I prefer the exit row, especially on long flights. I like the legroom, for sure, but I really like not feeling claustrophobic because there's either no row in front or the row in front doesn't recline. I like (again, particularly on long flights) the easy access to the lavs.

Don't like the smell of the lavs sometimes, but it's funny, the smell is that overpowering burst of disinfectant that they use. I've taken to carrying a handkerchief in a baggie that I've put scent on (essential oil - mint,eucalyptus, whatever) to deal with the stink. There must be a better disninfectant out there!

I rarely find people congregating in big numbers, except post-breakfast/pre-landing on a longhaul international flight. Then I just stretch my legs out on my bag, keep the IFE screen up if there is one, and maintain my own space.

The cold? I'm usually prepared, but I have found that if there's an extra blanket around, it will do a quite good job at blocking the draft around the door.

And taking the tray table in and out of the armrest can actually be a nice 'polite' way to re-establish my space if someone starts encroaching....

It's a fair cop, and one reason why I much prefer to go 767 or MD80 than Boeing narrowbody - either way I'm on a 2-side, and both of us can lean out to avoid some of the otherwise-reduced shoulder room.

I saw a horrible exit row seat on a transpac 747 in coach. The window seats in the exit row by the galley have the housing for the inflatable slide intruding into their footspace and no actual window. All the disadvantages of a exit row seat with none of the advantages. The guy sitting there looked miserable.

In a related note, bulkhead seats on longhaul in coach may be better, but you may end up sharing the row with a newborn (and, presumably, its parents) as many airlines have bassinets that hang on the bulkhead.

It all depends on the plane config, but i prefed bulkheads.

For someone really tall the exit row when flying particularly on a long haul in Y is probably a godsend. As far as the unretractable arm rest, if the seat next to you is empty or the person next to you is someone you really want to be physically close to, then its a bummer. On the other hand, if a real POS of size sits down next to you, then the unretractable arm rest prevents his/her body mass from spilling over into your personal space.

Like the leg room, hate the seat size and hard cushion. I actually got bruises on my "seat" after one transcon.

I would always check out seatguru or seatexpert first. I do have a favorite exit row - row 9 on the AA 757's - those seats I can pretty much live with, lots of floor space surrounding them.

As I have ramped up my flying this last year, I took with me printouts of the seat configs of several AA planes, just so I would know what the staff was referring to, when offering exit seats. That helped, but there is also nothing like flying the actual plane to see what the seats are like.

And.....hope for an upgrade!

Exit row is really a double edged sword for me. I love the extra leg space but I hate the fact that the seats seem more narrow. On a normal row there's an arm rest that can be raised or lowered and it's usually cushioned. However, I find that in the exit rows it's just a piece of metal between you and the next seat, so I always feel the seats are more narrow.

On long-haul, yes, I'd go for the exit every time (I'm pretty tall). But when flying easyJet I'm not always doing so now even though it makes legroom tight, because...

1. easyJet appear to have specified a wide aisle on their A319s rather than wider seats, which means the window seat is squashed up against the side wall, which as the exit door sticks out a bit makes shoulder room a bit tight, and I prefer a window seat.

2. You'll almost always get the middle seat taken in the exit row, while you might not in other rows.

3. The window view is better when the wing isn't in the way.

4. On the easyJet 737s, the exit row seats are narrower than the others because the table is built into the armrest. Though if it's going, the double-legroom exit row seat on the 737 *is* worth going for, though you pretty much need to be on first to get it.

5. On a busy flight, the drinks trolley sometimes doesn't make it as far as the exit rows, which are in the middle.

Neil

This is true. I also find that it really depends on the airline. I know some of CO's exit row seats, and the seats in front of the exit row do not always recline.

Ask anybody who has ever flown on a mostly empty plane where people are sitting. The answer will always be the same, all over coach. Some people prefer this seat to that seat, some way in the back, some exit rows.

They are not all in one area or even one type of seat even when they pretty much have a choice of anywhere they want.

The answer is it totally depends on you and the plane and all that.

I am glad when i get exit-row on long overnight flights, but for everything else i tend to prefer a window seat in a "normal" row.

The reason is: On overnight flights i just use the space in front of my seat to lie down and sleep curled up on the floor. 90% of the time i get no objection from the staff.

How tall are you? 5ft" and 100lb? I'm a normal 6' guy on the slim side. Even in First I wouldn't fit curled up in front of my own seat. If I get a double or triple space that would work but one seat, no way.

Till

180cm/76kg - i can't obviously lie on my back and stretch out fully, but i like to sleep curled up and so it works just fine :-)

Exit row every time for me on the 777, usually 30J, seats are a little narrower, but the extra legroom is fantastic, cold has never been a problem for me on this plane (on others yes), and I use my shoes to stop the twats that do those irritating leg stretches, knee bends, etc etc in that space from getting too close to me. As for seats, well I have flown all classes of service and I think they are all uncomfortable to lesser degrees but it is something I can put up with.

There are quite a few people who would say differently, but that set of exit rows on a 777 are my favorite coach seat in the sky.