Interesting Idea to avoid someone sitting in the middle seat between two of you.
Nov 2, 2012, 3:56 am
#32
Join Date: Aug 2001
Programs: AA Plat & LTG; QF LTG
Posts: 9,837
Fair enough indeed. I totally respect you right to choose to be intolerant 
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It is my belief that the likelihood of any passenger assigned to a middle seat turning down a polite offer of an exchange with their choice of window or aisle is extremely low, and as I have never come across that situation and do not ever expect to, so its all hypothetical anyway
.
So would I book Aisle and Window with the hope of an empty middle seat if that option was available to me? ... yes I would. Have I done so? Not yet in my many years of flying as I have not yet been presented with the situation/opportunity.
.It is my belief that the likelihood of any passenger assigned to a middle seat turning down a polite offer of an exchange with their choice of window or aisle is extremely low, and as I have never come across that situation and do not ever expect to, so its all hypothetical anyway
.So would I book Aisle and Window with the hope of an empty middle seat if that option was available to me? ... yes I would. Have I done so? Not yet in my many years of flying as I have not yet been presented with the situation/opportunity.
Nov 2, 2012, 7:12 am
#34
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Puget Sound
Programs: Delta Diamond, Marriott Plat Premier, SPG Plat
Posts: 228
There are certain people flying in/out of SLC that select the middle seats for a reason. However, I'm pretty sure they would be pleasant enough to switch with you.
Nov 2, 2012, 9:10 am
#35
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 13
Air New Zealand wouldn't let me book the window and the aisle in a 3-3-3 configuration. We both had to book adjacent seats. Subsequently, I am the poor person in the middle for both legs of our flight from LHR to AKL. My husband likes a window and is a nervous flyer whereas, given a choice, I will choose the aisle.
I hope the aisle sitter doesn't mind being disturbed every couple of hours.
I hope the aisle sitter doesn't mind being disturbed every couple of hours.
Nov 2, 2012, 9:41 am
#36
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Bay Area
Programs: WN A-List, AA good-riddance, Safeway Club Card Extraordinaire
Posts: 3,851
Nov 2, 2012, 10:02 am
#37
Join Date: May 2005
Location: MEL
Programs: QF WP, VA, AA
Posts: 1,505
Air New Zealand wouldn't let me book the window and the aisle in a 3-3-3 configuration. We both had to book adjacent seats. Subsequently, I am the poor person in the middle for both legs of our flight from LHR to AKL. My husband likes a window and is a nervous flyer whereas, given a choice, I will choose the aisle.
I hope the aisle sitter doesn't mind being disturbed every couple of hours.
I hope the aisle sitter doesn't mind being disturbed every couple of hours.
Oh, and welcome to FT!
Nov 2, 2012, 10:46 am
#38
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 599
I believe the newspaper "trick" mentioned earlier would work. Not that it's particularly less rude, but I imagine a decent pair of sound leaking ear buds would also help, depending on your musical taste (if you wanted to fight fire with fire).
Nov 2, 2012, 2:10 pm
#39
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: New Zealand/ UK
Programs: NZ, EK, QF, SQ.
Posts: 776
Air New Zealand wouldn't let me book the window and the aisle in a 3-3-3 configuration. We both had to book adjacent seats. Subsequently, I am the poor person in the middle for both legs of our flight from LHR to AKL. My husband likes a window and is a nervous flyer whereas, given a choice, I will choose the aisle.
I hope the aisle sitter doesn't mind being disturbed every couple of hours.
I hope the aisle sitter doesn't mind being disturbed every couple of hours.
For example, on the AKL-LHR route, husband has the aisle AKL-HKG and I have the aisle HKG-LHR. The same would apply if going through LAX.
We always book the middle section, so that we only have to climb over each other if we want to get out, and no-one has to climb over us.
Nov 2, 2012, 4:54 pm
#40
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 13
We're doing the trip premium economy so hopefully the extra legroom will mean that we won't be clambering over the person on the aisle. Coming back via LAX we have the 2 middle space seats.
I really hope that PE is worth the extra money. Almost double economy and just about half our entire budget for the trip.
I really hope that PE is worth the extra money. Almost double economy and just about half our entire budget for the trip.
Nov 2, 2012, 5:10 pm
#41
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Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: where the chile is hot
Programs: AA,RR,NW,Delta ,UA,CO
Posts: 41,668
Air New Zealand wouldn't let me book the window and the aisle in a 3-3-3 configuration. We both had to book adjacent seats. Subsequently, I am the poor person in the middle for both legs of our flight from LHR to AKL. My husband likes a window and is a nervous flyer whereas, given a choice, I will choose the aisle.
I hope the aisle sitter doesn't mind being disturbed every couple of hours.
I hope the aisle sitter doesn't mind being disturbed every couple of hours.
Nov 2, 2012, 8:46 pm
#42
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Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: MN
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I've been that person in the middle and the people on the window/aisle didn't even offer a switch, but assumed they could act as though I didn't exist (e.g. talking over me as though I wasn't there etc, making sexist comments about the female pilot over me, a woman). Fortunately, I had a newspaper on me which I would normally have read folded up, but since it was a broadsheet, by reading it not folded it provided a suitable barrier to their chat, and I added my own views on the sexist comments they were passing. As a result we sat in stoney silence for the duration of the flight. Oh, I also determinatedly refused to cede the arm rests (which I would normally view as the middle person's anyway). So as a result of their decisions, none of us had a comfortable flight.
As a result, I find people doing this to be incredibly selfish.
As a result, I find people doing this to be incredibly selfish.
Air New Zealand wouldn't let me book the window and the aisle in a 3-3-3 configuration. We both had to book adjacent seats. Subsequently, I am the poor person in the middle for both legs of our flight from LHR to AKL. My husband likes a window and is a nervous flyer whereas, given a choice, I will choose the aisle.
I hope the aisle sitter doesn't mind being disturbed every couple of hours.
I hope the aisle sitter doesn't mind being disturbed every couple of hours.
Nov 3, 2012, 11:24 am
#43
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 13
Nov 3, 2012, 12:20 pm
#44
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Oakland
Programs: Free Agent
Posts: 1,109
I've done this before with success. Another factor that I've noticed is that the plane tends to fill front to back once aisle/window seats start filling up. That means that your best chances will be towards the back of whatever section you are in (F/C/Y+/Y).
In my experience, no one has ever refused the swap and I can't think of a scenario where, if stuck in a middle seat, I would refuse the swap. If you get someone who is ornery about the "trick" and demands to remain in the middle despite being offered better seats, then the right thing to do is just deal with it. Besides, what difference does two feet really make? It's not like you aren't going to see them again when you get off the plane.
In my experience, no one has ever refused the swap and I can't think of a scenario where, if stuck in a middle seat, I would refuse the swap. If you get someone who is ornery about the "trick" and demands to remain in the middle despite being offered better seats, then the right thing to do is just deal with it. Besides, what difference does two feet really make? It's not like you aren't going to see them again when you get off the plane.
Nov 3, 2012, 12:57 pm
#45
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 2,813
I have never had an issue, as well. Although I always just ask the guy in the middle if he prefers the aisle or window. Usually, the guy is thrilled to not have to sit in the middle.
Sure, there is always a chance of someone saying no and wanting the middle, but I think the risk of that is acceptably small. And the benefits of occasionally getting an empty middle outweigh this small risk.