What is the secret behind the missing Row 13 on airplanes? Why do most airlines skip it? Reason is…
Have you ever booked a flight and looked at the seat map closely, and realized that there isn’t a row 13? You might think, at first, that it’s some sort of technical error or random design choice, but that’s not the case. It’s not an error, a lost seat, or a coincidence. Many airlines across the globe make a conscious decision not to use row number 13, skipping from row 12 to row 14. But why? The answer stems from a somewhat unique combination of ancient superstitions and cultural beliefs. Just like some buildings don’t have a 13th floor, airplanes do not have row 13 for a variety of reasons.
What is the secret behind the missing Row 13 on airplanes?
Since a lot of travellers are nervous about traveling, airlines typically do not use the number 13 to help minimize stress and facilitate comfort on their flight. This is considered an insignificant action; however, it is designed to keep passengers relaxed during their trip.
Why is Number 13 considered unlucky?
For centuries, many cultures have deemed the number 13 as unlucky. Because of this widespread superstition, many airlines purposely exclude row 13 from their seating charts. According to the Merriam-Webster report, the fear of the number 13 is called triskaidekaphobia. This fear varies from culture to culture and is common even in the sky. Well-known airlines like Emirates, Ryanair, Cathay Pacific, and Singapore Airlines reportedly deliberately avoid the number 13 as an expression of respect for passengers’ beliefs and comfort.
One widely accepted theory is the reference to the Last Supper of Jesus Christ in the Bible. According to tradition, there were 13 guests at the table for this last meal. Judas, the betrayer of Christ, is believed to be the 13th guest who took a seat at the table, and this began the superstition of the unlucky number 13.
Another theory is based on Norse mythology. In this version of events, there is a feast of 12 gods. Loki, the trickster god, came as the 13th uninvited guest, and he tricked the god Hoor to kill Baldr, causing grief and chaos in the world. This version also contributes to the superstition of bad luck associated with the number 13.
Other than superstition, there is a more pragmatic reason to skip row 13. Airlines are very concerned about customer satisfaction, and even if only a few passengers express discomfort about sitting in row 13, it could lead to complaints, requests to change seats, or, in the worst-case scenario, make them lose customers to competing airlines.
In an industry where competition is fierce, the comfort of passengers will always be a priority, even if it means disregarding the numbering of seats.
Interestingly, as per the media reports, Lufthansa skips row 17 instead of row 13. The Chinese and other Asian cultures consider the number 4 to be unlucky due to its pronunciation (“si”), which is similar to the pronunciation of death. Therefore, not surprisingly, many buildings will not have a fourth floor.
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