Indeed, last week I moved myself from 42A to 46A so as to get two empty seats next to me on a flight which was still showing 4s a long way down the booking class list - reckoning that this might at least keep the middle seat free.

No chance: Y checked-in absolutely full and there seemed to be some op-ups at the gate. And the occupants of 42BC, whom I'd forsaken, turned out to be rather more attractive than the eventual occupants of 46BC.