7 ms·
The unwritten rule is that "the middle seat sucks, they get both middle armrests". Sadly, not everyone knows that rule. > "The seat you paid for has borders.
by Maximus9000 7y ago
The unwritten rule is that "the middle seat sucks, they get both middle armrests". Sadly, not everyone knows that rule.
> "The seat you paid for has borders. Middle-seat elbow ownership ends on the armrests (you’re entitled to both)"
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/travel/article-a-parents-airplane-etiquette-rules-for-other-adults/ https://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/travel/article-a-parent...
- HeWhoLurksLate 7y agoThat was a great read. Thanks!
- metafizikal 7y agoFor real. I always think of this bit[1] while I'm riding in the middle. [1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qFx1Cpxpx1E https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qFx1Cpxpx1E
- Maximus9000 7y agoGreat bit!
- topmonk 7y agoWhoever takes the armrest first gets priority. It may cause your lifetime happiness to have a little more volatility but since everyone has the same random chance of getting the middle seat, still fair.
- rwc 7y agoIf you think getting the middle seat is random chance I’ve got news for you.
- topmonk 7y agoDon't keep me waiting
- RobertRoberts 7y agoGo buy a plane ticket right now. Don't even need a credit card to get to "choose a seat" and you will see, all the aisle and window seats are taken by default. You have to pay extra to not get a middle seat. It's actually a bit annoying to have to explain this to you based on your childish reply.
- mikeash 7y agoWhat airline charges extra for non-middle seats? I’ve never seen that.
- sokoloff 7y agoAny airline that sells Basic Economy tickets (without seat pre-assignment) does by allowing seat choice for Economy tickets and above.
- snappieT 7y agoIn fact, Frontier charges more for the middle seat. I assume this is because middle-seaters are likely to be a couple/family wanting to sit together and forced to pay the premium. No solo traveler would willingly purchase a middle seat, so you don't need to optimize for pricing the middle seats for them.
- sokoloff 7y agoSeems this wouldn’t work very well. Pick the aisle and window; middle will always trade IME. If you need three across, book aisle, window, and a nearby aisle and you again have tradable seats. Or book aisle and aisle for a couple.
- mikeash 7y agoMaybe they’re just picking up a few bucks from people who aren’t this clever.
- 7y ago
- wavefunction 7y agoTo whomever can take AND hold the armrest go the spoils of victory. What care I for plaintive cries of "fairness" when nature provided me the means to take the armrest I deserve from less capable arms?
- panzagl 7y agoThat's why I always begin a flight by bludgeoning my neighbor into unconsciousness.
- cannonedhamster 7y agoI bet you get a lot of crotch in the face for your actions. Hot, seething, sweaty crotch from every person in the middle seat. The reason people choose civility is that eventually everyone benefits. Lack of civility immediately makes it worse for everyone. People in planes are already miserable, no reason to make it worse unless you enjoy causing others misery, which says more about you than anyone else.
- mr_crankypants 7y agoYour chances of getting the middle seat go up as the other seats are taken, meaning that a lot of the people in the middle seats are people who had to book that ticket on short notice: death in the family, emergency business trip, other flight got canceled, etc. The airline's already got "being crappy to the person who's having a crappy day" covered. Don't be the human embodiment of an airline.
- anbop 7y agoI flew in a lot of middle seats and it’s because I was a young unattached guy booking last minute trips at high prices.
- taneq 7y agoMost planes I fly on, the middle seat is not wide enough for them to do anything else. Three full-sized males sitting next to each other will be physically touching shoulders.
- Zenbit_UX 7y agoDidn't know this was a thing, I feel bad now. I've probably taken someone's armrest before who sat in the middle. :(