# Airline seat preference poll **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 19, 2018, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airline-seat-preference-poll/810838 "2018-03-19T19:03:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Icarus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/icarus/32/72_2.png) [@Icarus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Icarus)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2018, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airline-seat-preference-poll/810838/21 "2018-03-19T23:36:26Z")
Window outbound, Aisle on the return. This is based on my common route at present, and time of day of flights. Window outbound because we take off over the ocean and I really like looking down over the water while we bank back inland. It gives me a moment of pleasure while experiencing the multiple indignities of air travel. The flight is earlier in the day, I can nap and read and I know I won’t need to get up an use the restroom. On the return I go for Aisle, because I know I will need to get up to use the restroom at some point. The flight is in the evening, and there is nothing notable to see out the window. The my-face to other’s-crotch/butt during boarding, and jostling during flight is just part of life’s rich pageant. ---
**Author:** ![JohnGalt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johngalt/32/184_2.png) [@JohnGalt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnGalt)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2018, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airline-seat-preference-poll/810838/22 "2018-03-19T23:48:29Z")
Window seat. I like seeing not just the scenery, but to see if I can figure out where we are based on the freeways below and the city layouts. Once I had an early morning flight over western South Dakota; I got to see Mt Rushmore lit by the morning sunshine. Pilot’s announcement: “Those of you sitting on the right side can see the city of Flagstaff. If those of you on the left side, if you look down you’ll see the Grand Canyon. And for those of you in the middle, if you look down you can see your feet!” ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2018, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airline-seat-preference-poll/810838/23 "2018-03-20T00:03:01Z")
Planes, trains, buses, the window seat for all of them if possible. I can’t stand being bumped into by people wandering around. ---
**Author:** ![Smudge777](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee59a6/32.png) [@Smudge777](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smudge777)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2018, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airline-seat-preference-poll/810838/24 "2018-03-20T01:35:17Z")
Always window seat (unless I’m ill, and think I may need to rush to the toilet). 1. I will usually only need the facilities once or twice in a flight (even if the flight is 16 hours long). The benefit of aisle accessibility is far outweighed by the benefits of a good view, more room and the freedom to lean against something. 2. While it’s great not to have to clamber over people to get to the aisle, it’s even greater not to have other people clambering over me to get to the aisle at a moment’s notice. ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_T-Cups](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ed655f/32.png) [@Sir\_T-Cups](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_T-Cups)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2018, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airline-seat-preference-poll/810838/25 "2018-03-20T01:41:22Z")
A simple poll with a simple answer: Window seat cuz then I can sleep. ---
**Author:** ![Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eyebrows_0f_doom/32/3119_2.png) [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eyebrows_0f_Doom)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2018, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airline-seat-preference-poll/810838/26 "2018-03-20T03:19:35Z")
Aisle. More room and I can get up when I want to without bothering anyone. I don’t care about the window as most of my flights have been overseas. I don’t care about seeing the ocean for 6 hours. ---
**Author:** ![Mr\_Downtown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Mr\_Downtown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr_Downtown)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2018, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airline-seat-preference-poll/810838/27 "2018-03-20T04:04:43Z")
Window for daytime flights over land; aisle for transoceanic flights where I’ll want to visit the restroom more than once. ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2018, 4:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airline-seat-preference-poll/810838/28 "2018-03-20T04:50:07Z")
Window seat. A view, GPS signal (so I can tell where we are) & something to rest my head against. Judging by the above responses, we have a lot of old fart who need [Grampers](http://www.freakingnews.com/pictures/19000/Senior-Citizen-Diapers--19030.jpg). ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2018, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airline-seat-preference-poll/810838/29 "2018-03-20T04:51:26Z")
> [@Sir\_T-Cups](#): > > A simple poll with a simple answer: Window seat cuz then I can sleep. Me too. And I rarely get up during a flight so that’s not an issue. ---
**Author:** ![Isamu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/7c8e57/32.png) [@Isamu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isamu)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2018, 5:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airline-seat-preference-poll/810838/30 "2018-03-20T05:14:35Z")
Combat seat. For the terries. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2018, 7:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airline-seat-preference-poll/810838/31 "2018-03-20T07:07:49Z")
I prefer the aisle, as I’m mildly claustrophobic, and I like having open space to one side of me. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2018, 9:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airline-seat-preference-poll/810838/32 "2018-03-20T09:01:38Z")
Window seat, preferably on the left side of the plane (facing forward). Unless it’s a \>3 hour flight, I’m unlikely to need the restroom, so I don’t need an aisle seat for that reason. The advantages of a window seat are obvious: a view, something to lean against if you want to nap, and being able to lean away from the person in the middle seat if there is one. ---
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2018, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airline-seat-preference-poll/810838/33 "2018-03-20T14:35:08Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > 1. I am close to the restrooms I am curious as to why you want to be close to the restrooms. I will use the restroom zero or one time on domestic flights, and maybe 2-3 times on transatlantic flights. I prefer taking the walk to be able to stretch my legs. If you sit near the restroom, you also get people milling around near your seat who are waiting for their turn. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2018, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airline-seat-preference-poll/810838/34 "2018-03-20T15:43:41Z")
Window. I like to see out. And if it’s a flight where I plan to sleep or nap, I find it’s impossible to do so in an aisle seat because of being jostled by people passing by. Admittedly the aisle is more convenient for bathroom breaks, but if a flight is less than three hours I probably won’t need one. On longer flights, I can usually wait until my row mates get up to take one until I go myself, so the disruption is minimal. I’m a little surprised to see window leading in the polls, since aisle is usually considered the preferred seat. But maybe Dopers are more interested in looking at what they’re flying over than the average person.🙂 ---
**Author:** ![peedin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peedin/32/14095_2.png) [@peedin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peedin)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2018, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airline-seat-preference-poll/810838/35 "2018-03-20T15:55:59Z")
Aisle. I have no interest in looking out a window, and I get up frequently for bathroom breaks/walking around. ---
**Author:** ![TroutMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troutman/32/6721_2.png) [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2018, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airline-seat-preference-poll/810838/36 "2018-03-20T16:10:25Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > I’m a little surprised to see window leading in the polls, since aisle is usually considered the preferred seat. But maybe Dopers are more interested in looking at what they’re flying over than the average person.🙂 Aisle was leading all of yesterday. I assume all the window people were napping, or maybe they couldn’t get out of their seats to vote. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2018, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airline-seat-preference-poll/810838/37 "2018-03-20T16:38:26Z")
> [@CookingWithGas](#): > > I am curious as to why you want to be close to the restrooms. I will use the restroom zero or one time on domestic flights, and maybe 2-3 times on transatlantic flights. I prefer taking the walk to be able to stretch my legs. If you sit near the restroom, you also get people milling around near your seat who are waiting for their turn. And you’re the last one off the plane. FYI. > [@](#): > > “There are only two reasons to sit in the back row of an airplane; either you have diarrhea, or you’re anxious to meet people who do” > Henry Kissinger ---
**Author:** ![Doctor\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctor_jackson/32/32_2.png) [@Doctor\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2018, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airline-seat-preference-poll/810838/38 "2018-03-20T17:12:29Z")
> [@dalej42](#): > > For any flight over 90 minutes, I’m going with an aisle seat, and usually towards the back of the plane, unless I’ve got a very tight connection. An aisle seat allows me to stretch my legs a bit and makes it easy to get to the bathroom. Since I fly only for leisure, I’m almost always having a cocktail on the flight and if it’s a morning flight, I’m certainly having a coffee. > > I’ll take the window if it is a short flight and there’s a chance of a good view. ^This, which is not a poll option. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2018, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airline-seat-preference-poll/810838/39 "2018-03-20T17:19:47Z")
Window, I like to watch the scenery and see if I can spot any landmarks. I always want the side that I anticipate will have the better views or which is least sunny. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2018, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airline-seat-preference-poll/810838/40 "2018-03-20T17:22:00Z")
> [@dalej42](#): > > An aisle seat allows me to stretch my legs a bit Unless you actually put your feet in the aisle, you don’t have any more leg room than the window seat guy does. And I’d think it wouldn’t be worth the hassle, because you’d have to move your feet every few minutes, between flight attendant and passenger traffic up and down the aisle. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airline-seat-preference-poll/810838.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airline-seat-preference-poll/810838.md?page=3)