Day 47/365: Friday's Unscientific Poll: Seating preferences on aeroplanes

[nanila]

This poll is inspired by a desire to know whether anyone actually prefers a middle seat.

Poll #19509 I suppose this makes me your Captain's Captain

Open to: Registered Users, detailed results viewable to: All, participants: 69

View Respondents

When flying in a commercial aircraft, I prefer the

View Answers

Window seats
48 (72.7%)

Aisle seats
18 (27.3%)

Middle seats
0 (0.0%)

Is Arthur allowed to call Herc "Skip"?

View Answers

No, Martin is Skip.
19 (29.2%)

Yes, that's fine, whoever's in the pilot's seat is Skip.
4 (6.2%)

I have no idea what you're on about.
42 (64.6%)

Comments

[conuly]

I like to sit in the window seat and have an empty middle seat next to me.

[pbristow]

Yus!!

[ayebydan]

seconded XD

[nanila]

That is always a fortuitous happenstance!

[redbird]

It depends: is there likely to be a view, and am I likely to be trying to get out of my seat to use the bathroom when most passengers will be asleep? Generally a preference for the window, but not always.

[pbristow]

Good point. It does depend on the length of the flight. Also, if I rushed to get to the gate 'cos I was late and hadn't had time to stop and pee.

[nanila]

Long flights are tricksier. I try to time my trips to the loo with imminent food service. Most people are awake then.

[emelbe]

The one exception: if I'm flying with someone I'm cozy with on an overnight flight, I will gladly take middle and use them as a pillow.

[nanila]

Ah, that is an excellent strategy!

[antisoppist]

I've said window because I like looking at the view, but it depends on whether I am travelling with someone I know or whether I risk being blocked into my seat by somene obnoxious, or whether I am with a child of mine, in which case I'd put them in the window seat and I'd go between them and the potential scary unknown person.

[nanila]

Yes, I think my question presupposed travelling on ones own. I also stack the children on the side that minimises contact with non-flight-staff strangers, so my preferences go out the window (har) in those circumstances.

[redsixwing]

Window first, aisle next, middle if I must.

On international flights, the very last row is a)obnoxiously near the bathroom and b) likely to have a bit more leg room, as it's probably two seats rather than three, meaning you can use the diagonal space a bit more.

[nanila]

I agree with the order of your preferences.

We tend to find when travelling as a family on international flights, we get put on the bulkhead. Even though our children are no longer small enough to go in a bassinet.

[meepettemu]

I don’t really care :)

[nanila]

That should have been an option. Sorry! Often when I do one of these polls, I end up wanting to re-run an improved version. Maybe at the end of the year I'll do a series of them!

[slemslempike]

I have more recently gone from being window-aisle-middle in terms of preference, to having it pointed out to me that on an overnight flight, if the window is not available, the next least lightly to be disturbed is the middle of the middle seats, so that is now my second choice.

[nanila]

I can see the logic there, but I think I dislike being squished between two people more than being disturbed.

[ironed_orchid]

I like the window because even at night with no view I can put my pillow against it and lean.

[nanila]

Yep, I'm with you there!

[angrboda]

The middle seat is like the worst seat, especially if you're on your own. There's just no privacy to either side.

I like looking out and I don't like having to always be on watch for others wanting to get in and out, so I prefer the window seat. Yes, Ryanair charges a stupid fee these days to seat you together, but I've told Husband that for his information we're willing to pay that thank you very much, so as not to wind up in middle seats on either end of the plane. (Hate Ryanair, but unwilling to start a UK trip by first travelling 200 km in the wrong direction, so have no other option.)

[nanila]

Ugh, Ryanair. Sorry you're stuck with them.

I really dislike being squished between two strangers. If it's my family/kids, I don't mind.

[tree_and_leaf]

Having reflected further on your Cabin Pressure question, I stick by my vote that - in theory - Arthur ought to be able to call whoever is chief pilot 'skip' - but it feels wrong and I can't see him doing it.

[nanila]

My memory may be faulty but doesn't he end up calling Douglas "skip"?

[tree_and_leaf]

You're probably right - after posting, I began to wonder if I was remembering properly....