flight seats

[msjrmesq]

WIBU to book an aisle seat and a window seat on a long haul flight because one of us prefers the window seat and one of us prefers the aisle? We're hoping that (as we know the flight is often not full) that the airline will then avoid putting somebody in the middle of us.

If somebody does end up in the middle then we wouldn't expect them to swap seats, we'd just put up with it.

I'm amazed knitting needles would be allowed. You can't take nail scissors, but you can take knitting needles?

We recently flew on a flight from JFK to Nashville and there was lots of women knitting, it was like a knitting convention. Maybe because it was domestic?

I always take my knitting or crochet on the plane with me. I can't see how it could affect anyone else. I have DH or DC next to me so I never elbow a stranger ( actually never elbow my family either), it doesn't smell, only makes a tiny noise with knitting needles sometimes clicking but definitely can't hear it over the engine noise. I use circular needles so only about 5 inches long, haven't tried to bring proper long knitting needles on board. How could anyone mind if I knit?

As an aside, OP, YANBU.

I'm amazed knitting needles would be allowed. You can't take nail scissors, but you can take knitting needles?

Crochet hooks too, apparently.

FYI you can take nail scissors on a plane if they’re the small ones. I’ve done it loads of times for snipping the corner off DD’s Hipp Organic formula milk cartons! And I have once seen someone knitting on a plane, they weren’t sat near me though. If they were then I imagine the noise of clacking needles might be a bit annoying but it’s hardly the most antisocial behaviour you see on planes!

OP, I think this is fine to do as long as you have the intention of ignoring each other for the duration of the flight should someone be sat in the middle. Absolutely not ok to talk or pass things over the poor sod! DH and I have done 2 aisles before and that works well, no one has to take the middle and you can chat without being rude.

You can't take nail scissors, but you can take knitting needles?

You can take nail scissors.

@Miaowing.... sorry off topic ....
Can I ask please how you knit on a flight ?
I’ve presumed knitting needles are banned ?
I’d live to pass the time knitting and crocheting on flights ...
I’m a very frequent flyer and could get so much done up there!

Knitting needles are not banned.

Knitting needles are fine. (Just about to board and fully intend to knit)
A pen or pencil could do as much damage as a knitting needle.

I always knit on long flights. I can
make a whole baby cardigan Heathrow to Singapore! They are not banned and I use sodden ones which don’t click
I only knit on an aisle seat though so I don’t nudge anyone by accident.

Sodden???? Wooden

I don’t see the problem at all. If DH and I have a child-free flight we are popping on the headphones and watching a movie. Even if sitting side by side, We aren’t having a personal conversation crammed into a small space with tons of other people because that would be rude.

We always both book aisle seats though. Ideally across from one another, but sometimes a few rows apart if necessary.

knitting needles and crochet hooks are fine. I find circulars work better on planes even if I am knitting something flat. There was a brief period where security preferred these enclosed blade cutters, but these days tiny scissors are the way to go. You can get ones with a blade less than an inch.

We've done this before to flights to Australia. In fact, we were advised to by the travel agent. She basically said - if the flight isn't full you'll likely have a spare seat between you, and if it is then you can just ask that person to move. The likelihood is they would rather have an aisle seat or a window seat than sit between two strangers.

It worked a treat! For three out of the 4 flights we had 6 seats between 8 of us. The only issue was for the final flight, the aeroplane had changed. Due to how we'd booked the seats they didn't realise we were all family and split us up into 2 sets of 2, which was annoying. But totally worth it for the other flights of seating luxury!

I saw this exact scenario. On a CF thread. If you must have a window seat and your companion must have an aisle seat then book 2 different rows. It's not clever to do this- it's cheeky and rude

We usually do this when theres no row of 4. We book DH with child and me with child, but we leave the middle seat free hoping nobody will book it.
I dont know anybody who likes sitting in the middle, so if somebody is placed there we usuly let them choose aisle or window. But a lot of times it works and we get 3 seats.
When they have rows of 4 or 5 seats we obviously book there for the whole family, but some airplanes are 3-3-3.

@ConFusion360

You can pay extra to book bog standard economy seats closer to the front of the plane than the back,

On SQ?

I really didn't know that and I fly with them 4 or 5 times per year, at least.

YANBU

What aircraft is it? If you’re flying Singapore airlines, long haul and in premium economy, the seat layout is 2-4-2. Never seen a 3-x-3 layout.

@SuperSara

You should be given the option when you choose your seat. They call them Forward Zone Seats.

" Forward Zone Seats are located closer to the doors, so you’ll be among the first to disembark the plane. If you’ve booked a Flexi fare type, you may select these seats in advance for free. Or simply pay a fee, starting from USD8, to choose a Forward Zone Seat if you’re travelling on another fare type in Economy Class "

Someone will most likely sit between you. Please don't annoy them by talking over them and passing things back and forth. That would be a nightmare for me, as a nervous flier.

Please don't knit. It looks sinister.

Well, it calms me down enough to not strangle people who say knitting looks sinister.

Please don't knit. It looks sinister.

Seriously? Why on earth?

Seems fine to me. I do this, and if someone turns up, we offer them the aisle or window as they prefer, or obvs they can stick with the middle.