When booking a flight, there’s only two real choices for seating options. No one wants to be stuck in the middle of a row, so most people will always choose between window or aisle.
However, one of these choices is actually significantly better than the other for a couple of reasons. One crucial reason is that this seat is actually more likely to be properly cleaned between flights. According to Andrea Platania, travel expert at Transfeero, the aisle seat is “always a winner”.
She said: “Cabin crews have limited time between flights to clean every row, and reaching window seats properly is tricky.
“The aisle seats tend to be wiped more thoroughly simply because they’re easier to access.”
As well as likely receiving a more thorough cleaning, the aisle seat also feels a little fresher during long haul flights. This is due to the way that air circulates in the cabin of the plane.
Andrea explained: “Air in the cabin circulates from top to bottom and side to side. So while the whole plane shares the same filtered air, being in the aisle gives slightly more exposure to moving air, as it can feel fresher, especially on older aircraft.”
People who prefer the aisle seat often cite more freedom to move as one of the reasons they like it. You don’t have to clamber over other people to get to the bathroom, or stretch your legs.
Andrea said: “You can move when you want without asking anyone to stand up or doing that awkward shuffle past strangers. Being in the aisle means you can stretch, go to the loo or grab something from the overhead bin whenever you please.”
Those in the aisle seat are also usually among the first to disembark the flight too.
Andrea said: “When everyone stands up at once, you’re already halfway to the door while the window seat passengers are still waiting to squeeze out.
“For business travellers or anyone catching a transfer, those few minutes can be priceless.”