“middle seat row hog”
#31
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Chicago, IL
Programs: UA 1K MM, HHonors Diamond,PC, Marriott Rewards Gold
Posts: 1,111
I have successfully used that trick more than once when boarding on a flight where E+ was very light but E was full. I was in the window, and the seat map showed 2 empty seats beside me. I knew that odds were someone would consider that too good a temptation and take the aisle seat, thus losing my hobo business class, so I plant myself in the middle seat instead. Works every time...
(Note that this is just while boarding - I'd never try it pre-boarding as there's just too big a chance someone will take the other seats and I'd get stuck in the middle)
(Note that this is just while boarding - I'd never try it pre-boarding as there's just too big a chance someone will take the other seats and I'd get stuck in the middle)
#32
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: PHL
Programs: UA 1K 1MM, Marriott Gold, IHG Platinum, Raddison Platinum, Avis Presidents Club
Posts: 5,256
So you don't actually change your seat on the app (I assume it would be too late). You just sit in the middle seat in hopes that no one decides to move over to the aisle (from their assigned seat?)
If I were directly across from you and in the middle, as soon as the door closes, I'd just move over and take the empty aisle seat.
If you were still seated in the middle, I'd ask if you could move over.
If i were in the window/aisle, I'd encourage the middle person to move.
#33
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Somewhere I've Driven To
Programs: HiltonHonors, IHG Hotels, DL Skymiles
Posts: 2,070
I'm happy to get any seat as a non-rev and more and more frequently I am ending up in middle seats. Knowing that, I especially like SWA's model of choosing my own middle seat (if I get on). I always choose it in one of the first few rows because it just drives those people crazy who thought they could hold out with "I'm holding (the empty middle seat next to them) for someone" in order to have more elbow room as they happily let a plane-load of others pass by their row. Sorry, when the door is ready to close and I have to quickly pick a seat, I'm not waltzing all the way to the rear (and still getting stuck in a middle seat).
The look of horror on some guy's face as I recently did this was priceless. As I'm actually getting into the middle seat in his row (he's on the aisle) and I'm saying "excuse me", he says "you're sitting here ?? (with such disdain). Wish I could have said "No, I'm just going to hit your knee caps for a few seconds and then climb out, just because I feel like it"......
Do some of these people actually believe they have squatter's rights to the seat next to them?
The look of horror on some guy's face as I recently did this was priceless. As I'm actually getting into the middle seat in his row (he's on the aisle) and I'm saying "excuse me", he says "you're sitting here ?? (with such disdain). Wish I could have said "No, I'm just going to hit your knee caps for a few seconds and then climb out, just because I feel like it"......
Do some of these people actually believe they have squatter's rights to the seat next to them?
#34
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: TOA
Programs: HH Diamond, Marriott LTPP/Platinum Premier, Hyatt Lame-ist, UA !K
Posts: 20,061
I'm happy to get any seat as a non-rev and more and more frequently I am ending up in middle seats. Knowing that, I especially like SWA's model of choosing my own middle seat (if I get on). I always choose it in one of the first few rows because it just drives those people crazy who thought they could hold out with "I'm holding (the empty middle seat next to them) for someone" in order to have more elbow room as they happily let a plane-load of others pass by their row. Sorry, when the door is ready to close and I have to quickly pick a seat, I'm not waltzing all the way to the rear (and still getting stuck in a middle seat).
The look of horror on some guy's face as I recently did this was priceless. As I'm actually getting into the middle seat in his row (he's on the aisle) and I'm saying "excuse me", he says "you're sitting here ?? (with such disdain). Wish I could have said "No, I'm just going to hit your knee caps for a few seconds and then climb out, just because I feel like it"......
Do some of these people actually believe they have squatter's rights to the seat next to them?
The look of horror on some guy's face as I recently did this was priceless. As I'm actually getting into the middle seat in his row (he's on the aisle) and I'm saying "excuse me", he says "you're sitting here ?? (with such disdain). Wish I could have said "No, I'm just going to hit your knee caps for a few seconds and then climb out, just because I feel like it"......
Do some of these people actually believe they have squatter's rights to the seat next to them?
David
#35
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Chicago, IL
Programs: UA 1K MM, HHonors Diamond,PC, Marriott Rewards Gold
Posts: 1,111
I'm happy to get any seat as a non-rev and more and more frequently I am ending up in middle seats. Knowing that, I especially like SWA's model of choosing my own middle seat (if I get on). I always choose it in one of the first few rows because it just drives those people crazy who thought they could hold out with "I'm holding (the empty middle seat next to them) for someone" in order to have more elbow room as they happily let a plane-load of others pass by their row. Sorry, when the door is ready to close and I have to quickly pick a seat, I'm not waltzing all the way to the rear (and still getting stuck in a middle seat).
The look of horror on some guy's face as I recently did this was priceless. As I'm actually getting into the middle seat in his row (he's on the aisle) and I'm saying "excuse me", he says "you're sitting here ?? (with such disdain). Wish I could have said "No, I'm just going to hit your knee caps for a few seconds and then climb out, just because I feel like it"......
Do some of these people actually believe they have squatter's rights to the seat next to them?
The look of horror on some guy's face as I recently did this was priceless. As I'm actually getting into the middle seat in his row (he's on the aisle) and I'm saying "excuse me", he says "you're sitting here ?? (with such disdain). Wish I could have said "No, I'm just going to hit your knee caps for a few seconds and then climb out, just because I feel like it"......
Do some of these people actually believe they have squatter's rights to the seat next to them?
#36
Join Date: May 2000
Location: Chicago
Programs: AA EP, UA Gold-MM, UA 1K (former), GS (former),SPG LT Platinum, Hyatt Diamond, HH Diamond
Posts: 2,299
So you don't actually change your seat on the app (I assume it would be too late). You just sit in the middle seat in hopes that no one decides to move over to the aisle (from their assigned seat?)
If I were directly across from you and in the middle, as soon as the door closes, I'd just move over and take the empty aisle seat.
If you were still seated in the middle, I'd ask if you could move over.
If i were in the window/aisle, I'd encourage the middle person to move.
If I were directly across from you and in the middle, as soon as the door closes, I'd just move over and take the empty aisle seat.
If you were still seated in the middle, I'd ask if you could move over.
If i were in the window/aisle, I'd encourage the middle person to move.
To be clear, lest people think ill of me ... My experience doing this is flying ORD-LHR in Dec, Jan and Feb when the planes are full in J but sparse in Coach and on a 767. In my experiences Iast winter doing this, unless it was a couple/group there was no one sitting in a middle seat so grabbing the set of 3 (in the middle section) was quite easy and really didn't negatively impact anyone else's flight. If they did want one of the 3 seats in my row then they'd just be trading one aisle for a different aisle and not really improving their seat.
#37
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: UA 1K 1MM, AA, DL
Posts: 7,402
I don't quite understand this strategy. I've seen couples book a window and aisle in hopes that the middle seat will stay open. Worst case, if the middle seat does show up (and the couple wants to sit together), the middle seat person will always be willing to switch into a window or aisle.
If you are flying alone, why would you risk being stuck in the middle vs just picking a window and aisle. What are the chances the flight will be so empty you will have an empty row. And if it is empty that empty, just pick the empty row.
If you are flying alone, why would you risk being stuck in the middle vs just picking a window and aisle. What are the chances the flight will be so empty you will have an empty row. And if it is empty that empty, just pick the empty row.
I've sometimes popped in next to that person on one of the aisles, figuring it increases my chances of getting an empty middle (either original pax in middle will move to other aisle, or will move once the other aisle is taken).
#38
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Chicago, IL
Programs: UA 1K MM, HHonors Diamond,PC, Marriott Rewards Gold
Posts: 1,111
OMG. I had my own row from DUB to IAD (8A-C) 757-200. Across from the bassinet aisle where a family with two kids were perched. I felt very smug. I didn’t occupy B, but I did spread out quite a bit and thankfully nobody had eyes on the seats.
4 seats in C went open. I sort of wished form an Op-up but wasn’t willing to fare up and GPU up. Scaring them for Asia TPAC.
I got some serious sleep and the FA’s were super accommodating (I was hungry and they brought me a second meal made from C foods on porcelain plates). I guess I’m a semi-official MSRH.
4 seats in C went open. I sort of wished form an Op-up but wasn’t willing to fare up and GPU up. Scaring them for Asia TPAC.
I got some serious sleep and the FA’s were super accommodating (I was hungry and they brought me a second meal made from C foods on porcelain plates). I guess I’m a semi-official MSRH.
#39
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Wesley Chapel, FL
Programs: American Airlines
Posts: 29,759