Article: The Benefits of Sitting at the Back of the Plane

[AFF Editor]

The Benefits of Sitting at the Back of the Plane is an article written by the AFF editorial team:

The Benefits of Sitting at the Back of the Plane

Many frequent flyers prefer to sit at the front of the plane, but there are some unexpected advantages of choosing the last row.

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

You can leave a comment or discuss this topic below.

 

[Forg]

Yeah as a status-free zone, when work had a project in Brisbane it was worthwhile for me to go with VA (because they used the rear door & QF didn't) and book the last or 2nd-last row. The customer's office was directly above ... I can't remember whether Central or Vulture Street, but with only carry-on I could hustle off the 'plane first & get to the train & be at the customer office in just over 15 minutes from "landing" (I cheat a little as we arrived early by about 15 minutes a few times - I assume there was padding in the timetable).

 

[kpc]

I would only sit at the back of the plane willingly if I knew they use the back stairs....eg J*...otherwise it takes forever to get off the plane!

 

[aikman]

I think this will be a hard sell for most people. That psychological need to sit at the front will be too strong.

Me personally, I will sit anywhere with the highest chance of getting a shadow as that is what I value the most.

 

[Forg]

I would only sit at the back of the plane willingly if I knew they use the back stairs....eg J*...otherwise it takes forever to get off the plane!

I just remembered the risk I was toying with ... they wouldn't use the rear stairs in SYD if it was raining. So I was gambling on the weather ... is that smart?

 

[kpc]

I just remembered the risk I was toying with ... they wouldn't use the rear stairs in SYD if it was raining. So I was gambling on the weather ... is that smart?

Yeah that's a risk if raining in Sydney!

 

[fletty]

I prefer to sit forward as there's less engine noise, and I prefer seeing less people in front of me as it feels more private and quiet (even though it's not).

 

[SYD]

Once doing VA “Fly ahead”, the only non-middle seat was last row aisle which I took (thinking, I’ll be off the plane quick). Which I was, but not quick enough. The stench from the loos the entire flight from MEL-SYD was…...

 

[drron]

As the late Dave Allen said-"I have never heard of a plane backing into a mountain."

 

[Rayesfeg]

I think this will be a hard sell for most people. That psychological need to sit at the front will be too strong.

For me, it's not this feeling but moreso arriving in Sydney from an international flight, I want to be off the plane quick smart to avoid long queues to get through security/immigration.

Admittedly this has gotten better now that the photo/passport scanner machines (not sure on what they are called) are located in the same area as the security gates, but queues can still happen. Plus, I am still traumatised from previous experiences of big queues at Syd.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

As the late Dave Allen said-"I have never heard of a plane backing into a mountain."

True. But airbus aircraft are so slow there is a risk of bird strike…from the rear!

 

[flyer380]

The Benefits of Sitting at the Back of the Plane is an article written by the AFF editorial team:

The Benefits of Sitting at the Back of the Plane

Many frequent flyers prefer to sit at the front of the plane, but there are some unexpected advantages of choosing the last row.

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

You can leave a comment or discuss this topic below.

Need to remember the very rear as with the very front seats are a long way aft and fwd of the CofG envelope. So if you strike turbulence, even minor, you can expect to feel more movement. I prefer the CofG seat range when I fly, but that's me. Cheers.

 

[stump]

I booked the back seat on my last economy flight Moscow Qatar Adelaide .First leg the row was free second leg middle seat free. Not worried being out the plane first..

 

[Paul Wright]

Hi Matt , Spot on,3 seats in from the back and commonly more empty seats beside you. Def more comfortable than front esp 787s.
Now everybody knows!!

 

[Mistress of Mirth]

I do prefer the last row, simply for the reasons stated above, no one behind you, closer to the toilets and a good chance of the plane being boarded from two exits. However, I discovered the hard way that VA flights fill the overhead lockers for the last row with safety equipment and crew belongings leaving no room for anyone with carryon on luggage larger than a handbag. The last time I looked this is also not stated on the VA website when you are buying a ticket.

 

[RB001]

Need to remember the very rear as with the very front seats are a long way aft and fwd of the CofG envelope. So if you strike turbulence, even minor, you can expect to feel more movement. I prefer the CofG seat range when I fly, but that's me. Cheers.

Welcome to posting, @flyer380 !
Quite the valid point, and will matter to a reasonable number of folk - one of those things that might be classed as easily overlooked.

 

[ronagoh]

For me, it's not this feeling but moreso arriving in Sydney from an international flight, I want to be off the plane quick smart to avoid long queues to get through security/immigration.

Admittedly this has gotten better now that the photo/passport scanner machines (not sure on what they are called) are located in the same area as the security gates, but queues can still happen. Plus, I am still traumatised from previous experiences of big queues at Syd.

I find international arrival via SYD is a hit and miss.
Missed a domestic connection once - by just a few minutes - domestic counter staff wasn't very interested in speeding up the checkin process or check when customers has a delayed international arrival so they can call out the domestic connecting customers that may be in the Q to avoid missed flight. (customs/immigration there wasn't the friendliest either and have no sympathy to - I have a connection that's really tight - and getting a response of - so have all these people)

After flying via SIN and observing how the airport there treats delayed fights....Australia still have much to learn.

I'm going abit off topic but suffice to say I prefer connections via BNE or MEL so will only sit at back of plane if I'm flying via these 2 cities.

 

[Nank]

I always try to sit just in front of the engines, firstly because I’m a massive plane nerd so if I’ve got the option to hear an awesome spoolup I’ll always choose that over just wind noise behind the wings, secondly because I find being just in front of the wings lines up quite nicely with flyer380’s comment about CoG and feeling less turbulence, and thirdly because I find the front of the cabin a LOT quieter than the back.
I remember my first time flying EK MEL-DXB I was just behind the wings and the roar of wind noise during cruise was almost deafening. Even my pretty high quality noise cancelling earphones couldn’t block it out. Same story on the 787s, insanely loud behind the wings. When I flew DXB-FCO on a 3 class EK A380 though and managed to get a seat in the very front cabin where PE normally is I literally couldn’t hear anything during cruise, it was completely silent once I put my earphones in!
That leads me to another bonus point for the front of cabin gang, I find that on some airlines their widebody aircraft will have a bit of a ‘mini cabin’ at the front with a few rows of economy seats separated from the rest by a set of toilets, galley etc. which is kinda nice for feeling a bit less claustrophobic and overwhelmed. I’ve experienced this on QF A330s and A380s along with EK 777s and A380s and also a QR A350 if my memory serves me correctly?
Getting off first is never really a consideration for me as I always end up hanging back to talk to the pilots and usually leave the plane with them if they’re finishing for the day

 

[Archipelago]

I travel very frequently on local ATR72 aircraft (I'm not in Oz) for domestic routes. As its a rear only door, I always book the back row for the usual reasons of first on first off.

Oddly enough, if you want to pre-book seats on these flights, they still charge more for the front rows, something for the middle emergency exit - and then nothing for the back near the door!

 

[RooFlyer]

On a tour 2 years ago, I was allocated the very back row of an EgyptAir A220.

OK, I've done it, don't need to repeat the experience ever again .