Leaving odd seats empty on planes

[FawnFrenchieMum]

I actually didn’t think it allowed you to do this (leave a single window seat of the middle seat of three)
Am I being unreasonable to this leaving single seats like this all over the plane shouldn't be allowed?

When I travel alone I pick an aisle seat so I can get off the plane more quickly. I have taken a window seat and then been stuck next to someone who wanted to wait for the whole plane to get off before they moved. Fortunately they did get up and let me out.

It looks completely normal to me. The only thing that irritates me is people travelling together booking the window and aisle seats.

@ThinWomansBrain

People that book the window and aisle seats & leave the middle one do get really hacked off when you plonk yourself in the middle and assertively object when they think it's OK to have a conversation across you. Once complained to a steward & got upgraded.

This^

I went on holiday a few years ago now and was sat myself. I had a middle seat between a couple who had booked the aisle and window hoping they would have the whole row.

They asked if I would swap, which I didn't mind but they wanted me to swap for the window seat so they had the aisle and middle - I hate sitting next to the window, I'm an anxious flyer as it is and hate being able to see out the window (hence why I made sure to book a seat that wasn't a window seat).
I said that I don't really like sitting by the window but would happily swap for the aisle seat - they weren't happy with that and only wanted to swap for the window.

They then spent the full flight talking over me and passing eachother food/drinks/books etc. It's honestly the height of ignorance - if you're going to be a dick and book like this at least then either go the flight without talking to eachother or swap seats for the one the person in the middle wants

Where do you think people travelling alone (or in a group bigger than 3) will sit?

If two people are travelling together but don’t want a window seat, wouldn’t it make more sense for them to sit either side of an aisle rather than leave the window seat empty? That way there would be fewer odd single seats.

@eurochick

It looks completely normal to me. The only thing that irritates me is people travelling together booking the window and aisle seats.

I prefer window seat, DP prefers aisle - sorry if that doesn't suit you.

@eurochick

It looks completely normal to me. The only thing that irritates me is people travelling together booking the window and aisle seats.

Yep. And putting their bag in the middle seat. That's when I always hope for the sweaty 6ft tall and 4ft wide guy eating the smelly hamburger to come and sit in the middle.

Sometimes the airline's booking system makes this even more likely.
I was booking three of us onto a flight, and could pay extra to choose the seats. I declined for both adults, and we were placed in different rows, presumably to try and bounce me into paying to choose DD's seat, which happened last. I decided to call their bluff, and she was given a seat next to one of us. When we got on the plane, every family had been split up like this. Lots of people swapped!

It's why airlines make you pay to pick you seats, because if you don't pay you'll be sat randomly in single seats so people pay to sit with their friends/family. The problem with this is there is often people who don't pay but make a fuss when they're not together.

I need to be on an aisle so travelling as a couple yes the window seat will be free once we've booked. Someone might then book it as they prefer that, or if the flight is busy there might be no other choice, or it might be left free. Can go whichever way really.

We’ve just reserved our seats for our next holiday. He likes an aisle seat, I like the window. We don’t care about sitting together as we always read on flights so we’ve taken the single seats left in two different rows.

If two people are travelling together but don’t want a window seat, wouldn’t it make more sense for them to sit either side of an aisle rather than leave the window seat empty?

I want to sit next to DH not a stranger.

So if I travel with my husband you would like us to sit next to the window and in the middle seat? Why can’t we choose the aisle and middle? I never choose a window seat (I’m mildly claustrophobic so get anxious if I can’t get out) but I’d like to sit with my husband if I’m not travelling alone.

Yep. And putting their bag in the middle seat.
That's when I always hope for the sweaty 6ft tall and 4ft wide guy eating the smelly hamburger to come and sit in the middle.
What a shitty attitude. Why is it our fault planes have three seats but we eschewed a polyamorous marriage? FFS some people need to get over themselves and their pathetic petty resentments.

I always book an aisle seat when flying alone. Clearly someone else there prefers a window seat when travelling alone. Why wouldn’t they let us each book our preference??

@Scianel

If two people are travelling together but don’t want a window seat, wouldn’t it make more sense for them to sit either side of an aisle rather than leave the window seat empty?

I want to sit next to DH not a stranger.

But one of you will still be sitting next to a stranger anyway

@Paddingtonsmarmlade

It's why airlines make you pay to pick you seats, because if you don't pay you'll be sat randomly in single seats so people pay to sit with their friends/family. The problem with this is there is often people who don't pay but make a fuss when they're not together.

Absolutely this, full plane, we took off late due to a number of passengers refusing to sit down because their family members including children, were spread over the plane as they hadn’t pre-booked seats together and just expected other passengers to move to accommodate them. It was a real PITA on Xmas Eve-when you just want to get home.

Doesn't look as if @FawnFrenchieMum is coming back

@Blossomtoes

We’ve just reserved our seats for our next holiday. He likes an aisle seat, I like the window. We don’t care about sitting together as we always read on flights so we’ve taken the single seats left in two different rows.

Should add our seats are unreserved ones in row 32 of OP’s scenario. Airlines must love people like us.

We always book middle and aisle seat because I need to be on the aisle.

I travel mostly alone... have to sit somewhere.

We are a family of 5 (2 adults + 3 kids), how are we meant to book 5 seats without leaving one space when seats come in threes?

I admit I suck at math but if I'm missing something please help point it out because I can't see a logical way to do it.

Frankly, I find it absurd when theaters don't allow you to leave a seat. Recently I wanted to book tickets for me and DH in the second row of a nearly fully booked show about to happen. There were 3 free seats (guessing a cancellation) but the stupid algorithm would only let us book the cheap seats right at the back in the gallery because 'you can't leave one seat free'.

This happens often so you see blocks of odd number unbooked seats in theaters/cinemas because some won't let standard couples book them if seats are left free. Any venue that does that is nuts, it's better to lose money on one empty seat than 3.

I have also gone to plenty of shows alone last minute and booked a single seat when younger it's equally as valid a set up as a group of 3 (actually don't think I have ever booked 3 tickets for a non-family show) but for the majority 2 is the average number booked for an adult theater show.

As with others, it’s the couples booking window and aisle in the hope of securing all three seats that are the problem. I don’t care if I sit in the middle, but then don’t talk across me, pass things and generally try to make me go away - to quite where I do not know.

I know a couple who buy all three seats - that’s what you should do if you want a whole row.

I'd never book the middle sear, awful being stuffed in next to two people. As a solo traveller its window or aisle, preferably aisle just cos there is that greater sense of space.

But one of you will still be sitting next to a stranger anyway

DH doesn't care.