Aisle vs Window: The great debate

To ask someone whether they prefer an aisle or window seat is one of those casual queries that never receives a lukewarm answer.

Aisle folks staunchly believe that theirs is the best — slightly more leg room (albeit at risk of getting run over by a cart), more breathing room in general and the bonus of not being trapped by two other passengers.

Window folks swear by the advantages of being next to the hull — makes for better sleeping and better scenery. Needless to say, the camps are sharply divided.

More than 62,000 Hunch users have answered the Teach Hunch About You (THAY) question: “When flying do you prefer a window seat or an aisle seat?” In general Hunch users are firmly in the window camp; nearly 7 in 10 Hunchers tend to prefer seats A or F to C or D.

What really intrigued us though was whether there were distinguishing characteristics of people who prefer one seat vs the other.  Turns out that there sure are.

We uncovered correlations on everything from salary range to sleeping habits, magazine subscriptions to wine, marital status to tattoos. To summarize the findings:

• Window choosers are more likely to be younger, female, shorter, and more casual than their aisle compatriots.  They’re also more likely to be into nature (makes sense) and enjoy camping.  In general, though, they are not particularly well-traveled — yet — and they enjoy the comforts of home.  They admit that they can be ‘bed hogs’, which is why you might find them encroaching on your space with their carry-ons or reading material. They are also less plugged in (technically) than the aisle types, although they enjoy reading and are more likely to visit a real brick and mortar bookstore.  (remember those?)
• Aisle choosers mean business.  They are more likely to be older, male, taller, more educated, dressed up, and with higher incomes than window gazers.  They are likely to have an AMEX card, a valid passport, and premier status on at least one airline.  They likely subscribe to several magazines and are more likely to stick to one side of the bed at night (but perhaps only because someone else is also more likely to be on the other side).

As we occasionally do, we asked an illustrator to sum all that up in a picture:

In terms of more specific findings which Hunch’s algorithm uncovered?  Here are a few:

Seat preference:	WINDOW	AISLE
Age	18-34 yrs. old	35 and up
Height	5’5″ or shorter	6 feet or taller
Relationship status	Single	Married
Gender	Female	Male
Work responsibilities	Don’t have any employees reporting to them	Have probably given a speech to more than 100 people
General ‘tude toward life	Are seen as original and unique by others	Could be described as a straight-shooter
Income	Five-figure income	More likely to make a six-figure income
Stylin’	Are T-shirt folks	More likely to wear cufflinks
E-mail connectivity	Don’t think too much about their e-mail unless they’re sitting in front of a computer	Are habitual e-mail checkers
Sleeping habits	Are bed hogs!	Are content staying to the left or the right side of the bed, thank you very much
Thoughts on nature	Are closer to nature	Nature? Can take it or leave it.
On magazines	What magazine subscriptions?	More likely to subscribe to magazines – and twice as likely to subscribe to five or more
Bookish habits	Frequent brick and mortar bookshops	Own more books
Voter status	There’s a decent chance they didn’t vote (shame on you!)	Predominantly voted in their country’s last election for president or prime minister
Airline Flier Status	Not a member of any airline clubs or lounges	Twice as likely to be a ‘premier’ member of an airline’s frequent flyer program
Definitions of “recreation”	Enjoy camping	Are more likely to have been on a cruise
To bake or not to bake?	Are more likely to bake a cake for someone special than buy one	Are more likely to buy a cake for someone special than bake one
Foodie status	Don’t consider themselves a foodie (or don’t know what that means)	Have probably eaten caviar
Level of education	Associate’s degree	Graduate’s degree
Furniture shopping	After IKEA, the generic furniture outlet is the runner up	After IKEA, Crate & Barrel is the runner up
Bathroom routines	Use a manual (non-electronic) toothbrush	Are predominantly morning showerers
Find New Yorkers to be …	Not sure, or haven’t ever been there.	Polite, of course. Have you been there lately?
Traveling preferences	Generally stick closer to home	More likely to own a passport
Status of passport	Haven’t been outside of the country	Have multiple visa stamps
AmEx cardholders?	No, don’t have an AmEx card	Yes, have an American Express card
At the wet bar …	Varietal wine glasses? Not so much.	Keep the house stocked with booze
Dry cleaning habits	Very rarely or never get their clothes dry-cleaned	Twice as likely to get their clothes dry-cleaned on a weekly basis
On wine and wineries	Either don’t drink wine or else think that $100 for a bottle of wine is overrated	Have visited a winery
Response to breaking technology	Don’t have an iPhone … and don’t need or want one	Very early adopters of the Internet
Friends or family complain that…	They’re unorganized. Or, as they like to say, they “go with the flow”	They tend to be overplanners
Would rather read a book by	Helen Fielding	David Sedaris
On wristwatches	What wristwatch?	Wear an analog wristwatch
Thoughts on getting a tattoo	“Depends on where.”	“Never.”

So, which is it for you? Aisle or window?