Had you asked me a few years ago, I would have said that I am staunchly #TeamWindowSeat. Being able to look out and see God’s beautiful earth from 30,000 feet? Yes, please. The aisle versus window seat debate was silly. There was a clear winner.
Or so I thought.
Why I’ve Come Around to the Aisle
While I could not have seen this coming several years ago, I find myself opting for an aisle seat these days, more often than not. If a flight is less than 3 hours, I’ll still often select a window. But anything more than that, and I pretty much always pick an aisle these days.
Maybe it was a lot of coast-to-coast work travel. Maybe my bladder shrunk when I hit my 30s. Or maybe it’s just youth slipping by me. The short of it is that I now feel far more uncomfortable these days when seated too long. I find it nice to be able to get up at any time, which the aisle seat allows. Gone are the days where I can stay seated for four or five hours and be just fine. My accident at the end of 2023 didn’t help, as it seems I need to get up to stretch even more often. But I was already making a transition to the aisle seat before then.
Traveling with kids may have also pushed me into choosing #TeamAisleSeat. One of them always wants the window, which I’m glad for them to enjoy. Since I’m the one paying for all the tickets, you certainly won’t find me occupying a middle seat. So, the aisle becomes the default choice. Thus, family travel has aided this transition over the past few years.
The Bummer: Not Having a View
Not having the wondrous view of the outside world from 30,000 feet is the unfortunate trade-off. Sure, I still can still see something from the aisle. But it’s not the same. With the window seat, you can rest your forehead on the wall and just take it all in.
Not having control of the window shade is the other frustration. Too many people keep the window shades down, even when the plane is taking off or landing. It’s one of my biggest travel pet peeves. Why pick the window seat, if you don’t want to look out the window?!
But some people do it. I wish the madness would stop.
The Best of Both Worlds
Of course, there is a solution I opt for nearly every time I fly an intercontinental route: book a business class window seat that also has direct aisle access. This is the ultimate win. And I’m willing to shell out miles for it on pretty much every occasion (at least if I’m getting a good return).
It’s rare that I fly economy across an ocean, although I have the first trip in years coming up. Premium economy was the lowest I made it in 2024, and for for 2021-2023, it was all business. One benefit of earning plenty of points and miles is that I don’t have to sacrifice the window for the aisle, which I’d certainly opt.
Aisle Versus Window: Final Thoughts
As I finish writing this, I’m enjoying a view of the San Francisco Bay Area from the window seat from a regional jet. I can’t get over the wonder of flight. It’s truly a marvel of this modern age. Hundreds of years ago, the very idea that people would routinely soar through the sky would have been preposterous. I’ll never take the view for granted.
Yet even with my love of the window seat, the weight of the other considerations tips the scale toward the aisle seat, at least for longer flights. Yes, I sacrifice my portal to the outside world. But my body thanks me later.
What is your preference? In the battle of the aisle versus window seat, where do you sit?
Same as you – I used to be window, but have switched to aisle. For me, it was being on the window sitting next to a gigantic dude in the middle seat and his gigantic travel partner in the aisle.
At least on the aisle, I can spread out into the aisle as needed
When flying solo I agree with you. When flying with my wife I’m #TeamMiddleSeat because my wife wants the window seat. It’s not much fun since I’m normally the biggest, widest, and tallest person on the plane but marriage is about kindness and sharing so it’s an easy decision.
When I’m flying with my family, I always take the middle seat including on recent long flights to/from Hawaii. I get the upgrades the rest of the year and am the one gone on business so much. Least I can do. Otherwise, I’m the exact same. I was all-window even on long hauls for decades. Now in my 40s, anything longer than 3.5 hours, I’m aisle knowing I will need the bathroom. The worst feeling is being on the window and middle or aisle are sleeping. You either suffer needing to go or be the ass to wake them. And I hate it when I’m on the aisle and the window closes it. I want to see things both on the ground and when landing.
I am the opposite. I used to prefer aisle but lately prefer the window. I do not need to use the lavatory often.
1. Nobody bumps me when walking
2. No chance of luggage falling on me
3. View of airports
4. View of landscape if daytime
5. Possibly more sheltered from coughing in the aisle but possibly no benefit.
Big drawback is delayed evacuation