11 Flight Seat Selection Tips for Comfort and Space

6. Avoid Seats Near Galleys and Lavatories

Seats next to galleys and lavatories tend to be noisy and busy. Crew prepare meals and store service carts there, so you’ll hear chatter, clanking, and lights turning on and off. Lavatory proximity brings foot traffic and occasional odours, which can interrupt rest on long flights. Try to position yourself at least two to three rows away from these zones to reduce disturbances. If you can’t avoid them entirely—say, on a full flight—choose a seat slightly forward of the galley rather than directly beside it. On Indian domestic flights where turnaround times are short, galley noise can peak during boarding and just after pushback, so selecting a mid-cabin seat usually offers the best balance of access and calm. Checking recent seat reviews for your exact aircraft helps, because galley placement differs across models and airlines.