Sit Next To An Empty Seat On A Plane: Tips & Strategy To Maximize Odds

No science behind this, but I expect the left side fills up first because people know that A is a window seat, and C is an Aisle on just about every airline. Also, people tend to be right handed and the left side aisle makes it easier to do stuff.

As for the aisle & window couples strategy, it seems to work best in extra legroom areas of economy cabins (three across) and premium economy (when three across in middle of wide bodies like 787). People seem reluctant to pay more for a middle seat. It not inconsiderate in my opinion as in the end, if its a full flight, every seat gets filled anyway.

Why, what do you think the person in 47E is up to?

I fly ORD-AUH on a A350. I employ this strategy and I haven't had someone take the middle seat in a while.

I also like to sit by the galley as the flight attendants can pump me full of booze.

When I fly with another, we do the aisle/window strategy and it works most of the time.

Yep avoid 47D or 47E - that must be a mistake. Surely no one purposely selected that seat! That being said I was once on a flight sitting next to this elderly lady in the middle seat and she said how much she hated flying and always wanted to be as far away from the windows as possible - to not see out.

I have to say I generally prefer the left side, especially if I’m not concerned about who’s next to me… for me the logic is about having more information. I know what the jet bridge is doing when I sit on the left, and that gives me a much better timing cue than anything posted, let alone an announcement from crew.
These days, I find my flights are frequently impacted by irregular ops… and having more info than the airlines provide can save a lot of unnecessary stress. I sure as hell don’t want to be standing up already and waiting if we’ve landed in a small airport with a ramp (no jet bridge) or wheel up stairs (still heavily used in the Caribbean) and no one is around to push them over to the plane yet.
Just my personal preference…

All good strategies. Two thoughts:

1) if traveling solo on one of those larger aircraft, a middle section of three or four, focus on the middle aisle. Especially if it's close to a full flight, next to a couple would not be the worst thing - because they would be climbing over each other to get out to use the restroom and leave you alone compared to a standard left or right row with a window.

2) All of your strategies don't preclude you checking right up until boarding the current seat status. As someone who is typically in standard economy, there have been many times I've been able to move back or up a row in the same seat type to game the middle seat being open. Just did so successfully for a 3.5 hour flight.

Could be "extra large" person choose middle seat not to get bumped 🙂

One should never anticipate having an empty seat next to them. With load factors of 85%+ it's silly to even "strategize" that you could. Not just paying passengers but non revers, commuters and deadheading are going to likely take what seats are remaining. Want space? Buy premium.

Another consideration is that many Asian ULCCs will assign premium (exit row/bulkhead) seats last. Because many ULCC flyers don't pay for this, if you pay (and if the flight has empty seats), you may end up with the whole exit row to yourself.

Sometimes you write an article that makes me think “whew, so I’m not crazy to think like this!” I was nodding and smiling through this whole post. Thanks for letting us know we’re not alone!

100% agree the best strategy is to smile and ask politely at the gate.

You've played right into 47E's strategy. He/she wants the entire row to themselves, so is risking selecting the middle seat.

Why is it “silly” to strategise? The seat tactics described might not work every time but they up your chances of getting a spare seat next to you so why not give it a whirl? It’s worked for me in the past.

I love selecting middle seats and telling couples no when asked to switch seats. Unless it’s a parent and child.

@Eric

They don’t get up during the flight and like to cross their arms. Middle seats are great.

I'll never forget the guy in the front J cabin with the crappy aisle seat next to the bathrooms who wouldn't trade places with my SO who had a great window seat in the second J cabin. He thought we were trying to "trick" him into moving in the "inferior" second J cabin.

What do you gain? This inconveniences all 3 of you.

Exit row seats are always too narrow around the hips.

In my experience, no advance strategy works. It's too unpredictable. I just book a seat I like and then check the seat map just before check-in closes (60-45 mins before departure depending on the airline) to see if there may be any empty pair/row of seats - if there is, I reassign my seat there and at that point it's more or less guaranteed to stay empty.

So what? Every person has different preferences. A seat you consider crappy may be ideal for someone else.

I don't mind being near toilet at all and never quite understood the fuss about those seats. If this was an airline known for running out of meal choices and doing service front to back, I also wouldn't trade.

this is the real pro-tip: just monitor frequently, especially t-48, and shuffle yourself around as needed.

Ok I would switch. Only One time I didn’t because I wanted to sit in the bulkhead first row of main cabin on American 777-200 which are great seats on an overnight flight. The window and aisle were occupied so I selected the center seat. A couple in their 60s asked to switch . In this case the arm rests aren’t moveable so that is why I didn’t switch I felt they were in better seats already. They were really puzzled and confused but it ended up being a good flight. I keep my arms crossed when in the middle seat so no worries about armrests.

I frequently end up next to an occupied middle seat even when aisle or window seats are free in other parts of the cabin.

Newby question - if you already check in at ~24 hours, can you still change your seat (even if your boarding pass has been issued)? Or do you just not check in until the last minute? Or if you change seats, do you need to see the gate agent (for a new boarding pass, or does the mobile boarding pass update)?

Lucky - Maybe everyone already knows the answer to this, but this might be a good topic for a follow-up post.

That assumes one can change seats without paying again. And yes looking at the seat map very close to departure might give you a clue but remember
1. Basic economy passengers likely do not yet have a seat assignment and where will they most likely be put? In a middle seat
2. You don't know how many standbys, including commuters and non revers will be vying for an open seat, along with potentially any crew (or any airline) that is dead heading
3. For routes with regular frequency if a prior flight get cancelled any empty seats will be immediately taken.

In other words, you should always assume the middle seat next to you will have a butt in it and on occasion you will have a nice surprise that it doesn't.

Since when do you sit in economy Ben??

It's fairly irrational, but on a 2 aisle plane, you might save a few seconds deplaning by sitting on the left side.

Your logic, Ben, in my experience is spot on. It's so funny when I flew for the " Financially Troubled " Pan Am, we would (too often) have a 747 going out with 90 pax out of nearly 390 available. Of course F was filled with non-rev. Ah the glory days of plenty of open seats.

I fly first 25% of the time, extra leg room economy 75%, and P.E. when available. I’m long and slender, so always avoid bulkhead seats but never mind the fixed arm rest rows. When traveling with my wife, we both prefer booking aisle-aisle.

I never pay for a seat assignment and just board the flight last. I scan the cabin as I walk slowly down the aisle and sit in the best set available.

Regarding Seat 47E, the black triangle on the right hand side of the seats in the seat map indicates Preferred seats that can only be selected by Silver status and above members before checkin without a fee. 47E is the furthest forward row on this plane where the middle seat in the center section is NOT a preferred seat. Meaning if you do not have United Silver or above status and only middle seats are remaining, it is the best middle seat you can select for free as it is the furthest forward of the no cost middle seats.

So, it is completely rational to choose this seat if you are not wanting to pay for a seat if only middle seats are remaining. Also, if you booked via Concur or another similar platform and did not have status and the seat map looked like this with 47E open, it would likely auto assign you 47E as it almost always auto assigns whatever seat you can get for free from front to back.

I wonder when the last time you flew in economy was. 15 years ago maybe? hahah

Not a great strategy for a full flight as all the overhead lockers may be full by the time you board.