“I'd rather have an empty seat next to me than a big seat in first class,” said Scott Leazenby, 49, of San Diego. “I don't like rubbing elbows with complete strangers. I just like having that space between me and the next person.”
Airlines blocked middle seats for health reasons early in the pandemic, but that practice is long gone. This week, ultra-low-cost Frontier Airlines announced a new upgrade option that allows passengers to pay an additional fee to reserve aisle or window seats in the first two rows, leaving the middle seats empty. Australian airline Qantas introduced “adjacent unreserved seating” on some international flights in October.
“Many of Europe's largest airlines have adopted this approach of blocking middle seats to create upgraded seat categories,” Frontier spokeswoman Jennifer de la Cruz said in an email. It is normally sold as business class on intra-European flights.” “For many consumers, having more legroom, elbow room, and more space in general is a priority, especially being able to upgrade at an affordable price.”
If you don't pay for the award, the chances of hitting the vacant seat jackpot are low. Zach GriffPoints Guy's senior aviation reporter.
“The four major U.S. airlines have reported load factors in the low-to-mid 80% range for 2023, especially during peak departure times, when there are empty seats on each departing flight,” he said in an email. That means there are very few.” While some smart techniques may improve your chances of sitting next to an empty seat, Griff said, “The odds are not in your favor.”
Travel experts have shared their own tips and hacks for getting a free seat on a plane, or at least having space to stretch your legs.
Pay extra but not too much
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Indeed, you can also purchase additional seats at full price so that you do not have to struggle with armrest control. But it may not be in your budget.
Frontier's new option, called “UpFront Plus Seating,” costs $49 per passenger per flight segment, but that's just the introductory price for travel from April 10 to 30. After that, costs will be “determined based on demand.” “We understand how consumers engage with new products,” the company said.
Available on select international flights, Qantas' non-adjacent seats start from $148 on flights between Australia and the US.
Griff said most major U.S. airlines and many major international airlines sell economy seats with extra legroom, which can cost anywhere from $30 to $150 more than a regular ticket. About. He called it “a good option for people looking to upgrade their in-flight experience without breaking the bank.”
This is a popular booking hack for couples hoping luck is on their side. Choose aisles and windows to discourage other travelers from choosing the middle remaining seats.
Leazenby, who makes a living reviewing airlines on his site SANspotter, said he and his wife employ this tactic. During his recent visit to Florida, he said it worked both ways.
“The further back you go in the plane, the better your chances of success,” he says. “People tend to be willing to settle for a middle seat if it's closer to the front.”
Benet J. WilsonThe longtime aviation journalist, known as the Aviation Queen, frequently flies on Southwest flights that don't have reserved seats. Her mileage status gives her an “early bird” check-in and a chance to be the first to board the plane. The add-on starts at $15 per person one-way and automatically checks passengers into their flights and provides a better boarding position. If Wilson knows in advance that the plane won't be full, he tries to sit as close to the front of the plane as possible.
That's because “the closer you get, the more quickly the overhead bins fill up,” she said. And if people rushing onto a plane want to put their bags on top but find there's no space, they can use the empty middle seats so they don't have to stow their bags far from their seats. It is highly likely that you will pass by.
“They want to sit where they want to sit,” she said. “But like spawning salmon, they don't want to go back and get their stuff once the plane lands.”
travel writer victoria walker He supports choosing the last row of the plane. The potential downsides of sitting too close to the toilet or being the last to exit the plane are outweighed by the freedom to lean back without being affected.
“On short-haul flights, booking a seat in the back row will allow you to recline (with some limitations) without bumping into the laps of the passengers behind you, and avoid passive-aggressive complaints or, worse, laptops. You can avoid breaking your tablet,” she wrote.
Griff said in an email that he recommends choosing a seat in the back to maximize the chance of a free middle seat, since those are “generally less desirable.”
Think strategically when you fly
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Leazenby, who wrote about how to get an empty seat next to you, said timing is important.
He said he was on a flight to Paris last month, and even though it wasn't high season for his destination, the seat next to him was empty on the way there and back.
He tries to fly to leisure spots like Orlando and Hawaii in the middle of the week. If you're going to a more business-oriented city, you might choose a Saturday afternoon or evening flight instead.
Leazenby said holidays like actual holidays are also a good option.
“I once flew back from Europe on Christmas Day and the plane was probably about 20 percent full,” he said. “I had the whole row to myself.”
Griff recommends looking at sites like SeatGuru and aeroLOPA to figure out seats with extra legroom, such as window seats in the exit rows on some Airbus planes. He uses those maps as a reference when checking the availability of his own flights.
He said it was also worth monitoring seat maps for individual flights until closer to departure time.
“Airlines typically allow you to change your seat on a mobile app up to a few minutes before your flight, so if you notice an empty seat on the map, it makes sense to reassign it and hope no one gets on the standby list. “You might be right. Please sit next to me,” he wrote.
