Window seat: who is it for?
The window seat is ideal if you:
- Want to sleep during the flight (you lean against the wall, nobody climbs over you)
- Want to enjoy the view
- Do not like getting up during the flight
- Are prone to airsickness (look at the horizon)
Drawbacks:
- You have to disturb two people when you need the toilet
- Little legroom on the outer side
- You feel more movement in turbulence (this is less over the wing)
Good to know
Seats over the wing are more stable in turbulence. The rear of the aircraft moves the most — if you suffer from airsickness, choose a seat in front of or over the wing.
Aisle seat: who is it for?
The aisle seat is ideal if you:
- Often go to the toilet
- Have long legs and want more legroom
- Prefer to get on and off quickly at boarding and disembarking
- Are flying with a baby or toddler (quicker to the toilet)
Drawbacks:
- You are bumped more often by passing passengers and the trolley
- You see nothing of the outside world
- More light and disturbance on the aisle side
Middle seat: when is it unavoidable?
For most travellers the middle seat is the least popular choice:
- No view
- No extra legroom
- You always disturb someone when you get up
When it can be the better choice:
- You are travelling with a partner — sit at the window/aisle and reserve the middle seat for the other person
- You are travelling with a child who sits quietly — a child in the middle between two parents is safer than a child on the aisle
Insider tip: if you have the middle seat, you are entitled to both armrests. That is the unwritten rule among air passengers.
Emergency exit seat: extra legroom, but take note
The seats by the emergency exit offer considerably more legroom — sometimes as much as 50% more. But there are conditions:
- You must be at least 16 years old
- You must be physically able to open the emergency door
- You must not have a baby or toddler on your lap or next to you
- You must not store anything under the seat in front of you (that is where the emergency exit is)
With KLM and Transavia an emergency exit seat often costs extra (€15–€40). With EasyJet and Ryanair these are the most expensive paid seats.
Best seats by situation
- Short flight (1–3 hours): aisle for getting on and off quickly
- Night flight: window, preferably behind the wing
- Long flight (7+ hours): emergency exit seat for legroom
- Fear of flying: seat over the wing, less turbulence
- Travelling with children: row with extra space, aisle
- Business flight: at the front of the aircraft for getting off quickly, aisle
And wherever you sit — you will want to be at Schiphol on time. AMS Taxi Schiphol picks you up at home, 24/7, at a fixed price. No train, no stress with luggage — just a comfortable ride to the departure hall.
