As thousands of people prepare to fly away this summer, flight attendants have been giving their advice when it comes to sitting on a plane

09:44, Wed, Apr 29, 2026 Updated: 09:53, Wed, Apr 29, 2026

Male passenger in smart casual clothing flying in the exit row on an airplane

A flight attendant has suggested which position plane passengers should avoid (stock) (Image: Getty)

Despite the fears over a shortage of jet fuel later this year, thousands of Britons will take to the skies this spring and summer, heading to destinations around the world. With this in mind, many travel experts have been sharing hacks to help people have the safest and most comfortable journey possible.

One such individual is a flight attendant who has posted on TikTok about the importance of one’s seating position on a flight. The flight attendant, Barbiebac La Azafata, warned about the potential perils of sitting cross-legged during a journey. The reason Barbiebac warned against sitting cross-legged is because of the risk of developing a blood clot. According to the NHS, deep vein thrombosis “is a blood clot in a vein, usually in the leg”.

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Young man meditates or practices yoga at home

The flight attendant warned against sitting cross-legged (stock) (Image: Getty)

On its list of things to avoid to prevent deep vein thrombosis, the NHS advises: “Do not cross your legs while you're sitting.”

When it comes to travelling, it recommends that people stay hydrated, avoid drinking alcohol, try to walk around when they can, and “wear loose clothing”.

As well as avoiding sitting cross-legged, Barbiebac advised people to change position several times, not to put their feet on the seat in front, and not to sleep against the window.

She said: “Most passengers sit in the wrong positions and then complain that everything hurts. Do not cross your legs for a long time. It can cut off your circulation, and on long flights, you are at greater risk of thrombosis.

A plane taking off from London City Airport

Thousands of people are due to jet off this summer (Image: Getty)

“Change position several times. Don't put your feet on the seat in front. It is very unhygienic and disrespectful to other passengers.

“Don't sleep against the window. The aircraft's vibration can give you a headache, and it is also very dirty because of the other passengers' faces. Take a pillow, and do not recline your seat during the entire flight. The passenger behind you may be bothered.”

Barbiebac isn’t the only flight attendant to offer tips to travellers on how to make their flight more comfortable, with another expert explaining which seat to pick if you want to sleep.

Sherry Peters, who worked as a flight attendant for 27 years, shared advice on how to get some rest while travelling. She suggested passengers pick a window seat, as it gives them more control over their environment.

She explained: “Being next to the window gives you much more control over your environment, which is key to falling asleep. You can close the shade, lean against the wall for support, and avoid being elbowed by people passing in the aisle.

“It’s one of the closest things to a controlled sleep environment on a plane. Even if you only have one or two hours, it makes a huge difference.”

Sherry also suggested avoiding seats near the galley or toilets, as these are the worst for sleep due to the amount of foot traffic and the constant movement of both passengers and crew.