Summary Aisle seats provide more space than window or middle seats due to the presence of the aisle. Aisle seats allow easy access to facilities, promote circulation, and offer quicker boarding and deplaning. Aisle seat passengers have greater freedom to move around but also face more disturbances compared to window or middle seat passengers.
Passengers generally choose where they sit on the aircraft (sometimes the selection is complimentary, and sometimes it's paid extra). So, where on the aircraft is best? Many people prefer the window seats to enjoy the view as they fly across the world. Others prefer aisle seats, and a few like the middle seats between aisles and window seats in wide-body aircraft.
Here are three arguments in favor of selecting the aisle seat. 1 More space Some low-cost carriers only offer 28 inches of seat pitch Average seat pitch Spirit and Frontier: 28 inches Average seat pitch JetBlue: 32.3 inches Average seat pitch Delta and Alaska Airlines: 31 inches (economy class) In a cost-driven industry where carriers are cramming more seats onto their planes to increase their passenger revenues, space is at a premium on today's airliners.
Indeed, over the years, the average seat pitch in inches has dropped from the mid-30s to the low-30s, with some low-cost carriers even going below 30. Ultra-low-cost carriers Spirit and Frontier only provide an average of 28 inches of seat pitch. With this in mind, any way to get a bit of extra space is much appreciated for taller passengers.
Of course, an obvious option is to splash out on an exit row seat, but aisle seats are helpful for passengers looking to keep their budget in check. While they don't offer any more legroom in terms of the location of the seat in front, the presence of the aisle allows more space to the side. Want answers to more key questions in aviation? Check out the rest of our guides here ! There is the option of angling one's legs into the aisle (although passengers will need to constantly bring their legs back in as the beverage cart moves up and down).
However, when the cabin is quieter, the ability to briefly stretch an arm and a leg can make a world of difference on long flights, especially when combined with the feeling of only having a seatmate on one side. When it comes to choosing a seat for a flight, there are a lot of particularly strong opinions. Most would willingly opt for a window or aisle seat.
However, sometimes passengers end up stuck in a middle seat.I prefer a window seat on a short-haul flight or a long-haul night flight if I intend to sleep most of the way. However, on a long-haul day flight, I find myself increasingly opting for a well-placed aisle seat to ease access to the facilities.
However, what is your preference? Let us know in the comments below! 2 Get up and go The WHO recommends getting up and walking every 2-3 hours Move around: Every two to three hours Exercises: Exercises on aircraft keep blood moving Longest scheduled passenger flight: 18 hours 50 minutes (Singapore to NYC) Getting up, stretching, and moving around periodically is advisable to improve circulation - especially on longer flights (the longest flights can last for as much as 18 hours). As Simple Flying explored earlier this year, such movement decreases the risk of Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) thanks to the increased blood flow to the legs. For passengers in window or middle seats, getting up for a walk around is equally important but requires the person sitting in the aisle seat to get up and make way.
While the aisle seat occupant will likely be most obliging, passengers in middle and window seats might feel conscious of not getting up too often to avoid disturbing the aisle passenger, ultimately reducing their movement. Get the latest aviation news straight to your inbox: Sign up for our newsletters today ! Meanwhile, passengers sitting in aisle seats have the freedom to come and go as they please without having to worry about potentially disturbing any other passengers to allow them to get up. As well as keeping yourself moving, this also has its benefits when it comes to accessing the bathrooms.
Seating toward the front of the aircraft is quieter than the rear. Obviously, the flip side of taking the aisle seat is that you need to be the one who obliges those with middle or window seats whenever they want to get out. For longer-haul flights, the argument can go either way.
If you are the type who needs to use the lavatory often, likes to get up and move about regularity, and can't sleep on flights, then there's a strong case to book the aisle seat. However, if you like to sleep on flights and don't need to use the lavatory often, then booking a window seat where you are less likely to be disturbed is likely the way to go. From 2-2 regional aircraft to 3-3-3 widebody plane configrations, airlines have experimented well with formations across the industry.
Some settings are more dense than others, but there are certain carriers that deliver the perfect solution. Which configuration is your favorite? Let us know what you think below! 3 Last on, first off Being nearer the exit door enables passengers to disembark faster than aisle seats Short haul deplaning time: Approx. 10 minutes Short haul turnaround time: Average 35-60 minutes Short haul passenger seating time: Average 25-30 minutes If you don't need to get on early to secure space for your luggage in the overhead bins, the aisle seat is a good option for reducing the time spent sitting on the aircraft.
After all, rather than getting on first and twiddling their thumbs while waiting for the plane to fill up, aisle-seat passengers with a personal item can avoid the rush and board right at the end. Similarly, upon arriving at their destination, guests can be among the first people off the plane sitting near the front. After all, they do not have to get anything from the overhead lockers above them or wait for others to move (another hack for smaller carry on baggage is to put it under the seat in front of you).
This, combined with the later boarding, ensures a quick turnaround for aisle-seat passengers..
