# Where do you like to sit on a commercial flight? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 8, 2010, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-do-you-like-to-sit-on-a-commercial-flight/559958 "2010-11-08T21:09:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Asimovian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asimovian/32/172_2.png) [@Asimovian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asimovian)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2010, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-do-you-like-to-sit-on-a-commercial-flight/559958/1 "2010-11-08T21:09:45Z")
I’m dividing this poll into left/right seating and front/rear seating, so this one will be multiple choice to allow you to vote in each section. But the question is simple. Where is your preferred seating on a commercial flight? Poll to follow. Wait for it! ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2010, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-do-you-like-to-sit-on-a-commercial-flight/559958/2 "2010-11-08T21:24:39Z")
Aisle / upfront ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2010, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-do-you-like-to-sit-on-a-commercial-flight/559958/3 "2010-11-08T21:27:07Z")
Inside. ---
**Author:** ![Giles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giles/32/60_2.png) [@Giles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giles)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2010, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-do-you-like-to-sit-on-a-commercial-flight/559958/4 "2010-11-08T21:29:44Z")
I said that I prefer an aisle seat, but I really like to be on a plane where I can have a seat which is both an aisle seat and a window seat. ---
**Author:** ![Moonlitherial](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4bbf92/32.png) [@Moonlitherial](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moonlitherial)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2010, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-do-you-like-to-sit-on-a-commercial-flight/559958/5 "2010-11-08T21:35:53Z")
Window, middle and other selected because I’ll pay, beg, borrow and steal to get the exit row seating. ---
**Author:** ![LurkMeister](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3da27b/32.png) [@LurkMeister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LurkMeister)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2010, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-do-you-like-to-sit-on-a-commercial-flight/559958/6 "2010-11-08T21:37:10Z")
Most of my flying is taking the two hour flight between Raleigh and Chicago, and I prefer to have a window seat so I can lean against the wall and take a nap. I prefer to sit in the back so I can get my larger carry on bag (the one I don’t put under my seat) in the overhead ahead of the idiots who think they’re entitled to put both of their oversized carry on bags and their coat in the overhead. ---
**Author:** ![Asimovian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asimovian/32/172_2.png) [@Asimovian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asimovian)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2010, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-do-you-like-to-sit-on-a-commercial-flight/559958/7 "2010-11-08T21:39:59Z")
Front, because I tend to be anxious about getting off of a plane sooner rather than later (and, lately, I’ve come to believe that the flight feels a bit smoother from up front), and window, because I can generally go an entire cross-country flight without going to the bathroom, and I hate having people crawl over me or making me move. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2010, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-do-you-like-to-sit-on-a-commercial-flight/559958/8 "2010-11-08T21:48:01Z")
> [@runner pat](#): > > Inside. What? And miss the view? I’m just pissed cause you said it first. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Sleeps\_With\_Butterflies](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@Sleeps\_With\_Butterflies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sleeps_With_Butterflies)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2010, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-do-you-like-to-sit-on-a-commercial-flight/559958/9 "2010-11-08T21:50:09Z")
Window seat, don’t care what part of the plane as long as it’s inside ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2010, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-do-you-like-to-sit-on-a-commercial-flight/559958/10 "2010-11-08T21:53:35Z")
Get on the plane? Fuck you, I’m getting \*IN \*the plane. Let Evel Kenievel get \*ON \*the plane. - Carlin. I like to be up front so I don’t have to stand there waiting for everybody to get their shit together and leave. But I need a window seat … I like the view. Even if it’s just clouds. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2010, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-do-you-like-to-sit-on-a-commercial-flight/559958/11 "2010-11-08T21:54:29Z")
Window, and don’t really car about front/rear, though I usually end up in the middle. As long as I’m not directly over a wing. And I prefer port to starboard, unless I’m flying south. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2010, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-do-you-like-to-sit-on-a-commercial-flight/559958/12 "2010-11-08T21:59:32Z")
Aisle right at the back. I like to be a) near the toilets; b) near the galley; c) near an exit - in some airports you can exit at the back - plus in the event of an emergency I wouldn’t have to think about where to run. I used to go for window seats all the time but they’re 99% of the time disappointing (though 1% of the time you see incredible stuff). ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2010, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-do-you-like-to-sit-on-a-commercial-flight/559958/13 "2010-11-08T22:01:12Z")
I want to be right in front, behind the…bulkhead, is it called? That seat where my tray is inside my armrest because there’s no seat in front of me. Gets me just enough extra leg room that I can cross my legs, or even put my feet up on my illegally unstowed carryon, during the flight. Relieves the lower back pain, y’know. Also, I don’t have to keep reminding my kids not to kick the back of the seat in front of us. That’s nice. The only drawback is boarding last, and risking not having anywhere to put my carryon. That sucketh. ---
**Author:** ![RainGrowsBrite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ed655f/32.png) [@RainGrowsBrite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RainGrowsBrite)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2010, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-do-you-like-to-sit-on-a-commercial-flight/559958/14 "2010-11-08T22:19:25Z")
Front, Window, Exit Row… Best seat in the house! ---
**Author:** ![Fried\_Dough\_Ho](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a88e57/32.png) [@Fried\_Dough\_Ho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fried_Dough_Ho)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2010, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-do-you-like-to-sit-on-a-commercial-flight/559958/15 "2010-11-08T22:24:08Z")
Depends: On short flights, I want the aisle in the front of the plane (in and out of the plane faster). Longer flights, I want the window so I am not bumped and annoyed by those wandering by. I still want the front because I carry little and rarely have to deal with the overheads. ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Pearse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/richard_pearse/32/13144_2.png) [@Richard\_Pearse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Pearse)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2010, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-do-you-like-to-sit-on-a-commercial-flight/559958/16 "2010-11-08T22:29:58Z")
I don’t really care between isle and window, I’d probably choose window most of the time though. And I normally ask for an emergency exit row. ---
**Author:** ![palindromemordnilap](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/db5fbb/32.png) [@palindromemordnilap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/palindromemordnilap)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2010, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-do-you-like-to-sit-on-a-commercial-flight/559958/17 "2010-11-08T22:49:26Z")
No snakes section. ---
**Author:** ![KinkiNipponTourist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e9bcb4/32.png) [@KinkiNipponTourist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KinkiNipponTourist)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2010, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-do-you-like-to-sit-on-a-commercial-flight/559958/18 "2010-11-08T22:52:29Z")
Business Class. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![matt\_mcl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2010, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-do-you-like-to-sit-on-a-commercial-flight/559958/19 "2010-11-08T22:54:16Z")
Honestly, I like the window because I’m apparently six years old, and I like watching the takeoff and landing. ---
**Author:** ![Desert\_Nomad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desert_nomad/32/177_2.png) [@Desert\_Nomad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Desert_Nomad)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2010, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-do-you-like-to-sit-on-a-commercial-flight/559958/20 "2010-11-08T23:09:42Z")
Most of my flights are long haul from the US West Coast to the Middle East. I prefer a window on the right side going to the Gulf since the flight path for a night arrival gives a great view of Bahrain and Qatar on the way into Dubai. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-do-you-like-to-sit-on-a-commercial-flight/559958.md?page=2)