OK, no one actually books a flight saying, “Aisle or window? No thanks, I prefer the middle.”
Well, other than certified masochists.
But there are actually times when given the alternatives, a middle seat is your best bet, especially in the summer or holiday travel season. And here are four of them:
1. Usually over the years when there are no aisles or windows remaining, I have recommended clients request a seat type, and get the seat assignment at the airport, I don’t do that these days.
The reason behind waiting is that a gate agent is often more likely to get someone a window or aisle seat when that person doesn’t have a seat already. A customer holding a middle seat who wants to change is less of a priority.
But lately, especially this summer, the planes are often so full that there are no seats available to the airport agents, and being without a seat increases the chances of being bumped.
2. If you travel with significant carry-on luggage, waiting at the airport for an aisle or window often means you don’t get that seat number until boarding has commenced. And with increasing checked baggage charges, more people are trying to bring their baggage aboard. So those bins fill up fast.
More and more frequently, I see gate agents telling the last passengers boarding the plane, sometimes a whole Jetway full of them, that there is no space in the overhead bin, and that all but the smallest bags will have to be checked. Which means that the better seat may cost you time in waiting for your bag at the luggage carousel.
3. If you are very noise sensitive, a middle seat might be preferable to an aisle next to the galley or lavatories. An easy way to see where those are located is seatguru.com Especially on a longer flight where people tend to stand, talk and otherwise congregate.
4. If you have a connection, especially a tight one, a middle seat towards the front could be preferable to anything at the back. And these days, anything under an hour can be tight, especially at a large airport.
I admit it, as a Premier member with United I am spoiled rotten with economy plus, not just for the legroom but the forward seating. Recently I was standing by on a full flight and the only option was a seat at the back of the plane. Fortunately, I didn’t have a connection, because it took a good fifteen minutes to disembark.
Sometimes, but not always, a flight attendant will make an announcement for passengers to allow those with tight connections to get off first. And sometimes, but not always, passengers will actually be considerate and do it. But it’s safer to be further forward.
Now, none of these reasons actually turn a middle seat into something wonderful. But they may make you feel a little better. Especially if you get lucky enough to be seated between two skinny people.
Janice Hough is a California-based travel agent a travel blogger and a part-time comedy writer. A frequent flier herself, she’s been doing battle with airlines, hotels, and other travel companies for over three decades. Besides writing for Travelers United, Janice has a humor blog at Leftcoastsportsbabe.com (Warning, the political and sports humor therein does not represent the views of anyone but herself.)
