The Row You Should Never Sit In on a Long Flight, According To The Points Guy

The Row You Should Never Sit In on a Long Flight, According To The Points Guy originally appeared on Parade .

You're about to go on a long haul flight, and you've got everything prepared. You're stocked with your favorite neck pillow, eye mask, list of movies and in-flight treats. No matter how much you plan and prepare, there is one thing that can affect your entire flight: what row you choose to sit in.

Now, there are a lot of factors that go into this decision. As someone who's flown internationally over 20 times, I'm quite used to the ongoing debate about which rows are truly the best and worst. There are pros and cons to each part of the plane. If you sit in the very first row of the plane, for example, you'll get to be one of the first ones off. Not only can you escape the stuffy air of the plane cabin sooner, but you're also likely to zoom through customs much more quickly. If you choose a row that's right by the bathrooms, you'll have the ease of popping into the toilet quite seamlessly. However, you're also subject to the unpleasant smells that may come with it. If you sit in the very back, you may not be able to recline your chair, but some say there's a better chance of having the seat next to you be empty.

Overall, there's a lot of give and take when it comes to all of the spots to sit on a flight. After many trips under my belt, I definitely know which row I like the best. I'm not so sure, however, which row I would consider to be the worst. Curious to dive in a little bit more, I checked in to see what popular loyalty program hacks site The Points Guy thought about this topic.

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The Bulkhead Is The Worst Row For A Long Haul Flight

Zach Griff, writer for The Points Guy, shared an article all about how the bulkhead is his least favorite row on a plane . If you're not familiar, the bulkhead is the row that divides one section of the plane to another. There is usually a wall in front of those seats, instead of another row of seats sitting directly in front of you. Griff goes on to share all of the negative aspects for sitting in this row of the plane, and after reading it, I am fully convinced to never reserve a bulkhead seat again.

The bulkhead seats are set up in a completely different way than other rows on the plane. Because there are no seats in front of you, that means that there isn't a place for a tray table or entertainment system for you to access. Instead, they tend to get built into the seats themselves. The trays swivel out from inside the armrest, and are placed directly over your lap when in use. I'm not a fan of this for one main reason–I love to rest my head on the tray while I sleep. With the setup of the tray in these bulkhead seats, my favorite form of plane-slumber isn't possible. 

As for the entertainment system, the TV also either swivels out from the seat to be placed in front of you, usually at a downward angle, or it is fixed onto the wall in front of you. Both aren't ideal placements, as they cause you to crane your neck in an uncomfortable way while watching. With that as the circumstances, you can kiss your plans of comfortably binging your list of movies goodbye.

One of the most important points that Griff made when discussing the bulkhead seats, however, is the fact that you can't store your personal item in front of you. Instead, you need to place your bag up above during takeoff and landing. You can take your bag down once the plane is cruising, however that will take up the little leg room that you have left. This, to me, is a huge con. I always pack my personal item with things that I will use on and off during the flight. Water, snacks, medications, eye masks, and books are things that I often take in and out of my bag. If I'm in a bulkhead seat I would need to give up my leg room just to have my backpack there, or I'd have to get up and down to retrieve what I need.

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The Best Row For a Long Flight

Now that we know what the worst row on a flight is, what about the best? Personally, I prefer to have a row that's closer to the front. This way, I can get off the plane much quicker, and will hopefully beat the rush of people who are heading to the customs line. Second, I do prefer to be a little bit closer to the bathrooms. I like to stay extremely hydrated while flying, and that means I take a lot of trips to the bathroom. So, with both of those things in mind, I think the second row of the main cabin is the best. You are close to the front, are near a bathroom, and you still get the under-the-seat storage from having a seat in front of you. You also will get a normal tray table and entertainment system.

With many international flights ahead of me, I am definitely going to avoid the bulkhead seat if possible, and instead reserve myself a seat in the second row. With easy access to all of my in-flight essentials, the ability to recline my seat, and the proximity to the exit and the bathroom–it's definitely the best choice there is.

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The Row You Should Never Sit In on a Long Flight, According To The Points Guy first appeared on Parade on Jun 5, 2025

This story was originally reported by Parade on Jun 5, 2025, where it first appeared.