Window or aisle? It’s an age-old frequent flyer debate that’s as divisive as walking into a room and declaring that “Toy Story 3” is mediocre (I’ll die on this hill) or that Beyonce is, in fact, way better than Taylor Swift (Queen Bey for the win).
No matter where you are or who you ask, people will have an opinion on the matter. According to a recent survey conducted by the team at Going, the public at large favors window seats, with 53% deeming it their first choice. Aisle, meanwhile, took 46% of the vote, and just 1% of people voted for the middle seat.
I’m here to tell you that 53% of people are wrong.
It’s a big claim, but I’ll say this now, and I’ll say it proudly: The aisle seat is the best seat on the plane, and if it’s not your first choice every time you fly, my friend, you’re doing it all wrong.
Here’s why I think you need to be pushing for the aisle seat whenever you fly.
Extra space
It’s 2024, and space in the economy cabin is a commodity.
Since 1978, seat pitch has shrunk from 36 inches to around 30 or 31 inches in U.S. carriers’ economy cabins, according to the president of Atmosphere Research Group, Henry Harteveldt, who spoke with TPG’s Sean Cudahy.
It’s such an issue that in 2022, the Federal Aviation Administration reached out to the general public to ask how they were feeling about it.
Unless you’re among the frequent flyer elite who only fly in business or first class, odds are you’ll at some point cram into an ever-shrinking economy seat. In these desperate times, I say you should take any win you can, and by sitting in the aisle seat, you claw back a smidgen of extra space.
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Granted, it won’t give you the same amount of stretch room common in the 1970s, but it will allow you to unroll your legs a tiny bit farther by dangling them into the aisle, even if only briefly. You can even wave your arms around if you’re so inclined or, at the very least, make use of the extra elbow room when you eat.
Sure, it may only be a brief moment before a flight attendant’s trolley smashes into your shin, but carpe diem. In these cramped times, we must live dangerously, and we must stretch (respectfully).
Related: Sorry, aisle-seat fans: The window seat is the best in the air
Unrivaled toilet access
I don’t know about you, but as a man galloping through his 30s at hyperspeed, my bladder is not what it was. I wasn’t going to share this, but hey, you’re already judging me.
Flying long haul while stuffed into a window seat with several other passengers blocking my route to the lavatory is one of my worst nightmares.
Thankfully, with an aisle seat, I don’t need to worry about any of this. I’m free to visit the restroom as often as I need without any fuss. I can even spot when queues are starting to form and get in there first by keeping a keen eye on the aisle. I have ultimate freedom.
The naysayers among you will doubtlessly say it works both ways, that those in the middle seat and window seat will constantly be asking me to move so they can visit the bathroom. In my experience, I find it works the opposite way — when you go, they go. People see their chance, and they take it, and the person in the aisle seat is the catalyst. You are in complete control.
Fewer awkward interactions
Need to get up to stretch your legs, grab a snack or for another reason? Know that it won’t be as simple to do from the window or middle seat.
In fact, you can’t do it at all if you feel as bad as I do for interrupting your neighbor while they’re cocooned in a blanket with noise-canceling headphones on watching an episode of “The Crown.”
Talking to your seat companions during a flight can be fun, don’t get me wrong, but for the most part, when you’re flying, people don’t want to talk to anyone they don’t need to.
If interrupting a stranger’s nap and then inconveniencing them so you can step out of your seat fills you with dread, sitting in the aisle will banish all of that.
Easy access to overhead bins
If I’m flying for work, I’ll usually carry a laptop with me, and if I haven’t been blessed with a business-class seat by my benevolent paymasters, I’ll be sitting in economy. At some point, I’ll likely want to put my laptop back into my carry-on bag, which will usually be stored in the overhead bins.
Sitting in the aisle makes this easy as pie. I just stand up, do what I need to do and disturb nobody.
If you’re in the window or middle seat, you’re faced with two choices: Disturb your neighbors, or cram your expensive MacBook into the seatback or, heaven forbid, under your seat. Don’t be that person. Choose the aisle seat.
Better service
From my experience, sitting in the aisle seat means you have an increased chance of interacting with flight attendants through casual conversations during service or by easily catching their attention midflight.
Related: We asked a flight attendant for their top insider tips on flying like a pro
Invariably, I often find this means that they’re a bit more attentive, be it asking more frequently if they can get rid of any trash or checking in on whether you’d like refreshments. In some cases, they may even make a point to ask if you’re enjoying your flight.
I’m not saying that you should take it too far and try to befriend everyone on your flight, but, you know, being friendly and polite goes a long way. In return, it makes it more likely that people will be nicer to you. Who knows? Perhaps you’ll also score some free drinks or snacks as a result.
Swift exits are possible
If you’re the type of traveler who is itching to be off the plane the very second its tires hit the tarmac, then I’ll level with you; sitting in the aisle seat won’t do that. However, it will get you off the plane a little bit faster.
Naturally, whichever part of the plane the aisle seat is in (the front, middle or back) dictates how quickly you’ll exit the aircraft — but the aisle seat, at the very least, gives you the chance to remove any carry-ons from the overhead compartment first so you’re ready to go as soon as disembarkment starts.
If you’re in the middle or window seat, you’ll not only need to wait for the person in the aisle to exit, but you’re also counting on everyone else letting you out and not barging straight past and locking you in a seat prison.
With the aisle seat, you’re in charge of your own destiny. Only a spiraling queue at immigration and baggage claim stand in your way.
Improved odds of cleaner surroundings
Cleaning a plane between flights can take anywhere between 20 minutes and a couple of hours, depending on the schedule. On the lower end of the spectrum, I think it’s fair to say that the cleaning is not going to be quite as thorough as it could be.
How many times have you been on a plane and found crumbs from previous passengers or strange stains on the seat or tray table? If you fly a lot, it’s bound to happen to you at some point.
Window seats are much harder to access than an aisle seat if you’re cleaning in a hurry. Not to mention, the window seats have far more surfaces — including ones that have undoubtedly been touched, leaned upon and who knows what else — to clean.
It might not be hard science, but I’d much sooner take my chances in an aisle seat, thank you very much.
Less competition
Let’s go back to our earlier survey data — 53% of passengers prefer to sit in window seats. It may only be marginally more than those clambering for an aisle seat, but it still puts the odds of you being able to swipe the seat you want in your favor. That’s just basic data science.
If you want to join the rest of the majority out there by rushing to lodge yourself into a window seat, be my guest; you’re just making this easy for me. Personally, I’ll go for the road (slightly) less traveled and reap all the rewards.
Bottom line
The aisle seat is, without a shadow of a doubt, the best seat on the plane if you take stock of the small gains that can be made from sitting in it. Yes, being able to look at clouds for a little while midflight is nice, but is it worth sacrificing all the great things that come with sitting by an aisle? I don’t think so.
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