The National Center for Atmospheric Research states that turbulence occurs in around 65,000 flights annually. About 5,500 of them report severe turbulence.
We’ll dig into more about what causes turbulence, types of turbulence, where to sit on a plane for the smoothest ride, and more to help you get the best odds for avoiding those bumps.
Turbulence is irregular air movement. Various conditions, like atmospheric pressure, jet streams, air around mountains, cold or warm weather fronts, or thunderstorms, can all cause turbulence.
The pilot told us that sitting close to the center of gravity, like over the wing, is the best place to sit on a plane to feel less turbulence, though it depends on the aircraft and the day’s load.
The worst seats on an airplane for turbulence are the jump seats in the back of the plane, where the flight attendants sit, followed by the passenger seats towards the back of the aircraft.
SeatGuru is a website that allows flyers to view seat maps of different aircraft from several different airlines. These maps can help you determine desirable seats or row numbers on different planes and routes.
Distraction is another way to combat turbulence anxiety. Read a book, watch a movie, listen to a podcast, or put on soothing music or meditation to help keep you calm.