Travel Tips
Flight Seat Selection — Window vs Aisle, Free vs Paid
Updated June 25, 2026 | 5 min read
Choosing the right seat can make or break your flight experience. Here's everything about seat selection on Indian airlines.
Seat Types Compared
| Seat | Pros | Cons | Best For |
|---|
| 🪟 Window | View, wall to lean on | Hard to exit | Sleepers, photographers |
| 🚶 Aisle | Easy exit, legroom | Cart bumps, disturbed | Business, frequent flyers |
| 🤐 Middle | Sometimes free | No pros basically | Avoid if possible |
| 🚪 Emergency Exit | HUGE legroom | ₹200-₹500 extra | Tall passengers |
Seat Selection Pricing
| Airline | Free Selection? | Paid Seat Cost |
|---|
| IndiGo | ❌ No (random assigned) | ₹200-₹800 |
| Air India | ✅ Yes (at check-in) | ₹300-₹1,000 |
| SpiceJet | ❌ No | ₹200-₹600 |
| Akasa Air | ✅ Yes (limited) | ₹200-₹500 |
Pro Tips
- 💡 Skip paid selection: Auto-assigned seats are fine for short flights
- 🖥️ Web check-in early: Best free seats disappear fast — check in at the 48-hour mark
- 👨👩👧 Families: Book together so the system assigns adjacent seats
- 🦵 Legroom hack: Exit row or first row seats have 6-8 inches more space
