Window or aisle: which seat is better to choose

The advantages of the window

The window offers a surface to lean on while resting and direct control of the shade, an advantage for those who suffer from excessive light on daytime flights or want to enjoy the view. The main disadvantage is having to disturb your neighbors every time you need to get up, a limitation that weighs more on long flights.

The advantages of the aisle

The aisle guarantees freedom of autonomous movement, useful for those who get up often, suffer from claustrophobia or travel on long routes: moving regularly is also one of the measures recommended to counter the slowing of circulation in the legs during flights of several hours. The disadvantage concerns the exposure to constant passage of other passengers and the service cart, a disturbance that adds up during rest hours.

The type of flight matters more than personal preference

On a daytime and scenic flight the window adds real value to the experience, while on a night flight or purely functional route the aisle offers more practicality, especially if you plan to sleep or work on your computer. For criteria that go beyond window and aisle — noise, turbulence, emergency rows — our guide on how to choose the best seat on a plane provides more detail.

If the flight exceeds four hours — the threshold from which the risk of swelling and slowing circulation in the legs increases — the aisle remains the most sensible choice, regardless of aesthetic preferences.