7 Reasons I Always Pick the Window Seat (And Why You Might Start Doing It, Too)
Last Updated on February 10, 2026 by Lauren Belzer Sanford
There are two types of travelers in this world: the window-seat people and the aisle-seat people. Technically three: middle-seat people — but like, why? And while I completely understand the appeal of easy bathroom access and stretching your legs, I will always, always, choose the window. It’s my little ritual, one of those small travel preferences that make every trip feel a bit more magical (and very me). Window seats are where my daydreaming happens, where I get my first glimpse of somewhere new, and where I tuck away memories I didn’t even know I needed.
If you’re also a window-seat person (or maybe window-seat curious), here are the reasons I’ll never give mine up (unless I have no choice).
1. The Takeoff Moment (It’s the BEST!)
There’s something about pressing your forehead to the glass, watching the runway become blurry as the plane starts speeding up, and feeling the ground slip away beneath you. It’s like a reset button — the moment where the mundanity (mundane-ness?) of everyday falls away, and the adventure actually begins.
2. The Views!
Cities, coastlines, mountains, farmland patterns that look like quilts (I know you know what I’m talking about)…no matter where I’m flying, that first overhead view sets the tone. I love seeing the outline of a new place before I’m actually feet-on-ground in it — a little preview that builds the anticipation in the best way!
And seeing a destination appear below you? That “first glimpse” — island landscapes as you approach the Hawaiian islands, the Italian farmland right outside of the major hubs, the deep greens of the Pacific Northwest — is and always will be one of my favorite travel moments. It’s like the destination is waving hello to you upon arrival (and goodbye upon departure).
3. Sunrise & Sunset Flights
If you’ve ever watched the sky turn from dusty pink to lavender to deep, dark blue at 35,000 feet, you know exactly what I mean. Every time it happens, I feel like I’ve been let in on a secret — one only window-seat people get to witness. It feels like a movie!
4. It Calms Any Anxiety I May Have
Even though I love to travel, I’m generally an anxious being. When it comes to traveling, it’s more about missing a flight or connection than actually flying or traveling, but it’s still there. There’s something truly grounding about being able to look outside that subsides that initial anxiety. Watching the wing, the clouds, or the horizon helps calm my nervous system so much more than staring at the aisle ever could.
And on a more practical note, I actually get a little bit nauseous during takeoff, landing, or turbulence when I’m not by a window — nothing dramatic, just that subtle “off” feeling, like being in a car and needing to look outside to reset. Having a view genuinely settles both my nerves and my stomach.
5. It’s Wildly Inspiring & Sparks My Creativity
I get some of my best ideas on flights — blog post ideas, trip plans, entire mood boards. Being tucked into the window feels like being in my own little world for a few hours. No distractions, nowhere else to be, just me and my thoughts (I’m actually not really the biggest movie or music person on planes kind of person unless it’s a long-haul flight — odd, I know).
6. It Feels More Private and Cozy
There’s something so comforting about being tucked against the window — like having your own little nook in the sky. You’re not bumped by drink carts or people walking past, and you’re not in the line of sight of half the plane. Plus, I love being able to lean into the wall, curl up, and settle into my tiny corner of calm. And honestly, if you have to get up to use the restroom, who cares? The middle and aisle people can get up to stretch their backs and legs for a moment — they’ll be fine (and it comes with the territory).
7. It Makes Every Trip Feel More Intentional
Choosing the window seat is a small act, but it sets the tone for the whole trip (business or otherwise). It reminds me to look around, to practice “the art of noticing”, to see the beauty in the in-between moments. It’s the beginning and the ending of every adventure for me, and really gives me that feeling of wanderlust for places I have yet to visit and nostalgia for the ones I’ve explored.
This might sound silly, but picking the window seat isn’t just a preference for me — it’s a tiny love letter to the act of traveling itself. It’s a reminder to slow down, look outside, and to soak in every moment of the journey, not just the destination. If you’re usually an aisle person, maybe try the window next time. You never know — you might fall in love with it the way I did!
(I also mainly put this post together so I have somewhere to show off all the photos I’ve taken from my prized window seat, lol!).