The single most in-demand “asset” on an airplane is personal space, and there are all kinds of methods people use to try to maximize the amount of space they have. That includes trying to use strategies to maximize the odds of having an empty seat next to you.
An OMAAT reader asked me a question specifically about the concept of booking an aisle and window seat (in planes with clusters of three seats), and hoping the middle seat stays empty. I’d like to address that more broadly — is that a smart strategy? What are the odds of it actually working? And is this inconsiderate toward fellow passengers?
In this post:
There’s nothing wrong with using the aisle & window seat hack
As you’d expect, passengers typically prefer an aisle or window seat, with middle seats being considered the least desirable. If you’re traveling as a couple (or pair of friends, or whatever) in economy, the ideal situation is to have an aisle and window seat, with an empty middle seat.
Now, of course there’s no way to guarantee the middle seat is empty (unless you pay for it), though the play is generally twofold:
- The hope is that there’s some empty seats on the plane, and that one of those empty seats is the middle seat next to you
- Worst case scenario you can either keep your aisle and window seat, or swap with the person in the middle, who will almost always be willing to trade, since that’s a more-than-fair seat swap request
So, is employing the aisle and window seat strategy smart, and is it considerate toward others?
Regarding the first point, yes, I’d argue that it does make sense, assuming you’re not paying a huge premium for the aisle and window seats (unless you actually want to keep those). With how airline seats are monetized nowadays, there’s nothing wrong with selecting a great seat (especially via elite status), and then being willing to give someone that better seat once onboard.
Of course it pays to be strategic, and I’ve written in the past about the best ways to secure an empty seat next to you (book as far back as you can within the section you’re seated, since seats are typically filled front to back).
So I don’t view this as inconsiderate or unethical. Ultimately you’re maximizing your odds of getting an empty middle seat, and worst case scenario, you’re offering someone else a better seat.
Now, of course big picture it’s worth acknowledging that if enough couples employ this strategy and actually want to sit next to one another, it does at some point skew seating charts, and just complicate things for everyone. But I think that falls a little too much in the “if everyone did X, then…” category.
However, don’t be a jerk to the middle seat passenger
As I see it, there’s only one aspect of this strategy that’s potentially objectionable. If you do book a window and aisle seat, and if you don’t actually plan on swapping seats with the person in the middle, you owe it to them to be considerate.
The person in the aisle and window seat shouldn’t be passing stuff back and forth, talking constantly, etc. The person in the middle seat already doesn’t have enough space, and the last thing they deserve is to feel like they’re sandwiched between two people who are acting as if they’re seated next to one another in terms of interactions.
I witnessed this on a flight recently, where a couple was in the aisle and window. The person in the middle asked if they wanted to sit together, and they said they didn’t… but then once at cruising altitude, they carried on having an extended conversation, with the person in the middle just sort of leaning forward so they could talk. He was an absolute saint, to the point that I was about to tell him to stop being so nice.
Bottom line
It’s common to see travelers booking an aisle and window seat in planes with sets of three seats, in hopes of the middle seat staying empty. Given how airplane seats are monetized, I don’t think there’s anything wrong with this strategy. Best case scenario, you get an empty seat between you. Worst case scenario, you can either keep your preferred seats, or swap with the person in the middle.
I think the only point at which this becomes an issue is if you do keep the aisle and window seat, and then proceed to talk a lot, pass stuff over the person in the middle seat, etc.
Where do you stand on the concept of selecting an aisle and window seat, in hopes of having an empty middle?
Curious if any of you been "brave" and just booked the middle seat in the hopes of getting the row to yourself?
I've been on both sides of this. My wife and I used to book window/aisle, but seems like airlines are filling up all seats nowadays, so we've moved to just booking the two aisle seats across from each other. I was sick of always giving up my aisle seat to sit in the middle :)
On the other hand, I now hate when people use this "hack". It almost never works out given the fact...
I've been on both sides of this. My wife and I used to book window/aisle, but seems like airlines are filling up all seats nowadays, so we've moved to just booking the two aisle seats across from each other. I was sick of always giving up my aisle seat to sit in the middle :)
On the other hand, I now hate when people use this "hack". It almost never works out given the fact that planes from my airport are almost always full. As someone who travels a lot of work, but also often books last minute, I just choose the middle seat closest to the front. More often than not, it's a couple trying this "hack" and I've seen all three of the outcomes from this:
1) I get offered my choice of window or aisle
2) The couple has a strong preference for which seat they are going to "give up"
3) They refuse to move and I'm in the middle between them
I increasingly find it super annoying/inconsiderate. Mostly because increasingly these "hackers" act annoyed that someone booked the middle seat in between them.
I book 2 aisle seats across from one another. Less drama.
"Don't be a jerk" - this is very true. My favorite example of this is flying Air DO from Sapporo to Tokyo (right after COVID): two people (friends) took the aisle and window, and decided not to offer the middle person a seat swap. Then proceeded to carry on a conversation in English over the man's head from boarding to pushback (~30 min). Finally, the guy in the middle had to ask them to stop...
"Don't be a jerk" - this is very true. My favorite example of this is flying Air DO from Sapporo to Tokyo (right after COVID): two people (friends) took the aisle and window, and decided not to offer the middle person a seat swap. Then proceeded to carry on a conversation in English over the man's head from boarding to pushback (~30 min). Finally, the guy in the middle had to ask them to stop or switch seats with them. They actually chose to shut up instead of swapping seats. I guess the conversation is not worth the seat, but worth talking over someone's head over.
And you wonder why Japanese people are annoyed with foreign tourists? People need to have to have some feel, and frankly, these guys wouldn't do this back in the States to anyone, but for some reason, they found it acceptable in another country.
Most airlines will have standbys who are waiting at the gate for last minute open seat that is assigned to them by the gate agents. These standbys can be revenue standbys or “nonrevs”. They’ll take ANY seat. So to count on having the middle seat open is not the greatest strategy, IMO. It is really rude of the passengers who travel “together” but sitting purposefully in the isle and window seats by “spreading” themselves into...
Most airlines will have standbys who are waiting at the gate for last minute open seat that is assigned to them by the gate agents. These standbys can be revenue standbys or “nonrevs”. They’ll take ANY seat. So to count on having the middle seat open is not the greatest strategy, IMO. It is really rude of the passengers who travel “together” but sitting purposefully in the isle and window seats by “spreading” themselves into the space of that who occupies the middle seat physically and/or verbally conducting conversations as if no one is between them. If they fly together and want to touch each other or carry on conversations that can’t cannot wait, then switch seats with the passenger in the middle. People are rude, manipulative and selfish when they travel these days.
My wife and I also do this. There is one other alternative that we tried (and did successfully). While waiting near the gate and realizing someone was in the middle seat, we approached the gate agent and asked if we could upgrade that person to the extra leg room section.... so rather than paying for two upgrades we paid for one and the agent shared with us she wouldn't fill that seat. While this may...
My wife and I also do this. There is one other alternative that we tried (and did successfully). While waiting near the gate and realizing someone was in the middle seat, we approached the gate agent and asked if we could upgrade that person to the extra leg room section.... so rather than paying for two upgrades we paid for one and the agent shared with us she wouldn't fill that seat. While this may not work every time, it seemed like a win win. In this instance the gate agent thought it was a great move and didn't even end up charging us for that upgrade.
My wife and I always do this when flying economy. If someone takes the middle seat we are ok waiting till the flight is over to carry on a conversation.
My Wife and I do this every time we are I. Economy. When our row mate arrives if they are a broad/large traveler, we will offer them the aisle seat so everyone is comfortable, if they are a small/narrow person they get their middle seat. In the last few years it has been only a couple of trips where we had an empty middle seat.
I have lifetime gold with BA. If you do this with them, and there is capacity, the middle seat will be blocked by the system. So there's zero risk. Great benefit.
More than likely that middle seat won't go unempty. IME the most likely empty seats are E+ as there would naturally be a resistance to paying top $$ for a middle seat when non MCE seats aisle and window seats might go for less.
Former airport staff here.
On empty flights (with an occupancy below 70-75%) we used to assign seats this way, and partially block middle seats, so people could have more space together.
Especially for elites or Y/B/M-class passengers. Families we would usually try to assign into one row.
Those "tactical" seat reservations, done around 24h prior departure, would lateron greatly reduce the actual work at checkin and gate.
On full flights we would...
Former airport staff here.
On empty flights (with an occupancy below 70-75%) we used to assign seats this way, and partially block middle seats, so people could have more space together.
Especially for elites or Y/B/M-class passengers. Families we would usually try to assign into one row.
Those "tactical" seat reservations, done around 24h prior departure, would lateron greatly reduce the actual work at checkin and gate.
On full flights we would also remove such "tactical" seat reservations. Surprisingly people usually did not complain about that.
I never thought this would seem inconsiderate - in both ways.
I have done this and had airline agents try to move us together which I tell them not to do.
It has worked to have an empty seat and we have ended up w/ someone in the middle seat.
Ben is right in his take on this. If you want to leave the other person in the middle seat, act like two separate travelers
Westjet no longer permits you to book window/aisle in the same row. You can book in separate rows. This also applies to Dreamliners, in the middle section, no more aisle/aisle. You can do it if you take aisle in the middle section and aisle on the side. Interestingly, I saw someone select the middle seat and leave the window and aisle open. Westjet claims they did this to allow better control when they are assigning seats.
Am I correct in assuming that doesn't apply when you're booking an entire row?