They thought they booked a window seat. But it was Seat 11A.

[The New York Times]

What looks like a prime spot on airplane seating maps is prompting disappointment.

View in browser|nytimes.com March 21, 2026 As Chris Young boarded a recent flight from Seattle to Detroit, he was checking seat numbers and already thinking about the view. Then he saw it. “Oh no,” he recalled. “There’s the seat that has no window.” Shutterstock He’s not the only one who has been stymied by Seat 11A. → MORE TOP STORIES Plus-size fliers once loved Southwest. Now they say it’s fat shaming. → Coding after coders: This is the end of computer programming as we know it. → He lost a leg for Russia. Then, he says, his country betrayed him. → Sign up for the Travel Dispatch newsletter. Essential news on the changing travel landscape, expert tips and inspiration for your future trips. Get it in your inbox If you received this newsletter from someone else, subscribe here. Need help? Review our newsletter help page or contact us for assistance. You received this message because you signed up for updates from The New York Times. To stop receiving From The Times, unsubscribe. To opt out of other promotional emails from The Times, including those regarding The Athletic, manage your email settings. Subscribe to The TimesGet The New York Times app Connect with us on: Change Your EmailPrivacy PolicyContact UsCalifornia Notices The New York Times Company. 620 Eighth Avenue New York, NY 10018