Jeremy: We need a bit more information (your status with UA, whether you fly for biz or personal reasons, and whether you've been taking your meds ) so we can categorize you appropriately. Because what you've said runs seriously counter to the acceptable norm here! If I'm reading you correctly, you're willing to swap an aisle or window seat for a middle if it allows a family or friends to sit together?

Even I, apparently spokesperson for the lowly 2P hereabouts, find this interesting, and setting a standard of behaviour that is troublesome because, in all seriousness, I don't know if I would do so myself. And that's troubling because, if I'm serious about the idea that, in many of the decisions we make, we have a choice between making the world a bit better, or worse place for those around us... then why wouldn't I be willing to switch seats?

I can rationalize wanting to keep my aisle or window seat in all manner of ways. I prefer aisles mostly because, if I drink as much as I'm supposed to, and it's a long flight, it's nice to have easier access to the bathrooms. Windows are nice because there's the slightest possibility I might be able to sleep a short bit (I generally can't sleep while flying), leaning against the wall. Middle seats, on the other hand, have neither advantage, and both armrests are shared.

But why am I so much more worthy of staying out of that dreaded middle seat than the next person? Because I plan ahead and study seat maps and go out of my way to make sure it doesn't happen, sometimes even choosing a different flight? Because I have lowly 2P status, so I've earned the right to be able to avoid it?

Or is it mostly because I, like most ofter FTers, have taken flying almost too seriously, spending hours upon hours considering how to optimize everything possible about our upcoming flights, and turning the whole thing into a mission unto itself, rather than seeing a flight as a means to an end (transportation)?