How do you choose your seats?
 

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.)

2, 1, 7, 4, 6, 3, 5, 8

Engine noise? I've never noticed it be any louder or quieter depending on where I sit, but maybe I haven't been paying attention. :o

2, 1, 6, 7, 4, 3, 5, 8

2, 1, 10, 6, 4, 9, 5, 3, 8, 7

9 : Entertainment options
10 : Large Overhead Space

Never really cared about engine noise really.. I've added some more options.. :D

1 and then 4. Usually go for an aisle seat on a long haul in coach, window for all others.

I take it you have never sat in the last two rows of a MD80?

9: behind a seat that does not recline (but I can rarely get this).

2, 1, 6, 7, 4, 5, 3, 8

1 & 3, the rest is not that important to me

Usually 2, 1, 9, 3.

The extra seat pitch is often the difference between being able to use my laptop or not.

My other consideration for (9) is that I'm usually on MD80's with a 2x3 coach configuration. I prefer the 2-side of the plane.

1, 2, 4. Don't much care about the rest except under specific circumstances.

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. :D

1,4,5,2

I prefer window seats on short-hauls, aisle seats on long-hauls so I can stretch out. Maximum distance from the lav on long-hauls is nice too.

The rest don't really matter on most flights.

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!