How to Avoid Middle Seats on Airplanes: The Ultimate Guide for Smart Travelers
Traveling by air is never an easy thing and being sandwiched between two strangers in the middle seat adds to the pressure. If you want to have more personal space, if you need to get out of the seat often or if you want a window – not having to sit in the middle can only make a huge difference. In this post, learn effective ways and some tips to adopt so that you can elevate your status to get a better seat during your next flight.
Why Avoid Middle Seats?: Pros and Cons
The seat between two other people on a plane is one of the worst options, and there is a reason for that. Between two other passengers, it provides very limited personal area, less comfort, and a limited chance of getting up. Here’s a closer look at the pros and cons:
Pros of Middle Seats
- Cost Savings: Middle seats occasionally may be cheaper than seats along the aisles or near windows, which may be ideal for cost-conscious travelers.
- Potential Companionship: In case you are traveling with other family members or friends and you are able to book the ticket together, this middle seat will not be as enclosed as it is viewed.
- Chance for Upgrades: Carriers may overbook better seats, so those sitting in a middle spot may be upgraded if all the options are exhausted.
Cons of Middle Seats
- Limited Space: It means taking less space and having less personal space especially if the passengers on the two sides occupy the middle armrest.
- Lack of Control: A middle seat provides you with no ability to control what is happening to the window shade or how other people can access your aisle.
- Discomfort During Long Flights: In long distance travels one feels uncomfortable if one cannot stretch oneself or recline on something for any time.
- Minimal Privacy: The middle seat is the least enjoyable in a car, as there is no window to turn to, or an aisle to lean on, so it is impossible to doze off.
Booking Strategies: Selecting Seats in Advance
It is among the best practices to avoid being assigned to a middle seat to take control of your seat selection as soon as possible. Another way to avoid middle seats in airplanes as a possibility is by choosing where you want to sit the moment you book a flight. It is therefore important to always book in advance and use the booking tools in the right way to increase your odds of getting a better position. Here are some key strategies to consider:
1. Book Early
Airlines usually make seat maps available for selection when tickets are first sold. This is especially true if you are an aisle or window kind of person since early booking will provide you with the most options. By booking in advance, you can choose your position, either a window or an aisle seat, before other people take them all. Putting off the decision might mean that you have fewer options to choose from that can get you the middle seat.
2. Visit the Airline’s Website or the App
Many airlines enable the selection of seats during the process of booking. If you want to decide where you want to sit, check the seat map on the airline’s website or application. Some airlines may require you to pay for the seat selection, especially for standard economy class fares but the few bucks you need to pay can be worth it to avoid the middle seat.
3. Choose Premium Economy or Upgraded Seats
Moving up to a different cabin class or having a premium economy can be beneficial as you can get some extra inches of leg space or sit in a seat with more passengers’ preference – an aisle or a window one. However, within the main cabin, the airlines may provide preferred seating sections that attract a fee.
4. Check the Seat Map After the Booking
Seats can be available and then suddenly disappear for other customers to adjust their booking or free upgrade opportunities open. Always revisit the seat map on your airline’s website or application and swap for a better seat if there are available ones.
5. How You Can Benefit from Having 24-Hour Check-In
If you did not get an opportunity to choose a good seat during the booking, do it when checking in online, which is usually possible a day before the flight. It is at this stage that some seats that had been earlier closed for selection may be opened for selection.
6. Maximise the use of Fare Types and Seat Policies
Find out more about the fare type for which you are paying. Basic economy fares also limit seat selection up to the check-in time which may condemn the buyer to a middle seat. Choose standard economy or higher if seat selection is of concern to you. If you are traveling with children and the family or a group of friends, make sure the airline does not charge for seat selection.
7. Be Flexible with Flight Times
Empty flights are also available during the off-peak seasons, and getting a good seat may not be as difficult as you expect. You may also want to change your travel plans in an effort to increase your odds of not getting stuck in the middle seat.
Extra Tip: The Ultimate Middle Seat Hack
So, for those of you fed up with the games that some low-cost airlines play to ensure you end up sitting in the middle seat while pretending you were randomly assigned a seat, this travel trick will help you have a much better flight. Here’s how it works:
During the check-in process, determine how many of the middle seats are still vacant on the seat map. Next, act on wanting to purchase more tickets, and enter the fake names of passengers for as many tickets as needed to “block” all those middle seats for a while. They will hold them for about 10–15 minutes thus making them inaccessible to the rest of the passengers. During this time select your actual ticket and allow the system to choose your seat for you, this will avoid the middle seats. This trick is most effective on a computer and closer to the check-in window since fewer seats are often available. Although it may be a bit sly, it is one of the best ways to avoid paying extra charges and guarantee you get that window or aisle seat. Try it out and have a peaceful flight without having to sit in between!
Using Airline Loyalty Programs to Secure Better Seats
Regular travelers have the privilege of airline loyalty programs where something such as an upgrade to a preferred seat of choice is given. Here’s how to make loyalty programs work in your favor:
Accumulate Miles or Points
Some airlines or loyalty programs provide flyers with points or miles and then offer the opportunity to upgrade their seats or use better seats. This is particularly useful if you are a registered member of an airline’s frequent flyer program; you may be surprised that you have enough points for an upgrade to, for example, an aisle or window seat.
Third-Party Apps for Seat Selection
In case you wish to explore more of how to avoid the middle seat of the airplane, there are other options available in third-party applications for the selection of seats. The majority of these applications will show a seat map which you can choose from to be able to book a seat in the most appropriate areas of the plane. Here are a few popular options:
SeatGuru
SeatGuru is an application by TripAdvisor that gives a comprehensive map of particular airlines and their seating arrangements. You can also see reviews and ratings of each particular seat on your flight; this way, you will be able to avoid middle seats easily.
ExpertFlyer
Another tool used with the purpose of watching seat availability and changes at the same time is ExpertFlyer. It has additional functionality, such as informing you that a better seat is available, so you will not be limited to middle seats.
FlightAware
In addition to providing flight tracking data, FlightAware provides additional services that allow you to examine the seating plans of carriers and choose between available seating options before making a reservation.
Tips for Negotiating Seat Changes at the Gate
Sometimes even if you didn’t get a chance to opt out of middle seats in airplanes during the booking process, there could be a chance to switch to a more comfortable spot once at the gate. Here are a few negotiation tips:
Ask the Gate Agent Politely
When you get to the gate agent, be polite and inform them that you really don’t want a middle seat. Of course, it doesn’t hurt to make a request about aisle or window seats if there are a lot of seats on the flight.
Be Flexible
Being flexible at this is important; it might up your odds of getting the seat that you want or at least being moved closer to the church. For instance, if you are willing to switch to a different seat on the plane, the gate agent might just okay the request.
Upgrade Options
If there is one, at the gate, you may be lucky to be offered an upgrade because of available empty seats in the business class or if the flight is not fully booked. In other instances, airlines have upgrade promos available, which can be a break for passengers who are willing to take any seat number.
Final words...
It's important to choose the right seat when flying. Make sure to book your seats in advance using rewards points and utilize the appropriate third-party apps. It's preferable to select your seat at the gate rather than find yourself stuck in the middle of the plane if your negotiation options fall short.
Additionally, it's worth noting that the only way to avoid middle seats on airplanes is to be proactive in selecting the best seats available. Reserving your spot, utilizing reward lists, and monitoring seat availability with apps are all effective steps to ensure everyone has the best flying experience on their next flight.
