Should I Upgrade My Seat on Upcoming Flight to Closer to the Front of the Plane?

[Daniel S.]

Hi, ya'll! So I'm preparing to fly for the first time in over a decade, and I honestly cannot recall how my tinnitus responded the last time I flew. I'll be flying to Vegas for a reunion of sorts. It's about a 5 hour flight, and I've discovered that my seat is in the very back of the plane (second-to-last row).

My big concern is the engine noise and whether that's going to aggravate my tinnitus. I'll be picking up a pair of those EarPlanes plugs, but I've never used them and don't know whether they'll be sufficient.

What I could do, though, is upgrade to a seat that's closer to the front of the plane (and further away from the engines). For those of you who fly with tinnitus, do you think it would be worth the extra money for me to upgrade my seat, or do you think I'll be okay in the back of the plane?

Also, will the EarPlanes be helpful, or is there a better option I should consider?

Thanks in advance for your responses! I appreciate it!

 

[Arseny]

If the airplane is worse than Airbus A380 then yes, upgrade your seat.

Get basic 3M 1100 earplugs and optionally earmuffs on top of them.
Noise cancelling headphones are good too (on top of earplugs).

 

[erik]

I fly often and try to stay away from plane engines if I can. I don't wear plugs, but bring my Bose noise canceling headphones with me and they are sufficient. I usually will look up the type of plane I am flying on ticket or seatguru.com and then figure out if it is a plane with engines on the wings, in the back or both, then make my seating decisions. Being on the aisle also helps and helps for easy bathroom access. When are you traveling there?

 

[Daniel S.]

I fly often and try to stay away from plane engines if I can. I don't wear plugs, but bring my Bose noise canceling headphones with me and they are sufficient. I usually will look up the type of plane I am flying on ticket or seatguru.com and then figure out if it is a plane with engines on the wings, in the back or both, then make my seating decisions. Being on the aisle also helps and helps for easy bathroom access. When are you traveling there?

Ah, I would love to get the Bose headphones, but I've held off due to their price.

I'm flying out on Friday on an Airbus A321. Engines are on the wings, so now I'm wondering if being near the back is actually a good thing (as opposed to being in the middle and closer to the engines). Then again, I'm not sure if the engine noise is louder near the back or near the front.

Fortunately, I did get an aisle seat, which made me so very happy, lol! Gotta be grateful for the little things in life!

 

[JohnAdams]

I've flown the circumference of the earth twice since January and every time I was in the economy class behind the engines. Just wear good earplugs and have some backups if they fall out when you're trying to sleep.

I actually, 4 days ago, caught a 13 hour flight less than 7 hours after having an intratympanic injection of PRP.

 

[Daniel S.]

If the airplane is worse than Airbus A380 then yes, upgrade your seat.

Get basic 3M 1100 earplugs and optionally earmuffs on top of them.
Noise cancelling headphones are good too (on top of earplugs).

Worse than an A380? I don't think I've ever flown on one of those, so I don't really have a frame of reference!

I appreciate the advice, though! I was only thinking about the EarPlanes because they (allegedly) help with the pressure. That's the one thing that I do remember from flying. The change in pressure made my ears quite uncomfortable and made the tinnitus much more noticeable. Have you ever tried them?

The 1100 earplugs I have used. They're very good, and they were my backup plan if I didn't use the EarPlanes.

 

[Daniel S.]

I've flown the circumference of the earth twice since January and every time I was in the economy class behind the engines. Just wear good earplugs and have some backups if they fall out when you're trying to sleep.

I actually, 4 days ago, caught a 13 hour flight less than 7 hours after having an intratympanic injection of PRP.

Well now this certainly makes me feel better! It's been so long since I've flown that I was worried that maybe there was something I hadn't thought of. But it sounds as though I may be overthinking things.

 

[JohnAdams]

Well now this certainly makes me feel better! It's been so long since I've flown that I was worried that maybe there was something I hadn't thought of. But it sounds as though I may be overthinking things.

earplugs work.

 

[BuzzyBee]

When the price is in a remotely justifiable range, I upgrade to first class. Can't say I've ever regretted it.

 

[Alue]

Worse than an A380? I don't think I've ever flown on one of those, so I don't really have a frame of reference!

I appreciate the advice, though! I was only thinking about the EarPlanes because they (allegedly) help with the pressure. That's the one thing that I do remember from flying. The change in pressure made my ears quite uncomfortable and made the tinnitus much more noticeable. Have you ever tried them?

The 1100 earplugs I have used. They're very good, and they were my backup plan if I didn't use the EarPlanes.

A380 is the quietest passenger aircraft out there. I'm not sure what he's trying to say. Earplugs and NC headphones work for me. If you don't have NC headphones, you can always pack a pair of earmuffs in your carry on bag just in case the noise is a little much for you.

The A319/320/321's aren't too bad. They are quieter than your average aircraft, but there still is some noise. Obviously in front of the engines and in the aisle is the best.

Do you have hyperasusis? Even if you do, unless it's particularly severe, you should be fine.

 

[Daniel S.]

When the price is in a remotely justifiable range, I upgrade to first class. Can't say I've ever regretted it.

As much as I would love to do this, it's just not in the budget right now lol.

 

[Daniel S.]

A380 is the quietest passenger aircraft out there. I'm not sure what he's trying to say. Earplugs and NC headphones work for me. If you don't have NC headphones, you can always pack a pair of earmuffs in your carry on bag just in case the noise is a little much for you.

The A319/320/321's aren't too bad. They are quieter than your average aircraft, but there still is some noise. Obviously in front of the engines and in the aisle is the best.

Do you have hyperasusis? Even if you do, unless it's particularly severe, you should be fine.

No hyperacusis for me. Sounds like earplugs and/or muffs will do the trick. Also helps to know that the plane shouldn't be terribly loud to begin with. Thanks for the info! I just might upgrade to a seat in front of the engines after all just to be extra safe.

 

[Alue]

I will have to add, the Vegas airport is noisy. I hate that airport! It's not dangerously loud, I just find it annoying.

No hyperacusis for me. Sounds like earplugs and/or muffs will do the trick. Also helps to know that the plane shouldn't be terribly loud to begin with. Thanks for the info! I just might upgrade to a seat in front of the engines after all just to be extra safe.

If you don't have H, you'll be alright.

 

[DanielJ]

I would be more worried about the noise in Vegas than on the plane personally.

 

[Ajaans]

I fly frequently for work. Its very loud wherever I sit, I use my Sony noise cancelling headphones and they help ( take them off for take off and landing or the decompression can be hell).
I move away from the back because I hate sitting near the restrooms and I want off the plane as soon as possible.

 

[Clint Azzopardi]

I was concerned about flying when I got tinnitus, don't worry about it mate. I do wear noise cancelling headphones though. Enjoy Vegas.