Where is the best seat to avoid motion sickness on a plane?

A seat over the wing, near the plane's centre of gravity, moves the least, so it is the best choice for a sensitive stomach. A window seat there also lets you look at the horizon, which helps your senses agree on what is happening.

What causes motion sickness on flights?

It happens when your inner ear senses motion that your eyes do not, so your brain gets conflicting signals. Turbulence, reading in a moving cabin and stuffy air can all trigger or worsen it.

What can I eat or drink to prevent air sickness?

Eat a light, plain meal before and during the flight, sip water, and try ginger in tea, sweets or capsules, which many travellers find settling. Avoid heavy, greasy food and excess alcohol, which tend to make queasiness worse.

Do anti-nausea remedies work for flying?

Over-the-counter motion-sickness tablets and acupressure wristbands help many people, and tablets generally work best taken before you fly. Ask a pharmacist or doctor about what suits you, especially if you take other medication or it is for a child.

How to Avoid Motion Sickness on a Plane: 12 Tips

Reviewed by the ScanFlyGo team · Last updated: July 2026. This is general guidance, not medical advice — ask a pharmacist or doctor about remedies.

Quick answer

To avoid air sickness, sit over the wing where the plane moves least, keep your eyes on the horizon or close them, get fresh air from the overhead vent, and eat light while sipping water. Ginger and over-the-counter motion-sickness remedies help many people — take tablets before you fly. Avoid reading, heavy meals and alcohol, which make it worse.

Find your next flight on ScanFlyGo →

Why it happens

Motion sickness is a sensory mismatch. Your inner ear feels the aircraft moving while your eyes — fixed on a book, screen or the seat in front — tell your brain you are still. The conflicting signals trigger nausea, cold sweats and dizziness. Anything that widens the gap between what you feel and what you see, like turbulence or reading, tends to make it worse.

Choose the right seat

The smoothest part of the cabin is over the wing, near the aircraft's centre of gravity, where up-and-down movement is smallest. A window seat there lets you glance at the horizon, giving your eyes real motion to match what your inner ear feels. The rear of the cabin usually moves the most, so avoid it if you are prone to sickness.

Cabin area	Movement	Good for queasy flyers?
Over the wing	Least	Best
Front of cabin	Moderate	Good
Rear of cabin	Most	Avoid

Twelve tips that help

Sit over the wing and take the window seat if you can.
Look at the horizon or, if you cannot see out, close your eyes and rest your head back.
Point the air vent at your face — cool, moving air settles nausea.
Avoid reading and screens during turbulence or climb and descent.
Eat light and plain before and during the flight; skip greasy, heavy food.
Sip water and stay hydrated; limit or avoid alcohol.
Try ginger in tea, chews or capsules — a common, gentle remedy.
Use acupressure bands on the wrists, which help many travellers.
Consider tablets from a pharmacy, usually taken before departure.
Breathe slowly and focus on steady, deep breaths if queasiness starts.
Keep cool — loosen tight clothing and avoid overheating.
Locate the sick bag early so you are not scrambling if you need it.

Special cases

For children, plan ahead with a light snack, a wing seat and a distraction that does not involve looking down at a screen, and ask a pharmacist about age-appropriate remedies. If you are pregnant, on other medication, or manage a health condition, check with a doctor or pharmacist before taking anything. Persistent or severe symptoms are worth discussing with a medical professional rather than pushing through.

Frequently asked questions

Where is the best seat to avoid motion sickness?

Over the wing, near the centre of gravity, where the plane moves least — a window seat there also lets you watch the horizon.

What causes it?

A mismatch between the motion your inner ear feels and the stillness your eyes report; turbulence and reading make it worse.

What should I eat or drink?

Light, plain food, plenty of water and ginger help; heavy meals and alcohol tend to worsen it.

Do remedies work?

Over-the-counter tablets and wristbands help many people; tablets usually work best taken before you fly — ask a pharmacist.

The bottom line

Air sickness is beatable: pick a wing seat, give your eyes the horizon, keep cool air flowing, eat light, and lean on ginger or a proven remedy taken ahead of time. A little planning turns a dreaded flight into an easy one. Ready to travel? Start a live search on ScanFlyGo, compare popular routes, and track your flight live on the day you fly.

Some links on ScanFlyGo are affiliate links — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. This article is general information, not medical advice.