6 ms·

Isn't aisle seat at least as annoying as middle seat? People walking through the aisle bump into your shoulder all the time, and the stream of people walking th

Isn't aisle seat at least as annoying as middle seat? People walking through the aisle bump into your shoulder all the time, and the stream of people walking through it almost never stops. It's not like you can use it as leg space. Middle is worst of both worlds, except at least you don't get a constant stream of moving people right next to you

gargravarr 9y ago
However, you can get up to either stretch your legs or use the restroom whenever you like. I always go with an aisle seat.
nathcun 9y ago
I'd say Window > Aisle > Middle. Middle definitely to be avoided.
- KozmoNau7 9y ago
  People are generally ignorant of seat etiquette. Window seat gets the window, obviously. Aisle seat gets the better legroom. Middle seat gets both arm rests.
- grkvlt 9y ago
  And in business or first class, always go for the rear facing seats...
amorphid 9y ago
As a large person, I can say the aisle is definitely where I want to be. There is a good chance I'll be able to raise the arm rest on the aisle side of my seat, which gives me more room to fidget. I can also more easily get up to stretch. For contrast, I once had to sit in the middle seat between two people larger than I was, and behind a person who reclined their seat. And when I'm sitting at the window, my head can bump into the curved body of the plane, which is quite obnoxious. Aisle seat all the way for me!
- rusk 9y ago
  and behind a person who reclined their seat. Jam your knees in there. There are certain periods of long haul flights where you need to recline but the inconvenience to your fellow passenger should never be necessary on shorter ones. Speaking as a tall guy as well, one of the things I do actually like about Ryanair is their seats don't recline.
  - isostatic 9y ago
    On most airlines, the seat is made to recline. If you don't like this, book a seat with more leg room, or book on a plane which doesn't have reclining seat.
    - KozmoNau7 9y ago
      I don't mind that people recline their seats. I do mind when they just smash it back as hard as possible the instant the seatbelt sign switches off. I also very much mind when they do it while I have stuff on the table in front of me, especially since the seats seem perfectly designed to smash cups and water bottles. Or even worse -- laptop screens. It's fine that people want to recline their seats, but they should be just a tiny bit mindful of the person behind them.
    - rusk 9y ago
      I habitually do, when the option is available.
  - gadders 9y ago
    I got upgraded on a BA flight once because the person behind me said he was too tall for me to recline my seat. I'm not sure where this idea came from that tall people can stop people from reclining their seat. If I've paid for a reclining seat, I'm going to recline it if I choose to.
    - KozmoNau7 9y ago
      Just be a bit polite and mindful of the person behind you. They may have something on their table. It doesn't hurt to just ask if you're going to hit anything. And believe it or not, some people actually have long legs, and physically cannot fit if you recline your seat. Should they optimally have gotten a seat with more leg room? Sure! But that isn't always possible.
aquadrop 9y ago
If you know that you care more about access to the restroom or your overhead bags for some reason - aisle, if you think that you're ok and won't need restroom and just want to be left alone with book/laptop/sleeping - window. Never middle.
rocqua 9y ago
You definitely can use it for leg space, or rather, for knee space. You're not going to stretch your legs into the isle, but just poking out your knee a bit can give much desired relief for those with long legs. For me on a budget airline, this tends to be worth it. Even more so if the person in front of me decides to recline their seat.
isostatic 9y ago
Depends on the flight. On long haul I sometimes go for window (if it's a sleeping flight), sometimes go for the aisle (if it's a working flight). The latter allows me to get up and stretch my legs. Daytime flights from Europe to Africa though I choose a window - never get tired of staring across the Sahara. What annoys me is people who close the blinds on the non-sun side of the plane. 7 hour flight from Frankfurt to Lagos for example, Flight takes off about 10:00 (GMT+1), lands at 1800 (GMT+2). What possible reason is there to want to sleep on such a flight - very few will be transferring from outside Europe, and those that do are likely from the US, where they'll have slept on the previous leg. On wide bodies, it could be a 2-3-2 layout, I go for the aisle on the middle in the hope that the middle of the 3 will be empty, or it will be a couple who won't disturb me. On a 2-4-2 again aisle in middle. On shorthaul flights though it's always window -- no need to get out of your seat for a 2 or 3 hour flight, so board, sit, and not be disturbed.

gargravarr 9y ago

However, you can get up to either stretch your legs or use the restroom whenever you like. I always go with an aisle seat.

nathcun 9y ago

I'd say Window > Aisle > Middle. Middle definitely to be avoided.

KozmoNau7 9y ago
People are generally ignorant of seat etiquette. Window seat gets the window, obviously. Aisle seat gets the better legroom. Middle seat gets both arm rests.
grkvlt 9y ago
And in business or first class, always go for the rear facing seats...

amorphid 9y ago

As a large person, I can say the aisle is definitely where I want to be. There is a good chance I'll be able to raise the arm rest on the aisle side of my seat, which gives me more room to fidget. I can also more easily get up to stretch. For contrast, I once had to sit in the middle seat between two people larger than I was, and behind a person who reclined their seat. And when I'm sitting at the window, my head can bump into the curved body of the plane, which is quite obnoxious. Aisle seat all the way for me!

rusk 9y ago
and behind a person who reclined their seat. Jam your knees in there. There are certain periods of long haul flights where you need to recline but the inconvenience to your fellow passenger should never be necessary on shorter ones. Speaking as a tall guy as well, one of the things I do actually like about Ryanair is their seats don't recline.
- isostatic 9y ago
  On most airlines, the seat is made to recline. If you don't like this, book a seat with more leg room, or book on a plane which doesn't have reclining seat.
  - KozmoNau7 9y ago
    I don't mind that people recline their seats. I do mind when they just smash it back as hard as possible the instant the seatbelt sign switches off. I also very much mind when they do it while I have stuff on the table in front of me, especially since the seats seem perfectly designed to smash cups and water bottles. Or even worse -- laptop screens. It's fine that people want to recline their seats, but they should be just a tiny bit mindful of the person behind them.
  - rusk 9y ago
    I habitually do, when the option is available.
- gadders 9y ago
  I got upgraded on a BA flight once because the person behind me said he was too tall for me to recline my seat. I'm not sure where this idea came from that tall people can stop people from reclining their seat. If I've paid for a reclining seat, I'm going to recline it if I choose to.
  - KozmoNau7 9y ago
    Just be a bit polite and mindful of the person behind you. They may have something on their table. It doesn't hurt to just ask if you're going to hit anything. And believe it or not, some people actually have long legs, and physically cannot fit if you recline your seat. Should they optimally have gotten a seat with more leg room? Sure! But that isn't always possible.

aquadrop 9y ago

If you know that you care more about access to the restroom or your overhead bags for some reason - aisle, if you think that you're ok and won't need restroom and just want to be left alone with book/laptop/sleeping - window. Never middle.

rocqua 9y ago

You definitely can use it for leg space, or rather, for knee space. You're not going to stretch your legs into the isle, but just poking out your knee a bit can give much desired relief for those with long legs. For me on a budget airline, this tends to be worth it. Even more so if the person in front of me decides to recline their seat.

isostatic 9y ago

Depends on the flight. On long haul I sometimes go for window (if it's a sleeping flight), sometimes go for the aisle (if it's a working flight). The latter allows me to get up and stretch my legs. Daytime flights from Europe to Africa though I choose a window - never get tired of staring across the Sahara. What annoys me is people who close the blinds on the non-sun side of the plane. 7 hour flight from Frankfurt to Lagos for example, Flight takes off about 10:00 (GMT+1), lands at 1800 (GMT+2). What possible reason is there to want to sleep on such a flight - very few will be transferring from outside Europe, and those that do are likely from the US, where they'll have slept on the previous leg. On wide bodies, it could be a 2-3-2 layout, I go for the aisle on the middle in the hope that the middle of the 3 will be empty, or it will be a couple who won't disturb me. On a 2-4-2 again aisle in middle. On shorthaul flights though it's always window -- no need to get out of your seat for a 2 or 3 hour flight, so board, sit, and not be disturbed.