Flight Attendant Reveals Worst Seat to Pick That 'Almost Guarantees You’ll Be One of the Last Off the Plane'

Navigating airports and airplanes is stressful regardless of the time of year, but add in holidays and winter weather and the anxiety can skyrocket. Not only do people worry about getting to the airport and through security in time for boarding, but getting off the plane and to your destination can be just as frustrating. While you can't exactly avoid all travel woes, you can make smarter seat selections to reduce wait times as you exit the aircraft.

Air & Cruise Parking partnered with an ex-flight attendant to share tips for smarter flight bookings. 

“If you’re looking for a quick exit, avoid row 11 at all costs,” the flight attendant said. “Being in the middle row, especially in a window seat, which tends to be either A or F, almost guarantees you’ll be one of the last off the plane.”

Related: 50% of U.S. Travelers Cut Their Vacations Short for This Annoying Reason

More Tips for Reducing Travel Stress

While booking the right seats on your flight can help reduce travel stress, there are a few other tools we swear by. For starters, getting to the airport with plenty of time to spare can mitigate stress. We get it, there's something exhilarating about sprinting through the airport, heart racing, wondering if you're going to make it before boarding ends. Arriving early leaves time to download an audiobook, grab a coffee, and relax before boarding.  

Another way to avoid time at the airport before and after your flight is to pack light. It's tempting to pack your entire wardrobe for an extended weekend (because who knows when you'll need a pair of hiking boots), but swapping out your oversized checked bag for a handy travel backpack that can fit all the essentials will save you heaps of time in the long run. 

As you go to book your much-need 2025 vacations, keep the above tips in mind for reducing travel anxiety and choose seats that will get you on and off the plane in a jiffy.  

Related: 2024 Men’s Journal Travel Awards: Best Vacations, Hotels, and Luggage