SeatGuru has a map for each airline and plane type and says what seats and good and what seats are bad and they tell you why.

example

Back of the plane is always the worst. Most I’ve felt sick and most disruptive over the longer flights

I’ll generally pick very back, never once have I been annoyed by the lavatories, with headphones on you can’t hear them at all. For longer flights it gives easy access to them, as well as to flight attendants. And so you know you can get drinks and service directly from FA’s by walking back to them and asking, it isn’t limited to the few times they walk the aisles.

(I fly often and have friends that are FA’s)

May be just me, but I have never found seat rear of the engines to be less noisy than wing seats. I always sit forward of the wings if I can.

CMIIW but I thought they fill front and back first. Because I pick middle economy’s seat and and most of the time i got empty seat next to me

But you can’t recline. I know it’s only a few nanometers, but still.

My hack: if I can reserve a specific seat, get an aisle seat and stretch your legs out. Of course u need to be courteous to others and move them if people r walking past, and keep your shoes on, no one wants to smell your feet. I’m only 6ft tall and it makes a big difference.

Also, try and be the last one on the plane so that you spend the lease amount of time in those seats. Let everyone go ahead and board in your section and try to be the last in line to board. And if you get a seat near the front, you’re one of the last one on and one of the first off. This can equate to and hour less time spent in those awful seats.

And add twenty minutes until you can finally deplane

An in a crash, you have a nanosecond longer to live.

As a frequent weekly flyer, this is good advice for flights depending on the flying time, child, and parental patience. Some like the front seats with no one in front of them and leg room, allowing the child a small space on that floor. (TRADE-OFF: No space under the seat in front of you, so all your bags must be stowed in overhead on take-off and landing only).

Also, it seems most flights are fully booked these days (at least the ones during the week are).

Long flight is aisle so you can get up easily. Short flight is window. Also not in the back so ppl aren’t standing in the aisle awkwardly waiting for the restroom.

Window seat just in front of the wing on either side of the plane for the views I want to see on the way to my destination!

Pilot seat, because you have control.

1A. Usually first or business class. Window seat.

In first class. But as far as which seat in a row I always go aisle if I can. Except for really short flights I’m probably going to need to use the bathroom and this way I don’t need anyone else to get up. Plus it’s easier to stand up and get something out of the overhead or stretch out a bit if I need to.

I think your assessment is correct that it really boils down to how much one subjectively values not disturbing other people.

I have a little social anxiety - it costs me a lot to risk getting into any kind of potential (real or imagined) conflict with someone, and the idea that that person (who is now annoyed with me) is going to sit beside me the entire time on the flight, is really stressful and lasts throughout the flight.

I also have to pee often - this is especially the case when the only thing I can really do on a flight is drink water and watch movies, and I've been told to drink lots of water on flights because the air is dry and being dehydrated is a surefire way to have a bad time when you land.

So now I'm stuck in this position where I have to pee, but I don't want to risk increasing my anxiety, so now I'm just sitting there uncomfortably. Finally, I am so uncomfortable with holding my pee that I have to face my fears.

OR I CAN JUST SIT IN THE AISLE AND BE RELAXED THE WHOLE TIME.

Also, my partner, who's a woman, also makes a point that every time she has to walk over a stranger on a flight, it's a bit physically vulnerable. And most of time it's okay, but sometimes it's not, and to then need to sit beside someone for hours whom you might even suspect is creeping you is also not a comfortable situation to be in - so an aisle seat also makes her feel more comfortable and in control.

Obviously - the window seat is superior to you, and will always be so! That's great! I need people to not book the aisle seats. But for me and my partner, if feels much more relaxing and comfortable to be in the aisle.

Do you think it is the case that there is an objectively best seat to select on a flight? Or are you wanting us to convince you that you should pick an aisle seat next time?

You're kind of presenting the whole thing as an objective argument, but all of your points are subjective in nature. So which way are you thinking about this?

The aisle is next to ..... The aisle

This means that if I need extra space, I can use the aisle rather than having to fight with the person beside me. 

If I need to get something out my backpack, I can put backpack in the aisle and rummage, rather than awkwardly use my lap. 

If my feet don't fit, I can put my legs and feet directly into the aisle, at least for that time that the flight attendants allow. 

Also, aisle helps you play quarterback as a parent. If there are more than three of you in your group, and someone has to be the adult, then that someone has to be able to physically reach all the seats. This usually means the aisle. I cannot reach the window seat on the other side of the plane from the other window seat, but I may be able to reach both window seats from an aisle seat. 

Many people just don't like the feeling of being hemmed in and stuck in a corner: it feels like being trapped. Maybe it taps into some sort of basic fight-or-flight instinct.

In any case, that feeling is bad enough that whatever advantages a window seat may confer pale in comparison. For many of us, feeling like we're more in the open, feeling free, is worth any amount of disturbance.

When I traveled constantly for work (before I got status and didn’t have to worry about it /douche), my formula was as far back as possible in a row with only the aisle seat taken (I like window). If you pick an empty row, it ups the probability of a party of 2 joining you.

Or, just watch your seat selection on the app and keep moving it right up until when you board.

It's a crap shoot. Unless the flight isn't full (which is rarer and rarer these days) then having the middle seat open is mostly luck.

(I'm assuming you're checking the available seats before you book so you at least reserve one with the middle seat open, and you're not choosing a seat where the other seats are already occupied.)

Happy travels.

It's not guaranteed but in a 3 seat configuration have you and your travel partner select the aisle and window seats. No one wants the middle seat so your hoping nobody joins you. If someone comes offer them the window or aisle seat so you can sit with your travel buddy

Don't put on your seatbelt until you hear "boarding complete" and the door shut.

Don't mention "wow wouldn't it be nice if the middle seat was free this flight", to the person in the window seat (or the aisle seat).

I just buy all the seats on the flight, problem solved

Personally I'm in team aisle seat - especially for a long flight. I like having the option to get up and walk up or down the aisle when my legs need it, and I also appreciate being able to go to the bathroom without asking others to get up. You also can stretch out by putting a leg or two into the aisle.

However, if you sleep on the plane it can be annoying to be woken up for others to use the bathroom.

Depends on what matters to you. Do you want to get off the plane quickly or have to wait for everyone ahead of you? Do you care about having a bit more elbow room? Would it bother you if people are constantly walking right by you, possibly brushing against you? How long is your flight? Do you care about having a window to look out the whole time (and ability to control that window)? Are you especially tall or wide?

Other than that, check your flight on Seat Guru, which will highlight seats that might have „secret“ perks, such as a bit of extra room, as well as seats to avoid, such as seats that don’t recline or have a funky tray or screen setup or lack of under seat storage.

https://www.seatguru.com/

Came here to say this! Check out this website, which gives you ratings for each seat on the particular flight you are taking.

First time travelling ...

Get a window seat just in front of the wing or behind the wing.

You can to look outside.

When you get bored with flying, get an aisle seat.

Yeah if seeing outside is a priority you probably want to pick a window seat. If someone else gets it, they could close the window the whole flight. Typically a bit more shoulder room on the window side since the plane body is curved. If you’re good at sleeping in awkward positions you can use that wall to your advantage.

I’m personally of a different mind. It’s not the end of the world if I can’t see outside. I’ll be more focused on a movie or book or sleeping. But I like to be able to get up and stretch as often as I want without bothering anyone, especially if they’re sleeping. I don’t mind the occasional person brushing by me, but I know it bothers some people.

24 hours in a plane is rough. Plan when you want to sleep and when you want to wake up based on your arrival time at your destination so you minimize that feeling of being out of rhythm with the new day-night cycle. Important to move around, maintain blood circulation. That would be my advice.

Also a lot of good resources out there on items you can bring to make yourself more comfortable. Foot hammocks, eye masks, neck pillows and other contraptions to support your head while you try to sleep sitting a lot more vertical than normal, stuff like that. Oh, and probably the biggest one: noise canceling headphones. Also be mindful of whether yours can connect to that airline‘s in flight entertainment system.

AeroLOPA.com is the new seatguru. Current seat map search by airline.

What you are looking for is your own row, thats your goal. If you get your own row you can put your back up against the window and your feet up on the seat, best possible scenario in a situation like yours. So look at the available seat map and find where there are four rows together that are empty. Don't be in a rush to get on the plane when they are calling people, wait back and be one of the last ones on. That way if your row has people go to the one behind it. For instance, lets say you look at the chart and there are people in the back in rows 35 thru 40 and people in the middle rows 25 up to 30 have some people here and there. But you notice rows 31-34 are completely empty, pick a window seat in row 32. But wait a bit longer to get on the plane so most people have boarded and if someone is in 32 you can just move a row back to 33 or 34. The trick is to just be like okay, here we go row 33. Say that out loud and sit in your own row, no one will move you especially if they are getting close to closing the door, you are good. I've probably been on 45 airplanes this year and I get my own row a lot this way.

Unfortunately TripAdvisor (parent) has quietly killed off SeatGuru - most seating charts are accurate to 2019/2020 and if you try to reach out you'll get a form response that they're no longer making updates to their data. Still works for the majority of flights but as cabins/fleets refresh it will get worse.

You'll definitely want to get up a few times to walk around, stretch your legs, etc when you're on a super long flight. Helps blood flow/circulation and general wellbeing!

Any of the seats in the cockpit. This one simple trick pays YOU to fly, and the airlines hate it.

Seatguru, as mentioned, is a good reference. One other tip / point - in front of the wings is slightly quieter than behind.

They're both totally normal window seats, nothing unique or odd. If you like the window position then they're fine.

Happy travels and have fun. Congrats on your first flight.

Don't sit by the toilet on a long flight 💩😩

On both aircraft you'll be sitting slightly behind the wing, so you won't have to worry about it getting in the way of your view. Enjoy

The website seatguru is always your friend when trying to pick seats. So long as you know your flight number and the plane configuration you'll be able to pick the best seats. Without knowing your specific flight details we cant tell you if those seats specifically are good.

Screw the isle! It’s an overnight flight — you’ll want the extra space near the window while you sleep.

I’ve flown it and was really impressed with the extra space. Plus the novelty of being on the second floor of the plane.

The window seats are elite because they have big storage bins under the windows so you can keep your bags close to you

Eco is eco. Gut luck

I’ve flown thrice in the same seat on the upper deck of Lufthansa A380. 97A, can totally recommend! All that extra space (due to curvature of fuselage) is worth it!

website looks better than seat guru

This is great! I also use AeroLopa. They have been 100% accurate on all 48 flights I’ve taken in the last year.

Thanks for sharing that. I have bookmarked that site as Seat Guru used to be my go to. Kinda miss them.

Thanks for sharing! Any idea what “Mixed features” means?

Seat Maps has saved me from some awful long-haul seat choices, super helpful for avoiding limited recline or noisy spots.
Definitely worth checking before picking seats, especially on international flights.