I recently joined my extended family on a cruise. My brother, father and some other family members were already booked MEM-SEA with a connection in SLC. When I checked availability, using miles, all that was available was middle seats. I did not look forward to sitting in a middle seat for five hours. Plus, I had my children, and i doubted that they would want to sit next to strangers, either.

My brother was looking over my shoulder as I was checking flights and I started checking availability from Birmingham and Huntsville (I live just over an hour southeast of Memphis). My brother asked what I was doing and I explained that I might drive to Birmingham, Huntsville or Jackson if I could find a plane with better seating arrangements, i.e., where my children and I wouldn't be stuck in center seats.

Long story short, my brother thought it absolutely ridiculous that I would drive two or more extra hours in order to avoid four or five hours in a middle seat. To me it seemed perfectly reasonable.

In the end I flew out a day early and stayed in a hotel. My brother found this equally ridiculous, but I'm glad I ensured myself a comfortable seat. (It doesn't help that I don't have any Delta status these days, and so get lousy seat selection).

Just curious how many of you have been willing to drive a couple of extra hours to a different airport in order to avoid a middle seat? Are you willing to fly on a different day, as I did?