Long-Haul Business Class Dilemma! 2 Window Seats, Window/Middle, Or 2 Middles?

by joeheg

We don’t fly in fancy business class seats that often. However, when we do, Sharon and I  have to decide where we’re going to sit. Will we take two window seats, a window and an aisle or adjacent middle seats?

We’ve tried all of the configurations on previous flights.

On an American Airlines flight, I took the middle row while Sharon took the window seat.

a man sitting in an airplane with a computer

When we flew on Aer Lingus from Orlando to Dublin, we both took the window seats

a woman sitting in an airplane

On our Singapore Airlines flight from JFK-FRA, we picked the two middle seats on the bulkhead.

a man and woman taking a selfie

So what seats should we pick on our Singapore Airlines A350-900 business class flight from LAX to SIN?

I already reserved two window seats. I figured since the flight was so long, we would be sleeping, eating, reading, or watching movies for most of the flight. For the times we wanted to see one another, we could stand up and talk.

a screenshot of a computer

If you’re not traveling alone, what’s your preferred seating for long-haul flights? Do you pick the middle seats, two window seats or a window/aisle combo?

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7 comments

JenM January 27, 2023 - 6:31 pm

Definitely 2 middles so we can sit next
to each other and our daughter in a window. I think it would be awkward to not be sitting next to each other, unless the seats faced each other.

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Christian January 27, 2023 - 6:46 pm

I guess a lot depends on how important having a window is to you. If you’re both huge window fans like me then take two windows. Otherwise stick with the center since that avoids clogging up the aisles and I know that I always find it distracting and rather disconcerting when someone is standing near me for a while during a flight, especially when the lights are dimmed so I try to avoid doing the same to others.

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Levy Flight January 27, 2023 - 7:05 pm

If there is an interesting view, such as over Greenland, then consider the windows. Otherwise consider the benefits of sitting together in the middle. My wife and I are flying to Australia next week. We have picked middle seats for this long trip. Enjoy the trip.

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Eric January 27, 2023 - 7:41 pm

The benefit of being on sae aisle is that you can help with getting bags into the overhead.

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Nick January 27, 2023 - 8:10 pm

We take the windows, perhaps 1 row removed, ie 3,5

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Ben January 28, 2023 - 4:59 pm

I’ve seen couples do the two window thing and always think it’s a bit weird. Just sit together in the middle? For one thing, if you take the window seat some single traveler might get awkwardly stuck next to a stranger in the middle. Sometimes it’s just nice to consider other people.

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A Wombat January 29, 2023 - 5:19 pm

Just flew the SQ A359 from Singapore to Seattle. Those business seats only have one window, but also the center pair are very effectively separated unlike other carriers. We found it best to pick a window and an aisle across from each other – you’re then able to directly interact via the aisle, rather than having to walk across the cabin or, heaven forbid, vaulting the center partition. You’re going to be leaning forward to talk regardless if you’re in the center pair or across the aisle. If you both like windows, then ahead/behind is fine, but we found it cut down on ability to casually communicate – we sat that way into SIN and it was fine for the shorter inbound leg. It also meant I got the bulkhead seat with two windows so it was an easy choice there.

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