Originally Posted by
RoseFPS
I go out of my way not to sit next to work colleagues on a flight! They might want to talk to me and discuss work! I always tell them the flight is full so we can't sit together, how terribly unfortunate.
But do you ever fly in Y? I think that changes the equation significantly. If I were in the OP's situation, I would (in most cases) prefer to be sat next to a work colleague (with known size, habits, personal hygiene, not a child etc.) than take my chance with some random traveller.