I honestly think there are 2 ways this can go. Either very badly, or very nicely. If the airlines insist on running full planes, then things are going to suck

I honestly think there are 2 ways this can go. Either very badly, or very nicely. If the airlines insist on running full planes, then things are going to suck, and its going to take a long time for them to recover. Nobody is going to want to be smashed up against a stranger for seconds, much less hours on end. And if people fear this, no amount of procedures are going to change there minds. If the airlines decide to continue blocking off the middle seat and raise prices to compensate, then this could wind up making flying much more pleasant.