“I'd rather have an empty seat next to me than a big first-class seat,” said Scott Leazenby, 49, of San Diego. “I don’t like being around complete strangers. I just like having that space between me and the next person.
Airlines companies middle seats blocked for health reasons at the start of the pandemic, but these practices have long since disappeared. This week, the ultra-low-cost company Frontier Airlines announcement a new upgrade option that allows passengers to pay extra to reserve an aisle or window seat in the first two rows while keeping the middle empty. Australian airline Qantas rolled out “neighbor free seats” on some international routes in October.
“Many major European carriers are taking this approach of blocking a middle seat to create an upgraded seat category, typically sold in business class on intra-European flights,” said Frontier spokeswoman Jennifer De La Cruz , in an email. “For many consumers, having more legroom, elbow room and generally more space is a priority, especially at an affordable price to upgrade.”
Without paying for the privilege, the chances of hitting the empty seat jackpot are low, said Zach Griffsenior aviation journalist for Points Guy.
“The four largest U.S. airlines have reported load factors of between 80% and 80% for 2023, meaning there are only a handful of empty seats on each departure, especially during flight times. peak,” he said in an email. Although using clever techniques can improve the 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 tricks for getting an empty seat – or at least, more space to spread out – when flying.
Pay extra, but not too much
Of course, you can buy an extra seat at full price to ensure you don't have to struggle to control the armrest. But it may not be in your budget.
The new Frontier option, called “UpFront Plus Seats” is priced at $49 per passenger per flight segment – but only as an introductory rate for travel between April 10 and 30. After that, the cost will be “determined based on demand, as we understand how consumers engage with the new product,” the company said.
Qantas’ neighbor-free seatsavailable on select international routes, starts at $148 for flights between Australia and the United States.
Griff said most major U.S. and many major international airlines sell economy seats with extra legroom that typically cost between $30 and $150 more than a standard ticket. He called it “a good option for those looking to improve their onboard experience without breaking the bank.”
It's a favorite booking hack by couples who hope that luck will be on their side: Choose it aisle and the window and cross your fingers that other travelers are discouraged from choosing the remaining seat in the middle.
Leazenby, who reviews airlines for a living on his site SANspotter, said he and his wife employed this tactic. On a recent trip to Florida, he said, it worked both ways.
“The chances of it working are greater the farther up the plane you go,” he said. “People are more willing to accept a middle seat if they are closer to the front.”
Benét J. WilsonLongtime aviation journalist known as the Aviation Queen, frequently flies southwest, which does not have assigned seats. His status as a frequent flyer means he “EarlyBird” registration, which gives him a chance to be among the first to board the plane. The add-on starts at $15 per person per way and automatically checks passengers in for their flight and provides a better position for boarding. If Wilson finds out in advance that the flight is not full, she tries to sit as close to the front of the plane as possible.
Her reason: “The closer you are, the faster the overhead compartments fill up,” she says. And if people getting on the plane want to put a bag at the top but see that there is no room, there is a good chance that they will continue to walk past the empty middle seat so as not to having to store their bags away from their seat.
“They want to sit wherever they want,” she said. “But they don’t want to be like the spawning salmon, who go back to collect their luggage when the plane lands.”
Travel writer Victoria Walker advocates for choice the last row on a plane. The potential inconveniences of sitting near the toilet and being the last one off the plane are outweighed by the freedom to lean back without repercussions.
“On shorter flights, booking the back row means I can lie down (with some restrictions) without hitting the knees of the passenger behind me and avoid a passive-aggressive complaint or, worse, a broken laptop or tablet” , she wrote.
Griff said in his email that he recommends choosing a seat near the back to maximize the chance of having an empty middle, as these “are generally less desirable.”
Be strategic when traveling
Leazenby, who written on ways to get an empty seat next door, said timing is important.
He said on a flight to Paris last month – which is not peak season for the destination – he had empty seats next to him on the way there and back.
He tries to fly to recreational places such as Orlando and Hawaii midweek; if he's going to a more business-oriented city, he might choose a Saturday afternoon or evening flight instead.
Vacation — like the actual day of the holiday — are another good bet, Leazenby said.
“I once flew back from Europe on Christmas Day, and the flight was about 20 percent full,” he said. “I had a whole row to myself.”
Griff recommends checking sites such as HeadquartersGuru And aéroLOPA to get an idea of which seats might offer more legroom, such as window seats in the exit row of some Airbus planes. He uses these maps for reference while he checks the availability of his own flight.
He said it's also worth monitoring an individual flight's seating chart right up until departure time.
“Airlines typically allow you to change seats on the mobile app up to a few minutes before the flight. So if you notice empty seats on the map, it might be a good idea to change your assignment in hopes Let no one on the waiting list take a seat next to you,” he wrote.
