17-07-2025
I used to be a British Airways flight attendant – why you should never sit at the back of the plane
A FORMER British Airways stewardess has revealed why passengers should never sit at the back of a plane - and it is not what you would expect.
After spending years criss-crossing the globe, former British Airways flight attendant Jane Hawkes says when it comes to choosing a plane seat, the back seat my not be the best option.
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And it is isn't anything to do with safety.
Jane said: "Choosing a seat away from the back of the plane is the best way to avoid jetlag.
"If you struggle to sleep on a plane but have a late flight, I always advise travellers to avoid a seat at the back of the aircraft and around the galley areas as they are generally noisier."
In addition, Jane - who now runs the Lady Janey consumer advice website - added that travellers should set their watch to the time of the destination and avoid night flights if they have difficulty sleeping on planes.
"You can also make gradual changes to your bedtime and meal routines in the run up to your flight which can make adjusting to a different time zone much easier," she explained.
And - even though potentially disappointing - alcohol and caffeine should be avoided before and during the flight too.
Jane stated: "It might be tempting to get a drink before you fly, and to enjoy a drink on the aircraft, particularly if it is included.
"But alcohol will dehydrate you and disrupt your sleep, making your jet lag feel worse."
While caffeine can help you to doze of quicker, it can impact the quality of your sleep.
The former flight attendant also share that travellers should avoid making adventurous plans on arrival as it can be stressful to navigate around a new place.
This can then worse when the jet lag kicks in.
The Sun's Travel Editor Lisa Minot shares her top tips when flying
She said: "Take short naps if necessary but avoid napping for longer than 30 minutes as this can stop you from falling asleep properly later and will delay the adjustment process.
However, a flight safety expert has previously revealed why you should always sit at the back of the plane.
Acccording to Daniel Kwasi Adjekum, an aviation safety researcher at the University of North Dakota, sitting at the back of the plane is the safest.
He told Wired: "The front section, obviously, is comfortable because it's away from the engine and the noise… that's normally the first point of impact. And so it's a high vulnerability area."
But the back of the plane is likely to stay whole - despite having a decent chance of breaking from the rest of the fuselage.
According to a 2015 study, the seats in the middle of the cabin have the highest fatality rate (39 per cent).
This is then followed by the seats at the front (38 per cent).
Seats at the back of aircrafts then had the lowest fatality rate (32 per cent).
Holiday packing tips
Jemma Solomon, aka The Label Lady has got 5 packing tips to help you get organised for your next holiday.
1. Write a list
Think about all the essentials you need to take with you; suncream, medicine, a few games for the kids, beach towels, and write everything in one list, which you can tick off as you add it to your suitcase.
Or for complete ease, try Google's AI app - Gemini - which will create a list for you and help you not over pack.
2. Involve your kids
Jemma said: 'My girls are getting older, they're 11 and nine, and they enjoy helping to pack. So I send them a list, and say 'this is what you need' and they follow the list.
'And then I give them a rucksack each - and say to them 'you can have whatever you want in there as long as it's not liquid', and they can take that on the plane. And that's their 'home away from home' items.'
3. Try a hack or two
She said: "I think they all work, but for different reasons - and you've just got to pick the right one for your trip.
"Rolling your clothes is really good to stop your clothes from getting creases. And if you're trying to get a lot of items into your case, it's a space saver.
'Packing cubes are great - for example, I'm going on holiday with my three kids and we're all using the same suitcase for our clothes.
"These handy compartments let you separate your clothes, toiletries and tech into designated cubes, maximising luggage space by keeping your items compressed and neatly stacked.
"I love taking them abroad with the family and it means my kids can easily take charge of their own items once we've arrived."
4. Decant beauty products
Do you really need to take full-size bottles of shampoo and conditioner with you? The beauty industry has evolved so much, you can now buy shampoo bars or sheets - which are much lighter and smaller.
Or, if you'll be popping to the shops when you're abroad, consider buying some items when you arrive.
5. Get organised before you come home
Jemma said: 'When you repack on holiday [before coming home], the trick is to separate clean from dirty clothes.
'Also pack it in some form of order - so lights, darks, colours for items that need washing, or if you wash your clothes by person in the household, piles for each person.
"Then you can put it straight into the washing machine. Do it straight away, don't leave it."
A flight attendant has also revealed five outfits they'd never wear on a plane.
Plus, another flight attendant has revealed the grim secret behind the free hot towels given out on the plane.
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