By Shawn Gallagher
Bulkhead seats are often well desired on an airplane, with airlines sometimes charging extra for them. You’ll usually find extra legroom, easier access to the aisle, and can overall be more comfortable with more space.
I select the bulkhead seat every once in a while, and it’s served me pretty well. My most notable flight on the bulkhead was on Delta Premium Select from Tokyo to Detroit, where I enjoyed spacious legroom and easy aisle access despite being on the window. It was a nice addition to an already comfortable Premium Select seat.
That’s not to say there are only good things when it comes to these seats; there are a few things to keep in mind as well. Let’s go over the pluses and minuses of grabbing the bulkhead seat.
The Positives
Legroom
The legroom can be great on these bulkhead seats if you’re in a premium seat. The above photo is First Class on American Airlines, and I’ve had similar experiences on Delta. I’m 6’1/183cm tall, and my legs typically barely touch the wall whenever I end up in these seats.
Note that they can be a hit or miss if you’re in economy class (even in an extra legroom seat). You might have some extra legroom, but the inability to stretch your legs under the seat in front can end up being a minus.
Aisle access
Another positive of the bulkhead seat is how I can easily access the aisle without my seatmate having to move out of the way. With this amount of space in front of me, I could use the restroom anytime I wanted even if my seatmate was asleep, even though I was on the window. This really helps on a long flight.
This again applies more to premium seats, but economy class (and extra legroom) seats can still have their benefits. Although there might be less space, you might find it easier to get in and out of the aisle compared to non bulkhead seats.
The Negatives
With that said, there are a few things to keep in mind when booking a bulkhead seat.
Lack of underseat storage
The lack of underseat storage is definitely a challenge when it comes to bulkhead seats, especially if you’re in an economy class seat. You might find it difficult to find space for both your carry-on and personal item up in the overhead bins.
I recently had some difficulty with this in First Class on American. I was flying a small regional jet (Embraer 175), where overhead bins were smaller. I had to place my backpack a few rows behind me (shoutout to that nice passenger bringing it up and handing it to me upon arrival).
Having to stand up every time to grab your bag from the overhead bin can become a pain, especially on a longer flight.
Proximity to Lavatories
As a general rule, you’ll want to avoid seats that are close to the bathrooms. The smell, the noise, and people congregating around your seat won’t be a lot of fun. Some rows literally stick into the galley, which is something you especially want to avoid.
At night, the lights in the galley typically stay on even if the rest of the plane is dark. This can also be distracting and can limit the ability to get good sleep. This is something to keep in mind as some bulkhead seats are by the galley.
Bottom Line
It’s always best to do your research before you choose a seat and board your flight. Bulkhead seats are usually nice, but they can sometimes come with negatives as we discussed here. Websites such as Aerolopa.com and reading flight reviews around the internet can get you a lot of information about a particular seat.
All photos taken by the author.