How to Score an Empty Middle Seat on a Flight
We’ve all been there: we arrive at our aisle or window seat, and the middle seat is empty. We say a silent prayer that it remains that way for the trip. It’s looking good, the line of passengers has started to thin out, and the seat is still empty. But then, what seems to be the last passenger to board stops at your row and wriggles their way in next to you, dashing your dreams of extra space. While there is no guarantee that the middle seat will remain open, you can use certain strategies to try to keep it free.
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Choose Your Seat Wisely
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Monitor the Seat Availability
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Block the Middle Seat
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Don’t Sit Next To Your Travel Companion
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Talk To The Flight Attendants
Avoid Exit or Bulkhead Rows
Exit and bulkhead rows will likely be the first to fill up a middle seat since they offer more legroom overall. So while that may be desirable to you, if you want to avoid having that middle seat filled, don’t sit there.
Avoid the Front of the Plane
Sitting in the aisle or window seat at the back of the airplane will increase the likelihood of the middle seat remaining open. If every aisle and window is taken, the people choosing their seats last will most likely want to be as close to the front as possible.
On Bigger Planes, Sit on The Aisle in the Middle
On planes with a 3-4-3 seat configuration (three seats near the window, an aisle, four seats in the middle, and another aisle, with three more seats near the window), sit on the aisle in the middle section of the plane. The middle seats along the edges generally fill up sooner than the middle sections.
Sit Near the Bathroom
Many travelers prefer to avoid seats near the bathrooms, so these are often among the last to be taken. When a flight isn’t full, chances are you’ll get that extra room beside you.
Book your flight as early as possible, and select your preferred aisle or window seat. Then, continue to monitor the seats. Most airlines allow you to change your seat before check-in, so keep an eye on which seats are filling up.
Twenty-four hours before your flight, check which seats are taken. If the middle seat next to you is filled, move to a seat with an open middle seat.
Sites like ExpertFlyer and SeatGuru can help you choose the best seat. Expert Flyer will even monitor the seats of your flight and send you an alert when a seat becomes available.
If you’re traveling with a companion, book the window and aisle in the same row. Many solo travelers will avoid choosing the middle seat between two people, which increases their chances of keeping it empty.
If, when you get to the airport, you find that all of your strategies haven’t worked, and there is someone in the middle seat next to you, you can always talk to the flight attendants or gate agents to see if you have any options. A gate agent can check if there is an available seat and move you. If you get on the plane and see it isn’t full, and spot a seat without anyone in the middle, you can politely ask a flight attendant if you can move.