didn't think so much about her various fears of flying. She's still very much fearful of flying (white knuckled the arm rest and my hand during takeoff and landing) but she was able to reload a little during the flight. That's the only time I've ever had someone prefer the middle seat.

[cjdr.]

It's amazing to me that of all the times I've flown; I never really cared about where I sat. I'm not picky, I'm not a complainer, I find the cheapest fare and remind myself that WE WILL ALL arrive at the same time.

[TheTravelerfromPhilippines]

Awesome video, very informative, great job. Thanks for sharing, big liked.

[TheKeystoneChannel]

Interesting, I'm ambidextrous and automatically always choose the right side of the plane, but never ever thought about it being less crowded, but indeed, it was always less crowded. I also intuitively always choose the same level of the plane as you do for those specific reasons, except that I do take the window seat cause it feels more like a nook

[arvincheech]

my son loves the middle seat. he gets to snuggle with either me or my wife anytime he wants..love every second of it always.

[sunilgoswami]

One thing you didn't mention which may not be of concern to a seasoned traveller like you but would mean a lot to most people who are travelling for pleasure and like to take photos, vlog, make insta stories etc. Depending on where you are going a window seat will give you great opportunities for taking some post-able videos and photos. If you are going to Paris, just before landing you get nice views, in Norway, I found that both take-offs and and landings from Oslo and Bergen provided me with some lovely shots and even in the middle of the journey there were some mountains that were much appreciated by my friends when they saw the video taken on my phone. So, consider your destination and the time of day when you would take off or land there.

[Melaniexb]

Thank you!
Most of my flights are with in those 2 hrs so yep i am one who likes the window seat
And I always choose the side opposite the sun rise or sun set :)

[rovd]

Nice tips, thank you. I've always preferred window seats about three quarters length inside to enable me see fellow passengers heads plus I'm addicted to viewing landscapes from a bird perspective.