It’s tempting: you spot an empty row on the plane before takeoff and think, Why not move?
But according to a former airline captain, that quick switch could throw off more than just the cabin crew’s headcount.
Pete Hutchison, a retired Virgin Atlantic pilot with over 40 years in the cockpit, says passengers shouldn’t change seats before takeoff or landing. The reason is simple: balance.
The hidden risk behind seat-swapping
Hutchison, who worked in the industry for 40 years, explained, as per Daily Mail, that the aircraft fuselage is ‘like a see-saw’, and that it has to be loaded in such a way that the nose tips neither up nor down.
“To start moving seats, especially in significant numbers, to unplanned areas, could significantly impact the aircraft’s balance,” Hutchison revealed.
How airlines balance the aircraft
Before every flight, airlines calculate the total weight of passengers, baggage, and cargo against the aircraft’s Maximum Takeoff Weight.
Using average weights for passengers and hand luggage, crews ensure the plane’s centre of gravity stays within safe limits.
If the balance is off, ground and flight crews make adjustments, shifting cargo or asking passengers to move. The goal is to keep the aircraft stable during the most critical phases of flight: takeoff and landing.
Even for experienced pilots, an unbalanced load can cause a plane to handle unpredictably, or in extreme cases, lead to disaster.
“Your specific position in the cabin is one of the variables in that aircraft trim calculation,” Hutchison said.
“During a flight, you can move around, including to a different seat with permission, but you must be in your allocated seat for both the take-off and the landing.” he added.
When it matters most
Seat-swapping isn’t always a serious problem. Some airlines operate with open seating: first come, first-serve, and account for that in their loading procedures.
The issue, Hutchison noted, arises when a plane is less than 80 percent full. On those flights, crew members may strategically seat passengers to keep the aircraft’s centre of gravity within limits.
So while that empty row might look like a mid-flight upgrade, resist the urge, at least until you’re safely in the air and the crew gives the all-clear.
