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?
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?
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