11 May 2023 , 09:39
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A flight attendant has explained why she always choses the same seat and which one she desperately avoids.
Rosie Awad has been with Virgin Australia for five years and is now familiar with all of the ins and outs and ups and downs of life onboard a commercial jet.
The Melbourne-based flight attendant is fully aware of how big an impact a good seat can have on a passenger's ability to enjoy a flight, which is why she makes a beeline for a particular spot when she is flying but not working.
She told Escape : "I would always choose row 5 (on our B737-800) at the window. There are great views, you can see the airplane wing, you get extra leg room, there are no emergency exit responsibilities, you're able to put a bag under the seat in front, it's close for disembarking, and is one of the first rows to be served for inflight service … see why I chose it?
Not all seats are made equal (Getty Images/iStockphoto)"The worst seat (for crew) is the 1R jump-seat (at the front of the aircraft). You’re facing the cabin, looking at the passengers… they’re looking at you… it can turn into an awkward staring contest."
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In terms of the worst seat for passengers, Rosie is always keen to avoid any seat that is close to the lavatory, for "self explanatory" reasons.
Flight attendant Sandra Jennie Kwon, known as @jeenie.weenie on TikTok, previously shared a video explaining how she calculated the best seats in economy, and she has a slightly different take than Rosie.
In her clip, she says: "The first eliminate should be a no brainer - the middle seats suck. The back rows of every section do not recline.
"I'm not a tall person, I don't need these emergency seats. There's also nowhere to store your personal belongings there. They also have those flimsy seats and tables - so let's scrap them."
She went on to explain how airlines automatically fill up the front of the plane first to help create "equal distribution", saying you're much more likely to have an empty seat on your row when sitting at the back.
Rosie has been a flight attendant with Virgin for five years (AFP via Getty Images)"For those odds, I prefer the back," she added. "Seats near a toilet really stink - I recommend a five row buffer just to be in the 'safe zone'.
"The next one is personal preference, I hate asking people to move so I can use the toilet - and for that I eliminate all window (seats).
"Because meals are typically served front to back, you have a higher chance of getting your meal choice at the front. So due to process of elimination, we now have my ideal seat choice - which is seat 49 C/D/F/G."