Choosing the right seat can make or break your long-haul flight experience. While it may be tempting to pick that back corner window seat for some peace and quiet, it could actually be your ticket to discomfort. Dawn Morwood, Co-Director of Cheap Deals Away, warned against this seemingly ideal choice.
“People often think the last-row window seat will be peaceful, but it’s actually a recipe for a miserable flight,” she explained, as despite it looking like a secluded corner with a nice view, the last-row window seat is a nightmare waiting to happen.
Dawn’s years of experience helping holidaymakers plan their perfect getaways have given her plenty of insight into what works – and what doesn’t – when it comes to flight comfort.
“The biggest issue is the constant foot traffic,” said Dawn. “You’ve got passengers queueing for the loo right beside you, flight attendants rushing back and forth with trolleys, and people stretching their legs in the aisle. It never stops.”
Adding to the disruption, these seats typically don’t recline due to a wall directly behind them, leaving you stuck in a nearly upright position for the entire flight.
“On a 10-hour flight to Asia or an eight-hour journey to the States, that upright position becomes torture for your back and makes proper sleep nearly impossible,” Dawn explained.
It’s not just about the space, though. The area around the last row is filled with constant noise and bright lights from the galley, making it difficult to rest.
The galley area stays brightly lit throughout most of the flight as the crew prepares meals and tidies up, meaning even the best eye masks can’t block out the intrusive glow.
“The noise level back there is incredible,” Dawn added. “You’ve got the constant hum of equipment, crew chatting during their breaks, and the non-stop flush of toilets. It’s like trying to sleep next to a motorway service station.”
And, to make matters worse, the proximity to the lavatories means you’ll have to deal with unpleasant smells, especially during longer flights when the facilities are used by more people for longer.