Sound sleep
Planning to get some shut-eye on your flight? Restful sleep is rare on a plane, but snagging a window airplane seats can up your chances of actually catching some Zs because you can lean against the side of the plane, says Greg Geronemus, the co-CEO of smarTours. “It’s easier than trying to fall asleep on a neck pillow while basically sitting upright,” he says. “You can also control your light exposure.” Avoid the last row of the plane, which usually won’t recline, and get a seat closer to the middle of the plane instead to avoid disruptive foot traffic to the bathroom, says Krell. These are the 18 things you should never do on an airplane.
More elbow room
If airplane seats make you feel constrained, more room to move your arms might make you more comfortable, says Dan Suski, founder of Seatlink.com. “The window seat in window exit rows is often missing an armrest, so while the seat cushion is the same width, you have more space to move around,” he says. On the flip side, because bulkhead seats don’t have a row in front of them, their tray tables are attached to the armrests, meaning you won’t be able to move the armrest down, he says.
Baby on board
Sit near the back of the plane if you’ve got babies or small children in tow, suggests Corinne McDermott, founder of HaveBabyWillTravel.com. “Usually the restrooms with change tables are located at the back of the plane, and you will be close to the galley if you require hot water or any assistance from the flight attendants,” she says. Or try snagging a bulkhead seat, which gives you more room to maneuver a car seat, she says, and because it faces a wall instead of seats, the carrier won’t get in the way of other passengers trying to recline their seats back. Here are 11 airplane facts you’ve always been curious about.