When you’re stuck in a full economy row on a plane, it can be tempting to move to an empty seat nearby once you’re done boarding.
According to Irish pilot Pete, a former Virgin Atlantic captain and social media personality, doing so could put the plane at risk.
he explained Independent Passengers moving from one part of the plane to another can make it behave unpredictably and dangerously during take-off and landing.
He said: The start of moving seats, especially in significant numbers to unplanned areas, can significantly affect the balance of the plane.
“If everyone sits in the front of the plane, it can make disembarking more difficult than usual, or even impossible in some cases. Conversely, anyone sitting in the back can cause the plane to lean on its tail during takeoff or experience a tail scrape during touchdown.”
Pete, whose full name is Pete Hutchison, explained that passenger seating is part of the flight crew’s takeoff and landing calculations.
He explained that the airframe is “like a chainsaw” and must be loaded so that the nose bends neither up nor down.
He continued: “Safe flight means maintaining the correct balance of the aircraft. That is, in the operational center of gravity of the aircraft. And it is very important that the center of gravity is in an envelope or about.
To achieve this, it is essential that the aircraft – crew, passengers, baggage, cargo, fuel and catering – be loaded with all weight properly distributed.
It therefore follows that the effect of passengers on the aircraft, as well as where they sit, is an intrinsic part of the balance calculation.
Peet explained that this safety-critical purpose is the work of load planners and dispatchers, who record aircraft trim data on a load sheet, which is then reviewed by ground staff and the aircraft captain.
“Your specific position in the cockpit is one of the variables in calculating the aircraft’s trim,” Peet said. “During the flight, you can move around, including to another seat [with permission]But you must be in your assigned seat to take off and land.”
Of course, there have been airlines like Southwest that let passengers choose where to sit when boarding (although Southwest is ending this system in 2026).
Does this mean they are acting unsafely? Far from it.
Pitt revealed that changing seats only becomes a significant safety issue when the plane is less than 80 percent full. On these less crowded services, flight crews always divide passengers to maintain the aircraft’s center of gravity – for example, by placing them on the wings – and to ensure that emergency exits are available if they cannot be covered by a cabin or flight crew (abandoning an emergency exit seat is a double no).
Jay Robert, who worked as a senior member of Emirates cabin crew and runs the popular company, highlighted other issues with changing seats, from safety to service. Fly Guy cabin crew lounge Network
he said Independent: “Our systems are designed so that the seat assigned to you contains your personal information. If we need to locate you, we search our devices or passenger lists by name.
There have been many times when I have received an important message from the ground about a passenger connection or even an emergency that requires immediate communication and we go straight to the seat number entered into the system.
“When a traveler leaves without telling us, we have to start a hunt to find him.”
He added: “Also, changing seats without the crew’s knowledge can cause service problems. For example, if you have ordered a specific meal, an unauthorized seat change could mean that your meal never reaches you.”
Just ask us first.
For more information, visit Pete www.youtube.com/@PetetheIrishPilot and instagram.com/petetheirishpilot.
