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.
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!”
Always window seat (unless I’m ill, and think I may need to rush to the toilet).
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
