Where do you like to sit on a flight?

[TomAllenWife]

I'm travelling alone on a large aircraft in a few weeks

It's a 3-3-3 config with 2-2 at the back

Just trying to decide where I want to sit?

Where do you like to sit when you're travelling on your own?
I've only even been in business when I'm on my own so just gathering opinion

Since COVID, I have booked a window seat in the middle of the plane; I read an article recommending that you minimise the number of people you come in to contact with which means the window seat and distanced from the loos. Other advice included keeping your air vent on full and wearing an FFP3 mask and covering your eyes with your specs/ sunglasses at least while plane is on ground when filters don’t work the same way.

evelyn finally a great reason to wear sunglasses throughout whatever next flight may be (currently doubting I’ll ever fly again).

Left hand aisle seat over the wing. Always the hope the middle seat will be left free. Can get out to go to loo easily. On large jets, you are far enough back from the baby bassinets.

Aisle seat with the aisle on my right hand side. The window seat always feels more cramped and there's nothing worse than someone in the middle / aisle falling asleep so you can't get out to the loo!
Some airlines start the trolley service from the front and back and work to the middle whereas others start in the middle and work to the front / back so in terms of food and drink service you have to take your chances unless you know the airline!
I would avoid the back rows and any in the vicinity of toilets or you'll have people queueing next to you and if it's a long haul flight being near the galley can be disturbing.
I'm quite low maintenance, honest ;)

So on your plane, I'd be heading for 27C or 29C (always C!).

I always seat us at the front or back so we are off quickly and closer to toilet for the kids. With regards to aisle, middle seat or window I prefer aisle seat cause I'd rather be getting up and down to let others out to the toilet than having to ask people to move to let me out.

Window seat away from the wing so I can watch the view. Preferably not close to the loos. I quite like being at the rear because if there are any spare seats, that’s usually where they’ll be be.
This.
I used to cross the US- the ice flows of Greenland, empty mountain/ deserts of central area - amazing !

On the configuration you have, I'd go an aisle seat in the middle section as there's a good chance the two people beside you are together so the middle person will disturb their companion instead of your when they want to go to the toilet; worst case you will just have one person disturbing you get up. If you are in an aisle seat in the sections with the window, you will need to get up if either of the two people on the inside want to get out.

On a flight under two hours, I'd prefer a seat by the window, preferably not an emergency exit row as I prefer having my bag under the seat in front (and I'm 5ft3 so don't need loads of leg room).

@FlowerFlour

Window seat, midway along near the wing. The plane is reinforced around the wing so if there's an accident that area is most likely to survive.

The middle seats are awful, I just can't relax.

Agree...we always book these seats

Aisle seat on the middle 3. I hate feeling trapped at the window and in the middle there is a 50:50 chance the person on the middle seat will disturb the other aisle seat to get out.

Window, so I'm not disturbedby others either needing me to move so they can get up or by the passers by.

Always an aisle seat so I don't have to clamber over people to go to the loo. For some reason I find the window seats colder too.

@TomAllenWife

These are my options

D/E/G in 23 or 42 look promising if still available?

I prefer a window seat as I never get them travelling with family.

I will put up with squashed in towards the front for a short turnaround if it is a tight connection. But if I have flexibility, I prefer near the back as best chance of empty seats around me, empty overhead space for my bag (not having to go backwards from front on landing), and ease of access to bathroom.

It also depends on the plane itself and the actual flight - I will have a look at seat guru to find out if there are bad seats to avoid, and if there is an option to choose seats on the airline's website, I'll have a look for rows that are quieter and also that there is 1 person on aisle but no 1 in the middle, better chance of avoiding lovely dovey couples or a parent and child.

But if I am not in a rush, rear is safest (from studies) and I can just get in, get settled, and then also turn on phone and check messages etc before even thinking about gathering things on arrival.

Window, just in front of the wing, and it depends which side might have the most interesting view when descending. I can't wait to go on a plane again!

I once heard a couple arguing when boarding a flight where you could sit wherever you liked. She preferred the front, he was insistent on the back, but she didn't want to be near the loos, and so it went on... until he piped up sounding a bit panicked "well, have you ever seen a plane fly into a mountain backwards?"

Always an isle seat for me so I can get out to go to the loo

Once upon a time 0A…

These days, Aisle seat,

Considerations after that..away from the loos (avoids being adjacent to the queue and other loo related environmental factors)..and on a night flight away from the galleys (with the best will in the world galleys get noisy when meals are being prepped).

If turbulence is an issue then over wings is best, definitely not right down the back..

I can’t get too fussed about location vs. accidents TBH, but I suppose if I had to I’d suggest being near an exit (for evacuation purposes ) but please don’t pick an overwing exit row and then moan about being responsible for opening the hatch if the sh..hits the fan….

For long haul my favourite seat is the back right, back left is also ok - next to the window and noone behind me so I'm not disturbed too much. Noone climbing over me and noone kicking the back of my seat or messing around getting things in and out of the pocket on the back of the seat. People always say those very back seats don't recline but I've never found that to be the case.

For short haul ie 6 hours or less (other than an overnight flight) I wouldn't bother to choose in advance unless it was free and when I could choose for free at check in I'd just go for any aisle or window seat near the front.

This was our fully boarded flight the other day though - I'm glad we didn't pay extra to choose seats!

Aisle definitely. I feel trapped in otherwise and hate waking people to go to the loo.

Window seat if seated with my family and aisle seat if sat next to strangers

Over the wing as you feel turbulence less, ideally by the window in an exit row seat. I’ve seen someone get knocked out in the aisle seat by flying hand luggage.

1C

I like to board quite late, have someone take my jacket to hang up then sit down and hear the announcements begin.

Probably a bit of a hang over from weekly community on expenses. Sadly DH likes to be first on board. Sigh.

@ilovesooty

Window seat near the front.

Isn’t that where the Pilot sits?

Aisle seat relatively near the front but a few rows back from where they seat the baby bassinets . Side aisle seat...not the middle as often big groups in middle sections too