Why Are Aft-Facing Seats So Rare Today?

Aft-facing seats are common in some modes of travel (like trains and limousines), but aircraft? A recent six-second video by Jess Smith recently went viral as she expressed her dismay after booking a first-row seat as a treat only to find it was an aft-facing seat. On the flight, she sat there watching the crowded all-economy cabin. While cabin crew routinely face backward, passengers don’t.