A airline passenger’s experience of flying in the first row of the plane which faced out to other travelers has left her so ‘scarred’ that she’s ‘unable to recover’.
Jess Smith posted the view of her seat in row one on a flight to Greece that had her looking at the other passengers in a viral TikTok.
She did not specify what airline she was flying, but appeared uncomfortable as she sat in her spot directly across from others.
‘When you book row one as a treat but it turns into you facing the entire plane,’ Smith said. ‘Never going to recover.’
People commiserated with Smith over the backward-facing seating arrangement and agree it would be their worst nightmare.
‘I would legit ask to get off and cancel my ticket. My anxiety could never,’ one person said.
Jess Smith (pictured) said she is ‘never going to recover’ from boarding a plane and finding that her seat in the front row was facing towards the entire cabin
Smith appeared uncomfortable as she sat in her spot directly across from others
‘This is like some irrational thing I’d experience in a bad dream,’ said another.
‘I would be so anxious and accidentally make eye contact with so many people,’ a third person said.
A fourth person said, ‘The whole plane facing me the entire flight sounds like my worst nightmare.’
Others had suggestions for Smith on how she could use the situation to her advantage.
‘I would take out a pad of paper, stare at each person several mins then fiercely write notes, switching between giggle fits and angry scowls. If it’s going to be uncomfortable, I’m going down my way,’ said one person.
‘At that point I’d be in my own world pretending I was an undercover air marshal. I would have lived an entire life in my head by the time we landed,’ another said.
Zach Griff, a senior aviation writer for travel blog The Point Guys, told Fox News that the backwards-facing seat is not that uncommon.
He said in the United States air carriers American Airlines and United offer rear-facing seats in business class for some models and the arrangement is more common abroad.
Of United Airlines’ 945 aircrafts, 23 have optional rear-facing business-class seats available.
‘Of course, in the economy cabin, facing backwards is no doubt an awkward experience,’ Griff said.
‘My recommendation for travelers stuck in these types of seats is to bring an eye mask and possibly also some reading material or other entertainment options to keep them distracted from what’s undoubtedly an awkward experience.’