Bulkhead Seats: Are They Worth It? Everything You Need to Know

Bulkhead seats sit directly behind a solid wall — the partition that separates cabin classes, or the forward wall of the economy cabin. They are often recommended as some of the best seats on the plane, but they come with real trade-offs that frequent flyers know to weigh carefully. Here is everything you need to know before you select one.

What Are Bulkhead Seats?

A bulkhead is any solid wall or divider that runs across the width of the aircraft cabin. The seats immediately behind it are called bulkhead seats. You will find bulkheads:

• Behind the cockpit door (Row 1 in many economy cabins)
• Between business class and economy
• Between economy plus and standard economy sections
• Between exit-door vestibules and the main cabin

On a typical narrow-body aircraft like a Boeing 737 or Airbus A320, the first economy row — often Row 10, 11, or 14 depending on configuration — is the bulkhead row. On wide-body jets like the Boeing 777 or Airbus A350, there may be multiple bulkhead rows across different cabin sections.

Use our interactive seat maps to identify bulkhead rows on your specific aircraft before you book.

Bulkhead Seat Pros

More Legroom

Because there is no seat in front of you — just a wall — you have significantly more floor space to extend your legs. The exact amount varies by aircraft and airline, but bulkhead rows typically offer 38 to 45 inches of seat pitch compared to the standard 30 to 32 inches in economy. For tall passengers, this is the difference between a tolerable flight and a genuinely comfortable one.

Nobody Reclines Into Your Space

Without a seat ahead, there is no one to recline their seat into your lap. This is particularly valuable on long-haul flights where reclining passengers routinely reduce usable tray-table space and feel uncomfortably close. Bulkhead passengers are entirely free of this problem.

You Are Among the First Off the Plane

Front-of-cabin placement means a shorter walk to the jet bridge and faster access to baggage claim. On tight connections, this matters. On any flight, it is a small bonus that never gets old.

Less Foot Traffic

Passengers walking to lavatories or galleys tend to be concentrated toward the rear of the aircraft. Bulkhead rows — especially those at the very front of economy — see very little through-traffic, making them quieter than aisle seats mid-cabin.

Easier to Entertain Children

The open floor space in front of bulkhead seats gives children room to sit and play during the flight. Many airlines attach bassinets to bulkhead walls for infants, making these rows the standard choice for families travelling with babies.

Bulkhead Seat Cons

No Under-Seat Storage During Takeoff and Landing

Safety regulations require that all carry-on luggage be stowed in overhead bins during taxi, takeoff, and landing. Because there is no seat in front of you, there is no under-seat storage bin. This means your bag, laptop, headphones, and anything else you want within reach must go into the overhead compartment. You will not be able to access any of it until the crew indicates it is safe to do so — sometimes 20 minutes into the flight.

The Tray Table Folds Out From the Armrest

Standard seats have fold-down tray tables attached to the seatback in front. Bulkhead seats instead have tray tables stored inside the armrest and fold out from there. These are typically narrower, less stable, and harder to use with a laptop. The armrest also cannot be raised fully on many aircraft, limiting how much you can spread out.

Bassinet Rows Can Be Noisy

Bulkhead rows designated for bassinets are assigned to families with infants. While many infant travellers are remarkably quiet, the possibility of crying babies is a real concern for light sleepers on overnight flights. If the bulkhead row on your flight is a bassinet row, weigh this carefully.

Less Privacy on Wide-Body Aircraft

On wide-body jets with 3-4-3 or 3-3-3 economy configurations, the bulkhead row often sits directly in view of flight attendant jump seats. You may have a crew member facing you throughout the flight, which some passengers find uncomfortable.

In-Flight Entertainment Can Be Awkward

Some aircraft mount entertainment screens on the bulkhead wall rather than on a seatback. This places the screen further away and at a different angle than passengers in regular seats experience. On aircraft with seatback screens in every row, bulkhead passengers may have a standard screen folded into their armrest instead.

Best Bulkhead Rows by Aircraft Type

• Boeing 737-800: Row 8 or 10 (varies by airline). Avoid the very last row of business if it faces the economy bulkhead.
• Airbus A320/A321: Row 1 (business) and typically Row 11 or 12 (first economy row behind business). Check with your specific airline.
• Boeing 777-300ER: Multiple bulkheads — economy bulkhead is usually around Row 20 or 30 depending on cabin layout. The forward economy bulkhead seats are the most desirable.
• Airbus A350: Row 22 or 24 in economy on most configurations. The cabin is particularly quiet here.
• Boeing 787 Dreamliner: Bulkhead rows vary widely by airline; some airlines offer extra-legroom economy seats at these positions for a fee.

Check the exact bulkhead positions for your flight using our seat map search tool.

Tips for Securing a Bulkhead Seat

• Book early. Bulkhead seats are among the first to be selected. On most airlines, they are available at the time of booking — sometimes for a fee, sometimes free.
• Use elite status. Frequent flyer programmes often give status members complimentary access to preferred seats including bulkhead rows. Even mid-tier status can unlock these seats without a fee.
• Check at the 24-hour mark. Many airlines release held bulkhead seats (reserved for operational reasons or elite members who do not select them) at online check-in. Refresh the seat map when check-in opens.
• Ask at the gate. Gate agents occasionally have access to seats not visible in the app. A polite request — especially if you have a medical reason for needing legroom — can be effective.

Are Bulkhead Seats Worth It?

For most passengers on flights longer than three hours, yes — the extra legroom and freedom from recline outweigh the storage inconvenience. For short flights where you need quick laptop access or carry essential items in your personal bag, the under-seat storage issue may not be worth the trade-off.

Ready to find the bulkhead rows on your next flight? Search our seat maps to see exactly where the bulkhead seats are, how much extra pitch they offer, and what other passengers have said about them.