At the beginning of the year Simon Calder, Travel editor of The Independent newspaper, conducted a Twitter poll asking his followers if they preferred a window or aisle seat on an aircraft. The results were interesting as they produced a dead heat between the two options at 41%. The remaining 18% voting for anything but the middle. Now while you may question how the poll was conducted, a relatively small sample of around 1300, polling only over one hour, the sample probably largely made up of people particularly interested in travel, it does show that the middle seat is highly unpopular and after that there is no overriding preference.
For years my number one choice was window. I don’t think that I ever gave it much thought other than the first time I was in an aircraft I wanted to see the view from 35,000 feet. A long haul flight from the Far East made me rethink my choice. In my customary window seat all was going well except for the fact that the stranger in the aisle seat fell asleep shortly after take off, woke briefly to eat before going back to sleep and didn’t wake until we touched down some 10 hours later. I never knew an adult could sleep so deeply for so long! Getting up to walk around or visit the toilet were not possible once dinner service was over.
As a reaction to this all flights I booked subsequently I booked aisle if it was at all possible and now don’t know why it took me also long. I am rapidly becoming a convert. Having just booked long haul flights to Australia the aisle/window conundrum was a no brainer. Despite my dramatic conversion I thought I would take a brief look at the advantages/disadvantages of either choice, you never know I may change my preference again.
WINDOW – advantages
- The view is unquestionably a big plus. The window seat gives you that tantalising first glimpse of your destination, the view of San Francisco Bay and the Golden Gate Bridge was amazing and I’ll never forget it. The view of a city after dark is also not to be missed. On the other hand this represents just a fraction of the overall time in the air, especially on long haul.
- With the blind up you can get some natural light. While this may not have any physiological effect it does generally make you feel better. Just seeing blue sky after passing through the cloud layer that invariably sits over the UK is enough to make me smile.
- The window seat may well be better for sleeping as you can rest against the cabin wall with the help of the pillow provided on long haul. This always assumes that you can sleep on a plane, in reality I find it difficult to do anything but doze so it doesn’t really work for me.
- You tend to be undisturbed as nobody needs to get passed you. Great for watching movies, doing a little work or just trying to get some rest/sleep.
WINDOW – disadvantages
- While you get the bonus of some privacy it is difficult to get out especially on a night flight when other passengers may be trying to get a few hours sleep.
- You are unable to easily access the overhead locker. This tends to mean that you surround yourself with everything you could possibly need on the flight at the time you first take your seat thus reducing the precious space you have around you. Furthermore you are going to be the last out of your row when disembarking and will have to wait to access your overhead bag.
AISLE – advantages
- You have loads more legroom. Not only can you stretch your legs out into the aisle itself but you also have more room because there is no curvature of the cabin wall that you get by the window.
- The aisle seat makes it so much easier to get up and move around. This is more important to me on long haul, I prefer to be able to stretch my legs every couple of hours or so as it helps the circulation. The aisle also makes it much easier to get to the toilets.
- You have easy access to the overhead locker at all times. If you’ve left that must read paperback in your carry on bag its no problem. Additionally its much easier to get your things together as you prepare for disembarkation.
AISLE – disadvantages
- You are disturbed by others wanting to get out and move around or go to the toilet. However you can minimise this by taking an aisle seat in the middle row. There you are likely to be disturbed by only one person whereas at the side it is more likely to be two. Problem halved therefore.
For now its aisle for me but I can’t deny that there are some compelling reasons for choosing window. This perhaps why there was no preferred position in Simon Calder’s survey. As for the middle, its a non starter as I can think of no advantage whatsoever.
Some airlines now charge us to choose seating with extra legroom seats and those nearer the front generally costing more. I wonder if there will soon be a premium for aisle or window seats, leaving the middle as slightly cheaper option?
