2B or not 2B? Which seat is best on a plane?

Window seat or aisle seat? This is a question that has long been debated among seasoned travellers. However, despite all the historic back and forth between window-wanters and aisle-advocates, only one conclusion has ever been agreed upon: nobody wants the middle seat.

Of course, in an ideal world, we travellers would enjoy the luxury of flying in first class. But we’re also university students. We’re bankrupted from one too many nights at Kasbah, let alone splashing out on champagne and caviar and slightly less uncomfortable seats.

For the majority of us, then, we have to make do with what Jeremy Clarkson once entitled “scum class”. That leaves us with just two options.

A window seat offers you picturesque views that can distract from the otherwise miserable airborne experience, while resting your head against the fuselage can give you an increased chance of falling asleep to make the whole thing go quicker.

Despite all the historic back and forth between window-wanters and aisle-advocates, only one conclusion has ever been agreed upon: nobody wants the middle seat

Aisle seats, on the other hand, offer easy bathroom access and slightly more legroom as long as you’re content with the in-flight team ramming their trolley into your shoulder every time they pass by.

It’s a tricky, and possibly controversial, decision to have to come to. The way I see it, splashing another £70 during check-in to choose one seat slightly less uncomfortable than the rest is about as unnecessary an expense as they come.

But, for want of reaching a scientific conclusion to this age-old debate, here are my suggestions for which seat is the least worst on short-haul, mid-haul, and long-haul flights:

Short-haul flights: window seat

When you’re only being tasked with enduring a couple of hours trapped inside that flying metal box, there is little need to worry about awkwardly awaking those on your row to squeeze past and use the bathroom.

Instead, you can enjoy the picturesque views offered by your seat at the window, especially as you’ll likely find yourself cruising at lower altitudes on these shorter, intracontinental hops.

You can enjoy the picturesque views offered by your seat at the window

Twice being allocated a window seat on a recent round-trip from Birmingham to Dublin, I was treated to the shimmering beauty of the Irish Sea and the greenery of the Emerald Isle. It’s just a shame that on the way back, owing to my assigned seat being on the wrong side of our Ryanair Boeing 737-800, the best I got was during our descent over Wolverhampton.

Mid-haul flights: aisle seat

I’ll admit, I’m not the most hardy traveller. Every time I step foot in a plane, a headache is never too far away. The dual effect of constantly drinking water as a consequence and those ritualistic 7am airport pints means I’ll find myself in need of using the bathroom every hour.

For want of keeping myself in my fellow passengers’ good books, I’ll always ask for an aisle seat for longer flights at check-in.

The aisle does come with one major drawback, though. While the window seat offers you the greatest chance of catching some Z’s, there is absolutely nothing to rest your head against in the aisle.

While the window seat offers you the greatest chance of catching some Z’s, there is absolutely nothing to rest your head against in the aisle

For me, however, this makes little difference. You could drug me up on an entire pack of sleeping pills, feed me a hearty turkey dinner in front of a toasty fireplace, and provide me with all the £30 airport WHSmith neck pillows in the world, and I’d still never be able to fall asleep on a plane.

The aisle seat, then, is my go-to play. If you’re wanting access to the bathroom or your carry-on suitcase in the overhead bins, if you need access to the bathroom or your carry-on suitcase in the overhead bins, or just to stretch your weary legs every once in a while, the aisle should be yours too.

Long-haul flights: aisle seat

As with mid-haul flights, my primary concern when trapped on board for a prolonged period of time is easy access to the facilities and my carry-on luggage.

However, this age-old debate all seems rather academic when faced with the trepidation of an extremely long-haul flight. Surely, the only thing that would make a 17-hour non-stop from London to Perth somewhat bearable would be seats in first class.

My primary concern when trapped on board for a prolonged period of time is easy access to the facilities and my carry-on luggage

The longest I’ve ever spent on a plane is nine hours from Heathrow to Calgary (with an entire row to myself!), and even that was a chore.

Still, if given the choice, it would be the convenience of the aisle seat every day. The good thing is, whether you’re flying for work or for your annual holiday, the destination is always worth the hassle of getting there.

And, if anything, this debate reminds us of how lucky we are if our greatest problem is struggling to fall asleep on a multi-million pound airplane.