FlyerTalk Forums - View Single Post - The Chicken-or-Fish Question: Window or Aisle?
Old Jun 21, 2004 | 6:15 am
  #17  
CrazyOne
 
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA, Earth (PIT)
Programs: Airline/TSA Avoidance Platinum, Hotel Disloyalty Silver, Hertz 1.7*
Posts: 5,277
(You may also like to specific which class you travel in or which airline your answer pertains to specifically ): I fly much less frequently than many FTers. Pretty much zero flying for business now, so all pleasure, and all economy. (I sat in domestic F twice on op upgrade on short flights, that's it.)

1. Window or Aisle? Window is always my first choice. On shorter flights I often don't get up at all and prefer not to have others crawling over me.

2. Any specific seat preferences? I check the seating chart when booking and try to book a window in a row where the aisle is filled but middle is empty. If the flight isn't too full, those single center seats will probably be among the last seats to be filled. Beyond that I just try to get it closer to the front. If traveling with one other person, I book two seats together (I don't bother with trying the window and aisle trick), and on a widebody with groups of two seats on the sides I choose those. Been a long time since I've traveled together with more than one other person.

3. Would you get the check-in agent to change the seat for you if you are given a seat you are not comfortable with? Yes, although my seat should be the one I already selected for myself at time of booking.

4. Would you insist on a change of seat even after you are told "we are very full today"? Not insist, but I might ask again at the gate vs the front counter or whatever. Different agents, different results sometimes. My seat should be the one I selected myself at booking, though, so normally not an issue.

5. Would you request for a window-or-aisle seat if you are given a bulkhead, emergency exit, or upgraded? If I was upgraded, I sure wouldn't complain about a middle seat in biz class. I'd continue to prefer a window in other rows over a center seat in bulkhead or exit, though.

6. Seat preference (window-or-aisle) is due to:
(b) window for leaning against
(c) window for privacy
(g) others: maybe goes with privacy, but again for not having to move for people who get up often

7. Does flying long-haul or short-haul affect your choice of seats? (If yes, why?) Not really. I might get up more on a long haul, but it would still be less than others, so I'd still choose window.

8. Does flying in different classes affect your choice of seats? Why? They have different classes? Not really applicable to me, as I don't fly different classes at the moment.

9. Are you likely to request for a change of seats on-board if you feel that the passengers around you disrupts your flight? (esp. if you are placed in bulkhead bassinet) Sure, or I just move if the flight is empty-ish.

9. Do you fly more than once every two months? Not at the moment.

10. Do you fly mainly for work or pleasure? Pleasure at the moment.

11. Sex: M Age: 33

12. Do you often fly alone or with company? Mix of both. From now on it will more likely be with company.

13. Are you on any status with any frequent flyer programs? No status. See my "Programs" listings at left.

14. Any favourite airlines or planes? So far I guess I like Airbus narrowbodies, and I've always been a fan of the 767. Been wondering what an A330/A340 would be like, though; have yet to fly on an Airbus widebody. United is the airline on which I choose to earn by far the most miles, and it's the one I've taken most of my longer trips on (hence no Airbus widebody experience). I choose other airlines if it makes more sense, though.
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