There are a lot of negatives attached to using flying as a mode of transportation. The seats on the plane are small and uncomfortable. For anyone worried about colds (or more serious illnesses), they're basically a germ-filled nightmare. Airline food is certainly not ideal, not to mention the astronomical prices you have to pay to travel somewhere with your luggage. But for many people, the worst thing may be the turbulence, especially if you're prone to motion sickness. Sure, bumps and unexplained drops don't feel like the end of the world, but for those who are easily nauseous at the slightest movement, it may feel like a mild form of torture. If this sounds like you, then you need to know the best seats for motion sickness on a plane. It can make things better!
You already know that not all airplane seats are created equal when it comes to comfort. Some offer more legroom, while first-class seats are pure luxury. But comfort isn't the only factor that can change. Some seats can shield you from bumps, which means they can make your flight easier if you're prone to motion sickness.
Motion sickness occurs when the central nervous system receives conflicting information from sensory systems such as the inner ear or skin pressure receptors. So, for example: if you're sitting on a plane and suddenly everything gets bumpy and the plane starts going up and down over and over again, but your eyes are seeing a "static view", this can lead to that horrible feeling of motion sickness. When your eyes are looking at something stationary, your inner ears are sensing motion—your nervous system is getting confused.
To prevent this from happening, you need to minimize excess torque. Unfortunately, you have no control over what the plane is doing in the air, or what the wind is like outside, so you can't try to minimize movement. What you can do, though, is choose a more stable seat. Some parts of the aircraft vibrate less and are more impacted by the wind.
The Daily Mail spoke to commercial airline pilot Jonny Knowlson, also known as "Pilot Jonny" on social media, who revealed some tips for making flying more comfortable. "If you're looking for the smoothest possible flight, did you know that it would be to your advantage to sit over the wing of a large aircraft at a higher altitude? Closer to the aircraft's center of mass, where things like lift, torque, etc. , wind, gravity, drag and thrust act on it, meaning you'll be in a good position for a smooth ride. "Here's the thing: If you get motion sickness, your best bet is to choose a seat over the wings of an airplane. You'll get a more stable ride, which will help prevent that dizzy feeling we all want to avoid.
As someone who is prone to motion sickness and always chooses an over-the-wing seat on airplanes, I can confirm that this works. I heard other people in different seats complaining about turbulence, but I didn't feel it as much sitting on the wing. Now, of course, you'll still feel turbulence in those seats - they're not magical! -- but it shouldn't be that bad (unless the turbulence itself is, well, extremely bumpy).
Are there any downsides to over-wing seats? One is that you often don't get great views, which can be frustrating when you land. Another is that first class and "extra legroom" seats are usually located at the front of the plane, rather than over the wings, which means you need to make a decision: more room, or perhaps less turbulence?
