Aisle or Window Seat When Flying

This post was updated on 16th April 2025 to reflect new content and current travel insights.

Which side are you on?

What’s your seat of choice when flying?

Are you team aisle or team window? Maybe you’re a back-of-the-plane strategist, a bulkhead fan, or someone who swears by the emergency exit row for that sweet, extra legroom. Do you have a lucky row number or a seat letter you avoid at all costs?

Personally? I’m a window seat girl, through and through.

Oops. Did I say that out loud?

Let’s get into it. Let the great airplane seat debate begin!

Flying out of Doha, Qatar on Qatar Airways. Left hand side of the plane. Circa 2015

Why the Window Seat Wins (In My Opinion)

There’s something magical about the view from a plane window. Especially during take off, landing or when gliding over snow-capped mountains, cotton-candy cloudscapes, or if you're lucky, a heart-shaped island. Window seats let you unplug from the in-flight chaos and drift into your own little world, camera in hand and forehead against the glass.

You don’t get that in the aisle.

Window seat perks:

• No one climbing over you (unless it’s an emergency or the aisle seat person really, really wants the window view).

• Full control over the window shade.

• Undisturbed moments to soak in the clouds with your Sauvignon Blanc in hand.

Sure, you might have to say 'Excuse me' once or twice on a long-haul flight, but let’s be real two restroom trips over ten hours isn’t exactly disruptive.

Flying into London Heathrow with the London Eye and Parliament Buildings. Right hand side of the plane. Circa 2012

Flying into London Heathrow. Right hand side of the plane. Circa 2015

The Aisle Seat Argument

Now, I know some of you are eyeing me from the aisle with serious side-eye.

The aisle seat crew argues:

• Easy access to the restroom (valid).

• You can stretch your legs a bit more.

• You're one of the first to disembark.

But let’s talk about those 'benefits' for a second. That extra legroom? It often comes with bonus bruises from the drinks trolley and random feet catching yours as they stroll by. And unless you're in business class, being the first off the plane doesn’t exactly win you a trophy or get you through passport control any faster.

Then there’s the job description that comes with aisle life: Meal-passer. Trash-collector. Overhead-bin assistant. Flight-attendant-translator.

Basically, an unofficial and unpaid member of the cabin crew.

Flying out of Lisbon, Portugal with the Ponte 25 de Abril in the distance. Right hand side of the plane. Circa 2012

Middle Seat? Only If We’re Friends

Ah, the dreaded middle seat. Unless you’re travelling with friends or family, it’s like being in limbo, sharing armrests, dodging elbows and silently negotiating personal space.

And who gets the armrest anyway? Left? Right? One? Both?

Middle seat passengers must navigate the great social experiment of in-flight diplomacy. You’re also tasked with letting the window passenger out and asking the aisle passenger to let you out. It’s a juggling act, really.

Flying into Amsterdam. Right hand side of the plane.

Window Seat Daydreams

I still remember one flight vividly—we’d just taken off from Luton. I bent down to grab my scarf, sat back up and realized my face was nearly parallel to the ground. That wild tilt as the plane banked? Unreal. I missed the photo, which as any window seat lover will tell you… defeats the entire purpose.

Still, it was a surreal moment I wished I could hit rewind on.

But that’s the thing. Window seats give you stories, moments and a front-row view to the sky show. I’m always quietly pleased that not everyone wants one. It means more views and more photos for us sky gazers.

Arriving into Miami, Florida on British Airways. Right hand side of the plane. December 2021

Views Worth Fighting for That Window Seat

Still not convinced about the magic of a window seat? Let’s talk about those 'Ohh' approaches that make it all worth it.

There are some airports around the world where your seat by the window becomes front-row access to real-life travel postcards:

• Lord Howe Island Airport, Australia – A lush emerald island rising out of the Tasman Sea? Yes, please.

• Madeira Airport, Portugal – A dramatic descent past cliffs and ocean waves. A cinematic trailer for your vacation.

• Innsbruck Airport, Austria – Snowy Alpine peaks stretch as far as the eye can see. Pure winter wonderland vibes.

• Paro Airport, Bhutan – Only a handful of pilots are certified to land here and the approach through the Himalayas is nothing short of epic.

• Seychelles International Airport – Think turquoise waters, white-sand beaches and a tropical paradise slowly coming into view.

• Nice Côte d’Azur Airport, France – Flying in over the sparkling French Riviera? Chef’s kiss.

How many of these scenic approaches have you experienced? Any you'd add to the list? Drop them in the comments as I’m always looking to add more to my window seat wish list.

Window seat views with Easyjet flying out of Luton Airport.

Final Boarding Call: Aisle or Window?

So what’s it going to be? Are you a 'look out the window and daydream for a couple of hours' flyer, or a 'get up whenever I want' kind of passenger?

Let me know your go-to seat in the comments. Let’s settle this airplane seat debate once and for all.