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When booking a flight, most people will always choose between window or aisle — but one of these choices is actually significantly better than the other for a couple of reasons

When it comes to booking a flight, there are typically two preferred seating options. No one fancies being sandwiched in the middle of a row, so most passengers will always opt for either window or aisle. However, one of these choices is significantly superior to the other for a couple of reasons.

One key reason is that this seat is more likely to be thoroughly cleaned between flights, reports the Express.

According to Andrea Platania, travel expert at Transfeero, the aisle seat is “always a winner”.

She explained: “Cabin crews have limited time between flights to clean every row, and reaching window seats properly is tricky.

“The aisle seats tend to be wiped more thoroughly simply because they’re easier to access.”

In addition to likely receiving a more comprehensive cleaning, the aisle seat also feels a bit fresher during long-haul flights. This is due to the way air circulates within the plane’s cabin.

Andrea clarified: “Air in the cabin circulates from top to bottom and side to side. So while the whole plane shares the same filtered air, being in the aisle gives slightly more exposure to moving air, as it can feel fresher, especially on older aircraft.”

Those who favour the aisle seat often mention more freedom to move as one of the reasons they prefer it. You don’t have to scramble over other people to get to the loo, or stretch your legs.

Andrea stated: “You can move when you want without asking anyone to stand up or doing that awkward shuffle past strangers. Being in the aisle means you can stretch, go to the loo or grab something from the overhead bin whenever you please.”

Those lucky enough to snag an aisle seat are also typically among the first to disembark the flight.

Andrea added: “When everyone stands up at once, you’re already halfway to the door while the window seat passengers are still waiting to squeeze out.

“For business travellers or anyone catching a transfer, those few minutes can be priceless.”

Igbo-Ora in Nigeria has been dubbed the ‘Twin Capital of the World’, with an unusually high number of twins born there – and locals believe they’ve found the reason why

A tiny Nigerian town is known for its high rate of twins, leaving scientists scratching their heads for years. In Yoruba culture, prevalent in the area where the town of Igbo-Ora is situated, twins are seen as a gift from the supreme deity Olodumare and are thought to be protected by spirits – they are even thought to have supernatural abilities.

One local resident hinted at a “secret” that could explain the remarkable twin phenomenon.

Globetrotting YouTube star Drew Binsky made his way to the so-called ‘Twin Capital of the World’ to chat with locals about their town’s extraordinary claim to fame. Despite Nigeria being officially an English-speaking nation, Drew discovered that finding people speaking his native language was challenging.

He said: “Even though Nigeria is an English speaking country, it’s actually very difficult to find English speakers. Usually the ones that go to school that are educated can speak. But here in the villages, they usually speak native language, which is Yoruba.”

Drew eventually teamed up with a local woman named Grace, who became his guide and offered one intriguing theory for the abundance of twins.

She revealed: “There’s actually a secret behind that. There is a soup in our land here that people eat that will make them to give birth to twins and multiple [births].”

Grace attributes the town’s unique demographic pattern to a local dish made with okra leaves, although researchers have yet to establish any concrete evidence linking the local diet to the twin mystery.

The town of Igbo-Ora, renowned for its high proportion of multiple births, may have found a clue in the peel of locally-grown yams, with a University of Lagos Teaching Hospital study suggesting a chemical link to the phenomenon.

Local resident Grace expressed her pride in living in Igbo-Ora, noting the scientific interest in the town’s twin phenomenon.

She continued: “Everybody’s a twin here. There is no single house in this town that does not have a twins. Every house, no matter how small or how big the house is, they will surely have a set of twins.”

While the global average for twin births stands at about 12 per 1,000, Igbo-Ora boasts an astonishing rate of at least 50 per 1,000.

Drew sampled the okra-leaf soup known as Ilasa, jokingly hinting it might increase his chances of having twins.

The soup, a local delicacy, features okra leaf, “locust beans,” and marugbo herb.

Igbo-Ora celebrates its unique status with a twins festival, where twins, triplets, and even quadruplets don matching attire and take part in photo sessions.

Despite its fame for multiple births, Igbo-Ora faces severe economic challenges, with one inhabitant describing the town as “financially handicapped” and calling for assistance from international aid organisations.

A warning has been issued that there are a number of items that tourists should avoid packing in their hand luggage – with certain goods potentially causing accidents

As Brits prepare for their summer holidays, a warning has been issued about what not to pack in your hand luggage. Hand luggage is often used to store valuables or items needed on the flight, but the company advises travellers to be cautious about what they include.

Firstly, Fulton Umbrellas warns holidaymakers to be mindful when packing electronic items with lithium ion batteries. While rules can vary between airlines, generally only electronics with batteries between 100Wh and 160Wh should be packed in hand luggage. The firm also advises ensuring all devices are fully charged and switched off before being stowed away.

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Fulton Umbrellas also urges travellers to think carefully about the food they pack in their carry-on cases, reports the Express. While many people take food home or snack on the plane, items like jams, soft cheese and chutneys could be seized as they count towards the 100ml limit on liquids.

Furthermore, different countries have additional restrictions on certain types of food, so it’s crucial to research banned items before travelling to avoid disappointment and confiscation.

Finally, the company suggests passengers should steer clear of packing certain types of umbrella in their hand luggage, depending on their size.

While there are generally no restrictions on carrying a brolly in your hand luggage, larger ‘golf-style’ umbrellas could pose a risk, especially when packed in soft cases.

Instead, holidaymakers are advised to stow these larger umbrellas in their checked luggage, freeing up more space for other items in their carry-on bag.

In addition, Fulton Umbrellas has issued a warning to those fitness enthusiasts who plan to maintain their regimen while on holiday, advising them to reconsider packing protein powders in their bags.

Although not explicitly prohibited by airlines, these powders can obscure the view on X-ray machines, hiding items that are placed behind them.

Consequently, travellers who opt to pack protein powders in their hand luggage may find themselves spending extra time at security, as staff will likely need to manually inspect the case.