Window or Aisle?
 

So which do you prefer? Window or Aisle?

I've got a long haul MSP-NRT & a NRT-DTW coming up in November & all the good seats (exit rows & bulkheads) are taken - there's still a selection of windows & aisles left - I'm normally prefer windows, but I'm in debate here for this flight because it's in Y - the last several times I've flown the long hauls, I've been in C. I've done Y to Europe & it's no big deal, but never to Asia. I'm always the guy that has the luck of having to go to the bathroom about 14 minutes after the person in the aisle & middle seat fall into a deep slumber - so the aisle's probably better for that, but I love putting my head up against the window & passing out...decisions, decisions, decisions...

I fly SFO-NRT, SEA-NRT and ORD-NRT frequently. Whenever I'm stuck in coach, I always want and aisle. The reason is that I want to be able to get up and walk around and I feel bad if I have to wake up the person sleeping in the aisle seat. ORD-NRT at 13 hours is HE** if you can't get up and walk a lot!

BTW, keep checking back for seats to open up. Frequently my favorite seats on the 777 (17b/c g/h) are taken when I make my reservation, but they magically open up by flight time!!

I'm an aisle man, myself, for many of the same reasons as UScolorado1K.

Got to agree with the 'Tigger' and the colorado1K guys. But, having said that, I have become adept at stepping over the aisle guy and can fully appreciate the comforts of the window seat for a side headrest. For me, the tie-breaker comes down to knowing if I've got a seat mate or not.

Have a good trip.

I'm one of the odd ducks that gets windows.

Space isn't a problem for me, I'm only 5'7". The closeted geographer in me really likes looking out the window, seeing where I am (or at least trying to figure it out), checking out the earth below. I'll never forget the icebergs and fjords of Greenlands southern tip flying LHR-LAX. Simply awe inspiring for me.

I've got a seat mate - he's stuck with the middle seat though because he doesn't have status - so for him to get in the premium seating on NW, he's definitely got middle & I've got my choice. I'm thinking right hand side of the plane window (as I like to sleep with my right side of my head against the window). Also, I like having the window area because even though there's less leg room, you have the space betwen the seat & the window to shove things like an extra pillow or something.

A window for me, too, please. Board, sit down, take off. Eat/drink if still awake. Otherwise sleep till top of descent announcement, which is usually the thing that wakes me up. It makes 14-hour sectors go by really fast.

It depends, which class I fly and which time.

If I am in Business I prefer window on (to me) new routes and if it is a day flight, because I could get out easy (o.k. not in the old LH C) if I want to walk. If it is a night flight, I prefer aisle.

In Economy, I take nearly every time an aisle seat, as I have more space and could get out the row at every time. As I normaly do not sleep in the plane (at least nor for a long time), I could walk in the plane without disturbing the passengers in the seat next to me.

On an international, I always take the window, as for some reason I need to be against the wall to get to sleep. Otherwise, it's isle for me!

On international longhauls my preferred seat is a bulkhead aisle - and in business class if I can get it :) . This allows me to get up and walk around. Also, there is no seat in front to lean into mine. On USA transcons I am not that choosy, but I will usually take an aisle. On European shorthauls, it is always a window. I love viewing all the different airlines and airplanes at LHR, CDG, FRA, etc.

Window, for the view. This presents a problem when I fly with my over-6' husband who really needs an aisle seat. Fortunately, on the transatlantics we've been able to get on the side with 2 seats. Otherwise I get the middle so I can sit next to him.

It all boils down to this: Are you the type with a weak bladder, then aisle if not stick to the window. :p

Window on transcon, aisle on trans-atl/pac.

When I was not as big and new to flying I loved windows for the view. Now that I am way too big I'll take an aisle for the empty space to one side. On the long hauls it is also nice to be able to get up and strech my legs without having to fight my way past another person or two. On occasion I end up with a window and the view is still great, it brings back the little kid in me.

Aisle seats for me
 

I always go for an aisle seat, especially on a long-haul flight, because there's frankly not much to see out of the window for most of the flight and I'd rather have easy access out and have someone climbing over me occasionally than have to climb over someone to get out. The only exception is when I have an exit-row seat with plenty of leg room, and even then I'm nervous in case someone's got the configuration of the plane mixed up when I book!

Window. I hate the feeling of people brushing against me as they walk down the aisle. At least in a window seat I can move close to the window and not have to deal with the person next to me pushing me into the aisle. As a side note, I'd almost rather have a middle seat over an aisle seat, again because of the people walking down the aisle brushing against me. It just really creeps me out.

Aisle for me as my taller half typically gets the window.

Taller half voluntarily downgraded from LGW-DFW on Monday because they put her in the middle seat on the 777. She got her window back in coach, but they couldn't find me a seat that wasn't a coach middle seat, so I stayed in Business.

All she wanted from me was my ipod and my pillow. Both I happily relinquished.

lala

As a wheelchair user, I go for the window seat.

It's for my benefit, as it ensures that as one of the first people on the plane, I do not get smacked on the shoulder by every single oversized bag people drag aboard.

It is a courtesy to the others in my row, who do not have to climb over me to get in and out.

Almost always aisle.

Exceptions are:

• Short-haul flights where I know I'm going to sleep.
• Flights where I know it's worth it for the view.
• When I have the luxury of flying in a premium cabin long-haul, and know I'm going to have free access to/from the seat. For example, 1A/K on KLM's WBC or the last row rear-facing window seats in BA Club World.

Aisle! :)

-Mark

For long haul definitely aisle. For short haul who cares.

Aisle for long haul. I drink lots of water and don't sleep. Window for short haul as I like to look at the changing view.

I always take an aisle seat except:

1) Red-eyes
2) Short-haul, less than an hour
3) Where I know I can get to the aisle without inconveniencing others

Never a middle--unless I am forced to!

Window
 

Window all the way! Having something to lean on AND not having to get up when others need to exit is the way to go.

Window usually, but the fiance loves aisle. I love the sights outside, she loves the freedom.

There's only been one time, when I've sat window and just couldn't "hold it". It was murphy's law to the fullest - full plane, I was bursting at the seams, at my fullest capacity in years. I had been taking advice to "drink more water". Middle and aisle seat pax were both snoring away. I awoke them with my sincerest apologies, and felt bad when they didn't return to sleep when I settled in again.

That's exactly how I handle it.

Window. I can lean against the wall to sleep. I also feel a bit more comfy cozy. I like the feeling of being tucked tightly into my own little space, whereas on the aisle I must be concerned with everybody's comings and goings, from my row and up and down the aisle.

Aisle, on all flights if possible:

1. That way I can drink as much as I want or need and get up without worrying about climbing over bulky or sleepy seatmates every hour to get up (once per hour is my average if I have a glass or two of wine or coffee and take my diuretic blood pressure medicine :) . Once on a red-eye where I got stuck at a window on an upgrade, I unfortunately landed in my sleeping aisle seatmate's lap in a very compromising position when I was discretely trying to climb over him and we hit some turbulence at an inopportune momemt. :eek:

2. I can access luggage in my overhead compartment as often as I want (e.g., computer, extra clothing, etc.) without having to carefully plan ahead what I will need.

3. I can stand up and get out of the plane faster when we're late arriving and I have a tight connection.

4. I can "people-watch" more from aisle seats when I'm bored.

What I don't like about aisle seats is that the under-seat storage space in front of you is often very small so I can't fit in my computer backpack or small carryon, have to use the overhead compartment which doesn't always have room by the time I get on. And of course I always carry a change of clothing in case the FA or kid running in the aisle spills something on me (I've been assaulted by water, wine, pasta sauce, a slurpy, orange juice, and a mud-covered kiddie backpack, among other things :)

A couple of years ago I was booking a (solo) ticket, and the agent asked if wanted "window, aisle, or middle"...

I asked him if anybody had ever asked for "middle", and he laughed and said no. Since then, I've noticed that the agents I've dealt with have never asked if I wanted a middle seat (if there's nothing left but middles, they obviously don't ask, they just say that).

BTW, I'm a view-from-the-air addict, so for me it's window whenever possible (and I get really bummed when I get the window seat with no window...). Some of the things you see from airplane windows are just astounding -- beautiful beaches and volcanoes in Hawaii, the majesty of the Canadian Rockies and the icy fjords of Greenland on LHR->LAX, ships waiting for their turn at the entrance to the Panama canal, Yosemite, the SF-Golden Gate flight path in/out of SFO... Of course, there's also hours and hours of the Pacific and the Atlantic as well :). It tends to keep the wonder of air travel alive for me (and it is a really amazing thing).

Dan

Narrowbodies - any aisle
Widebodies - middle block aisle.

Old HKG airport, back then, right side window. ^ what an experience!!!

Both :p

As I use BA as my preferred carrier I always go for the last row of Business (upstairs on the 747, 62A/K, or 64A/K)

Last time I flew coach was on UA and as per normal with the coach/window decision I plumped for a window seat even when flying transatlantic because the view is so interesting :rolleyes: and then regret it because I can't seem to release myself from the rigarmortis I seem to develop and so can't climb out for a walkround