I compared the front and back of the economy on a long-haul flight

It’s a hot socket, but I love the back of an airplane – especially on a long -haul flight.

After a handful of eight -hour flights nestled at the back of the economy, I decided to see if my preference was strong.

During a flight from Lufthansa round trip to Long-haul between Denver and Germany in the summer of 2024, I decided to compare the two areas of the economy.

For my outgoing flight, I sat in row 42, the third at the last economic row. For my return trip, I was sitting in row 11, the first economic row.

Each seat had its advantages, but I stick to the back of the plane.

Regarding the food service, the front wins

A few hours after my return flight to Denver, the on -board agents came with trolleys full of meals. We asked him a simple question: chicken or pasta?

This was not the case when I was sitting in the back. When on -board agents reached my row of economy, they lacked options. Each passenger received a beef and potato puree.

According to experience, it seems to be the trend. A similar situation occurred on a flight to Tokyo and again during a trip to Germany.

If I was a difficult eater, this reason alone could swing me to opt for a first row seat. Instead, I generally ask for a vegetarian meal for long-haul flights, so my meal is already chosen before getting on the plane.

My main goal – whether the front or back – is to avoid bathrooms

When I’m cramped in a tight space, the last thing I want to worry, it’s a bathroom smell that revolves around me for more than 10 hours.

Thus, my priority n ° 1 when selecting a long-haul seat is sitting far from the bathrooms. On many larger planes, economic bathrooms are parked in the middle of the cabin.

For my 10 am flight to Germany, I was at the back of the economy and there was no bathroom directly behind me. Instead, a kitchen was a few meters away, ideal for a quick extensible break.

I also did not have a bathroom nearby for my return flight to the front. If I opt for the front on a future flight, I check that the Premium Economy cabin does not have a bathroom near my seat.

All open seats remained at the back of the plane

I was lucky to have one or two long-haul flights without a passenger at an intermediate seat. I celebrated each additional element and tried to recreate this chance.

I am convinced that your best chance of having an empty seat is if you are at the back of a cabin. Since most people avoid the rear, these seats are chosen last, or, hopefully, not chosen at all.

A few days before each flight, I checked the seat card and I noticed that my theory was correct. The majority of the remaining empty seats were backwards.

Unfortunately, this was not the case when I got on the plane. The two flights were completely reserved, which means that I would be seated next to someone, it doesn’t matter where I was on the plane.

On a flight, sit at the back helped me land faster

One of the main arguments to sit at the front of the economy is that you leave the plane faster.

Although this was the case on most of my long-haul flights, it was not when we landed at Munich airport. Instead, on -board agents informed the passengers that we would use the front and rear doors to disembark. Since I was sitting in the back, I was out of the plane in no time.

However, if I was sitting at the rear on my return flight, I would have been one of the last people on the plane. It would also have meant a much longer line when I reached customs.

No economic seat on a long-haul flight is ideal, but I stick to the back

Regardless of the seat, a 10 -hour flight is not fun. I learned to be patient and celebrate small victories, such as having a window seat or having an empty seat nearby.

In the end, everyone has their preferences. Mine is right at the back of the plane, where I have a kitchen to stretch and a better chance at an empty seat.