FlyerTalk Forums - View Single Post - Picky airplane travellers can avoid the dreaded middle seat with savvy planning

Jan 26, 2011 | 7:09 am

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tcook052

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Picky airplane travellers can avoid the dreaded middle seat with savvy planning

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/lif...114581679.html

Someone has to be in the middle seat though, and if that's you, any little victory counts.

Armrest battles must be approached delicately, advises frequent traveller Jeremy Fechner.

"It becomes a little game where you wait for them to move and then you grab their real estate," says Fechner, an Air Canada employee for 22 years, including a dozen years as a flight attendant.

"So when their arm goes a little bit further up on the armrest you try and get behind their arm so you have the back of the armrest and they have the front. Which only works if they both do it at the same time. Otherwise you've got one elbow up and one elbow down."

If you're seated next to an unfortunate traveller in the middle, have some consideration and give them the middle arms, says Dr. Ali Zentner, who's had her share of armrest battles while travelling for her work on the CBC-TV reality series, "Village on a Diet."

Zentner says she spent a recent flight from Toronto to Vancouver fighting for the arms in a middle seat and was appalled by poor plane etiquette.

"I've got to get the word out: the person who sits in the middle seat gets both arm rests," Zentner declares.

Of course, it's best not to get stuck in the middle seat to begin with.

The easiest way to do that is to pay the premium to confirm your seat in advance. Many airlines still offer free advance seating but those booking certain flights on Air Canada will have to stomach as much as $22 extra. If you're keen on snagging a seat in an exit or bulkhead row where there's more legroom, the price can be as high as $32.

"It's worth it if you're particularly picky," says Wallace, who also recommends making your favourite seat part of your frequent flyer profile if you have a membership.

"There just really is no guarantee whatsoever."

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