Hidden in the middle of Ryanair’s Boeing 737-800 cabin, seat 11A looks harmless on the seat map—a standard window seat, ideal for cloud-watching and sunset-chasing. But once you sit down, the disappointment is instant. Instead of a wide window framing the world below, you’re greeted by a solid wall and, at best, a tiny, awkward porthole that barely lets any light through. The reason isn’t a design mistake or cost-cutting gimmick, but the routing of the aircraft’s air conditioning ducts, which run right where your view should be.

What makes it worse is knowing that just across the aisle in 11F, or one row back in 12A and 12F, passengers enjoy real windows and real views. With tools like AeroLOPA and other detailed seat maps, you can spot these traps before you book, choosing better rows and even slightly roomier right-hand seats. A few extra seconds of research can mean the difference between staring at plastic… or watching the world unfold beneath you.