Just curious what other FT's have as priorities when picking where they sit. Please rank in order of importance:
1) Window/Aisle preference
2) Extra leg room (such as an exit row)
3) Close to the front of the plane
4) Neighboring seat currently unoccupied
5) Distance from the lav
6) Seat able to recline
7) Having a seat in front of you for underseat storage
8) Engine noise
9) Other?
For me, it would probably be 1, 7, 2, 6, 3, 4, 8, 5.
(Couldn't find another thread like this by searching and thought this could be fun.)
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1,3,9,8
As someone who is very glad to be a regular on WN (some of you may stop reading at that point, but that's besides the point ):
I like to choose an aisle seat near the front (preferrably the first row bulkhead for the extra space). It is much quieter and affords me a quick exit upon arrival. On a 70 minute flight, those 5-10 minutes waiting for others to get their stuff together and off the plane is not insignificant.
Not to mention being among the first to be served and the FA never having to apologize for running out of my meal choice.
Bear in mind the following is only for J/F....don't really fly much in Y.
Basic objective function is:
1). Maximize comfort/sleep
2). Minimize distance to the door (quick exit)
3). Maximize chance of empty seat next to you
4). All other things equal, not too close to the galley/lavs
Given that, on airlines with full-flat seats, I'll sit near the door, but 2-3 rows back from the galley. Will take a center section aisle to minimize people climbing over me (not an issue on many airlines now, as it's often the case that all seats have aisle access). On airlines with angled lie-flat (evil, evil seats) or traditional cradle seats, I'll take a bulkhead window. Why? Bulkhead allows me to pile bags/pillows on floor to create a "semi-flat" slope from the seat-back to the wall, and window maximizes privacy/minimizes noise....plus, at the bulkhead, I have no problem climbing over the guy in the aisle without waking him (the opposite is not always true!).
Also, I'll generally take "B" zone on a 777/etc....right near boarding door, and usually empty.
Finally, on the 744, I LOVE the fact that all of the joy-riders think the upper-deck is the place to be. Frees up the lower deck for me. Seat of choice? Again, bulkhead window, but, if not available, then center section aisle (yes, even if 2-3-2). Why lower deck?
a). You all like the upper deck, meaning if there's an empty seat on the plane, it's likely to be on the lower deck
b). More storage space
c). Much faster off plane
d). Cooler (easier to address on my own than hot)
e). If I can't get a bulkhead, center-section aisle...why? (a) Most likely empty seat is center section middle; (b) if that seat is filled, it's most likely by the companion of the person in the other aisle, which means that they climb over them, not me; and (c) even if filled by a single traveller (highly unusual), they'll split the climbs!
):
