A majority of larger airplanes will have dividing walls that create different sections of the plane. Bulkhead seats will be the seats on the plane directly after a wall (also referred to as a bulkhead). The first row of seats in a section that faces the dividing wall are considered Bulkhead seats.

The Benefits of Flying in a Bulkhead Seat

There are many benefits to flying with a Bulkhead seat. Such as, the other passengers cannot impede your space. In normal seats, the passengers in front of you can recline their chair and take away valuable space. This means your extra room is protected, unlike Exit Row Seats that still have passengers directly in front of them.

Bulkhead seats usually also have less people, because not everyone wants to spend the extra money for them. These seats are usually a economy plus seat, which means they cost a bit more money than the standard economy seats.

A bulkhead seat will also provide a more private experience when flying on an airplane. You will likely have your own window for your row, so you will get better view of where you are going. And you won’t have anybody directly in front of you to worry about.

Bulkhead seats are also great for families. Kids have space to stand and stretch their legs without getting in anyone’s way. Some airplanes also offer bassinet options for bulkhead seats. This is the best option for those traveling with babies.

The Drawbacks of Flying in a Bulkhead Seat

A major disadvantage of Bulkhead seats is that they often sell for more than regular economy seats.

Bulkhead seats sometimes don’t even offer extra legroom or comfort. In fact, in many cases, bulkhead seats are located towards the back of the plane where there’s less air circulation and people tend to congregate and chat loudly.

On some airlines, booking a Bulkhead seat means you cannot access in-flight amenities. This is because the standard displays are placed on the back of the chair in front of you. Most newer airlines have created a swing-out display for these seats instead, but you may want to double check this for your flight.

Another disadvantage of bulkhead seats is that they have less storage for your personal piece of luggage. Typically, plane passengers will use the space under the seat in front of them to stowaway their small bags. However, with Bulkhead seats you will need to use the overhead storage, which often gets packed on full flights.

Lastly, some passengers complain of a feeling of claustrophobia when sitting in a bulkhead seat. This happens because you are facing a wall during your flight. Some people prefer to be able to see space over the seats in front of them instead.

How to Choose a Bulkhead Seat on Your Next Flight

If you want to pick a Bulkhead seat on your next flight, you will need to look at the plane’s layout. When you pick a seat, the airline will often display this layout for you. If they don’t, you should be able to google the airline and plane type to find it. The bulkhead seat will be the first row of seats after a divider wall. Such as, the first row in the main cabin will be Bulkhead seats.