This is a question I get along with why do we all face
toward the door on elevators.
Airlines don't have backward-facing seats as they are
heavier and have to meet higher safety standards, and they would have to have all
the seats face backward, so there is a cost issue.
But the other reasons are more customer service/ body
language-related.
Some people feel more nauseous facing backward,
When we are a passenger in a car, we are used to
facing forward toward the driver, so it gives a sense of familiarity and
control over the experience.
Nonverbally the primal limbic brain wants to face the
body is going.
Sitting backward triggers the same limbic brain fear
response that having your back to the door (as in the caveman does not want to
have his back to the entrance to the cave) makes you feel.
Some people want to face the way they entered the
plane as it calms them down as they think they know where the exit is. (Thus,
the flight attendant's speech that says the closest exit may be behind you.)
It's easier to get the passengers off if they exit up
and out of their seats toward the front.
