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HOW TO CATCH SOME DECENT SHUTEYE ON PLANES

July 5, 2011
MSNBC.com

Another area to avoid is the last row of the plane. Again, the seats may not recline, and they're often located right near the lavatories — where both noise and odor could be an issue.

Aside from the very last row, there are pros and cons to sitting near the front of the plane and sitting near the back. Seats near the rear of the plane may be noisier due to the planes' engines and clink-clanking from the galley, but it's also more likely that you'll have a couple of seats (or even a whole row) to yourself back there — and the extra space could make up for the extra noise.

To help you choose your seat, check out SeatGuru.com, which offers color-coded seating charts for nearly every plane on every airline. And don't miss our tips for getting the best airplane seat.