Joys of a window seat

[Wannabe Flyer]

What so many of us dream of!!!

Joys of the plane's window seat (http://www.ndtv.com/news/world/joys-of-the-planes-window-seat-22347.php)

[Rusland 17]

Nope... give me an aisle seat every time - mainly because I can be off the plane quickly, minimising the time spent queuing at immigration. Am I unusual in having almost no interest in looking out of the window when flying?

[Capetonian]

I prefer a window seat. I find looking out quite relaxing and often interesting and it beats the view of the aisle and the people opposite, or the head of the person in front. I can lean against the bulkhead, distancing myself from the snorer/nosepicker/talker/foodflicker in the adjacent seat with his or her bad breath/BO/flatulence/inane conversation.

I am not disturbed by someone climbing over me or disturbing me to get in and out, granted I may have to do so to others but that's their problem not mine. I don't get my legs and arms banged every time the service trolley or an overweight passenger goes up the aisle, and I don't have people congregating next to my seat to use the toilets.

I can sit peacefully when the 'plane arrives instead of being forced to join the baah..... baah ... herd in the aisle who stand there until the doors open.

I can never for the life of me understand why anyone would want an aisle seat. Mrs. CT always has the aisle seat, she hates the window seat, but then I've never understood her either. Thankfully though it's one less thnig to argue about.

[PAXboy]

Window every time but more ... window on the Sunny Side of the machine. If departing in darkness and arriving in light, then the side where the sun is expected to be!

Always been like this - even when I travelled regularly on biz. I, too, wait until the crowd is off, and if I have checked bags then I'm often last off when in Y. These days, my lh is in Premiumn Economy and so I get out at a suitable time.

Windows are vital to see the world, the clouds, the airports, other traffic, to gain privacy, to dream. When travelling in company, it will depend on the lady and if she is very keen for the window I may well relent! On the occaisons that I have been to a destination before, then I always let my companion take the window to see the view.

I agree about London but Cape Town is usually good - although more so on departure (winds of course). I was fortunate enough to go through Kai Tak a number of times. Lac Leman looks on good on easterly approach to GVA, MUC on departure has great views of the mountains ... there are so many and I want to see them all. :8

[JEM60]

CAPETONIAN.
If wife and I travelling together, we always try and get opposing aisle seats. Long Haul means having to get up at least once for loo, and I like to walk about and not risk DVT. I have long legs, and, particularly with South African Airways towards Christmas, find that I can have more leg room by using some of the aisle room, provided I don't trip up the FA, of course. Wife has the same argument.
I do, however like a window seat, but find the inconvenience of getting up and climbing over sleeping people not worth the view [except coming in to Cape Town of course.]:)

[Rush2112]

As a frequent peer (i.e., one who pees a lot, not a lord!) unless it's a short flight the window seat is not really a good choice for me... Or the person(s) outside me.

[Tarq57]

What's wrong with a window seat that is also an aisle seat?
(Once you've had big you won't go back.)

[TheChitterneFlyer]

I've never understood why everyone (mostly everyone) stands-up just prior to the aircraft arriving at the gate. I often wish that the aircraft had to brake hard and that all of those idiots would then fall over in the aisle.

It's not as if your luggage will be waiting for you in the baggage hall! That's another issue, because the same idiots are then standing within their own alleged private space next to the baggage belt denying others to reach for their luggage.

I'll invariably remain seated and be treated to the comedy of watching those at the rear of the aircraft attempting to deplane first :ugh:. Where have good old common sense and good manners gone... out of the window I'd surmise!

TCF

[Avman]

Ditto to Capetonian's post. I thought I'd written it!

[rottenray]

Cape writes:

I can sit peacefully when the 'plane arrives instead of being forced to join the baah..... baah ... herd in the aisle who stand there until the doors open.:D

The last 5 or 6 times I've flown, I've been very lucky and have gotten my prized window seat. Seeing the world from cruise altitude never gets old.

Also, you don't get bumped into by the crap-carts or wobbly folks on their way to the toilet, and it's harder for numbskulls to drop things out of the overheads onto your head.

And there is a now a great treat to be had, as Cape has mentioned - the insane rush to get off the plane.

If I'm in a low-numbered seat near the front, I'll spend those few minutes standing hunched over just so I can look back and watch the process.

It is absolutely hilarious - the 3 Stooges (or the Keystone Cops) meets modern tech. These are mostly the same folks who drive aggressively in heavy city traffic, weaving and passing, only to end up caught at the same stop lights the less chaotic drivers do.

I'm also fond of the idiots who will stand in the aisle and stretch a bit, oblivious to those behind.

The last time I flew commercial, one of the FAs thanked those of us who remained seated and didn't contribute to the general mayhem.

This was prolly brought on by the idiot in the row in front of me in the window seat, who stepped all over the guy next to him trying to contort himself so he could get his stuff out of the overhead before the two others in that row could. He dropped his bloated roller case into the aisle, it popped open, and people had to wait while the person in that row on the aisle picked up all the jerk's junk.

The passengers of Greyhound, et cetera, don't show this same lack of sense - debarking is usually pretty orderly.

..?

[Herod]

Many years ago I flew the Britten-Norman Trislander. One of the great things about it was that every seat was a window seat :ok:

[Capot]

....and what's more every seat pair has its own door.....now that's luxury!

[ulxima]

I'm also fond of the idiots who will stand in the aisle and stretch a bit, oblivious to those behind


I am one of them and I see nothing wrong with this.
Here the reasons why I choose an aisle seat:
1) I do not like to disturb, so I can stand up and take my laptop or anything else I might need from the overhead when I need it (except when belt sign is on)
2) like point 1, so on LH I can stand up and go to the toilet or to the bar behind (or in front) when I need it (same exception as per point 1 applies)
3) as soon as the cockpit crew turn off the belt sign at the gate (or at the parking stand) I like to unfast the belts, stand up and stretch a bit, whatever this "bit" is long (however within reasons). I let all the passenger who are in front of me (and it means also those seated on a window seat) to get out first, I do not jump over them and I am not in a hurry.
4) I am not disturbed by the trolley or by other passengers (or children) passing nearby
5) I know most passengers prefer window seats, so 9 out of 10 I find the seat I like most
6) I have a better view of the safety briefing (yes, I am among those Frequent Idiots, Platinum Cardholders, who listen to and watch to every safety briefing with great attention and respect).
7) I have a better view of cabin layout and, if necessary, of vacant seats (or rows) that could be of interest to me.

You can continue to call me idiot. I do not really care, I am fine with my way. Please continue to choose your window seat and thank you for remaining seated at the arrival gate.

Ciao
Ulxima

[Pohutu]

Flying is my time out, when I've got little to do but contemplate. So it's a window seat every time for me too, but it's getting complicated. As well as the sunrise and which-side-of-the-plane-for-landing, there's also the moon to take into account. I haven't quite got to the stage of organising my flights and seats around the full moon, but if they happen to coincide, then I have to be on that side. The view at night takes my breath away every time.


When travelling in company, it will depend on the lady and if she is very keen for the window I may well relent! On the occaisons that I have been to a destination before, then I always let my companion take the window to see the view.



Your travelling companions are very fortunate! Being one of those ladies who is very keen for the window, I have come up against this conundrum pretty often, but it's generally only been resolved by sitting in separate rows. Mind you, that was nothing to the debate which ensued one time when two of us were informed on checking in together that the flight was overbooked and one of us would need to be upgraded....

As for favourite arrivals, for me, the central London approach is great, but my absolute favourite would have to be coming in to Auckland on a clear day from the west, with a view of the snow on Mt Taranaki over 200k in the distance.

[PAXboy]

UlximaYou can continue to call me idiot. I hope that no one in this cabin does that. Otherwise they will be sitting on the naughty step which, in our case, is the bottom step up to the L1 and everyone will walk past and bash them with their hand case. :}

PohutuYour travelling companions are very fortunateThat is kind of you to say but, as a middle aged bloke, I have learnt one or two things about women. But I do mean ONE or TWO, it would be madness to presume that any man could learn more than two things about women.

That said, there was an occasion when I was on biz (My first ever Upper Class LGA~EWR, that's how long ago it was!) and the days of companion tickets. My wife, as was, willingly took the Y companion as it was not possible to get her into the big seat. Since she had a totally free flight and a week's accommodation in the Vista Hotel at WTC, as was, she did not complain!!

[MPN11]

As we tend to travel as a couple [and, yes, rottenray, I'm possibly a "wobbly" in your books] the OH always takes the window to avoid all the grubby people that mill around the cabin. I just trip them up if they annoy me, but she's too nice for that.

I don't care about the window - I've seen clouds for decades, and I really don't get excited by them any more. Access to the lavatory is, however, a good thing ... and being close to the FA/CC so that when she she/he says "Tea or Coffee" I don't mis-hear some sexual suggestion.

I agree 100% with the "panic evacuation" mentality before the doors are even close to being open. Immigration and bag delivery will take forever - I always hope I live long enough to achieve both :cool:

[Pohutu]

MPN11
...and being close to the FA/CC so that when she she/he says "Tea or Coffee" I don't mis-hear some sexual suggestion

Sounds like you must have had some eventful flights! :ooh:

TheChitterneFlyer
I've never understood why everyone (mostly everyone) stands-up just prior to the aircraft arriving at the gate. I often wish that the aircraft had to brake hard and that all of those idiots would then fall over in the aisle.


The best (though probably apocryphal) solution I heard was the cabin announcement on landing "Welcome to London Heathrow. Due to our late arrival, we've got a very short turnaround time, so we're looking for volunteer passengers to assist with cleaning the aircraft on arrival. If you'd like to volunteer, please make yourself known to the cabin crew by standing up during our taxi to the gate."

[JEM60]

POHUTU
Sounds like the cabin announcement was a Southwest Airlines flight in the USA. Always amusing to travel with, they never seemed to take flying seriously, although, of course, in reality they did.

[Thames virtual]

I agree 100% with the "panic evacuation" mentality before the doors are even close to being open. Immigration and bag delivery will take forever - I always hope I live long enough to achieve both

Me too! My husband is a wheelchair user, who can walk, although extremely slowly, off the plane. We always get off last, and still make it to the baggage delivery in plenty of time! It's actually quite relaxing sitting there, watching everybody else go crazy trying to get out.

TV

[rottenray]

MPN11 writes:

[and, yes, rottenray, I'm possibly a "wobbly" in your books]I was really thinking of those younger fools who have a few too many drinks, and then have trouble driving their sweaty Birkenstocks down the aisle on the way to the head...

A number of years back, I was clunked in the side of the face by a Sony Walkman which became detached from some drunk fratgirl who had fallen out of her sandals.

Walkmans are heavy, and I would have preferred being clunked by any number of other softer things. :)


Chit writes:

I often wish that the aircraft had to brake hard and that all of those idiots would then fall over in the aisle.Bowling w/ PAX?

Sign me up!


I've never understood why anyone is in a terrible hurry to get off the plane and back into the terminal - generally speaking, that is where the most unpleasant part of air travel happens, at least in my opine.

RR

[Lanc53]

I prefer a window seat whenever possible.

Nothing like landing at the old Hong Kong airport (can’t do it any more).

Closer to home, there is the approach to Madeira airport. Or just looking out and seeing the full silver moon dangling beneath the upturned winglet as though it was connected to the aircraft. :)

Never seen London from the air, the weather is always badBut I must admit these days I often fall asleep when there are only clouds to see. As for the rush to get off the plane, I always seem to have just missed my connection so what is the hurry?

Lanc53

[rottenray]

ulixma writes:

I am one of them and I see nothing wrong with this.
Here the reasons why I choose an aisle seat:
1) I do not like to disturb, so I can stand up and take my laptop or anything else I might need from the overhead when I need it (except when belt sign is on)
..... of cabin layout and, if necessary, of vacant seats (or rows) that could be of interest to me.

You can continue to call me idiot. I do not really care, I am fine with my way. Please continue to choose your window seat and thank you for remaining seated at the arrival gate.I was speaking of deboarding times, not during flight. Sorry for the misunderstanding.


RR

[ulxima]

I was speaking of deboarding times, not during flight. Sorry for the misunderstanding


No misunderstanding at all, RR.
I got the point and you too.

Ciao
Ulxima

[Scarbagjack]

Window for me...,same as some others, I never get bored with a view that very few of the planets population get to experience.
I fly for work mostly, and leisure when I get the chance,but even when faced with the folk that feel the need to rush on or off the aircraft or win the chequered flag at the carousel, I always feel privileged to have had the opportunity to have flown.
Just my point of view.

Enjoy.
Scarbagjack

[SandyGarrity]

Window for me every time. I am usually the last one off, as I cant stand hanging about for luggage.

[ThreadBaron]

Window - especially the front window! After decades I plucked up the courage to ask for a visit to the flight deck on a 737, ABZ-LHR, just one month before 9/11!!

The FO hand-flew the night approach to 9L, something I shall never forget. I was not in a rush to get off either ...

That's one tick on my 'Things to do Before I Die' list.

[JEM60]

THREADBARON
Those were that days, eh!!!!. Front window as SLF in Trident into Heathrow, 757 into Fuertaventura, 747 into Toronto, and yes, Concorde!!!.

[BaronChotzinoff]

If what he writes is actually true, I hope he's a better pilot than a writer, it's appallingly kitchy, cliched and badly structured. Compare

Years later, I surprised no one when I left a career in management consulting to become an airline pilot.

Then in the next paragraph:

Friends and family were anything but shocked by my career change. :} :confused:

And less of this please:

You'll see the texture of the glaciers, sky blue lakes and peaks so iconic that you'll find yourself reaching for some milk chocolate.

Now I admit I DO start reaching for the cigars whenever I hear Bach's 'Air on the G String', but this ^^^ is going a bit far ...

[GOLF_BRAVO_ZULU]

A window seat really is a must-have for me too. I never tire of looking at what's out there.

I do recall, though, flying to Vancouver with Air Canada. A grandstand, nil cloud view of Iceland. Unfortunately, the aircraft doubled as an airborne cinema and the very stroppy waitresses insisted that I pull down the bloody blind. Fully, that is; not open even a fraction! I later saw bits of Southern Greenland, 5 seconds at a time and at about 1 minute intervals. :*

[GuywitaBeer]

I'd go nuts on anything longer than a 1 hours flight during daylight without my window seat. I love to see the world below and try figure out where I am. If it is somewhere I haven't been before, I'm guaranteed to have my camera out for a few snaps.

I'm very obsessive about picking my seat (when possible) and always make sure when I'm going somewhere new to check out a few things like the which is the most common runway to land on during the time of year I'm arriving, STAR and SID plates so I get an idea of what else I might get to see, a seat map for a particular airline's aircraft with the wing positions marked don't want to sit on an A380 wing, or next to the engine on a 717, and then jump onto Google Earth to see what is likely to be on offer for my viewing pleasure and help me decide what side to sit on.

2 Favourites of mine.

Lihue on Kaua'i (Hawaii):-
Left seat and you get some nice coastal scenery and a harbour and mountains in the background.

Sydney :-
From the Pacific Ocean for 32L, right side this time and you will see Manly beach, the heads, the city including the Harbour Bridge and Opera House, then once you've circled around you get the coast south of the airport briefly.
Coming from Melbourne to Sydney sit on the left side and again on 32L you will get the Blue Mountains and the coast line.

[redsnail]

The window seat I like it the one I am paid to look out of. It's the best. :ok:

Normally I prefer an aisle seat just so I can get up and go to the loo when I want. Often I have sped to the gate after work so I often don't get time to do the necessities.

A couple of days ago I was on a Cyprus Airways flight to Larnaca from Thiefrow. I had a window seat down the back. (As an aside, very pleased with the service, well done). As we were approaching Larnaca the little girl next to me was really keen to look out. I offered to swap with her and her mother as I see out the windows all the time.

They both really enjoyed it. For me? The view I got out of my window seat 2 days later more than made up for it. :E