I am soon to make a trip in a 737 over water. Have any of you some advice as to where is the safest place to sit? I will be travelling with my wife and 3 children with the youngest on my lap.<br> <br>Regards<br><br>Colin(down under) McFerran

I take it you mean location, not portion of anatomy, right?<br><br>I seem to recall reading something about the tail being the most likely to be intact, but if the pilot can make a water landing, over the wings might be the best bet. <br><br>Personally, I've always doubted the odds of a jumbo making a water landing survivably, so I'd suggest something where you have leg room. Long legs and coach don't mix, especially for a long time.

The tails the safest over land thats why they put the flight recorders their. Over water its a toss up becouse theirs no infatable slide at the over wing exits and the exit is awful small to get a life raft out quickly, but the seats have the best leg room in coach due to FAA mandating better spacing a few year back so people didn't have to slide sideway to get to the exit.The good news is a water landing is so remote that no one knows how a modern airliner would do.I've spent my life in aviation and have never heard of one. The bad news is the safety equipment is less than ideal. Maybe John can add some more.

Hello, Colin -<br><br>I'm a former 737 pilot with a major US carrier and am now flying B777's across the pond to Europe.<br><br>At the risk of offending you, I have to say that where you sit is immaterial when you've just said that you're going to have a lap child. Know what we call laps? Footballs.........<br><br>There is NO WAY you can restrain your kid if the plane hits some nasty turbulence. <br><br>If you think you can belt in your child on your lap, fuhgeddaboutit. The child will cushion YOUR impact against the restraint but that will do grave bodily damage to him/her at very little G. Carry a child seat for him. If the plane is full, then you can gate-check the babyseat. <br><br>Don't worry about a *true* impact because the force will be, oh, about 60 G's and it's a theoretical discussion at that point.<br><br> I understand the economics of the issue (ticket prices and such), but at least call the airline and see how the loads are for that flight. You may get lucky and have access to an empty seat. Perhaps you can change your ticket to a flight with fewer people on it and better your chances for an empty seat.<br><br>You stand a far greater chance of running into turbulence than you do of being in a crash.<br><br>OK, now that I'm off my soapbox - if your kids are relatively older (more than 5 or so), go for a forward seat in front of the wings so that they can see what's below, if it's clear.<br><br>The tail section will experience much more wiggle-waggle if there's any turbulence, so that's another reason to head up front.<br><br>US carriers are prohibited from putting people with kids in exit row seats. I don't know about other carriers.<br><br>Hope I didn't cause an international incident. ;-]]<br><br>Nancy